Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Robertson Reacts to SNL skit about Jesus

Pat Robertson calls a Saturday Night Live skit "anti-Christian bigotry that's just disgusting." Watch the video of the 700 Club host below to get the full story.

Bible Giveaway Upsets Student's Mom

A North Carolina mother is unhappy that her fifth-grade son came home from school with a Bible. Read the story here.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Rally backs Nativity scene

Thousands gather near Dallas in support of a nativity scene outside a courthouse. Here a video report from WFAA-TV.

Tebow Meets Brain Tumor Survivor After Loss

NFL.com's Jeff Darlington detailed a brief discussion he had with Denver Bronco's quarterback Tim Tebow yesterday after his team lost 41-23 to the Patriots. The conversation was cut short because Tebow left to meet Kelly Faughnan, a 22-year-old who survived a brain tumor who has a special history with Tebow. Read the story here.

Grad Student Losses Case

A graduate student's attempt to overturn her expulsion from Augusta State University will stand. A federal appeals court has unanimously sided with a lower court and the school which both decided Jennifer Keeton doesn't belong in the school's counseling program. Keeton's lawsuit said she was told by school officials, in order to stay in the program, she would have to change her beliefs about homosexuality, which she says is based on her Christianity. But the court ruling said Augusta State only tried to get her to keep her own opinions out of the counseling process.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

SNL Skit: Tebow & Jesus

Last night's episode of Saturday Night Live included a sketch where Jesus visits Denver Broncos Tim Tebow. In the sketch, Tebow tells Jesus, “The Holy Bible is my playbook" but Jesus advises, “That's great. But you need to read the regular playbook” and to “take it down a notch.” As he leaves, he tells the team "Mormonism. All true, every bit of it." Here's the video.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Suspended for Tebowing

About 40 students at Long Island's Riverhead High School joined to commit an act of “Tebowing” Wednesday. All got in-school suspensions because school administrators deemed the praying poise "a safety hazard." Here's a Fox News report on it.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Lifeway Drops Bible

LifeWay will no longer publish the Here's Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Bible. Some of the proceeds from sales of the pink Bible goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. And some Komen affiliates give money to Planned Parenthood. Although LifeWay published the Bible, it was sold at retailers like Wal-Mart, not in LifeWay's own stores. Komen has released a statement saying "under no circumstances are Komen funds used to fund abortions or other non-breast services." The American Life League says 18 chapters of Susan G. Komen for the Cure donated money to local Planned Parenthood affiliates last year.

NJ Banner Controversy

The Freedom From Religion Foundation wants the Philadelphia-area town of Pitman, New Jersey to take a banner down from Main Street that reads Keep Christ in Christmas. It was put up by members of the local fire department and paid for by a Knights of Columbus group.  The Pitman City Council will take up the issue at its next meeting on December 27th.

Christians in Iraq pray for safe holiday

CNN offers a report on Iraqi Christians.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Tim Tebow’s Gospel of Optimism

Read the story here in the New York Times.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Pastor's Music Video Slams Gingrich

An Iowa pastor is sending out a satirical rap video against Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. Sioux City pastor Cary Gordon criticizes Gingrich for his three marriages and admitted marital infidelities on the tape. Gordon, an associate pastor at Cornerstone World Outreach, has endorsed Rick Santorum. See the video below.

Debating the Bible in Chalk

There's a controversy brewing on the campus of Salisbury University in Maryland. The Atheist Society of Salisbury and the Salisbury University Cru (formerly the Campus Crusade for Christ) have been battling in chalk. Students from each group are writing Bible verses on the sidewalk and then debating them on Facebook. The Student Government Association and the Dean have met with each side, trying to keep the discussion civil. Some people at the school have complained the verses are offensive to them. The janitorial staff washes the evidence away as they make their rounds while the administration simple "chalks it up" to an expression of free speech. There are two examples of the chalking below.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Perry: Obama's War on Religion

Rick Perry has a new TV ad out, charging that Barack Obama is fighting a "war on religion." Perry says, "You don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school.. As President, I'll end Obama's war on religion. And I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage." See it below.

American Attitudes toward churches

A new LifeWay Research survey shows how favorable Americans are toward some denominations:

62% are favorable toward Methodists
59% are favorable toward Catholics
53% are favorable toward Southern Baptists
37% are favorable toward Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
28% are favorable toward Muslims.

This denomination is not for me:
35% strongly agree that a Southern Baptist church is not for them
33% strongly agree that a Catholic church is not for them
29% strongly agree that other Baptist churches are not for them
26% strongly agree that a Methodist church is not for them
20% strongly agree that a nondenominational church is not for them

44% Knowing a church is Southern Baptist would negatively impact their decision to visit or join the church
36% Knowing a church is Southern Baptist would have no impact
10% Knowing a church is Southern Baptist would positively impact their decision.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Graham Back Home

Billy Graham is out of the hospital. The 93-year-old evangelist was treated for pneumonia at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. He's now on oral medication and undergoing physical therapy.

Religion Powerful Force in 2012 Race

ABC News takes a look at the role religion will play in next year's political races here.

Christian Book Store Struggles in Internet Culture

Fox News takes a look at the financial struggles of Christian bookstores here.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Why Tim Tebow stirs debate

A look at Denver quarterback Tim Tebow and public displays of faith in the NFL in a USA Today article here.

Ban on churches in schools Upheld

A court ruling that churches can't use space in New York City schools during off hours will stand. In 1995, the Bronx Household of Faith sued the city but lost. The church appealed to the Supreme Court, but today the high court declined to take the case, letting the lower court ruling stand. Some 60 congregations in New York City use public school building for worship services.