Church Tells HIV Patients To Stop Treatment - And they Die

Some UK Churches are under fire for reportedly telling members they were cured of HIV and could stop taking medication. Six of them are now dead, according to Sky News. The evangelical churches are located in in London, Manchester, and Glasgow. There is a video report below.

Broncos Jerseys

Some fans of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow are wearing altered versions of his #15 jersey with his name replaced with "Jesus" across the back. Tebow told the Denver Post, "I don't know what to think about that because I don't know where people's hearts are. It's important to not judge without knowing their hearts. If their heart is to honor the Lord, then it's a good thing. Only God can judge because only God knows what's truly in a person's heart."

Reality Show for Christian Singers

Christian duo Mary, Mary is getting a reality show on WeTV. Erica and Tina Campbell have one 3 Grammys together and will hit the air at the end of March. Erica and Tina are married to men with the last name of Cambell who are not related to one another.

BJU Questions 'Fundamentalist' Label

A look at Bob Jones University here.

Herman Cain's Beliefs

Fox News takes a look the "Gospel of Herman Cain" here.

Megachurch Sold

It's official: The Crystal Cathedral has been sold to the Catholic church. The megachurch, founded by television evangelist Robert H. Schuller, is in bankruptcy and will use the $57.5 million from the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Orange to cover debt. A bankruptcy judge approved the deal this week. Members of the Crystal Cathedral will have to find a new place to worship.

Glenn Beck Steps into Bible Controversy

Glenn Beck is giving a Colorado Springs women's shelter $55,000 because the facility lost a federal grant. The executive director of Gospel Shelters for Women, Marilyn Vyzourek, refused to discontinue mandatory Bible studies for the women. The former Fox News host says he's giving to make up for the financial loss. Gospel Shelters operates Liza's Place and a companion program called Hope's Home, which helps drug and alcohol addicts just out of prison.

School Flyer Fight

The Supreme Court turned aside an appeal by a Christian group to give out flyers at schools in Missouri. The Victory Through Jesus Sports Ministry Foundation hosts summer camps and was excluded from distribution at Lee's Summit R-7 School District. A district court panel found that the school system did not take religious orientation into account when deciding to limit distribution of Victory's flyers.

Refugee Camp Bombed

Samaritan's Purse is accusing the government of Sudan of bombing one of its refugee camps in South Sudan, few miles from the border with Sudan. The Christian relief organization has dropped 420 tons of food to the refugees. South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan just a few months ago. Samaritan's Purse says the bombs did not injure anyone or damage an buildings but one landed a few feet from a boy yet did not explode. The White House has urged the government to stop the bombings, though Sudan claims it had nothing to do with the attack.

Church Hands out Money to Members

The First Baptist Church of Euless, Texas is asking its congregation to invest $30,000 and use the proceeds to support evangelism. Members were given 5, 10 or 20 dollar bills during yesterday's services. The Dallas-area megachurch did the same thing a year ago and members came back with $150,000.

Stephen Colbert: Does God Have a Sense of humor?

Stephen Colbert interviews Catholic priest James Martin, author of Between Heaven and Mirth, on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report.

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CS Lewis on Twitter

C.S. Lewis has joined the social media revolution. HarperCollins has created the official Twitter account for the Christian apologist. It will feature quotes and news about his books. The account already has more than 7000 followers. This coming Wednesday (Nov 16) Douglas Gresham (Lewis’ stepson) will be hosting a live twitter event. You can find the Twitter feed here.

Ruling on Campus Police

North Carolina's highest court says the police working at religious college campuses in the state hold real authority - overturning a lower court ruling that said giving campus police power at religious institutions amounted to an illegal entanglement of government and religion. A North Carolina state law called the Campus Police Act allowed the state's attorney general to give authority to campus-police departments at private schools. The NC Supreme Court decision stemmed from a drunken-driving arrest at Davidson College (which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA). When a campus officer arrested Julie Anne Yencer on charges of drunken and reckless driving, she pleaded guilty, but wanted the charges dismissed, based on the idea that the Davidson police officer did not have authority and that the Campus Police Act was unconstitutional.

Oprah at Megachurch

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry showed up for Sunday services at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston. When Osteen introduced them he said, "Awesome to have you!" She interviewed Osteen as part of her new series Oprah's Next Chapter, which will premiere in January on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Tebow Called "Nut"

Comedian Bill Maher calls NFL quarterback Tim Tebow a "religous nut" and "cuckoo for Christianity." See the video below.

Justin Bieber's Mom

Justin Bieber's mom is Tweeting Scripture as her son faces a paternity suit. Pattie Mallette, using the Twitter name StudioMama, has offered Bible verses and positive quotes such as this one, soon after news of the lawsuit came to light:

"Forgiveness in a nutshell means, 'Letting go of your right to get even.' Choose forgiveness. Be willing to be made willing to forgive."

A couple of days later, she re-tweeted her Justin's tweet:

"Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2."

Night to Honor Israel

John Hagee Ministries just gave out $6 million to Israeli charities at Hagee's Cornerstone megachurch in San Antonio, Texas during the group's Night to Honor Israel. Here's how it broke down:

Nefesh B'Nefesh - $900,000
(encourages immigration to Israel from English-speaking countries)

Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon - $250,000

Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem - $250,000

Western Galilee Hospital - $250,000

Megachurch Founder Investigated

The founder of the world's largest Christian church is coming under scrutiny for his business dealings. Prosecutors are investigating prosperity teacher David Yonggi Cho of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul. More than two dozen church elders complain that he has embezzled the equivalent of $20 million, and one reports say the funds were used to buy property in the US. Meanwhile, his wife is accused of selling a building for her own profit.

Irony of Request Seemingly Lost of Schuller Family

Members of the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California are upset over an email sent to the congregation asking that food be brought to the founder's wife, Arvella Schuller, who is sick. But rather than having people come to their home, the Schullers asked in the email that donations be dropped off at the cathedral's Tower of Hope - where the Schullers' limo drivers could then pick it up. The request even specified what type of food was acceptable.  After leading the church into bankruptcy, court documents now indicate the family took nearly $10 million out of the church's endowment funds.

Tebowing Mocked

Tim Tebow says he's not bothered by what some commentators say is a mocking of his Christian faith. Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch struck a prayerful pose that's become known as "Tebowing" after sacking the Denver Broncos quarterback last week. The entire Lions team joined in the gesture during their 45-10 victory over the Broncos on Sunday. Comedian Denis Leary tweeted that "Jesus must be thinking even Judas had a better release than this guy" after the stunning loss. But one ESPN commentator says she was offended by it here. And a leader in the Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes said it was "in bad taste and inappropriate, at best."

In God We Trust reaffirmed

The House of Representatives reaffirmed the nation's national motto should be In God We Trust yesterday by a vote of 396 to 9. The decision to make it the national motto was originally passed in 1956 and reaffirmed in 2002 - followed by a vote to reaffirm the concept in the motto by the Senate in 2006. It comes from a verse in Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner. It appeared on coins during the Civil War and was later added to US coins and bills. The courts have rejected claims it is a violation of the separation of church and state. President Obama criticized congress for spending time on the measure instead of his jobs bill. See his comments in the video below.

Bible Apps Take Off

The Bible is beating Angry Birds as an app. Publishers Weekly says Bible Apps are more frequently downloaded than the popular game. For instance, LifeChurch.tv’s YouVersion, a Bible app with more than 150 translations has been downloaded more than 30 million times. That means the app has been installed on one out of every 17 iPhones, iPads and Android devices sold. And iPhone Life magazine reports that “BibleReader broke into the top 10 highest grossing book apps for the iPad earlier this year.”

Christian Publisher Sold

HarperCollins is buying Thomas Nelson. The Nashville publisher produces many Christian books and cut its staff by 10% in 2008. HarperCollins acquired Zondervan in 1988. A recent survey found sales of religious books and Bibles is flat over the past two years.

Captioning Exemptions Revoked

Hundreds of churches are about to get letter from the FCC warning them to include closed captioning in their broadcasts or face fines. Five years ago, the FCC gave 300 of them "permanent exemptions" ago because they showed providing captions would impose a burden. The video producers will have 90 days to challenge the decision. Only five will be allowed to maintain their exemption.

School employees must sign statement on sex

Georgia's Shorter University is asking its employees to sign a statement rejecting homosexuality. The Personal Lifestyle Statement also requires staff members to reject premarital sex and adultery. Those who don't sign may be fired. Students do not have to sign the policy.

Christian Relic Discovered

Read about a tiny Christian relic found in Jerusalem here.

Tebowing

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has kicked off a trend - dropping to one knee in a position of prayer. After the NFL star led his team back to win at the last minute this past weekend, the outspoken Christian dropped to his knees while teammates celebrated around him. It was given the name "Tebowing" by fans and soon the act caught on around the country. Some stories have given credit to Jared Kleinstein for starting the phenomenon. He started a website dedicated to Tebowing which you can see here. Fans are submitting photos of themselves on one knee and praying when others around you are doing something else. Even teammate Von Miller sent out a photo of himself on Twitter wearing a Tebow jersey and doing the pose.

Appeals Court: Almighty God OK

An appeals court has given the state of Kentucky to include a reference to God in its homeland security law. The vote was split over whether the state could require its homeland security director to promote a "dependence on Almighty God" in training and educational materials. That overturns a lower court ruling.

Megachurch Sold

Chapman University is buying the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California for $50 million. The megachurch is in the same amount of debt and was forced to get rid of the property. The church founded by Robert Schuller filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a year ago. Schuller and his family have been accused by creditors of profiting from the church will bills went unpaid, which they have denied. The deal won't be finalized until next month.

Complaint: Crosses violate Human Rights

Muslim students at Catholic University in Washington DC say their rights are being violated because they have not been allowed to start a Muslim student group and because there are no rooms at the school set aside for their daily prayers without Christian symbols such as crosses. Federal officials are investigating because of a complaint filed by a law professor at George Washington University. Catholic University officials say they have not received any direct complaints about the issue.

Billboard Misquotes Jefferson

A billboard put up by an atheist group against Christianity quotes Thomas Jefferson as saying, "I do not find in Christianity one redeeming feature. It is founded on fables and mythology." The only problem is that Jefferson never said it. The head of Backyard Skeptics said, "I should have done the research before I put my billboard up." The Jefferson Library says the quote shows up on many Internet sites, but there's no evidence he ever said it and its unlikely he would have taken the time to create his own version of the Bible if he agreed with the statement.

Bible Classes Fading in Georgia

The number of students taking Bible classes in Georgia has fallen so far that schools don't have the money to pay for them. Some districts have cut the number of classes being offered because of it. Schools also face the difficulty of finding qualified teachers. Only 21 of 180 school districts offered classes - down from 48 just four years ago. Georgia lawmakers allowed the classes to begin 5 years ago followed by Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Other states, like Alabama, did not pass laws on the classes but allow the curriculum in schools. Many states without laws on the matter offer voluntary Bible courses.

Baptists Slash Balyor Funding

Baylor is losing nearly $900,000 in funding from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Baptist influence on the University has waned in the face of falling enrollment by Baptist students (they make up less than half of the student body) and funding from other sources besides the convention. Baylor will now get $1.9 million instead of $2.8 million.

Parents Charged in Death of WA Child

Catholics in America

The face of Roman Catholics is changing in the US. Here's the findings of a new survey published in The National Catholic Reporter:

88% - agreed with the statement "how a person lives is more important than whether he or she is Catholic."
86% - agreed with the statement "you can disagree with aspects of church teachings and still remain loyal to the church."
30% - support the "teaching authority claimed by the Vatican."
40% - agreed with the statement that you can be a good Catholic without believing that in Mass, the bread and wine really become the body and blood of Christ.
40% say they do not attend mass because they not very religious.


The survey also finds attending services continues to drop:
1987 - 44% attended at least once a week
2011 - 31% attended at least once a week


1987 - 26% attend less than monthly
2011 - 47% attend less than monthly

No Churches inAfghanistan

The State Department says there is not a single, public Christian church left in Afghanistan a decade after the US invasion to overthrow the Taliban regime. Nor are there any Christian schools. The last Christian church was torn down last year when Afgani courts turned aside the congregations claim to have a lease to the property.

Christian Faith on Amazing Race

There are only 4 teams left in the CBS reality competition Amazing Race. During the last episode, the Christian faith of one of the teams was revealed. Snowboarders Andy and Tommy say the reason they've won so many legs of the race is it is "God's will." Andy said during the show, "God's always there with us, and he's going to help us." The teams are in Thailand, where Tommy said while visiting a Buddhist temple, "God is greater than the temple." Andy adds there is only “one true God,” which he knows because it’s in the Bible. See the full episode here.

Pastor's Protest over Mascot

A central Georgia pastor has filed a lawsuit for his arrest while protesting a high school's demon mascot. Donald Crosby, pastor of God’s Kingdom Builders Church of Jesus Christ, says city of Warner Robins violated his First Amendment rights. He gathered with a couple of dozen members of his congregation outside of the city's high school on the first day of classes. Officers told him that he needed a permit and he got one, but was arrested both times.

Lawsuit against Souther Baptist Convention

Ron and Beverly Nollner are suing the the Southern Baptist Convention for $1.5 million. The Nashville couple says they were fired from their jobs overseeing construction of an office building for the Convention's International Mission Board for speaking out about illegal and unsafe building practices and bribery by some of the people involved in the work. The Mission Board hasn't responded to the lawsuit yet.

Star on Hollywood Blvd

The 2,452nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame goes to BeBe & CeCe Winans. The brother-sister gospel singing duo will get the honor today for 7 chart-topping albums and singles and 15 Grammy Awards.

Suit Against Megachurch Pastor

The pastor of an Atlanta megachurch is accused in a lawsuit of leading his church into a bogus investment scheme. Eddie Long, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church sponsored seminars two years ago and ten church members say they lost more than $1 million. The former chief executive of Chicago's City Capital Corp. who led the investment seminars wasn't licensed to sell investments or give investment advice.

The liberal church of Herman Cain

CNN offers background on GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain and his church here.

Tim Allen's Religion

Parade Magazine asked Tim Allen, "What would people be surprised to know about you?" The star of the TV show Home Improvement and now Last Man Standing said, "On a philosophical level, I’m very religious. I call myself an intellectual Christian. I’ve been seeking answers and information about Christianity, as well as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism, since my father died [in a car crash, when Allen was 11], trying to explain life and death. My brother put it best a long time ago when he said, “You’re a lot more perceptive than I ever imagined.”

Evangelical Political Divide

The Associated Press takes a look at the divide among Evangelicals when it comes to Iowa politics here.

Arthur F. Holmes

Christian philosopher Arthur Holmes has died at the age of 87. Holmes made a impact on many Wheaton College students, coming from England to study at the school in the early 50s and he began teaching at the school in 1951. He chaired the Philosophy Department for 37 years and wrote numerous books on philosophy from a Christian perspective.

Pastor Steals $650,000

The pastor of a Roman Catholic church in Las Vegas took $650,000 from his parish over nearly a decade. Kevin McAuliffe stole from the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton mission fund, the gift shop fund and even from a pot of money intended for candles. McAuliffe pleaded guilty last week and could be sent to prison for 60 years. He built it into one of Nevada’s largest Roman Catholic parishes, but used the funds for a gambling addict.

Romey wants Perry to Reject Texas Pastor

Mitt Romney is calling on Rick Perry to "repudiate" remarks by Texas pastor who said Mormonism is a cult. Romney says it is "poisonous language." Perry has said doesn't consider it a cult, but also won't disavow pastor Robert Jeffress. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie endorced Romney and also condemned Jeffress' remarks.

Taking The Reins Of Billy Graham's Legacy

NPR looks at whether Billy Graham's daughter can take the reigns of his ministry here.

Is Mormonism a Cult?

CNN offered a segment on the subject.

Mormon Flap

The pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas has stirred controversy by saying Republicans shouldn't vote for Mitt Romney because he's a Mormon and he said Romney is a member of a cult. Robert Jeffress introduced rival Rick Perry at the Values Voter Summit in Washington tonight and then told reporters, "I think Mitt Romney's a good, moral man, but those of us who are born again followers of Christ should prefer a competent Christian."

Amish on Amish Violence

Read the story of attacks on Amish by a cast-off group in Ohio here.

Teacher Loses in Court

An Ohio public school teacher has lost his case against the Mount Vernon school board. John Freshwater sued for wrongful termination, after he was let go for talking about his beliefs in class and keeping a Bible on his desk. He was also accused of burning a cross into the arm of a students, but that allegation was resolved outside the courtroom. Freshwater may file an appeal.

Steve Jobs

CNN offers a story about the spiritual side of Steve Jobs here.

Schuller Lawsuit

Creditors of the Crystal Cathedral are taking the megachurch's founder and family to court, accusing Robert H. Schuller of taking $10 million from the ministry's endowment fund to cover the salaries of his family, going back to 2002. Schuller says it's not true. He recently tried to raise money to prevent the selling of the land on which the Crystal Cathedral stands - but the Schullers failed to raise even half of what is needed. The highest bid comes from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange for $53.6 million. Other potential buyers include Chapman University and Hobby Lobby.

ADA and Churches

The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a case that could decide whether churches can avoid lawsuits that other employers cannot. A teacher at a Lutheran school in Redford, Michigan was fired and she claimed discrimination under ADA laws. The school is claiming it's exempt from facing the lawsuit because it falls in area that bans lawsuits against clergy performing their religious duties. Teacher Cheryl Perich and her lawyers say her claims against Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church are not a religious matter. She was let go after she was diagnosed with narcolepsy and she says that's a clear violation of ADA law. A district court ruled in favor of the school. An appeals court overturned that ruling.

The Political Pulpit

The New York Times takes a long at Pulpit Freedom Sunday here.

Faith Healing Convictions

Two more members of a faith healing church in Oregon will spend time behind bars. A jury found Dale and Shannon Hickman guilty of of manslaughter in the death of their infant son David. Five other members of Christ Church have been convicted as well for other similar crime. The Hickman's prayed and rubbed oil on their son when he had trouble breathing just nine hours after has birth. An autopsy showed he had a bacterial infection and underdeveloped lungs - and hospital treatment would have ensured his survival. The Hickman's claimed the charges was nothing more than religious persecution. The couple will be sentenced at the end of October.

Why young Christians aren't waiting anymore

CNN has an article about abstinence among Christian teenagers and young adults. Read the story here.

Nearing Home

Billy Graham's 30th book will be out soon. Nearing Home will hit store shelves shortly before his 93rd birthday in November. The idea for the book came a few years ago when he realized, "I had been taught all of my life how to die, but no one had ever taught me how to grow old." In the book, Graham finds examples of seniors who embrace their age and he offers verses of encouragement to do the same.

Obama Heckler

A heckler interrupted President Obama's fundraiser in Los Angeles last night shouting, "Christian God is the one and only true living God" and then "Jesus Christ is God!" He was soon outshouted by other people chanting "four more years!" There are reports that when the man was being taken away he added, "Barack Obama is the antichrist!" Afterward, Obama said "first of all, I agree Jesus Christ is the Lord. I believe in that." Here is a video showing Obama's reaction.

Gospel Singer Dies

Gospel music singer Jessy Dixon has died at the age of 73. He passed yesterday at his home in Chicago. Dixon recorded five gold albums. During the 1970s he was the opening act of Paul Simon and recently he played a roll on Bill Gaither's popular "Homecoming" series.

Belieber! in print

A new book about Justin Bieber explores his Christian beliefs. Belieber! Fame, Faith, and the Heart of Justin Bieber written by Cathleen Falsani describes his journey from singing Christian songs on YouTube to international stardom. His mother, Patricia Mallette, attends Jubilee Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational church in Stratford, Ontario. The book compiles information from articles, social media and interviews with the seventeen-year-old Canadian who had never concealed his faith.

Religious Rights Battle at Vanderbilt University

Below is a video from Fox News about a battle on the campus of Vanderbilt University over the religious freedom of a student group.

Rob Bell Leaves Church

Michigan mega-church pastor Rob Bell is leaving his Mars Hill Church. His book Love Wins drew criticism from conservative evangelicals for suggesting that hell may close one day after everyone leaves to go to heaven. Bell did not speak with the congregation before releasing the news publicly. He's planning a Fit to Smash Ice tour and is already scheduled to speak in at least eight places. Below is an ABC video about Bell.

Southern Baptist Name Change

The Southern Baptist Convention may change its name. Current President Bryant Wright has set up a study group to research the idea - something that has stirred controversy because he didn't work through the executive committee. The effort to rebrand the denomination may mean dropping "Southern" and possibly "Baptist."

Ted Haggard will "Swap Wife"

Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard will swap wives with actor Gary Busey for an upcoming episode of Celebrity Wife Swap. The episode of the ABC reality series is being taped in Colorado Springs. Busey is an active minister with Promise Keepers while Haggard has returned to the ministry as a pastor of a non-denominational church following his departure from a Colorado megachurch following a public scandal.

God and the Economy Survey

A new survey finds 8 in 10 political conservatives see God stepping in to their daily lives believe God is steering the economy. The Baylor Religion Survey (conducted by Gallup) found 73% of Americans agree with the statement "I know God has a plan for me." Out of this group:

•49% say "the government in Washington is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and private businesses."

•79% say "able-bodied people who are out of work shouldn't receive unemployment checks if they are passing up jobs they can do."

•92% say "anything is possible for those who work hard."

NRB: Social Media Censoring Christians

The National Religious Broadcasters claims the social media are targeting Christians and censoring their viewpoints. The organization says it studied Apple, the iTunes App Store, Google, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, AT&T, Comcast and Verizon and found what it calls "institutionalized religious discrimination.” The one bright spot, according to the report, is Twitter. The social media site has shown "fairness toward Christian opinions" in its written policies. The NRB points to decision's like one by Apple to pull two iPhone apps — one created by Exodus International and another that included the text of a document called the Manhattan Declaration. According to the NRB, only these two apps were removed solely on the basis of their viewpoints on homosexuality.

Church Shooting

A former church member is accused of critically wounding the church's pastor and associate pastor in Lakeland, Florida.

Pastor & Associate Pastor Shot in Church

A gunman is in custody after shooting two people at a central Florida church this morning. Jeremiah Fogel burst into the sanctuary of the Greater Faith Christian Church in Lakeland, wounding pastor William Boss and associate pastor Carl Stewart. Fogel was tackled by parishioners and held until deputies arrived. He had already killed one man at a home before coming to the church. He owns a limousine service.

Atheist group Demonstrates

Christian book retailers see Opportunity

The Washington Post takes a look at how the closing of Borders bookstores may impact Christian retailers here.

Handwritten Bible

The first handwritten Bible in 500 years is now on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. A Minnesota Abby recently finished the 15 year project with goose quilled pens, calf-skinned paper, and homemade inks. The Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville work is two feet tall and three feet wide. Its 1100 pages include pictures, symbols, and imagery.

Megachurch Pastor Launches Site

Controversial megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll has launched a new website focused on theology and culture. PastorMark.tv joins several other sites that Driscoll is involved in - including Resurgence which is designed for church leaders and Acts 29 Network which is for leaders of new churches. Driscoll has made extensive use of new media - he has more than 117,000 Facebook fans and more than 167,000 Twitter followers. The pastor of Seattle's Mars Hill church has found himself in the middle of several controversies, including a recent move into Portland by his church that brought protests from gay rights groups.

Tearing Out Pages of the Bible

A atheist group in California is threatening to rip out pages of a Bible tomorrow afternoon. Backyard Skeptics says it plans to gather at the the Huntington Beach pier and tell people about parts of the Bible that are immoral. The same group posted a billboard this summer that said “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.”

Obama Reads Psalm 46

President Obama read from Psalm 46 as part of the ceremony at the World Trade Center site to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. See the video below.

What would Jesus hack?

The Economist looks at "Just how much does Christian doctrine have in common with the open-source software movement?" here.

Mel Gibson Plans Maccabee Movie

Mel Gibson plans to make a film about Judah Maccabee, the Jewish hero whose story is commemorated in the celebration of Hanukkah. Gibson says he sees parallels between Maccabee’s story and the modern day church because of corruption in organized religion. The film will follow Maccabee who joins his father and four brothers to lead the Jewish revolt against the Greek-Syrian armies in the second century B.C. It's possible Gibson could act in the film, but he is more likely to remain behind the camera and direct.

Ad Campaign Banned

Britain has banned a mobile phone company ad commercial showing a cartoon Jesus who winks and offers a thumbs-up sign. The Phones 4 U campaign, which carried the slogan, "Miraculous deals on Samsung Galaxy Android phones," was nixed by the country's advertising watchdog group because the ad appears to be mocking the Christian faith. Phones 4 U said it regretted the ad campaign and that it offended people.

The Jefferson Bible

Thomas Jefferson’s edited bible will be published in color in November. Although it was once called The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, it's typically referred to as “The Jefferson Bible.” The founding father hoped to crop all but the most critical parts of Christ’s teachings from the Bible. HE literally cut and pasted his selections with a razor, creating a single story from the four Gospels. He left out anything miraculous and references to divinity. The final product was not published until after his death. It was intended to be a primer for the Indians on Jesus' teachings. The new version will be printed by Smithsonian in hardcover with introduction by Smithsonian curators Barbara Clark Smith and Harry Rubenstein.

Theology a hot Topic on the Campaign Trail

Read the story here.

Megachurch Gets Kicked out of Facilities

A Kansas megachurch is losing its home. Read the story here.

Theft of Christian CDs

Music CDs stolen from Knoxville Christian bookstore. Read the story here.

School Sells TV Station

Baylor is selling its Waco, Texas PBS TV station to a pastor who says three people tried to extort millions of dollars from him to stay quiet about an affair. Marcus Lamb founded the DayStar Television Network and heads the group buying the TV station, Community Television Educators for a quarter of a million dollars. It went off the air a year ago because of financial problems. Lamb says he decided to admit to the affair publicly because of the extortion attempt.

Santorum's View on Marriage Challenged

CNN’s Piers Morgan accuses presidential candidate Rick Santorum of bigotry. Read the story here.

The New Yorker and Francis Schaeffer

Ryan Lizza wrote an article in the The New Yorker about Michele Bachmann’s intellectual formation. It includes a negative portrayal of Christian theologian and philosopher Francis Schaeffer. Read a rebuttal here in the New York Times.

College Loses Religious Speech Case

The Supreme Court has decided not to hear an appeal by the University of Wisconsin in a case involving funding religious speech. A student group called Badger Catholic Inc. asked for $253,000 in funding from UW Madison's fee system which supports hundreds of student organizations. The school withheld $35,000 of the amount that was going to go for activities the University deemed “proselytizing, religious instruction and worship.” Badger Catholic sued, arguing that the decision amounted to discrimination against religious speech. The 7th Circuit Court agreed in a 2-1 decision.

Earthquake Church to Rebuild

A church located near the center of the Virginia earthquake plans to rebuilt. WTOP radio files a report here.

Koran-Burning Pastor to Ground Zero

Florida pastor Terry Jones says he'll be in New York during ceremonies marking the 9/11 terror attacks. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading the anniversary events. Jones says he will protest the exclusion of first responders and clergy from the program. He came to national attention when he threatened to burn a Koran.

School lnvestigates Singers

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is investigating a Christian singing group. Officials are questioning a decision to remove a member who is gay. Members of the group say the decision had nothing to do with the singer's sexual orientation, but UNC is looking into whether the cappella group Psalm 100 broke the university’s nondiscrimination policy.

Egyptian Leader

Egyptian telecommunications billionaire Naguib Sawiris wants to become the next president of the country. He has started a political party called the Free Egyptian Party and wants to create a secular democratic government in Egypt. What many in the West will find interesting is that he is a Coptic Christian who stands in opposition to the Muslim majority and Islamist threat his country faces.

A very muscular brand of Christianity

The Guardian takes a look at "Why Jesus has undergone a macho makeover" in an article here.

Saving Aimee

Kathie Lee Gifford is telling the story of faith healer Aimee Semple McPherson through her musical Saving Aimee at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. The promotional material for the show describes the story this way:

Tangled with scandalous love affairs and a tabloid-frenzied trial, this powerful new musical tells the real-life story of Aimee Semple McPherson — the charismatic leader of a theatrical super church in 1920s L.A. who was equally passionate about saving souls and making headlines.

Scientology fined $413,000

The Church of Scientology owes the city of Clearwater more than $410,000 in fines. The city's code enforcement board unanimously to fine the church for not getting its new building up to snuff fast enough. The church first applied for a building permit in 1999 and work started the next year, but stopped in 2004. After two years passed with no progress, the city started fining the group for allowing its permit to lapse to the tuen of $250 day. That ended in June of this year when the city finally issued the certificate of occupancy. The church has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal.

Clergy Banned from 9/11 Memorial Service

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg won't allow clergy to attend a memorial service marking 10 years since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Here is a report on the story from Fox News.

Eddie Long Accusers Speak Out

Two of the men who accused megachurch pastor Eddie Long of coercing them into sexual relationships gave an extensive interview to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Read an excerpt here.

Jay Bakker on CNN

Pastor Never Attended Liberty

Liberty University says a South Carolina pastor who faces rape charges never attended the school founded by Jerry Falwell. Dale Richardson is the pastor at Freedom Free Will Baptist Church in Ladson, South Carolina. Prosecutors say he kidnapped three women at gunpoint, assaulting one of the women behind the church sanctuary.

Mega church makes mega commitment to Charlotte

WBTV reports on what Elevation Church is calling its "Orange Initiative."

Pastor Accused of Raping Women at Church

A Baptist preacher is facing charges he raped three women, at least one of them behind his church. WCIV-TV has a video report.