Shea Gets Award

The group that presents the Grammys is giving George Beverly Shea a Lifetime Achievement Award. Shea will be 102 next month when he picks up the award. Best-known for singing at Billy Graham's crusades, he has recorded more than 500 vocal solos and more than 70 albums. He has 10 Grammy nominations and won one Grammy. The Guinness Book of World Records says Shea holds the mark for singing in front of the most people (220 million). His first wife, Erma, died in 1976. In 1985, he married Karlene and now live near Billy Graham in North Carolina.

Kardashian Tithing

Kim Kardashian told CNN's Piers Morgan last night that she tithes her yearly income. The reality star said, "Whatever it is, I give 10% away to the church, and that's what I was taught." Her sister was asked whether she tithes and Kourtney Kardashian said with a laugh, "I'm going to now. I was taught that, too, but I forgot about it."

More Happiness for Couples that Wait

Researchers at Brigham Young University say they've found evidence to support abstinence. They asked survey participants about their sexual activity in their marriage, how often they attended church, pray, and whether spirituality was an important part of their lives. They found people who delay having sex had better relationships in four ways: Better communication, sexual activity, relationship satisfaction, and stability. Details are in the Journal of Family Psychology.

Sundance

Films about faith and religion are prominent at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Two that are attention are Salvation Boulevard where Pierce Brosnan stars as a corrupt charismatic preacher of a Christian spiritual community and Farmiga, which tells the story of an Iowa farm girl who becomes a born-again Christian in the 1970s.

Muslim Growth

If trends continue, more than one person in four will be a Muslim by 2030, according to a study. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found the number will reach 2.2 billion. of Muslims in the US will more than double in the next 20 years.

Hall of Fame Inductees

Johnny Cash was among those inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame Monday. Joining him were the Golden Gate Quartet, DeGarmo & Key, and disc jockey Bill "Hoss" Allen. Larry Gatlin and comedian Chonda Pierce served as hosts for the ceremonies at the Trinity Broadcast Network's Trinity Music City Auditorium in Hendersonville, Tennessee.. Performers included Ricky Skaggs, the Oak Ridge Boys, Trace Adkins, Russ Taff and Jeremy Camp

Haggard: I'm Bisexual

Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard says he's a bisexual. Haggard was forced out of his church after his relationship to a male prostitute became public. In an interview with GQ magazine, he talks about the man and his use of drugs. Haggard told the interviewer he would likely call himself a "bisexual" if not for his belief system and family. Haggard is back in Colorado Springs where is is leading a small independent church.

Pastors Protest BP

A group of 40 people including many Black pastors protested at the Calvary Baptist Church in Kenner, Louisiana against BP. They are complaining that the oil company was slow making payments to their churches. The pastors say the spill cut into their donations.

What Billy Graham Regrets

Billy Graham says he regrets getting into politics. During an interview with Christianity Today, Graham spoke about what he would had done differently in his life:

I ... would have steered clear of politics. I'm grateful for the opportunities God gave me to minister to people in high places; people in power have spiritual and personal needs like everyone else, and often they have no one to talk to. But looking back I know I sometimes crossed the line, and I wouldn't do that now."

President Obama visited the 92-year-old evangelist at his log cabin in North Carolina in April of last year.

Dog Killed for Chewing on Bible

A South Carolina woman is facing charges she abused her nephew's dog for chewing on her Bible. Prosecutors say Miriam Smith of Spartanburg used an electrical cord to hang the dog and burn its body. Police say she called it a "devil dog." She had apparently left the Bible on her porch. Smith could get as much as five years in prison.

Osteen on CNN

Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen will appear tonight on Piers Morgan's new CNN show. In the prerecorded interview, Morgan asked Osteen about homosexuality. Here's a clip.

Cutting Ties with Interfaith Group

Southern Baptists are parting ways with an interfaith coalition that works against discrimination against Muslims in the building of mosques. The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques was started by the Anti-Defamation League. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, announced his intention to withdraw from the group this past Friday.

The Rite

Anthony Hopkins says he used to be an atheist but now, "I'm not sure what I believe. I think there's something at the back of everything. And I think the film presents an interesting debate, and I respect people's beliefs, whether they're atheists or believers." The film the actor is referring to is titled The Rite. He reprises his role as Hannibal Lecter in the movie that opens Friday. Hopkins says a real exorcist, a priest, was on the set for consultation during the production. The story focuses on a young deacon played by Colin O'Donoghue who isn't sure there is a God, or a Devil.

Hopkins has told reporters in interviews this week, "If someone believes in God, who am I to argue with that? Who am I to question the faith of people like Einstein, Kepler, Charles Darwin, who were themselves great scientists and yet believed in a deity? I do read everything I can. For this project, I read On the Origin of Species, and I've read the Psalms of Bonhoeffer, and his life story. I've read everything I possibly can. The only certainty is death. My only philosophy is that if this is it, if this is the only life there is, I may as well enjoy it. And if it's not - maybe there's something beyond this, and this is all a dream - then I may as well enjoy it as well. It's a double-win situation."

Katy Perry: Christianity Still Important to Me

Katy Perry says her new husband has stopped making jokes about religion because it upsets her. She says British comedian Russell Brand used to make blasphemous jokes, but seldom does now because the 26-year-old former Christian singer objects to it. She tells The Sun that Christianity is still an important part of her life. She also told the British paper that she is offended by Madonna's use of a crucifixion as part of her stage show, which includes the singer performing a song from a cross. Perry says, "For me, spirituality is something very important and I don't like it when people take it lightly. At times, I don't understand why there are artists who play that card, like when Madonna gets up on a cross to sing." The singer had already told the media about her objection for Lady Gaga putting a rosary in her mouth.

University Settles Suit

A college researcher who sued the University of Kentucky will get $125,000 for what he called a case of religious discrimination. C. Martin Gaskell was in line to get a position that would put him in charge of a new astronomical observatory until university officials questioned his views on evolution and that he valued "intelligent design" arguments. Gaskell has said he believes in theistic evolution, that the process of evolution was guided by some intelligent being. The University says the settlement avoids a lengthy court battle, which would have benefited no one.

Abortion Doctor Arrested

A Philadelphia abortion doctor is facing murder charges for allegedly killing babies that could have survived. Prosecutors say Kermit Gosnell cut their spinal cords of seven breathing babies with scissors after removing them from mothers late in their pregnancies. Prosecutors say there is amble evidence that the babies could have survived and that this may have happened hundreds of times. State law in Pennsylvania prohibits abortion after 24 weeks except to save the life of the mother or avoid serious health risk to her.

Pastor Banned From Country

The UK has banned Florida pastor Terry Jones from entering the country. Jones threatened to burn a Koran last year. He was recently invited to speak to a controversial group and is planning to "put the Koran on trial" at his Gainesville, Florida church.

Rapper Picks Up Bible

Lil Wayne says while serving time in jail he began reading the Bible. Following his 11 months in Rikers Island prison in New York, the rapper told Rolling Stone he read some musician's bios and "I also read the Bible for the first time. It was deep! I liked the parts where some character was once this, but he ended up being that. Like he'd be dissing Jesus, and then he ends up being a saint. That was cool."

Governor Apologizes

Alabama's Governor is apologizing for saying anyone who wasn't a Christian was also not his brother or sister. Robert Bentley made the inauguration day remarks at a church once led by Martin Luther King Jr. Bentley says he intends to be a governor for all, not just Christians. The one-time Southern Baptist deacon was decried by The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish for the remarks.

Landmines at the Jordan

The area at the Jordan River near Jericho, where it is believed John the Baptist baptized Jesus, is surrounded by thousands of land mines. Isreal has issued warnings but the military says the Qasr el-Yahud area is free of mines because it sweeps the area regularly. Some 8000 have been found and removed during 2010. Israel took control of the area in 1967.