Religion News

Herman Cain Would Like To Remind You: He Hates Muslims

12:50 pm EST July 18th, 2011 | Conservative, Religion, Republicans | 24 Comments

Herman Cain isn’t going to get the Republican nomination, but until the day he drops out he’s going to spend his time saying horrible things that pander to the worst of the right’s base. Already he’s on record for not allowing Muslims in his cabinet, or requiring a special loyalty oath from them. Now the GOP’s most outwardly bigoted candidate targets mosques:

During a discussion on “Fox News Sunday” of a proposed mosque in Murfreesboro, Tenn. that has drawn protests, legal challenges and even arson, host Chris Wallace asked the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO his feelings about communities that wish to ban mosques.

“Yes, they have the right to do that,” Cain replied.

No, none of these people have either read the constitution nor have they understood it.

Topic: 2012 Election, Herman Cain

Newsweek’s Offensive Mormon Cover

7:47 am EST June 9th, 2011 | Media, Religion | 34 Comments

Hey Newsweek, this is not okay.

Frankly, it is about as far away from okay as you can get. Newsweek’s current cover mashing up The Book Of Mormon musical with Mitt Romney would probably be too much for Mad Magazine, and their entire business model is predicated on uncomfortable stabs at humor. But on the cover of one of the two major newsweeklies, it is just too much.

I’m obviously no fan of Mitt Romney or his brand of politics, but this cover trivializes his Mormon faith in a way that simply wouldn’t be acceptable with mainline Christian politicians. It just wouldn’t. Romney is a legitimate candidate for the presidency who doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment from a publication that purports to be a serious journalism product.

I don’t even think this cover would be tasteful in the hands of an ideological publication opposed to Romney and his ideas (eg. The Nation, The American Prospect), let alone Newsweek. If we’re going to have an atmosphere that encourages and embraces freedom of religion (or the lack thereof) we should be respectful of denominations no matter how small.

I think Newsweek went with this cover for a couple of reasons.

One, Mormonism is not often in step with mainstream American Christianity, and is unlikely to prompt outcries of solidarity when it is attacked or smeared. That is, a guy like the Catholic League’s Bill Donohue is unlikely to defend Mormons with the same zeal he attacks victims of Catholic church abuse. It’s a cheap hit that doesn’t cost them anything.

Secondly, and more obviously, Newsweek is desperate. In recent weeks Newsweek’s covers have showcased The Olsen Twins and the royal wedding (and there was that pinup-style Palin cover from a couple years ago). There isn’t anything wrong with a provocative cover on a newsweekly designed to sell issues, but those covers made much more sense when People magazine did them.

Tina Brown is presiding over the merged Daily Beast/Newsweek in a bid to be relevant once again (doomed to fail, I predict) and covers like this are the byproduct. I can hear the editorial team now: OMG! He’s a Mormon, let’s Photoshop him onto the poster of that Mormon play that’s doing so well right now! Because… Mormon!

It’s lazy thinking, bigoted, and simply not okay. Our fellow Americans, who happen to practice Mormonism, deserve better than this.

Topic: Mitt Romney, Newsweek

What Liberal Media? Peter King’s Anti-Muslim Hearing Edition

10:45 am EST March 10th, 2011 | Media, Religion | 55 Comments

Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN Cut Away From Ranking Democrat During “Radicalization” Hearings

ALSO: Rep. Ellison Breaks Into Tears Explaining Story Of Muslim First Responder Who Died To Save Americans On 9/11

This entire exercise by the GOP is sick. This is a sad day for America.

Topic: CNN, Fox News, Islam, MSNBC, Peter King, US House

Muslim Groups Protest Peter King Anti-Muslim Witchhunt

1:32 pm EST February 4th, 2011 | Religion | Comments Off

51 muslim groups have asked Rep. Peter King to give up on his planned anti-Muslim HUAC hearings. He refused. Typical.

Dear American Media:

5:19 pm EST September 11th, 2010 | Media, Religion | 27 Comments

Every time you shove a camera in the face of some one-off nutjob kook who wants to deface a holy book you’re helping to pull the trigger on the next terrorist bomb or gun that kills a US serviceman/woman or innocent civilian.

Yes, you’re in a competitive new world and the standards have been thrown out the window, but is it really worth a few extra viewers or pageviews to have people’s blood on your hands?

This is not the way back to profits. This isn’t providing insight, it isn’t adding to the store of learned knowledge, and hell, it isn’t even entertaining.

Please, stop.

A Concerned Citizen.

Topic: 9/11, Christianity, Ground Zero Mosque, Islam, Terrorism

Obama Defends Liberty: “We Don’t Differentiate Between Them & Us. It’s Just Us.”

2:25 pm EST September 10th, 2010 | Religion | 44 Comments

Obama

In contrast to what I was angry about with him on yesterday, President Obama was near pitch-perfect in defense of the American value of religious liberty with regards to the “ground zero mosque” fake controversy:

With respect to the mosque in New York, you know, I think I’ve been pretty clear on my position here. And that is is that this country stands for the proposition that all men and women are created equal, that they have certain inalienable rights. One of those inalienable rights is to practice their religion freely. And what that means is that if you could build a church on a site, you could build a synagogue on a site, if you could build a Hindu temple on a site, then you should be able to build a mosque on a site.

Now, I recognize the extraordinary sensitivities around 9/11. You know, I — I’ve met with families of 9/11 victims in the past. You know, I can only imagine the — the continuing pain and anguish and sense of loss that they may go through. And tomorrow, we as Americans are going to be joining them in prayer and remembrance.

But I go back to what I said earlier. We are not at war against Islam. We’re at war against terrorist organizations that have distorted Islam or falsely used the banner of Islam to engage in their destructive acts.

And we’ve got to be clear about that. We’ve got to be clear about that because if we’re going to deal with the problems that Ed Henry (of CNN) was talking about, if we’re going to successfully reduce the terrorist threat, then we need all the allies we can get.

The — the folks who are most interested in a war between the United States or the West and Islam are Al Qaida. That’s what they’ve been banking on.

And, fortunately, the overwhelming majority of Muslims around the world are peace-loving, are interested in the same things that you and I are interested in: How do I make sure I can get a good job? How can I make sure that my kids get a decent education? How can I make sure I’m safe? How can I improve my lot in life? And so they have rejected this violent ideology for the most part — overwhelmingly.

And — and so from a national security interest, we want to be clear about who the enemy is here. It’s a handful of — a tiny minority of people who are engaging in horrific acts, and have killed Muslims more than anybody else.

The other reason it’s important for us to remember that is because we’ve got millions of Muslim Americans, our fellow citizens, in this country. They’re going to school with our kids. They’re our neighbors. They’re our friends. They’re our co-workers.

And, you know, when we start acting as if their religion is somehow offensive, what are we saying to them?

: I’ve got Muslims who are fighting in Afghanistan in the uniform of the United States armed services. They’re out there putting their lives on the line for us, and we’ve got to make sure that we are crystal clear, for our sakes and their sakes, they are Americans, and we honor their service.

And part of honoring their service is making sure that they understand that we don’t differentiate between them and us. It’s just us. And that is a principle that I think is — is — is going to be very important for us to — to sustain. And I think tomorrow is an excellent time for us to — to reflect on that.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Topic: First Amendment, Ground Zero Mosque, Islam, President Obama

Opponents Of “Ground Zero Mosque” Mostly Just Hate Islam

11:15 am EST September 9th, 2010 | Religion | 37 Comments

sarah palin Of course, we knew that already. I will never understand why we collectively pretend some of these things don’t exist in order to make bigots feel better about themselves.

According to the internals sent my way, opposition to the Ground Zero mosque is overwhelmingly driven by those with an unfavorable view of Islam:

* Fifty-five percent of those who have favorable views of the religion say it should be built.

* Meanwhile, among those who have an unfavorable view of Islam, an overwhelming 87 percent say the project shouldn’t be built, with 74 percent strongly opposed.

Topic: Ground Zero Mosque, Islam

VIDEO: Secretary Of State Clinton Condemns Koran Burning

6:44 am EST September 8th, 2010 | Religion | 42 Comments

This is just embarrassing internationally. Stop it, America.

Topic: Hillary Clinton, Islam

New Republic Editor In Chief Marty Peretz: Muslims Unworthy Of 1st Amendment

11:28 am EST September 7th, 2010 | Religion | 16 Comments

stupid

Peretz:

But, frankly, Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims. And among those Muslims led by the Imam Rauf there is hardly one who has raised a fuss about the routine and random bloodshed that defines their brotherhood. So, yes, I wonder whether I need honor these people and pretend that they are worthy of the privileges of the First Amendment which I have in my gut the sense that they will abuse.

With repeated anti-Muslim hate speech from Peretz and the magazine’s support of the Iraq War, despite the occasional good work from some writers there, can we please quit pretending TNR is on the left. In this department, it could be argued that they’re even worse than National Review or The Weekly Standard. (via)

Topic: Islam, Marty Peretz, The New Republic

Petraeus Explicitly Compares Extreme Religious Right To Taliban

10:14 am EST September 7th, 2010 | Religion | 54 Comments

Petraeus

No doubt the accomodationist left will clutch their pearls and the righties will reach for their fainting couches, but Petraeus is spot on.

Gen. David H. Petraeus on Tuesday denounced plans by a Florida church to burn copies of the Koran this weekend, saying the demonstration could ‘endanger troops’ and damage the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan.

‘It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems,’ Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said in a statement. ‘Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community.’

Topic: American Taliban, David Petraeus, Islam, Religious Right