Religion News

PBS: God In America

3:57 pm EST September 3rd, 2010 | History, Religion | 20 Comments

This looks pretty awesome. And since its from PBS/Frontline/American Experience it’ll be an accurate look at faith in America, and not Glenn Beck’s perversion of it.

Sikh Attacked, Called “Al Qaeda”

4:30 pm EST August 31st, 2010 | Religion | 16 Comments

Thanks Fox, thanks GOP, thanks Harry Reid.

A 35-year-old Seattle man is facing assault and hate crime charges following allegations that he accosted a clerk at a Queen Anne convenience store.

According to police, Brock Stainbrook derided the man as being a terrorist during the Tuesday morning incident.

Writing the court, a Seattle detective said Stainbrook entered the 7-11 store in at 362 Denny Way. The clerk was standing near a coffee machine when Stainbrook accosted him.

‘For unknown reasons a person threw change on the floor near the victim’s feet then punched the victim on the left side of the head,’ the detective said.

‘After the suspect struck (the clerk) with his fist he said, ‘You’re not even American, you’re Al-Qaeda. Go back to your country.”

Topic: Crime, Islam, Seattle

Orrin Hatch Supports “Ground Zero Mosque”, Kudos To Him

10:52 am EST August 31st, 2010 | Religion | 8 Comments

orrin hatch

God knows I basically disagree with everything Sen. Orrin Hatch stands for, but on this issue he stands head and shoulders over the cowardly position of a Harry Reid.

In an interview over the weekend with Fox 13 News in Salt Lake City, Hatch noted that ‘there’s a huge . . . lack of support throughout the country for Islam to build that mosque there, but that should not make a difference if they decide to do it.’

‘I’d be the first to stand up for their rights,’ said Hatch, a Mormon and longtime supporter of religious freedom who was behind legislation passed in 2000, known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which aims to protect houses of worship from undue burdens and discrimination from local zoning statutes and other laws.

‘So, if the Muslims own that property, that private property, and they want to build a mosque there, they should have the right to do so,’ Hatch said, noting also that the local Manhattan community board had overwhelmingly approved the construction of the Islamic Center, now known as Park51.

Topic: Orrin Hatch

Opposition To “Ground Zero Mosque” Aids The Taliban

9:57 am EST August 30th, 2010 | Religion | 80 Comments

harry reid Talk about actually undermining the troops in a time of war.

Taliban officials know it’s sacrilegious to hope a mosque will not be built, but that’s exactly what they’re wishing for: the success of the fiery campaign to block the proposed Islamic cultural center and prayer room near the site of the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan. ‘By preventing this mosque from being built, America is doing us a big favor,’ Taliban operative Zabihullah tells NEWSWEEK. (Like many Afghans, he uses a single name.) ‘It’s providing us with more recruits, donations, and popular support.’

America’s enemies in Afghanistan are delighted by the vehement public opposition to the proposed ‘Ground Zero mosque.’ The backlash against the project has drawn the heaviest e-mail response ever on jihadi Web sites, Zabihullah claims—far bigger even than France’s ban on burqas earlier this year. (That was big, he recalls: ‘We received many e-mails asking for advice on how Muslims should react to the hijab ban, and how they can punish France.’) This time the target is America itself. ‘We are getting even more messages of support and solidarity on the mosque issue and questions about how to fight back against this outrage.’

Topic: Afghanistan, Ground Zero Mosque, Islam, Taliban

Tennessee Mosque Site Torched Via Arson

12:27 pm EST August 29th, 2010 | Conservative, Religion | 142 Comments

In trying economic times, opportunistic political movements demonize the “other” and the result is often violence against ethnic minorities.

Are we seriously so stupid and far gone that we’re going to recreate 1930s Germany?

Topic: Islam

In 2006, Glenn Beck Praised “Ground Zero Mosque” Imam Rauf

8:44 am EST August 23rd, 2010 | Conservative, Religion | 100 Comments

Just the latest bit of evidence that conservative outrage is simply fabricated over this issue.

But Beck does not need to take our word for it that Imam Rauf is a moderate who distances himself from radicals — Rauf told Beck as much while sitting at the same table with him during a 2006 discussion on ABC’s Good Morning America.

During the ABC segment, Rauf condemned the extremists who issued death threats against the Pope and political cartoonists, specifically saying that ‘these reactions are not at all called for by Islamic teaching. The teachings of Islam are very similar to the teachings of Christianity, of loving the one God and loving thy neighbor. These are the two common principles.’

When Diane Sawyer mentioned that Imam Rauf says the radicals are just a ‘group of people’ and ‘not him,’ Beck seemed to agree, saying ‘sure, sure.’ He added, ‘I believe it’s a small portion of Islam that is acting in these ways.’

Beck, of course, is now one of those leading the charge in attacking the Islamic community center and its leaders.

Conservatism is a scam.

Topic: Fox News, Glenn Beck, Ground Zero Mosque

Daily Show: Team Mohammed Vs. Team Jesus

12:40 pm EST August 20th, 2010 | Humor, Religion | 1 Comment

And only one will walk away.

VIDEO: Obama Defends Right To Build “Ground Zero Mosque”

8:35 pm EST August 13th, 2010 | Religion | 112 Comments

From remarks at White House Iftar Dinner, as prepared:

That is not to say that religion is without controversy. Recently, attention has been focused on the construction of mosques in certain communities – particularly in New York. Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.

But let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are. The writ of our Founders must endure.

We must never forget those who we lost so tragically on 9/11, and we must always honor those who have led our response to that attack – from the firefighters who charged up smoke-filled staircases, to our troops who are serving in Afghanistan today. And let us always remember who we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for. Our enemies respect no freedom of religion. Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam – it is a gross distortion of Islam. These are not religious leaders – these are terrorists who murder innocent men, women and children. In fact, al Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion – and that list of victims includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11.

That is who we are fighting against. And the reason that we will win this fight is not simply the strength of our arms – it is the strength of our values. The democracy that we uphold. The freedoms that we cherish. The laws that we apply without regard to race or religion; wealth or status. Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect to those who are different from us – a way of life that stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today.

In my inaugural address, I said that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth. That diversity can bring difficult debates. Indeed, past eras have seen controversies about the construction of synagogues or Catholic churches. But time and again, the American people have demonstrated that we can work through these issues, stay true to our core values, and emerge stronger for it. So it must be – and will be – today.

Topic: Islam, President Obama

Religious Right Org: No Mosques, We’re Bigots

6:19 pm EST August 11th, 2010 | Conservative, Religion | 27 Comments

At the very least, you can’t deny that the American Family Association wears its bigotry right on its sleeve:

Like most far-right Christian zealots, Fischer really hates Muslims. Like a lot. Indeed, as Right Wing Watch notes, “Fischer was hating Muslims long before it was the cool conservative thing to do.” In the past, he’s suggested that the “most compassionate” thing to do would be to deport all Muslims back to “Muslim countries.” He’s even managed to fit his two favorite targets into the same conspiracy, theorizing in April that the military is run by “fundamentalist Muslims and homosexual activists.” In a post yesterday, Fischer brings us the crazy yet again, this time calling on the government to prohibit mosques from being built anywhere in the United States. Period.

I put bigots like this above the usual suspects from the right, because they don’t cover their hatred in legalese and disinformation. They just come right out and say it. It’s a shame such people apparently go into church and actually call themselves “Christians.”