Author: Al Webb

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=17392

Rejecting protests by Christian groups, Britain's advertising watchdog agency has given the go-ahead to a campaign to plaster atheist signs on hundreds of buses and other vehicles across the country.

The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the campaign, which uses the slogan "There's probably no God," was unlikely to mislead or "cause...

Author: Ibon Villelabeitia

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50L08720090122

In a remote village near the Turkish-Syrian border, a land dispute with neighboring villages is threatening the future of one of the world's oldest functioning Christian monasteries.

Critics say the dispute, which has become a rallying cry for Christian church groups across Europe, is a new chapter in the long history of...

Author: Michael Paulson

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2009/01/21/controversial_evangelist_warren_asks_for_civility_humility/

His arms outstretched and his head bowed in prayer, the Rev. Rick Warren opened the inauguration of President Barack H. Obama yesterday with an explicitly Christian prayer calling for "a more just, a more healthy,...

Author: Suzanne Sataline

Source: The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123249891036400529.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The Rev. Rick Warren, by invoking the name of Jesus as he's known in several faiths, heralded the historic presidency Tuesday of an African-American man elected by Americans of multiple races, ethnicities and cultures.

Mr. Warren, one of the country's most prominent evangelical ministers...

Author: Rachel Zoll

Source: The Associated Press

Author: Diana L. Eck

Source: Politico

http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Diana_Eck_BF022A9C-D543-4407-B0DA-DA3E3103BB82.html

As a latecomer to this discussion, here is a word about Rick Warren's address to the annual meeting of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Long Beach on Saturday, December 20. When MPAC announced that Warren would speak at its annual conference, I found it even more astonishing than Obama's...

Author: Duke Helfand

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-beliefs19-2009jan19,0,5650037.story

Like so many presidents before him, Barack Obama has invited a revered guest to his inauguration: God.

Although the Constitution forbids the government from establishing religion, faith is once again figuring prominently into the nation's grandest political pageant, just as it...

Author: Rik Myslewski

Source: The Register

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/19/vatican_youtube/

The Vatican this Friday will announce details of a partnership with Google to launch the Holy See's own YouTube channel.

According to The Telegraph, the channel will offer "video footage and audio of addresses by Pope Benedict XVI," the current occupant of the Papal Apartments in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

This won't be...

Author: Sameer B. Yacoub

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/01/18/iraq_ap_0118.ART_ART_01-18-09_A11_EMCIQLU.html?sid=101

The Christian owner of a car-repair shop was killed execution-style in Mosul, police said yesterday, raising concern about the possibility of new attacks against the religious minority in the northern...

Author: Christine Anne Piesyk

Source: Clarksville Online

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/01/17/christian-cross-does-not-represent-all-deceased-vets-ua-tells-federal-appeal-court/

The Christian cross is not an appropriate symbol to memorialize deceased veterans of many different faith perspectives and should not be displayed on government property, Americans United for...

Author: Graham Keeley

Source: The Times Online

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5526785.ece

The ongoing row between the Catholic Church and the Spanish Government has erupted again after a judge banned the crucifix from a primary school.

The ruling came after parents won a three-year legal battle with the local authorities over a crucifix in Macias Picavea school in Valladolid, northern Spain.

...

Author: Sam Lister

Source: Belfast Telegraph

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/dup-man-urges-religious-fightback-against-no-god-campaign-14140238.html

Christian groups have been urged by a senior DUP politician to launch a counter-strike to the “There is Probably No God” bus advertising campaign.

Gregory Campbell wants alternative...

Author: Joe Moszczynski

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=17345

For nearly 60 years, the town council here started its meetings by reciting the Lord's Prayer. Council members felt the passage gave them guidance and inspiration.

That tradition ended recently after the council's attorney advised members they should heed a request by a resident, an avowed atheist, to stop the practice.

Doug...

Author: Julia Duin

Source: The Washington Times

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/15/faithful-to-celebrate-obama-with-traditional-dance/

A variety of religions will be whooping it up this weekend at something unique in terms of inaugural festivities: religiously oriented balls.

The African American Church Inaugural Ball will have several bishops in attendance. A Masonic ball is scheduled...

Author: Bruce Tomaso

Source: The Dallas Morning News

http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/01/italian-rabbis-withdraw-from-i.html

Italy's rabbis announced they were pulling out of the Italian Catholic Church's annual celebration of Judaism, saying Pope Benedict XVI's actions were turning back 50 years of interfaith progress.

Speaking for the assembly of Italian rabbis, Elia Enrico Richetti, the...