Christianity

Bush Calls the "Sons and Daughters of Abraham" to Action

February 5, 2004

Source: US Newswire

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=111-02052004

On February 5, 2004 US Newswire published the remarks by President Bush at the annual Prayer Breakfast: "There's another part our heritage we are showing in Iraq, and that is the great American tradition of religious tolerance. the Iraqi people are mostly Muslims, and we respect the faith they practice. Our troops in Iraq have helped to refurbish mosques, have treated Muslim...

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Christians to Use Gibson Film to Evangelize

February 5, 2004

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/national/05CHRI.html

On February 5, 2004 The New York Times reported, "Three weeks before the release of 'The Passion of the Christ,' a graphic portrayal of the torture and crucifixion of Jesus, Christians nationwide are busy preparing to use it in an immense grass-roots evangelistic campaign.

Mr. Gibson, who produced, directed and largely financed the film, has tried to stoke their enthusiasm by...

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Gibson to Remove Controversial Scene from Film

February 4, 2004

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/04/movies/04PASS.html

On February 4, 2004 The New York Times reported that "Mel Gibson, responding to focus groups as much as to protests by Jewish critics, has decided to delete a controversial scene about Jews from his film, 'The Passion of the Christ,' a close associate said today.

A scene in the film, in which the Jewish high priest Caiaphas calls down a kind of curse on the Jewish people by...

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Two New Churches to Be Built in Beijing

February 3, 2004

Source: Xinhuanet

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-02/03/content_1296290.htm

On February 3, 2004 Xinhuanet reported, "For the first time in more than half a century, two Christian churches will be built in the capital city. At the same time, plans to renovate two ancient temples for Buddhist and Taoist religious rites are in the works. It is the first time churches are going up in the city since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. One...

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Vietnamese New Year at the "Universal Church"

February 1, 2004

Source: The Central City Appeal

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/centralcity_appeal/article/0,1426,MCA_15698_2611627,00.htm

On February 1, 2004 The Central City Appeal reported on celebrations for the Vietnamese New Year at Sacred Heart Church in Memphis Tenn. "Sacred Heart is the church home of Memphis Catholics from around the world: Vietnam, Portugal, India, Canada, Mexico, Central America, England, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and...

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Interfaith Service in South Carolina

January 31, 2004

Source: The State

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/7840904.htm

On January 31, 2004 The State reported, "People of faith from a wide range of traditions came together at Washington Street United Methodist Church Friday night to affirm their commitment to fight poverty and injustice in the world. The interfaith worship service, which drew a diverse crowd of more than 200, was part of the People’s Agenda for Economic Justice, a two-day effort...

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National Christian Council Concerned Over Increased Violence Toward Christians

January 31, 2004

Source: Daily News

http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/01/31/new13.html

On January 31, 2004 the Daily News reported on statement released by the National Christian Council in Sri Lanka on the violence against Christians in that country. The statement read, "The National Christian Council is gravely concerned over the continuous stirring up of resentment against Christians and the increasing incidence of unchecked violence directed at Christian places of worship. It is obvious from...

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Jesus in America Reflects Diversity

January 31, 2004

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.projo.com/ap/ma/1075580031.htm

On January 31, 2004 The Associated Press reported, "Readers looking for the one true Jesus won't find him in Boston University professor Stephen Prothero's new book 'American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon.' Instead, they will discover the extraordinary range of identities Jesus has assumed in American culture - in art, music, literature and more - over the past four centuries. The range...

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Opinion: Secularism Essential for a Cohesive Society; Religious Symbols Promote Individualism

January 30, 2004

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/30/opinion/30COQ.html

On January 30, 2004 The New York Times ran an op-ed piece by Guy Coq, author of a book on secularism in France, in which he argued for the value of laïcité, the closed French word to "secularism." Coq writes, "Our uneasiness about head scarves and other religious symbols in schools is a result of our long, often painful, history. If we bow to demands to allow the practice of religion...

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Christian Coalition Serves the President

January 30, 2004

Source: BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3445229.stm

On January 30, 2004 the BBC reported, "An increasingly polarised presidential election appears to be in the offing. One of the fault-lines is religion and, in particular, President George W Bush's evangelical faith and how that guides his political beliefs." The article outlines the muscle of the Christian coalition, many of whom are hoping that President Bush will help "keep the deterioration of society at bay...

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Pope Issues Statements to Sikhs on French Religious Symbols Ban

January 30, 2004

Source: SikhNetwork

http://www.sikhnet.com/s/PopeMessage

On January 30, 2004 the SikhNetwork reported, "[T]he Vatican issued a message from His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Tarlochan Singh, Chairman National Commission for Minorities in India in response to Tarlochan Singh's previous communication to the Vatican regarding the proposed ban on the turban for Sikhs in the schools of France...[The Pope writes,] 'Communities of believers, an expression of the religious...

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Christians Act Against Gibson's The Passion

January 30, 2004

Source: Forward

http://www.forward.com/issues/2004/04.01.30/news7.html

On January 30, 2004 Forward reported, "With the controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" set to open next month, some Christian groups are launching campaigns to counter theological errors that may exist in Mel Gibson's account of the death of Jesus, while several Roman Catholic scholars are calling on their church to outline publicly its doctrinal belief as a counterbalance to the movie....

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Controversy Over Tenn. Schools' "Christmas Break"

January 30, 2004

Source: The Commercial Appeal

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_2615673,00.html

On January 30, 2004 The Commercial Appeal reported that "Shelby County school officials will ditch political correctness and call a midyear vacation Christmas break. The name change is either a nonissue or a sign of religious insensitivity, depending on whom you ask. Tim Wildmon of the Tupelo-based American Family Association said...

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