Christianity

Conservative Christian Responses to Halloween

October 27, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 27, 2000, the Los Angeles Times published an article entitled "Aiming to Scare the Devil Out of You: Conservative Christians are Finding Alternatives to Halloween." Christian-themed haunted houses use real-life terror themes like drunken driving, gang shootings and drug overdoses, taking back "a pagan holiday and giving it back to God's Glory" according to Shawn Anthony, a 29-year-old pastor and director of Harvest Outreach, a national evangelical organization aimed at teenagers. 42 Orange County churches participated...

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Disagreement with 'Voters' Guide' Distribution in Church

October 25, 2000

Source: The Plain Dealer

On October 25, 2000, The Plain Dealer reported that, "just days after the Christian Coalition began a massive mailing of 70 million of its controversial voter guides, two leading church-state watchdog groups have announced their own counter-offensive aimed at key battleground states in the Nov. 7 election. The Interfaith Alliance, a broad-based coalition of moderate and liberal religious groups, will release a letter from clergy to fellow clergy in seven battleground states and nine others today urging them not to distribute the...

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High-tech Church Opens in Dallas

October 23, 2000

Source: The Denver Rocky Mountain News

On October 23, 2000, The Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that, "something big happened in Dallas on Sunday, and it wasn't a football game. Bishop T.D. Jakes and a host of other national and world religious leaders dedicated what's being called the country's most technologically innovative church facility. Imagine this: power and data terminals at 200 seats, allowing worshippers to download sermon notes and power point presentations on their laptops. Altar attendants with Palm Pilots, allowing immediate input of...

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National Council of Churches to Hold Ecumenical Meeting

October 23, 2000

Source: The New York Times

On October 23, 2000, The New York Times reported that, "the National Council of Churches, a venerable but financially straitened organization that represents 35 Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches, plans to seek an unusual meeting next year. The meeting, which would bring Christian leaders together across historical dividing lines, might even eventually lead the council into a broader, more diverse coalition if other Christian groups agreed. The proposed meeting -- to which Roman Catholics, evangelical Protestants and...

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Controversy Over Prayers at Football Games

October 22, 2000

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On October 22, 2000, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that, "the U.S. Supreme Court continues to place restrictions on prayer and religious activity involving public schools. But several DeKalb County high schools are testing the limits of the law by having Baptist ministers serve as chaplains to school football teams. The ministers, including televangelist Bishop Eddie Long and some of his associates at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, provide pregame prayers and devotionals. 'It has a...

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Election 2000

October 22, 2000

Source: The New York Times

On October 22, 2000, The New York Times reported that "at New Salem Missionary Baptist, the little country church in Tennessee where Senator Albert Gore's private funeral was held, folks were not at all sure that a woman should be allowed to speak from the pulpit, even if she was an Episcopal bishop, in from Washington, D.C. And some mourners on the other side of the cultural and religious divide that day did not understand them or their point of view. 'At the New Salem Bible Thumping Good News Evangelical High Hope Church --...

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Election 2000

October 22, 2000

Source: The New York Times

On October 22, 2000, The New York Times reported that "James Robison, a television evangelist who once led stadium crusades and is now host of a Christian talk show in Dallas, said he received a phone call last Sunday from a believer who asked if they could pray together. It was Gov. George W. Bush of Texas, looking for help in preparing for the third and final presidential debate, Mr. Robison said. 'I told him, 'You're not going to know every answer to every question,' ' Mr. Robison said, so on the telephone together they...

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Diwali Celebrated

October 21, 2000

Source: The Seattle Times

On October 21, 2000, The Seattle Times reported that "the Roman Catholic Church sent greetings to the world's Hindus as they prepared for Diwali new year celebrations. It expressed the hope that improving interfaith relations will benefit world harmony and peace. 'May the world around us, particularly the world of the oppressed, the marginalized, the forgotten ones and the innocent victims of injustice, feel the warmth of our growing relationship,' said a letter written by Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the...

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Interfaith Prayer Vigil Held for Children

October 21, 2000

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On October 21, 2000, The Baltimore Sun reported that "the hum of gospel hymns, clapping hands and fervent prayer echoed off the glass walls of the office towers surrounding Charles Center Plaza yesterday as young and old gathered to observe an interfaith Sabbath for children. About 100 Christians, Jews and Muslims joined hands and voices as they prayed for the youth in Baltimore in a local vigil that was part of the Children's Sabbath, an annual event sponsored by the National Children's Defense Fund. As part of the observance,...

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Clergy Object to Christian Coalition Voters Guides

October 13, 2000

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On October 13, 2000, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "A group of clergy from Missouri mailed 3,000 letters this week to pastors, rabbis, imams and other spiritual leaders across the state asking them not to distribute the voters guides from the Christian Coalition of America." The guides focus on the two major candidates for US President, Al Gore and George W. Bush. The Coalition is especially concerned with the "marriage tax penalty and other tax issues, abortion and school vouchers." Some are concerned that...

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Babysitting Swap Between Methodist Church, Reform Congregation

October 12, 2000

Source: The Washington Post

On October 12, 2000, The Washington Post reported that "members of Evergreen Church, a new United Methodist congregation in Leesburg, helped out the Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation during the recent Jewish High Holy Days, watching young members while their parents worshiped at the Ruritan Club in Sterling. The Rev. Chip Giessler, Evergreen's pastor, said he proposed the swap last year when his church was about to celebrate its first Easter service. 'We didn't want to have to pull anyone out of services to care for the...

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New Mascot to be More Inclusive

October 10, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 10, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "the quest for a politically correct Christian mascot for Wheaton College has ended. The former Crusaders are now...the Thunder. The decision concludes two years of soul-searching and debate at the conservative Illinois college, whose alumni include evangelist Billy Graham. A few months ago, Wheaton's president sacked the Crusader emblem, saying it was too barbaric for modern times and offensive to Muslims and Jews. A committee was appointed to find a 'gender-neutral,' '...

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Numbers of Catholic Nuns Dwindling; Mississippi Order Fighting to Leave Their Legacy

October 10, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 10, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "during Barbara Dreher's first year as province director of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, 27 elderly nuns died. More important, no young women enrolled to take their place. Those who remained were aging rapidly, and the order lacked the long-term resources to care for them. A mortality study showed that the 350-year-old order was destined to disappear one day without a trace. Dreher's leadership team took drastic action. They sold property and cut living...

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