The
Pasyon of the Philippines atimes.com 4/17/4 ["Filipinos tend
to equate suffering with truth, and therefore equate the goriness
of The Passion with accuracy - an "accuracy" they are taking as
evidence of the authenticity of their faith: that if Jesus
suffered more than any mortal could withstand, he must certainly
be God. The emphasis, contrary to the Gospels, is neither on
Jesus' teaching nor his Resurrection but on his torment and
death. "]
Report:
Gibson Wants to Bring Unedited 'Passion' to TV sg.news.yahoo.com 4/16/4
["Icon has made it clear to prospective buyers that the film must run in its
entirety and that even some of the more graphic scenes of beatings cannot be
edited down" "the film's home video release, expected to hit later this
year through 20th Century Fox."]
Furor
Over Popular Religion Novels cbsnews.com 4/16/4 [Left Behind: "Rossing
charges that the series preaches despair, and distorts biblical teaching about
the future, Mideast politics and social responsibility. To her, it "glorifies
violence and war," exploits "Americans' love for disaster films and survivalist
plot lines" and in general "attacks the heart of Christianity.""]
Poll:
America's Evangelicals More and More Mainstream But Insecure pbs.org 4/16/4
["In contrast, evangelical leaders Franklin Graham and James Dobson are both
viewed favorably by 73% of all evangelicals, and Pope John Paul II is viewed
more favorably by all evangelicals (59%) than either Falwell or Robertson."]
Growing
secularism diminishes Easter canada.com 4/10/4 ["Today is one of the
holiest days in the Christian calendar. But you'd never know it."]
Catholic
Conversion abcnews.go.com 4/10/4 ["Some 150,000 Americans will officially
become Catholics this Holy Saturday," "attributes the numbers of those
joining the church to the idea that in uncertain times, Americans find a "real
anchor" in the Catholic faith."]
Christianity
Relics Exhibit Draws Crowds foxnews.com 4/9/4 ["This past weekend, more
than 12,000 people waited in line in St. Louis to catch a glimpse" "said
each relic has documentation of its authenticity from the Vatican."]
RELIGION
- U.N. Faithful Eye Global Religion insightmag.com 4/8/5 [U.N.'s Millennium
Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders]
The
ABC of Holy Week opinionjournal.com 4/7/4 [Jesus and Paul - Peter Jennings
-confused Christianity with teachings of Catholicism]
'Passion'
tops $100 mil o'seas news.yahoo.com 4/7/4 [almost half a billion worldwide]
Detroit
looks to prayer, community action to help curb wave of violence freep.com
4/5/4 ["mayor and police chief joined a coalition of ministers in prayer as
they called on residents to join them in ending a culture of violence in the
city."]
Raiders
of the Lost Ark haaretz.com 4/5/4 ["Jewish sources say that the Ark will be
discovered a short time before the coming of the Messiah. Nachmanides wrote
that the Ark would be discovered "during the construction of the Temple or in
future wars before the coming of the Messiah king." Rabbi Getz also believed
that finding the Ark and/or Temple artifacts would serve as a catalyst for the
coming of the Messiah."]
Mormons
celebrate successes sltrib.com 4/4/4 ["As the church's rolls have expanded
to nearly 12 million -- with more outside the United States than in it -- so
have its efforts to provide for members' physical needs, he said. "]
Catholic
converts to be welcomed indystar.com 4/3/4 ["An estimated 150,000 Americans
will formally become Catholics on April 10, a sign church leaders call "good
news in challenging times." "But I was delighted to find that the numbers
signing the Book of the Elect were higher than last year." - no thanks,
passion]
On
tour with the harbingers of doom guardian.co.uk 4/1/4 ["Left Behind series"
"Americans don't just have to rely on the Bible anymore"]
Many
Protestant ministers not willing to serve small churches, study says
pastors.com 4/1/4 ["Work in smaller churches also is seen as less prestigious
in the eyes of some, Ray said. Small-church ministry is viewed as a stepping
stone to larger churches with better-paying positions."]
Plans
unveiled for construction of Catholic university coxnews.com
3/29/4 [""The Passion of the Christ" was released, but
Healy thinks the school will benefit from the movie, which he
says has reawakened people's faith."]
Moscow
bans Jehovah's Witnesses canada.com 3/28/4 ["under a
provision that allows courts to ban religious groups believed
to incite hatred or intolerant behaviour."]
Some
Believers Cringe at 'Under God' Defense nytimes.com 3/27/4 ["said
the phrase was not a prayer or a ritual. It was only one of
the constitutionally permissible "civic and ceremonial
acknowledgments" of the religious heritage on which the nation
was founded."]
Emerging
church rises newsobserver.com 3/27/4 ["Congregations
attract young people with focus on multimedia and authenticity"
- walking by sight, not by faith. shallow.]
'Passion'
fosters new moviegoers dailynews.com
3/26/4 ["
What is most significant about attracting
nonregular moviegoers, Fithian said, is that
they were exposed to an entirely new level of
theater-going experience with stadium seating
now at most multiplexes and such features as
digital presentation in some."]
Atheist
Newdow Loses Suit on Prayer in Congress
reuters.com 3/25/4
And next...the anti-'Passion'
nydailynews.com 3/22/4 ["Due in 2005, Ron Howard's 'Da
Vinci Code' movie will spark another religious
furor"]
What
a trend we have in Jesus detnews.com
3/21/4 ["... but is pop culture looking for
religion - or entertainment?"]
'The
Passion' and 'The Da Vinci Code' spur
religious book sales detnews.com 3/21/4 [Both
twisted and dangerous to your faith and
doctrine - Blasphemy]
The
next Great Awakening? suntimes.com 3/21/4 ["From
'The Passion' to The Purpose-Driven Life,
superficial God-talk in the public square is
being replaced by complex -- and equally
public -- conversations about faith..."
"Religious
labels are growing increasingly relative.
While many people will still give a sectarian
answer when asked what religion they are,
often they attach a caveat to their answer."]
Church
Jury Acquits Gay Methodist Pastor
customwire.ap.org 3/21/4 ["after
many hours of painful and prayerful
deliberations, and listening for and to the
word of God."]
Actor Who
Plays Jesus in "The Passion" Thanked Holy Father for Letter to Artists
zenit.org 3/18/4 ["Caviezel added. "When you see Mel Gibson's film, is it
Protestant? Is it Muslim? Is it Catholic? What do you see? It is very
Catholic, very universal. It is a great way to introduce people to what it means
to be Catholic: It is universal, for all peoples, for all times." Proverbs 14:12
Proverbs 16:25]
Gibson
convinced 'evil all around us' worldnetdaily.com 3/18/4 ["When asked by
Hannity which stories he might be inclined to do, Gibson responded: "The story
that's always fired my imagination ... is the Book of Maccabees." - the
Apocrypha!]
Tutu warns on fundamentalism news24.com 3/18/4 ["Religious fundamentalism is
on the rise, Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu warned the United Nations on Wednesday"
"said he believes all faiths seek the same God - "Christians don't have a corner
on the God market," he joked - and he urged UN workers to see their work as a
spiritual calling." John 14:6]
No False
Profits; 'Passion' Makes Mel $700 Million Richer infobeat.com 3/17/4
["Gibson, a devout Catholic, is expected to give up as much as $100 million of
his new riches to the Catholic Church in donations and tithes."
Editor sarcasm: thank you, protestants, for your generous financial support of
the Catholic church. This will also help make up a lot of the money they
lost from the sex abuse scandal.]
Pope Meets With
'Passion' Star Jim Caviezel foxnews.com 3/16/4 ["who then blessed the
devoutly Roman Catholic actor"]
Conservative bishops defy Episcopal Church leaders in conflict over gay bishop
boston.com 3/15/4 ["The six congregations are part of a nationwide protest
movement of conservative Episcopalians who oppose homosexual activity on
biblical grounds." - I wish Baptist-crowd churches would take this kind of
stand]
Mel Gibson's
Lethal Religion atimes.com 3/15/4 [MUST READ - "The US is a by-product
of the Protestant Reformation's purge of pagan elements in Christianity, and the
enthusiasm for The Passion of the Christ among Protestant evangelicals suggests
that they have forgotten more than they have learned."]
President lauds church program at White
House-sponsored event bpnews.net 3/13/4
[faith-based promo]
Vatican sermon criticises Passion
news.bbc.co.uk 3/12/4 ["if the
film spread the belief that all Jews were
responsible for Christ's death, it should be
criticised."]
The Jesuit scholar who translated `The Passion'
metromix.chicagotribune.com
Passion, Catholicism, and Christianity
badgerherald.com ["Gibson
manages to use powerful images to summarize the
Catholic Doctrine of the Real Presence and
meaning of the Mass." "For Catholics, it
offers an excellent opportunity to contemplate
the person of Jesus Christ and thus gain a
deeper appreciation of the Mass and a better
disposition when approaching the Sacraments."]
Christian school bans Potter pub.tv2.no
["However, the Vatican’s spokesperson Father
Peter Fleetwood defends the Potter books."]
Powerful Catholic movement opens surge for new
saint tribune.net.ph [Opus Dei]
Worshippers take 'Passion' back to church
washtimes.com 3/7/4
["members of mainline denominations,
inspired by the movie, are committing to
spiritual disciplines during Lent, and Catholics
are returning to their faith, pastors said."
"of St. Andrew Catholic Church said his
parish... was packed on Ash Wednesday"]
THIS I BELIEVE...
newswithviews.com
3/5/4 [what does
Bush believe?]
Mel Gibson's triumph worldnetdaily.com
3/5/4 ["To cradle Catholics who can
recite the lines of each episode before they are
uttered, it is faithful to the Gospels, to the
Stations of the Cross, to the Sorrowful
Mysteries of the Rosary."]
Papal Rosary Will Reach 10 Capitals zenit.org
3/5/4 ["Capitals
of the 10 countries that will soon enter the
European Union will participate when John Paul
II leads the praying of a rosary on European
University Day." ""Christ,
Europe's Hope" is the title of the 2nd European
University Day"]
Attorney Says Court Order Crosses Line, Violates
Church Sovereignty
headlines.agapepress.org 3/4/4 ["But instead of
following the procedures outlined by the church,
the small group sued, challenging the right of a
congregationally-based church to decide who
could or could not be church members." "no
pastor should ever have to compromise simply to
avoid intervention by the State!"]
Churches gather to pray for unity
anglicanjournal.com 3/2/4 ["Celebrating
an ecumenical service..." "Roman
Catholic, Orthodox, Methodist, Lutheran,
independent churches and Muslim groups conducted
inter-church services"]
California court tells Church to provide birth
control cathnews.com 3/2/4 ["has ruled
that the Catholic Church's charitable
institutions in the state must provide
contraceptive coverage in health insurance plans
for employees. "]
'666' Shows Up on 'Passion' Movie Tickets
foxnews.com 3/2/4 [hmmm....]
Wary on abuse but hopeful, Catholics return to
church boston.com 3/2/4 [the Passion might just reaffirm their beliefs/doctrine, too]
CATHOLIC EVANGELISM?
understandthetimes.org 3/1/4
Fundamentalist cheerleading for Gibson's Passion
-- an oxymoron jewsweek.com 3/1/4 [by Rabbi Marc Howard
Wilson "If Gibson is a devout Catholic, why are the
Fundamental Protestants his biggest supporters?"]
Euro rules force Church bodies to employ
atheists telegraph.co.uk 2/28/4 [and
Satanists]
What's Catholic About 'The Passion'? A Lot
beliefnet.com 2/27/04
"'The Passion' … for Its Author, Is a Mass"
zenit.org 2/27/04
'Passion' Nails $26.6 Million on First Day
boxofficemojo.com 2/27/04 ["the $30 million
production took in a whopping $26,556,573 on
Wednesday – ironically prompting most in the
industry to use the Lord's name in vain out of
sheer amazement."]
Christ goodies sold themercury.news.com.au 2/25/4
Protestants drawn to 'Passion' despite its Catholic
perspective oregonlive.com 2/24/04 ["why
now are evangelical Protestants lining up to sell, see and
suffer a very Catholic interpretation of the suffering of
Jesus"]
The Passion of Mel Gibson christianitytoday.com
2/24/04 ["He
prefers the Tridentine Latin Mass and calls Mary co-redemptrix." "...beginning each day of filming
with the celebration of the Mass on the set" -
speaks somewhat favorably about the mystic nun, Emmerich]
Will film about Christ inspire belief or hatred?
theunionleader.com 2/24/04 ["Cunningham said unlike the Gibson
film, the gospel writers focus on the resurrection, not the
suffering, of Jesus."]
The Greatest Story Ever Told family.org 2/24/04
[James Dobson: "First, although accurate to the
biblical account..." "...There are no specific
references to unique Catholic doctrine in the film"]
Selling the Savior nydailynews.com 2/23/4 ["Has a movie ever been marketed
as cynically as this story of Jesus?"]
'Jesus'
Nail Sale nypost.com 2/21/4
Marriage Changes May Shake Churches' Tax Exemptions
cnsnews.com 2/23/4 ["...including the possibility that
churches could be stripped of their tax-exempt status."
""If same-sex marriage was deemed a fundamental human right,
would churches still be allowed to ban such things and also
claim a tax exemption?" "The best-known case of ...
revoking a non-profit's tax exemption ...Bob Jones University
lost"
- ic editor: I am not worried about the
tax-exempt, as the church should not be a 501c3; but I am
concerned about the possible future intrusions this portends.]
Most believe Bible stories 'literally true'
Evolution reinstated into curriculum onlineathens.com
2/14/04 ["and goes farther than the state's current standards
to back the teaching of the theory."]
American Air Apologizes for Proselytizing Pilot
reuters.com
Students Want To Drop 'Christian' From Vermont Constitution
thedenverchannel.com 2/13/4 ["so long as this doesn't affect
public order and safety." - they forgot morality.
First the Boys Scouts, Then Churches? cnsnews.com
2/12/4
Mel on hell: Even the missus may miss out on salvation
azcentral.com 2/11/4 ["'There is no salvation for those
outside the (Catholic) church,' Gibson replied. 'I believe
it.'"]
France tries to draw a veil over its real Islamic problem
straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 2/9/4
Pilot suggested passengers discuss Christianity during
LA-to-New York flight sfgate.com 2/8/4
What they said about ... guardian.co.uk 2/7/4 ["...
the French ban on hijabs"]
President Delivers Remarks at 52nd Annual National Prayer
Breakfast whitehouse.gov 2/7/4 ["Christians and Jews
and Muslims have too often been divided by old suspicions, but
we are called to act as what we are -- the sons and daughters
of Abraham."]
Religion linked to economic growth taipeitimes.com
2/1/4 ["a belief in hell encourages
individual traits such as honesty, a work ethic, thrift and
openness to strangers"]
Why
I Write These Columns: An Open Letter To Christian
Conservatives chuckbaldwinlive.com 1/30/4 [Is Bush
God's 'anointed'? - Good Read!!
Muslims gather for climax of annual pilgrimage
guardian.co.uk 1/30/4 ["the
biggest annual mass movement of people on the planet"
"...make the Muslims triumphant and destroy their enemies..."]
Saudi Arabia says ready for anything at haj
reuters.com 1/28/04 ["two million Muslims gathering for the
annual haj pilgrimage." "The main rites of the five-day
pilgrimage begin on Friday."]
Jews urged to emphasize Temple Mount worldnetdaily.com
1/28/04
‘Christian Terrorists’ abcnews.go.com 1/27/04 ["is
following the example of violent Islamic fundamentalists,
telling those who share his views to become "Christian
terrorists" and promising them a reward in Heaven." - tie this
in what most people think about Christians due to 'Left
Behind'...]
US megachurches bring shopping mall theology to
thirtysomethings news.telegraph.co.uk 1/26/04 ["This
is the United States' latest religious phenomenon"]
Christian churches are opening the door to Antichrist with
outcome-based religion cuttingedge.org 1/26/04
Pastor Says Some Churches Seizing Christ's Lordship with
'Reinvented' Gospel headlines.agapepress.org 1/26/04
Bringing the bible back to life nzz.ch 1/17/04
Survey: Only Half of Pastors Have 'Biblical' Worldview
headlines.agapepress.org 1/15/04 ["it
includes a belief in absolute moral truth as defined by
scripture, as well as acceptance of six core biblical beliefs:
the accuracy of biblical teaching, the sinless nature of
Jesus, the literal existence of Satan, the omnipotence and
omniscience of God, salvation by grace alone, and the personal
responsibility to evangelize." "The
low percentage of Christians who have a biblical worldview is
a direct reflection of the fact that half of our primary
religious teachers and leaders do not have one" "few
have a biblical worldview -- which the researcher says has
a radical effect on a person's life. He says
individuals' attitudes, beliefs, values, and opinions
determine their behavior."]
Kwanzaa put on par with other 'religions'
worldnetdaily.com 1/7/4 [McClellan defends president honoring
invented holiday]
WND goes inside 'mainstream' Muslim conference.
worldnetdaily.com 1/4/4 [Part 1 of 3]
Split widens over gay Episcopal bishop
christianexaminer.com 1/4/4
