A sign of the (new) times? Organizers of an evangelical summer camp for children featured in the documentary "Jesus Camp" are discontinuing the camp because of negative reaction sparked by the film and recent vandalism at the camp site in Devils Lake, North Dakota. "We have decided to hold different activities in future," Pentecostal pastor and camp organizer Becky Fischer … Read More
Evangelicals In Crisis
What John says: And it’s a very welcome crisis, I think – not in the "I hate the religious right, let them suffer" kind of way, but rather, in the "the religious right has gotten away from Jesus" kind of way. They no longer represent Jesus’ teachings, they now represent Ceasar’s. The religious right has "gone too far," says Hamilton. … Read More
Haggard Fesses Up; So Does Doogie
CNN: Less than 24 hours after being fired from the mega-church he founded, evangelical Pastor Ted Haggard confessed to a "lifelong" sexual problem. In a letter read to members of his New Life Church Sunday, Haggard said he is "a deceiver and a liar." Haggard apologized to his congregation in the letter and asked for their forgiveness. You like irony? … Read More
Haggard Shadenfreude
UPDATE: By the way, many think this scandal will impact the election, as it is likely to lessen the evangelical vote. Among those who think that is Stephen Bennett, a top spokesman of the religious right. According to AmericaBlog, Bennett sent out an email: Stephen ended, "Will this affect the elections next Tuesday? Are Republicans disenfranchised with the hypocrisy within … Read More
Another Dirty Gay Evangelical?
Ted Haggard, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, an organization that represents millions of people. Ted Haggard, founder and senior leader of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, a megachurch with 14,000 members. Ted Haggard, who appeared in Time‘s list of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. Reverand Ted Haggard, married with five children and an outspoken … Read More
Good Christians Hate Halloween
An actual excerpt from the Christian-published children’s book, "Mommy, Why Don’t We Celebrate Halloween?" ‘October 31st again and all the kids are trick-or-treating,’ said Jerry as he looked out the window in front of his house. ‘Mom, why can’t we go trick-or-treating like all the other kids? Are you afraid we’ll eat too much candy and our teeth will rot?’ … Read More
Meet The New Christian Coalition
Yup. The group founded by Pat Robertson has a new man-in-charge, and guess what? He actually seems like a pretty reasonable guy. The Carpetbagger gives the scoop: His name is Dr. Joel C. Hunter. He pastors an interdenominational church in Orlando, Fla., and he sounds like a — moderate. Well, at least on some issues. Associated Baptist Press, a news … Read More
Bush And The Religious Right
CBS: David Kuo is an evangelical Christian and card-carrying member of the religious right, who got a job in the White House in the president’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He thought it was a dream-come-true: a chance to work for a president whose vision about compassionate conservatism would be matched with sweeping legislation to help the poor. But … Read More
Armey Vs. Dobson
Dick Armey, former House Majority Leader from 1995-2003) is a conservative and a Christian. He was one of the architects of the "Republican Revolution" of the 1990s, in which Republicans were elected to majorities of both houses of Congress, and the chief author of the Republican Contract with America. And he’s had it with James Dobson and the Christian Conservative … Read More
This Foley-Hastert-gate Thing Is Just Getting Weird Now
So what a second. House speaker Dennis Hastert has met this morning with an evangelical leader who knew al-Qaeda’s Abu Musab al-Zarqawi “when he was nobody”? An evangelical leader who has counselled Saddam Hussein, Muammar al-Khaddafi, Slobodan Milosevic, Liberia’s Charles Taylor, and Tom Delay? And they discussed whether or not Hastert should resign? UPDATE: Weirder and weirder. The evangelical that … Read More
War On Christmas Accessories
Well, it’s autumn. Which means Thankgiving approaches. Which means Christmas is just around the corner Which means it’s time to get your gear on for the next skirmish in the "War on Christmas"(TM) The American Family Association is willing to take your money to FIGHT for your right to have K-Mart employees wish you a "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy … Read More
Republicans: Bad For Rapture
Preacher says GOP delaying 2nd coming: Voters should oust congressional Republican leaders because U.S. foreign policy is delaying the second coming of Jesus Christ, according to a evangelical preacher trying to influence closely contested political races. K.A. Paul railed against the war in Iraq on Sunday before a crowd of 1,000 at the New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights, … Read More
GOP Losing Christian Right
Wow. That title felt really good to type. But it’s true. The evangelical base that Karl and Ken have worked so hard to feed and care for is deserting the Republican party: A nationwide poll of 1,500 registered voters released yesterday by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 57 percent of white evangelicals are inclined to vote for Republican … Read More
Dream Research
Here’s some quotes from an article describing recent dream research: Liberals are more restless sleepers and have a higher number of bizarre, surreal dreams — including fantasy settings and a wide variety of sexual encounters. Woo-hoo! Conservatives’ dreams were, on average, far more mundane and focused on realistic people, situations and settings. They dream about people having a panel discussion … Read More
Jesus Now Takes Debit/Credit Cards
That’s nice.