America is not digging religion

A new Gallup poll says that confidence in organized religion — though not Roman Catholicism — has hit a new low of 42 percent. (Confidence among Catholics has steadied after some rough hits around the church sexual abuse scandal of the ’80s-’90s.)

And if there was no historic Yeshua ben Yosef?

This Salon piece (linked there from Alternet) lists five reasons that point to the notion that Jesus never existed. I find this conversation fascinating. If Jesus (as I know Jesus, the Jesus of my Sunday school lessons) wasn’t the son of God, was strictly a charismatic rabbi around whom a religion was built, would that …

In which I disagree with The Hill website:

The headline is “Mixing Christianity and Politics Is Killing the Church,” and I get the point the author is making. I do. The piece is exploring Texas’ so-called Pastor Protection bill, which would “protect” clergy in that state from performing rites and rituals for people they don’t want to, but mostly the gays. Mixing Christianity …

A Duggar spin-off show? Are you fucking kidding me?

Several news websites reported late yesterday that the Duggars — the face of the Quiverfull movement, with a sexual predator in their midst — are mulling over a spin-off television show that will focus on the next generation — though the new show won’t include the sexual predator, one would suppose. (Did everyone see this? …

I cannot let the Duggars go

That benighted family owes me nothing: No. Thing. But the story of Josh Duggar’s sexual abuse of children  strikes every chord for me. That the show may have been cancelled doesn’t mean squat to me. I am listening, as I type this, to old-time gospel music on Pandora, which I never do because it makes …

And the No. 1 Christian book of the year is?

Rick Warren’s weight lost book, “The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life.” It comes with a special Daniel t-shirt. No lie. Here’s a bit more about the Biblical character, Daniel. And thanks, Leftover, for the link.

Can the swatiska be reclaimed?

A Jewish student at George Washington University posted a swatiska on a fraternity bulletin board, and faces expulsion. The student said he brought the shape back from a spring break trip to India. But the swastika’s shape — for Buddhists and Hindus — has a whole different meaning. From the cutline to the photo above, …

Looking for a patron saint for Holy Week?

Here‘s how you can find your match, using the Myers-Briggs type indicator. And thanks, Patrice, for letting me steal this off of you on Facebook.

The problem with some religion…

Yeah, I know. I edited it a little, but still.

The last really good day

I spent Saturday in New York with friends, including one who is a PK. On the train on the way back, she mentioned that she had palms in her garage that she needed to get to church early yesterday morning — Palm Sunday. Easter Week is profoundly sad to me, the kind of sadness that …