A Broch--Yiddish Swear WordA Broch--Yiddish Swear WordJewish thinking on a Christian world. Insights on Christianity and current events from a Jewish perspective. Articles
Obama: I Take Christian Faith Seriously
2007-02-12 14:28:02 That’s nice Obama , who cares? Better yet, why should we care? Why is religion being discussed so much in this election? How about making sure a Katrina never happens again? How about poverty? Education maybe? For some reason religion is becoming the number one issue in the upcoming 2008 election. IOWA FALLS, Iowa Feb 11, 2007 (AP)? Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Sunday he does not think voters have a litmus test on religion, whether evangelical Christ ian ity or his childhood years in a largely Muslim country. “If your name is Barack Hussein Obama, you can expect it, some of that. I think the majority of voters know that I’m a member of the United Church of Christ, and that I take my faith seriously,” Obama said in an interview with The Associated Press. (more…) More About: Faith , Take
Evolution Sunday links science and religion
2007-02-12 14:28:02 Finally, some people in religion are using their nicely evolved brains to realize that you can believe in God and believe in evolution. SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Coinciding with Charles Darwin?s birthday, hundreds of churches across the nation are taking part in ?Evolution Sunday,? a day to recognize the connections between religion and Darwin?s theory of evolution. “Evolution Sunday is a day to celebrate the compatibility of science and religion, to recognize that evolution has no incompatibility with the Christian faith,” said Reverend Jim Burklo of Sausalito Presbyterian Church. The day is intended to let people know they don?t have to choose between one or the other. But Burklo suggests the public has a long way to go in learning about the subject. This brings up my old posting on this matter. A miracle in evolution, a much larger Christian fish ate a much smaller Darwin fish on the back of a late 198os minivan yesterday. Sorry, hate to break this to you, really ... More About: Science , Religion , Links , Link
Mad at CNN over Wiesel coverage
2007-02-12 14:28:02 Okay CNN what the hell? Why not report on all the details. I mean I work in news and I think that it’s only fair to give people all the information. This is how they reported on the attack on Elie Wiesel. He was dragged out… person asked for an interview… investigating it as a crime. How about talking about the other details? I mean come on guys, this is crucial to the story: ELIE WIESEL ATTACKED IN SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL The Examiner SAN FRANCISCO - In a bizarre attack, a well-known author and Holocaust scholar was dragged out of a San Francisco hotel elevator by an apparent Holocaust denier who reportedly had been trailing him for weeks. In a posting Tuesday on the anti-Zionist Web site ZioPedia, a writer using the name Eric Hunt takes credit for the attack: “After ensuring no women would be traumatized by what I had to do (I had been trailing Wiesel for weeks), I stopped the elevator at the sixth floor. I pulled Wiesel out of the elevator. I said I ... More About: Rage , Cover , Over , Vera , Coverage
Disgusting: Elie Wiesel accosted at peace conference
2007-02-12 14:28:02 How disgusting and hateful. My grandfather is a survivor, haven’t these people suffered enough? I seriously felt sick to my stomach after reading this. There is no excuse for hatred. This is no ordinary “crime.” Investigators must treat this as a hate crime. SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) — Nobel laureate and Holocaust scholar Elie Wiesel was dragged from an elevator and roughed up during a peace conference at a San Francisco hotel last week, police said Friday. The author was not injured. The assailant approached Wiesel in an elevator February 1 at the Argent Hotel and requested an interview, police Sgt. Neville Gittens said. When Wiesel consented to talk in the hotel’s lobby, the man insisted it be done in a hotel room and dragged the 78-year-old off the elevator on the sixth floor, Gittens said. The assailant fled after Wiesel began to scream, and Wiesel went to the lobby and called police. Gittens said police are investigating the incident as a cri... More About: Peace , Cost , Sting , Ferenc , Conference
NC Senator says holy book law will not pass
2007-02-12 14:28:02 State Senator Robert Pittenger (R-Mecklenburg) told a North Carolina television station that a recent bill introduced into the Senate will not pass. The bill calls for the use of other holy books in courts. I’ve been blogging about this for quite some time now. Mecklenburg says the bill has a “five percent chance of passing.” He says that he and fellow Republicans won’t support the bill because using the Christian Bible is what he calls a “matter of tradition.” He quickly added that it is in no way a slight on other faiths. Rrrrrright. He also says that if we allow the use of other books of faith, “i think you would see very clearly that there would not be respect for our American liberties, traditions and freedoms.” So in other words, being Jewish, Muslim or anything else is an assault on America. Got it. More About: Book , Nato , Will , Pass , Holy
Wider Death Penalty Sought
2007-02-12 14:28:02 I don’t get it, how can you be pro-life and pro-death penalty? If you supposedly value life so much, what gives you the right to take it from a grown adult? I’m pro-choice because it’s not my decision to make for other people, it’s not about the rights of a fetus or when conception happens. It’s all about the fact that I cannot make the difficult decision for someone else. But the same people who “value” life so much now want to broaden the death penalty. USA Today reports at least a half-dozen states are considering broadening the death penalty. If the measures pass, child molestation, accomplices to murder, murdering court witnesses will all send you to the death chamber. The article cites Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R-Texas) as saying: “The hope is that these monsters will see that Texas is serious about protecting children. If they understand they could face the ultimate punishment, they might ‘think twice.’” You ... More About: Wide , Death , Death penalty , Penalty , Pena
Catholics slam liberal bloggers hired by Edwards
2007-02-12 14:28:02 Everyone knows that bloggers have opinions and everyone knows that politicians also have opinions. What happens when you put both together, well apparently you offend the Cat holic Church. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, is demanding that presidential candidate John Edwards fire two bloggers hired on for the campaign. Their offense? Apparently the two criticized the pope and the church for its opposition to homosexuality, abortion and contraception, sometimes using profanity Well hot damn. (more…) More About: Hire , Blogger , Blog , Liberal
Florida officials settle lawsuit with faith-based charity organization
2007-02-12 14:28:02 I actually agree with this ruling. Florida officials settled with the Associate of Faith -Based Organization s– now state employees can donate to faith-based charities. The government shouldn’t be in the business of telling people what they can spend money on. Plus, not all faith-based organizations are bad. The the Reform Action Center for example. We owe the settlement to the Christian legal aid organization, Alliance Defense Fund. Recently I’ve been taking flak for being down on Christians. I’m not downing, I’m just reporting the news as it comes in. I for one don’t support every case the ADF takes up, but I’m liberal enough to realize that there’s good in everything. I truly believe in the last lines of Anne Frank’s diary: Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart. Back to the case at hand. Florida’s government said that the Florida State Employees’ Charitable Campaign could not give mo... More About: Lawsuit , Charity , Laws
Bill introduced in NC Senate allows use of different books of faith
2007-02-12 14:28:02 A bill introduced into the North Carolina Senate yesterday will allow people to take courtroom oaths on their holy book of choice. It’s sad that in the 21st century we still have institutionalized prejudices such as this. The bill was introduced after the North Carolina appeals court agreed to hear a lawsuit challenging the existing state law. Current state law says you can only take a court room oath on a Christian Bible. It was a miracle that the lawsuit even made it to the state level, several groups challenged the constitutionality of the case. Believe it or not, a lower court actually agreed with that argument. (more…) More About: Books , Faith , Book , Rent
?The New World? one of the top 10 most redeeming films?
2007-02-04 14:27:01 Yesterday the Christian Post released their top ten most redeeming films of 2006. 10. Children of Men directed by Alfonso Cuarón 9. Akeelah and the Bee directed by Doug Atchison 8. The Three Burials of Mequiades Estrada directed by Tommy Lee Jones 7. Tsotsi directed by Gavin Hood 6. Charlotte’s Web directed by Gary Winick 5. The Second Chance directed by Steve Taylor 4. Joyeux Noel directed by Christian Carion 3. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days directed by Marc Rothemund 2. The N ew World directed by Terrence Malick 1. The Nativity Story directed by Catherine Hardwicke No surprise about number one, but number two? I’m really confused. I actually saw “The New World” on Showtime last night. How in the world was “The New World” redeeming? It’s a film about European brutality and assimilate in the name of the king or be killed. (more…) More About: Film , Films , Top 10
I don?t want my tax dollars to help Christians
2007-02-04 14:27:01 Faith based organizations got a huge boost by President Bush. Just recently in my area alone, the school system farmed out their “at-risk” students’ after-school activity program to a Baptist church. Audit after audit shows all the money is going to Christ ian organizations– eventhough other religions are applying. From the American Jewish Committee: AJC Supports Right to Challenge Executive Branch Spending on Religion February 2, 2007 - New York - The American Jewish Committee today filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the right of taxpayers to challenge presidential spending that violates their religious liberties. The case, Hein v. Freedom From Religion (more…) More About: Tax , Dollar , Christians
Ummm? Rush Limbaugh, you can?t be that stupid?
2007-02-04 14:27:01 In a gist, Rush Limbaugh said yesterday that we need not worry about global warming because God would never let it happen. “I’m not a scientist — in my common man way, I explained to this caller why I do not believe in global warming. I gave as my primary belief that I believe in God.” First, I’m really confused as to how global warming goes against the belief in God… is this a new religion now? Wait, he says that it is, more on that later. The second thing that came into my mind when reading this was the Jewish though of tikkun olam, “repairing the world.” But that’s a concept way beyond comprehending by the likes of Limbaugh. I am, just as a human being, offended by the notion that the automobile I drive and the way I air-condition my home and the way I barbecue outside and the way all of you do the same things, as life for human beings has never, ever been better, I refuse to believe that a loving God creates creatures abl... More About: Hat , Stupid , Rush Limbaugh , That
?They deserve to live their lives like anyone else?
2007-02-04 14:27:01 Irit Rosenblum, director of Israel’s New Family Organization on the registration of the city’s first gay couple: “They deserve to live their lives like anyone else,” she said. “This is more than a legal victory, it is a humanitarian victory and a message for society to be more tolerant.” Like I said before, in the end it’s all about acceptance. Mazel tov Mr. and Mr. Rose! More About: Live , Lives , Anyone , Else
Seperation of church and state means you can?t pray to Jesus
2007-02-04 14:27:01 The debate on my last thread has spilled over and I feel it deserves its own post. To catch you up to speed on the last comment: Are you trying to say that in communities in America where there aren?t any Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, etc, they should be shipped in so that their voice is heard at these townhall meetings? Are you trying to say that the people in these communities should be forced to read from the Koran or Dhammapada simply because the Muslim and Buddhist voice needs to be heard? You say that the Constitution ?clearly states we allow all viewpoints or none at all.? Please show me where this is in the Constitution. The Constitution says that the government will not establish a religion and that religious expression will not be prohibited. Either you are unlearned on Constitutional law or you have a radical interpretation. Also, I don?t understand the last sentence of your post. Are you attacking me because you can?t defend your points? Or am I missing something. You kn... More About: Church , Jesus , State , Church and State , Stat
Oy vey: How Enemies of Religion Misinterpret the First Amendment
2007-02-01 02:24:01 Oy vey, this makes me mad. From the John Birch Society: How Enemies of Religion Misinterpret the First Amendment : No organization has done more to pervert the meaning of the First Amendment’s protection of religion from government interference than the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This should not be at all surprising, when one considers that ACLU founder Thomas Baldwin, a socialist and agnostic, stated, “Communism is the goal.” Since communism is an atheistic political and economic system that views human beings as little more than factors of production, one of the primary goals of the ACLU has been to drive religion from the public square. The ACLU and its allies have twisted the First Amendment, which was meant to protect people of faith, into a sword to be used against them. Thanks to the ACLU’s relentless attacks on religious expression, many courts, instead of allowing religion to flourish, help to suppress expressions of religious faith, desp... More About: Inter , Men
Poll: Americans want less religion in public
2007-02-01 02:24:01 A new Gallup poll found for the third year in a row America ns want less religious influence in public life. The margin however, isn’t that large. Thirty-two percent of American s would like organized religion to have less influence, 27 percent would like it to have more, and 39 percent say that the current amount of influence should be kept as is. A new trend may be emerging: Between 2001 and 2004, Americans were slightly more likely to say that organized religion should have more influence rather than less influence in the country. Since 2005, however, the lines have crossed, and now slightly more Americans say that organized religion should have less influence rather than more influence — although about 4 in 10 say the current level of influence is fine. We may quickly jump to the conclusion that this was reflected in the latest mid-term elections. Don’t be fooled. (more…) More About: Religion , Public , Poll
Religion: The new cultural norm in politics
2007-02-01 02:24:01 Gustav Niebuhr writes in the Washington Post/Newsweek that the latest outpouring of faith based statements by politicians reflects the culture we now live and embrace here in the United States. He makes an excellent point, one’s religion used to be something private and personal. Not anymore, religion is all the rage it seems. Niebuhr wonders outloud if politicians using their facetime on TV for religious statements is a good thing. Regular readers to my blog should already no my point of view. For those of you new here, no it’s not ok for politicians to use religion. “I reject the idea of a candidate using religion in a politically manipulative way, as a signal to that part of the electorate with “ears to hear” (to borrow a phrase). That can be poisonous to politics and religion as well. I also believe that a candidate’s religion should not be accorded a status apart from the other formative ideas and influences in his or her life.” We... More About: Politics , Religion , Cult , Cultura , The N
No room for Jesus: Part IV
2007-02-01 02:24:01 This is the last installment in my series. There seems to be some recent buzz in the Christian blogging community over efforts to convert Jews. From one such site: Outreach Judaism, a leading counter- missionary organization based in New York today launched its new website, offering a free, exhaustive library of information regarding Jews for Jesu s ? multimillion dollar worldwide missionary campaigns, including a point-by-point audio response to their plans to convert Jews to Christianity. The report continues, in a delightfully pugilistic tone Yes, God forbid that Jews convert! Let?s all get together and launch a website urging Christians not to convert to Islam, and Muslims not to convert to Judaism, or Christianity! Or Hindus? Or Taoists? After all, freedom of religion and religious conversion is a one way street- you may become US but you may never become other than US. This is offensive to me because I don’t try to convert, in fact my religion frowns on proselytizing. ... More About: Part , Room
Huckabee: Faith Should Influence Policies
2007-01-31 02:23:01 Former governor of Arkansas and Southern Baptist minister Mike Huckabee threw is hat into the presidential race. In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press he makes an intereting point: “Christianity doesn’t make me think I’m better than someone. It makes me know that I’m not as good as I really need to be.” As good as who and what? He also said on the program: “[I wouldn’t] replace the Capitol Dome with a steeple or change the legislative sessions for prayer meetings.” According to Christian Broadcasting Network News Huckabee is a staunch opponent of abortion rights and gay marriage. He also is quoted as saying, his faith would motivate him to improve health, education and the environment, while protecting life and traditional marriage. Sounds more like leading with the Christian Bible and not with the secular thought of separation of church and state. More About: Faith , Policies , Should , Influence
Public Expressions of Religion Act
2007-01-31 02:23:01 Sen. Brownback’s actions will only setback religious freedom in the United States. It is the taxpayer’s job to pay to ensure everyone’s liberties are being protected. Brownback Reintroduces Public Expressions of Religion Act Would require all parties in Establishment Clause cases to pay their own legal fees Contact: Brian Hart, Becky Ogilvie, both for Sam Brownback, United States Senator ? Kansas, 202-224-6521 WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 /Standard Newswire/ — U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today reintroduced the Public Expressions of Religion Act, which would prevent activist groups from using a 1970s-era civil rights law to recover attorney’s fees when they sue local cities and towns in cases related to public displays of religion and faith. (more…) More About: Press , Ligi
Jews for Jesus and Messianic Jews (and a little about the Reform movement):
2007-01-31 02:23:01 A regular reader of mine brought up an interesting point, are there any other qualities besides religion that you can use to call yourself Jewish? Another reader asked how can Reform Jews be Jewish. All of these questions will be answered in this post. Jewish identity can be confusing to some, we can belong to a nation (figuratively and literally)– as we used to joke in college “are you a member of the tribe?” — ethnicity, religion and culture. There’s the traditional thinking that says if your mother was Jewish than the children are as well. Reoform congregations take this a step further and say that you’re Jewish if either of your parents are. But what exactly does that mean? If the child converts to a different religion are you a Catholic Jew or something of the like? This is where some people get confused and believe that there is a Jewish race. Like I stated before, the general thought in the Jewish community is that there is no such thing... More About: Jesus , Men , Messi
Reform Jewish Leader Condemns Eilat Suicide Bombing
2007-01-31 02:23:01 Feldman: Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of those wounded and killed today and whose names have been added to the heartbreakingly long list of Israeli men, women and children whose lives have been cut short by the violence of terrorism.Contact: Rachel Slomovitz or Elissa Froman 202.387.2800 | news@rac.org New York, New York, January 29, 2007- In response to today?s suicide bombing in Eilat that claimed 3 innocent lives, Rabbi Marla Feldman, Director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement: ?We are deeply saddened by today?s tragic suicide bombing in Eilat that took the lives of 3 innocent civilians. This base action has again targeted innocent people trying to function in their daily lives and persevere in a climate already rife with tension. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of those wounded and killed today and whose names have been added to the heartbreakingly long list of Israeli men, women and child... More About: Jewish , Suicide , Wish , Bomb
Suicide Bomber: Update 4
2007-01-31 02:23:01 Now several hours after the attack we get a full description and reaction from US officials. So from incident to full report it takes the US media about six hours to turn a complete story. AP-Israel-Explosion (Tops) New reaction to Israel attack EILAT, Israel (AP) - An Islamic Jihad Web site says today’s suicide attack in Israel was meant to bring rival Palestinian factions together. The bomber and three people died in the blast at a bakery in the southern Israeli resort town of Eilat. It’s the first such attack in Israel in nine months. The Islamic Jihad Web site says the attack was — quoting here – “necessary to end the infighting and point the guns toward the occupation that has hurt the Palestinian people.” Hamas praised the bombing as a “natural response” to Israeli policies. (more…) More About: Update , Suicide , Bomb , Suicide Bomber , Bomber
The attacks continue: update #3
2007-01-31 02:23:01 Note: If you look at the three posts I’ve written so far it gives you a good idea how the media reports on incidents like this. It starts out as a news alert on the wire, then background information is provided and now with this update enough information is given to run with the story on TV because sound is provided. AP-Israel-Explosion (Tops) Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for blast EILAT, Israel (AP) - Radical Palestinians claim responsibility for a deadly suicide attack in Israel. A bomber attacked a bakery in the southern resort town of Eilat, killing himself and three other people. (more…) More About: Update , Attacks , The A , Tacks , Attack
The attacks continue: updated
2007-01-31 02:23:01 I work in the news biz, hot off the wire. AP-Israel-Explosion Suicide blast kills bomber, three others in Israel JERUSALEM (AP) - It’s the first suicide bombing in Israel in months. Police say a bomber attacked a bakery in the southern resort town of Eilat today, killing himself and three other people. There’s no claim of responsibility. Police initially suspected the blast might have been an accident or a criminal act unrelated to terrorism. Eilat is located on the Red Sea, near the Jordanian and Egyptian border. It’s been largely insulated from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The last suicide bombing in Israel was in April. Ten people died in Tel Aviv. %AP Links Sound: Pursuing More About: Update , Attacks , The A , Tacks , Attack
The attacks continue
2007-01-31 02:23:01 BC-APNewsAlert,0033 JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli police say a bombing in the southern resort town of Eilat that killed three people was a suicide attack. AP-NY-01-29-07 0348EST More About: Attacks , The A , Tacks , Attack , Conti
Graphic anti-semitism on popular entertainment site, why won?t they do anyt
2007-01-27 08:19:02 Entertainment site TMZ.com is all over the media these days with exclusive videos of this and that celebrity breaking the law and messing up. Now it seems like a brief story on a rabbi suing a porn director over the use of the kosher symbol has sparked the interest of close-minded haters. This was really hard to write but it needs to be shown that people like this can be right next door to you. Christians don’t have a clue as to what religious discrimination is about and I’m tired of you coming on my blog saying that you’re being discriminated against. Why isn’t TMZ getting involved? How can organizations like NBC, ABC and the other networks use such a service that allows free expression of hate? You have Christians on TMZ saying these things, and I asked before if Christianity promoted anti-semitism: 10. This is similar to what Jesus said to the religious leaders - the Pharisees - of His day. They’re more concerned about the externals (caring about a... More About: Entertainment , Pop , Men , Site , Popular
Carter called anti-semite live on TV
2007-01-27 08:19:02 I haven’t weighed in yet on the whole President Carter craziness yet, and I told myself that I wouldn’t… but I came across this on You Tube today. A caller actually calls President Carter an anti-semite live on TV, his reaction is interesting, watch the way his eyes move. But before that clip, if you’re unaware of the controveresy, here’s what he had to say on Meet the Press, hard words to swallow if you’re a supporter of Israel. Taking on the Jewish lobby? Like I said, hard words to swallow. (more…) More About: Arte , Live , Call , Semi , Calle
Jews for Jesus: Part II (With unsolicited advice from a pastor)
2007-01-26 14:17:01 I had a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor email me the other day saying Judaism is wrong. This goes in line with the Messianic Jew debate that I’ve started and why being a Jew and believing in Jesus doesn’t work. But first, the email. I wanted to send an attachment with the messianic prophecies that are listed in an appendix in my Bible, but I can’t get the scanner I have to work properly. If I had your regular postal address I could send them to you, or alternately, I just found a DVD at amazingdiscoveries.org “Just another man?” I’d be happy to order, at our expense, and have sent to your residence. To turn from Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah is such a profound and stupendous thing to do, we would urge you to pray and study carefully and reconsider. Have you studied the many Messianic prophecies clearly fulfilled in the life of Christ? (e.g. Isaiah 7:14; 53:1-12; 61:1-3; Micah 5:2; Psalms 22 (”They pierced my hands and feet”); Ps.... More About: Advice , With , Jews , Past
Israel?s President: Bad for Judaism?
More articles from this author:2007-01-25 20:15:02 Are Jews held to higher standards? Better yet, are Isra el i politicians held to higher standards because they represent a Jewish state? Will Israeli President Moshe Katsav’s alleged sexual indiscretions add to anti-semitism worldwide? I don’t know. (more…) More About: Judaism , Side 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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