Maybe God wants you to try harder, and in a different way. Doug Mastriano was on a Mission From God™ to ensure Trump gets Pennsylvania’s electoral votes in 2024, regardless of what voters want. His rallies resembled religious revivals; people bowed their heads, closed their eyes, raised thei[...]
Archive for the ‘Religion’ Category
How the GOP’s theocratic fringe sees America
Doug Mastriano, the GOP nominee for Pennsylvania governor, is the tip of the theocratic movement’s political spear for now. He’ll probably be soundly beaten in Tuesday’s election, if polls are believed, and if that happens his future status in the movement is unclear. Americans lov[...]
October 29th, 2022 - 11:30 am § in Law and Courts, Religion
Another homeless feeding ban is challenged in court
This isn’t a new issue; cities and towns have been passing ordinances against giving food to homeless people for years. There are valid health reasons to regulate food distribution (see story here), but should it be legal to ban food-sharing even when it’s safe, if the intent is to run h[...]
Can “leftists” be Christians?
Depends on what is meant by “leftists.” Derrick Van Orden, 53, a former Navy SEAL, likely will be elected to Congress from Wisconsin this fall. He’s running for an open seat that leans Republican in current polls; the incumbent, Ron Kind (D-WI), is retiring. Van Orden stirred contr[...]
What should voters deem disqualifying?
To be clear, I’m not talking about constitutional or legal disqualification, but rather suggesting that voters shouldn’t vote for candidates with certain characteristics, which I’ll get to, regardless of their party or policy positions. Criminals, for one. A record of dishonesty an[...]
Why discriminating against gays isn’t a religious right
Private colleges are in the limelight this week in the religious right’s war against gays. Earlier this week, the Seattle Times reported that Seattle Pacific University, a private Methodist-affiliated college, is suffering enrollment declines and shedding faculty and students because of its po[...]
August 29th, 2022 - 11:04 pm § in Religion
Toxic pastor loses job for toxic behavior
Matt Chandler, a Seattle native, was a Southern Baptist megachurch pastor in Texas (bio here). The history of the Southern Baptist denomination is rooted in support of slavery; in modern times, it’s an evangelical religion whose specific beliefs and preaching somewhat varies among member churc[...]
August 26th, 2022 - 4:36 pm § in Law and Courts, Religion
A Handmaid’s tale: Who really killed Roe v. Wade?
Roe v. Wade was overturned by a single vote. The case that overturned it was decided 6-3, but Chief Justice Roberts only concurred in reversing the lower court decision on narrower grounds, and wasn’t in favor of completely scrapping Roe v. Wade. Without Amy Cony Barrett’s vote, Roe v. W[...]
Are “In God We Trust” posters in schools really a problem?
“Civil rights advocates are ringing alarm bells about officials distributing ‘In God We Trust’ posters in Texas schools after a state law took effect requiring public campuses to display any donated items bearing that phrase,” the Guardian reported on Sunday, August 21, 2022 [...]
Seattle Pacific U. sues for right to discriminate against gays
Seattle Pacific University, a private Christian college, sued the Washington attorney general on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, to halt an investigation of its hiring practices. SPU doesn’t hire LGBQT faculty or staff. In May, its trustees reaffirmed that policy, triggering protests by faculty and [...]