Monthly Archives: October 2008

All Saints’ Day and Halloween

Posted on October 30, 2008 by melissa nann burke

I love this video from Busted Halo. Ever wonder what All Saints’ Day has to do with Halloween? Or how a saint is named? Jesuit writer James Martin, author of “My Life with the Saints,” talks about these items and … Continue reading →

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Why so many evangelical teens get pregnant

Posted on October 30, 2008 by melissa nann burke

The New Yorker’s Margaret Talbot has a fascinating article this week about the high rate of teen pregnancy among evangelical teens. An excerpt: According to Add Health data, evangelical teenagers are more sexually active than Mormons, mainline Protestants and Jews. … Continue reading →

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District: Carlisle teachers can’t pray at the pole

Posted on October 29, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Carlisle Area School District caught some heat at its last board meeting for a decision to bar teachers from taking part in the student-initiated See You at the Pole prayer event last month. School board members heard from critics, including … Continue reading →

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Word of the day: Diwali

Posted on October 28, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Today, many Hindus observe the “festival of lights” known as Diwali: Prounounced: dee-VAH-lee The festival is one of the most celebrated in the Hindu diaspora. It symbolizes the victory of dharma, and good over evil. The word is a variation … Continue reading →

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Three books on how faith, evolution, can coexist

Posted on October 27, 2008 by melissa nann burke

The Washington Post today has reviews of three new books about religion and evolution: – “Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World,” by Michael Dowd – “The Faith of … Continue reading →

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With or without religion in presidential campaign

Posted on October 27, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Religion scholar Martin Marty‘s Sightings column this week comments on religion in the presidential election: “We Can’t Live Without It/We Can’t Live With It.” An excerpt: Are the exploitation and exhibiting of religion bad for religion? … It’s bad. Bad … Continue reading →

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Essay: ‘We are what we believe’

Posted on October 26, 2008 by melissa nann burke

“This I Believe” is an ongoing essay series about the personal beliefs, philosophies and core values that guide people’s lives. The essays air regularly on NPR. Today, a lawyer described his former self as the “typical Type-A: an ambitious Harvard … Continue reading →

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Catholics want YouTube to pull offensive videos

Posted on October 23, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Local Roman Catholics are among those are calling for YouTube to yank a series of videos on its site showing a Canadian teenager destroying Communion hosts. RNS has a story. TFP, a conservative Catholic group headquartered in North Codorus Township, … Continue reading →

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Palin: The election rests in God’s hands

Posted on October 22, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Sarah Palin talked by phone with evangelical leader James Dobson for about 20 minutes while campaigning and expressed confidence that in spite of disheartening polls “putting this in God’s hands, that the right thing for America will be done at … Continue reading →

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Baptist pastor to speak at NAACP state meeting

Posted on October 22, 2008 by melissa nann burke

A Reading, Pa., pastor will deliver the keynote address at the first state convention of the NAACP held in York County next week, YDR reported today. The Rev. Bernie Manning, formerly of York, is pastor at St. John’s Missionary Baptist … Continue reading →

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