Recently in Arts and media Category

Check out BeliefNet's roundup of 10 commandments that found their way into "Star Trek" over the generations.

My hubby over at RNS has a look at Pilate's wife, her dream about Jesus and her part in the Easter story.

For all of Pontius Pilate's faults, one was distinctly damning: he didn't listen to his wife.

Engraving (at right) by Alphonse François courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Remember the Church of Universal Love and Music, which sued Fayette County in western PA because it had denied it zoning permission to continue using its property for religious concerts?

The county zoning board claimed that church founder William Pritts was operating a music business, not a church. The case was settled just before trial and now the terms are public.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the county will pay $75,000 in damages to put to rest claims that it violated the property operator's First Amendment rights to freedom of religion.

Under the settlement, the church will host no more than six weekend events and six Saturday-only events a year with a maximum crowd size of 1,500 at each event. Pritts also agreed to various requirements for security, parking, camping and bathroom facilities, and a ban on any public nudity.

h/t Religion Clause

If you've tuned into the show "Lost" on ABC, you know it deals with some heavy questions of faith, predestination, redemption, existentialism and philosophical queries that I don't have time to explain today. But check out this study on the show's spiritual themes from the Jesuit weekly America.

Comedian Bill Maher's 2008 documentary/comedy "Religulous" is playing in York for the first time at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Capitol Theatre.

In case you missed the reviews, the film satirizes organized religion and religious belief. It was directed by Larry Charles, the same guy who did "Borat." You may wonder how they got some of these folks to talk on camera, considering Maher's views on faith. (He has said religion is a neurological disorder that justifies crazies and stops people from thinking.)

The Indianapolis Star has returned its prayer to page 2. (See previous post.)

The reason: "Thousands of calls, e-mails, letters to the editor later, we have been reminded of, and are thankful for, another important role: to be a vital part of our readers lives." ...

As the paper's religion writer put it: "You don't get much more important than being a part of the grace said over breakfast."

Readers of The Indianapolis Star have been calling that newspaper to complain about the decision by the Star to drop the prayer from page A2. Read more.