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american, anti-muslim, australia, child abuse, christianity, christmas, church, constitution, daily prayer, donald trump, egypt, evangelicals, funeral, gay, george carlin, holidays, lawsuit, louisiana, mark galli, milwaukee, pakistan, partisan politics, pope francis, religion, roman catholic, roy moore, school, starbucks, suicide bomber, unsolved mysteries, war on christmas
I know it’s been a while for an EA issue, but I thought I’d end the year well by putting something out quickly. 2018 will bring more issues. Don’t forget to like the Facebook page, as there are posts there all day, every day. So … enjoy!
As this year wraps up, I hope that next year I’ll once again contribute the time and resources I have done in 2015 and 2016. I do this free of charge, have no paywall, and really don’t ask for donations. However, if you enjoy this website and the newsletters, surprise gifts are always appreciated.
I have free EA buttons and EA stickers for those who ask.
— Steve, Evangelically Atheist editor, and AU.org Ohio chapter head
Vote Bible?
On the way to the gym, I drive by this house that has a weird display. For years, this rickety, little house has a weathering paint job, rusty vintage vehicles, and a roughly constructed wooden cross shoved into a hole in the ground. Across the crossbeam are crudely-painted, blue capital letters reading, VOTE BIBLE. http://new.exchristian.net/2017/12/vote-bible.html
5 facts about Christmas in America
Wherever Americans stand on holiday-time debates on issues ranging from what’s depicted on Starbucks cups to public displays of religious symbols, it’s hard to disagree that Christmas is still a big part of many people’s lives. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/18/5-facts-about-christmas-in-america/
Is Christmas a Religious Holiday? A Growing Number of Americans Say No
Combatants in the annual “War on Christmas” have some new data to chew on, thanks to a survey released this week by the Pew Research Center. While many doubt that Christmas is embattled, as some conservative pundits contend, the new study does suggest American attitudes are changing. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/us/christmas-less-religious.html
Suit Charges Louisiana School Promotes Christian Beliefs and Broadcasts Daily Prayer
In Louisiana yesterday, the mother of a high school student filed suit against a local school board alleging extensive Establishment Clause violations. http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2017/12/suit-charges-louisiana-school-promotes.html
Unsolved Science Mysteries From 2017
From why octopus suddenly walked out of the ocean, to what’s inside the mysterious void of an ancient Egyptian pyramid, these were some of 2017’s most mysterious finds in our natural world. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/science-archaeology-mysteries-2017-year-in-review-spd/
Pope Francis is Wrong: He Should Skip Funeral of Child Abuse-Enabling Cardinal
Has Support for Moore Stained Evangelicals? Some Are Worried
Whoever wins, “there is already one loser: Christian faith,” wrote Mark Galli, whose publication, the flagship of American evangelicalism, was founded 61 years ago by the Rev. Billy Graham. “No one will believe a word we say, perhaps for a generation. Christianity’s integrity is severely tarnished.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/us/alabama-evangelical-christians-moore.html
Australian Probe into Child Abuse Attacks Catholic Celibacy
Australia’s longest-running royal commission — which is the country’s highest form of inquiry — has been investigating since 2012 how the Catholic Church and other institutions responded to sexual abuse of children in Australia over 90 years. https://www.apnews.com/20f5221d9dd04a41b4fc6f092fbee874/Australian-probe-into-child-abuse-attacks-Catholic-celibacy
Mom Sues School District Alleging Promotion of Christianity
The lawsuit details more than 30 specific incidents of allegedly unconstitutional use of religion in schools, including science teachers calling evolution a “fairy tale,” teachers waving a Bible at students while criticizing a card game, and teachers punishing or criticizing students who refused to participate in classroom prayers. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/18/mom-sues-school-district-alleging-promotion-christianity/963185001/
Suicide Bombers Attack Church in Pakistan’s Quetta Before Christmas, Killing Nine
Two suicide bombers stormed a packed Christian church in southwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least nine people and wounding up to 56, officials said, in the latest attack claimed by Islamic State in the country. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-attack/suicide-bombers-attack-church-in-pakistans-quetta-before-christmas-killing-nine-idUSKBN1EB08E
Effort to Allow Partisan Politics in Church Reaches Dead End
A provision that would have freed churches to make political endorsements has been dropped from the Republican tax overhaul, dashing the hopes of a segment of religious conservatives on what has been a key issue to the Trump administration. https://apnews.com/a01ebfa9dec74072b64be056d3e270a6
Faith Leaders Say Trump’s Anti-Muslim Tweets Violate Constitutional Protections
President Trump’s recent tweets featuring inflammatory anti-Muslim videos have figured prominently in legal challenges to the administration’s latest travel ban on certain citizens of eight countries. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/12/15/faith-leaders-say-trumps-anti-muslim-tweets-violate-constitutional-protections/
‘I am a Roman Catholic priest. And, yes, I am gay!’ says Milwaukee priest in coming out to his parish
The priest in the Milwaukee Archdiocese serves as the pastor of St. Bernadette Parish. On Monday, he came out to the rest of the world with a column in the National Catholic Reporter. He received a standing ovation from his parishioners when he made his announcement before the column’s publication. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2017/12/18/am-roman-catholic-priest-and-yes-am-gay/960447001/
George Carlin on Religion
This issue’s website to bookmark: http://www.theingersolltimes.com/
