faith

It was Christmas Eve. I was watching TV – one of those retro-channels that play reruns over the air rather than broadcasting on cable or satellite. The program was a 1977 Christmas Eve show of “All In the Family,” entitled “Edith’s Crisis of Faith.”

Two days after the world welcomes in the New Year, Republicans in Iowa will head to caucus sites to pick a candidate to run for the U.S. presidency.

Did you know that the world is coming to an end? Did you know that it is going to happen sooner than you think? Have you read the billboards warning you God’s judgment “will” take place on May 21, this Saturday?

The source of this prophecy is Harold Camping, president and general manager of Family Stations, Inc., also known as Family Radio. In a recent interview on National Public Radio's “Morning Edition,” he said there was “absolutely no doubt” the world would come to an end May 21 based on his interpretation of Biblical readings.

NASA’s Messenger spacecraft began sending photos of the planet Mercury to Earth March 29. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, and from the surface of Mercury the sun appears to be two and a half times larger than it appears here on Earth.

Because the planet has very little atmosphere, the daytime temperature is around 800 degrees Fahrenheit, the nighttime temperature 300 degrees below zero. Mercury, with its pockmarked surface, lack of water and blistering and freezing temperatures appears to be lifeless.

A recent Gallup Poll asked the question: “How important would you say religion is in your life?” In 1992, 58 percent of those surveyed indicated it was "very important." Just 12 percent said it was not very important.

In 2010, those who believed it was very important fell to 54 percent. Perhaps more significantly, those who believed it was not very important rose to 20 percent.

Asked whether, “At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on American life or losing its influence,” 70 percent said religion was loosing its influence.