religion

As we begin this New Year it appears that intolerance has become a powerful force in our world.

The hope of the Arab Spring seems to be turning into a winter of discontent. The light of an incipient democratic movement has been taken hostage by Islamic fundamentalism.

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.”

The number one box office success at movie theaters across the country for the last several weeks was 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.' For those who do not know, it is the first part of Stephenie Meyers’ fourth novel in her 'The Twilight Saga,' a story about the marriage of Bella Swan, a young human woman, to Edward Cullen, a vampire. Edward, though appearing to be just 17 when he and Bella met, is actually a vampire-man over 100 years old.

A recent study of religion in America, the Baylor Religious Survey published by Baylor University and conducted by Gallup in the fall of 2010, reveals nearly three out of four Americans “know," not just believe, that God has a plan for them.

In my last column in I wrote a “tongue in cheek” analysis about a number of Republican presidential hopefuls who have insinuated God’s endorsement of their candidacy. This week I'm exploring the subject more seriously.

It is not a question of which candidate has God’s approval, but rather what some of these candidates believe God is calling them to do, and whether this divine calling is in the nation’s best interest or in the best interest of the Christian faith.

God, it seems, has decided to participate in the 2012 presidential election. There are a slew of Republican candidates who are invoking God’s will for their decision to run for office. First, and perhaps foremost, is would-be prophet and presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann. Only a prophet can actually speak for the Divine. Consider what she had to say about the recent East Coast earthquake and Hurricane Irene at a rally in Sarasota, Florida.
 

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No Hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…
 
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one.
- John Lennon’s “Imagine”
 

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.