theophiles.org

Survey: Provo-Orem area most religious in US

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:02:39 +0000

At USA Today:

The Provo-Orem area of Utah is the most religious metropolitan area in the United States, a new Gallup poll shows.
A survey of about 190 metropolitan areas released Friday found 77% of Provo-Orem residents are classified as "very religious." That's based on respondents saying religion is an important part of their daily life and they attend religious services nearly every week.

Russian army introduces the flying Orthodox church-in-a-box

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:15:59 +0000

From The Guardian:

The Russian military unveiled an unlikely new weapon in its arsenal this month – an army of parachuting priests. The unit of chaplains, who have joined the Russian Airborne Force to train in parachute jumping and vehicle assembly, will operate out of flatpack churches that can be airlifted in to wherever soldiers may be stationed.
The church could be mistaken for a standard-issue army cabin, taking the form of a khaki-coloured shed on wheels, were it not for the cladding of gilded icons and the majestic onion dome spire sprouting from its rooftop.

Faith - and a side of fries

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 10:47:26 +0000

From The Lansing State Journal:

Grumpy’s Diner locks its doors at 7 p.m. most weekdays. But on Monday nights the South Lansing restaurant is starting to get crowded as the clock ticks towards closing time. {...}
As servers bring plates heaped with onion rings, roast beef sandwiches, hamburgers and pancakes, Jeremy Kratky, standing near the window with his guitar, launches a worship service, inviting those gathered to join him in singing “Blessed Be Your Name.”

Shroud of Turin in the news again

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:51:03 +0000

At The Guardian:

The shroud of Turin is to be shown on television for the first time in 40 years on Easter Saturday as a new claim that the four-metre-long linen cloth dates from ancient times proves its enduring ability to fascinate and perplex.
As what the Vatican described as his parting gift to the Roman Catholic church before he resigned, Benedict XVI signed off on a special 90-minute broadcast of the shroud that will take place from Turin Cathedral and be introduced in a brief preamble by his successor, Pope Francis.

The Next Bible

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:53:33 +0000

At The Daily Beast:

The second Biblical revolution is—believe it or not—headquartered in Edmond, Oklahoma (pop. 83,000). That’s where a church called “LifeChurch.tv,” a young tech-savvy Christian by the name of Bobby Gruenewald, and his pastor, Craig Groeschel, are changing the way people read holy texts. It’s called YouVersion—“the Bible app”—and it’s coming soon to a smartphone near you.

Pope Benedict XVI to retire

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:19:36 +0000

At The Los Angeles:

In an extraordinary announcement, Pope Benedict XVI said Monday that he would step down at the end of the month, ending a papacy that has lasted less than eight years.
It is the first time in six centuries a pontiff has voluntarily stepped down.
Benedict, 85, who had appeared increasingly frail in recent months, said that his infirmity led him to the decision.

Meet the Sovereigns

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:40:41 +0000

At The Daily Beast:

His name is Craig Douglas Fleshman, though he won’t answer to that, just as he no longer carries a driver’s license or pays taxes. Pastor Paul Revere doesn’t recognize the authority of the State of Oregon, the United States of America, or anyone else that presumes to have some command over him. He answers only to God.

On Metrorail, pastor tries to raise Christmas spirit to morning commute

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:33:21 +0000

From The Washington Post:

On a crowded morning train on Metro’s Orange Line, Fisher Yang, 50, of Centreville, gets his share of jeers, eye rolls and smiles.
Yang, who is the pastor of a church in Shenandoah County, sings Christmas carols two days a week during the morning rush hour on Metro’s five subway lines.

Tulsi Gabbard, First Hindu Elected To Congress, Will Swear In On Bhagavad Gita, Sacred Hindu Text

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:10:25 +0000

From Huffington Post:

When Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaii resident who made history this month at the first Hindu elected to Congress, attends her swearing in ceremony in January, she's poised to mark another first in American politics: Gabbard will take her oath over the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text.
While no religious ceremony is legally required for those elected to Congress and the Senate, many choose to take oaths of office over Christian and Jewish texts, and Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim, took his oath over a Quran. But Gabbard's use of a non-Abrahamic text will be unique and is symbolic of the growing religious diversity of Congress.

Post Election Latter-day Silver Lining?

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:25:51 +0000

At The LA Times:

Sitting cross-legged on a lawn with two other students, Whitney Call, a 23-year-old creative writing major at Brigham Young University, took satisfaction in at least one aspect of the outcome of the 2012 presidential election:
Mitt Romney might not have won, but he demonstrated that being a Mormon, like her, was no barrier to winning the nation's highest office.
"His faith was not a factor in the election at all. Maybe that means that people are beginning to realize that Mormons are more mainstream than they thought," she said.