Producer's Desk — religion

My latest post at Casting Stones:

“The American people have the odd habit of deciding for themselves what they think is appropriate and then acting accordingly. The late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” The facts seem to be that Americans, even those who never attend worship, are more than comfortable with people of faith being involved and speaking out on the moral implications of the public policy decisions facing the nation.”

Read the complete post…

My latest post at Casting Stones:

“…a national polling firm for LifeWay Research and the ERLC conducted a survey asking Americans to respond to this statement: “I am concerned that at times Christians are too involved in politics.”

Read the results…

My latest post at Casting Stones:

Excerpt: “While numerous studies have shown the positive impact of spirituality on adults’ mental and physical well-being, the Canadian researchers expected less impact on children. Dr. Holder said that they found that “it’s a whopping big effect… I thought their spirituality would be too immature to account for their well-being.”

Read the full post…

Richard Land sits down with John Chowning, Campbellsville U.’s Vice Pres for Church and External Relations. Click to view.

Their discussion includes:

• Purpose and activities of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
• Practical applications of church and state
• Sex trafficking
• First Amendment, religious liberty and pluralism
• Genocide in Darfur
• and lots more…

(Video is streamed in Windows Media format from Campbellsville U.)

Richard welcomes special guest Dr. John Yeats of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. They’ll discuss the spiritual revival and racial reconciliations happening in Jena, Louisiana. (You won’t hear about this in the mainstream media.)

Read up before the broadcast:

• Jena embraces ‘whatever God wants’ - Baptist Press
• Jena revival to enter 7th week - Baptist Press

JENA, La. — The revival that began Feb. 17 in Jena, La., is moving into the heart of the black community as it enters its seventh week March 31…

Tune in at 11:06 am Central tomorrow! Listen Live here.

If you miss the live broadcast or want to download it for later listening or sharing, it will be archived online by 3:00pm Central time on Saturday March 29, 2008 and found here.

• A Tennessee Church expands free English classes - Tennessean
• Rick Santorum says McCain must change views on social issues - Philly Inquirer
• The Washington Times editorializes the D.C. gun ban on trial
• “Newsflash”: The “right” is underrepresented in press’s diversity - Wash. Times
• Catholics Flock to the right Wash. Times

Life Should Be Valued, Not Neglected

Has the buckle of the Bible belt become the Mecca of gambling?

Churches have contributed to the success of America by encouraging virtue, but social science research has also shown that churches provide direct and indirect economic and social benefits to communities.

Also, some states reconsider Sunday alcohol laws and increasing the alcohol content of beer.

Richard Land publishes the Feb 26th edition the ERLC’s weekly “Faith and Family Values” newsletter (FFV).

This week’s FFV Includes the following:

• Harry Reid made it clear he’s waiting for a “new president, hopefully of a different party than the one now occupying the White House…”
• The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock finds connection between Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood.

The Pew Forum releases the results from its massive survey on religion in America. A few tidbits:

• Americans = 78.4 percent Christian, 4.7 percent other faiths and 16.1 percent unaffiliated.
• The nation’s Protestants make up just 51 percent of the U.S. population and is close to becoming a religious minority.
• While 62 percent of Americans 70 and older are Protestant, compared to only 43 percent of Americans 18-29.
• Jews outnumber Muslims, with Jews comprising. Muslims are the most racially diverse faith group.

Also, former Bush speech writer Michael Gerson looks into the future of evangelicalism. Gerson writes:

“…there is something essentially countercultural about Christianity that should make evangelicals restless in any political coalition… It is often hard where liberalism is soft, and soft where conservatism is hard.

…If evangelical Christianity were identical to any political movement, something would be badly wrong. It is supposed to look toward a kingdom not of this world, one without borders, flags or end. And by this standard, homelessness is a natural state.”