Obama to expand Bush's faith based programs
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 40 minutes ago

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080701/ap_on_el_pr/obama_faith

ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Reaching out to religious voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for expanding President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and — in a move sure to cause controversy — supported some ability to hire and fire based on faith.

Obama unveiled his approach to getting religious charities more involved in government anti-poverty programs during a tour and remarks Tuesday at Eastside Community Ministry, which provides food, clothes, youth ministry and other services.

"The challenges we face today ... are simply too big for government to solve alone," Obama said.

Obama's announcement is part of a series of events leading up to Friday's Fourth of July holiday that are focused on American values.  ...

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Churches going green
By ALTHEA PETERSON World Staff Writer
6/28/2008
Last Modified: 6/28/2008
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=18&articleID=20080628_18_A10_hREDEF503416
or
http://tinyurl.com/64ymhg

Watch a video of local churches working to conserve energy at http://tulsaworld.com/videos

..From recycling to energy efficiency to remodeling, more churches in the Tulsa area are looking to be leading caretakers of the Earth, said Cheryl Cheadle, the area's coordinator for Blue Thumb, an Oklahoma Conservation educational program.

"It is very easy to live in the situation at hand, when resources are very affordable now," Cheadle said. "Many people are accepting that reality — that our actions have a global impact."  ...

"I think it's a real basis of mindful and spiritual practices of taking care of the plant and taking care of each other," Ihloff said. "We want people to just pick it up one step at a time."

Through these efforts, local churches are creating new meanings for "dominion" and "stewardship" for congregations, Huffstetler said.

"Our concept of creation is that it is a gift, and that we are not the owners," she said. "There's been a misunderstanding of the Biblical word 'dominion,' which is a scriptural word, but we've interpreted it as 'domination.' I think dominion is, again, an aspect of stewardship, of being good stewards, to have a care for the entire creation."

Plus, taking care of the environment just feels good, Cheadle said.

"When you get people working together for the good of the Earth, that's when you make a difference," she said.  ..

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I read Bob Herbert's excellent columns in The New York Times on a regular basis. This outspoken progressive is one of my favorite writers. In today's Op-Ed piece, he really outdoes himself. I urge you to check it out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/opinion/01herbert.html

Ga. sex offenders challenge church volunteer ban
By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated Press Writer
[Jun 24, 2008; 11:13 am EDT]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_on_re_us/sex_offenders_volunteers

ATLANTA - Five sex offenders filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming that a tough new Georgia law that bans them from volunteering at churches also robs them of their right to participate in religious worship.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Rome, claims the Georgia law effectively "criminalizes fundamental religious activities" for sex offenders and bars them from serving as a choir member, secretary, accountant or any other role with a religious organization.  ...

The latest challenge, which was filed by the Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights, claims that the measure deprives Georgia's sex offenders of the "rehabilitative influence" of religious activity.

"Certain people on the sex offender registry should not work with children in a church setting or elsewhere," says Sarah Geraghty, an attorney with the center. "But criminalizing the practice of religion for all 15,000 people on the registry will do more harm than good." ...

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Religious Americans: My faith isn't the only way
By ERIC GORSKI, AP Religion Writer
Mon Jun 23, 2:39 PM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080623/ap_on_re_us/rel_religion_survey_5

America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life — even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise.

The findings, revealed Monday in a survey of 35,000 adults, can either be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance, or disturbing evidence that Americans dismiss or don't know fundamental teachings of their own faiths.

Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.

In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.

"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.

"There's a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences," he said.

Earlier data from the Pew Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, released in February, highlighted how often Americans switch religious affiliation. The newly released material looks at religious belief and practice as well as the impact of religion on society, including how faith shapes political views.

The report argues that while relatively few people — 14 percent — cite religious beliefs as the main influence on their political thinking, religion still plays a powerful indirect role.

The study confirmed some well-known political dynamics, including stark divisions over abortion and gay marriage, with the more religiously committed taking conservative views on the issues.

But it also showed support across religious lines for greater governmental aid for the poor, even if it means more debt and stricter environmental laws and regulations.

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Part II of the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey

Part II of the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey explores Americans' religious beliefs and practices as well as their social and political views. The survey finds that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to their faith; for example, most do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. The survey also finds that religion is closely linked to political ideology.

Report 2: Religious Beliefs & Practices / Social & Political Views
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

Democratic Men

http://www.democrats.org/page/group/DemocraticMen

Democratic Men... a sought-after voting demographic in 2008!

Created: Jun 21st, 2008

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