Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Inspiring

Too busy to post lately...

...but this is inspiring. One-man charity sends 30,000 books to Nigeria:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2006/11/28/books.html

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Art and Abu Ghraib

Slate magazine (http://www.slate.com) has a slideshow of paintings of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, by the Colombian artist Fernando Botero, as well as two of his paintings of human rights violations (and violators) in Latin America.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Election Night

Municipal election night. You might think municipal election coverage would be a snore, but I have two degrees in Political Science.

The Alliance of Civilizations, which includes Desmond Tutu and former Iranian president Mohammed Khatami, has presented findings to the UN Secretary General, stating the urgent need to build bridges between Muslim and Western societies. I'm trying, on a much, much smaller scale, to set up an interfaith event with my United Church placement congregation and an Ahmadiyya Muslim group.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Theocons Again

The split within the evangelical movement has now reached Newsweek (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15566654/site/newsweek/), so it's real news.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Theocons

I've noticed the number of new books on the American religious right - "theocons" or "Christian nationalists" as the various authors call the right's adherents. The Globe & Mail is the latest with an omnibus review, at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061104.BKRELI04/TPStory/Entertainment/Books.

In his review, Michael Polanyi (of the Canadian ecumenical coalition KAIROS) asks:
"Religion has served throughout history as an inspiration for great and selfless acts of compassion, love, justice and mercy. It has also been the source of great misunderstanding and division, of harsh judgment and blind prejudice, and of the suffering -- and death -- of many.

"Which of these tendencies will dominate religion in the 21st century? Can religion be a vital source for the values and commitments consistent with creating and sustaining democratic and just societies? Or does religion's claim to a singular and absolute truth make it more likely to be a threat to the rights and freedoms -- and dignity -- of non-believers?"

The Globe today also has Wendy McElroy's review of Joanna Manning's The Magdalene Moment: A Vision for a New Christianity - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061104.BKMAGD04/TPStory/Entertainment/Books. An interesting debate within feminism.