Hagee Apologizes to Catholics

John Hagee has issued a written apology to Roman Catholics, addressed to Catholic League president Bill Donohue. From Washington Wire:

“Out of a desire to advance greater unity among Catholics and Evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful,” Hagee wrote, according to an advanced copy of the letter reviewed by Washington Wire. “After engaging in constructive dialogue with Catholic friends and leaders, I now have an improved understanding of the Catholic Church, its relation to the Jewish faith, and the history of anti-Catholicism.”

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Hagee’s letter explains some of the harsh words he has used when describing the Catholic Church. “I better understand that reference to the Roman Catholic Church as the ‘apostate church’ and the ‘great whore’ described in the book of Revelation” — both terms Hagee has employed — “is a rhetorical device long employed in anti-Catholic literature and commentary,” he wrote.

Follow this link for the full article from Washington Wire, and this link for the full text of Hagee’s apology (PDF).

Rolling Stone: Jesus Made Me Puke (and John Hagee)

Writing for Rolling Stone, Matt Taibbi went “undercover” at John Hagee’s Cornerstone Church, a fundamentalist mega-church in San Antonio, Texas. Taibbi writes about a spiritual retreat called “Encounter Weekend.” His article is an irreverent eye-opener for those not familiar with modern-day Christian fundamentalism.

The Separation of Church and State

Lauren Smith at Americans United [for Separation of Church and State] shares five lessons she learned while working for AU. She enters law school this year. Her observations are enlightening and illustrate why we need separation of church and state to protect our religious and civil liberties.

To me, her most important point is #3. Her full response appears below the fold. Further down, I address the “Christian Nation” theory.

3) Education is essential.
This is the most common e-mail AU receives:

“As you are well aware, the ‘separation of church and state” it is NOT in our Constitution. Your platform is un-Constitutional.”

Pew Forum Interviews Francis Collins

For some, there is an inherent conflict between science and religious belief. Indeed, some scientists, including famed evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, argue that an understanding of the natural world logically leads to atheism. But for Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project and an evangelical Christian, scientific knowledge complements rather than contradicts belief in God. In his 2006 bestselling book, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, Collins argues that advances in science present “an opportunity for worship,” rather than a catalyst for doubt. Recently, the Pew Forum interviewed Dr. Collins about his views on science and religion.

Collins touches on such issues as biblical literalism, evolution, and the “conflict” between science and religion. Follow this link for the article.

Southern Baptists: A Denomination in Decline

EthicsDaily.com reports on statistics released by LifeWay Christian Resources that show a drop in SBC membership of 40,000 over the last year. Baptisms are at their lowest level since 1970.

Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, writes on the LifeWay blog:

“For now, Southern Baptists are a denomination in decline.”

“Some might want to point to the good news (attendance up slightly, more churches, etc.),” Stetzer said. “However, you cannot miss the fact that a dubious historical milestone has been reached–and it needs to be noted in denominational and church offices across the country.”

“Some might say it’s ‘only one year,’ and they would be technically right,” Stetzer continued. But based on long-term membership trends, Stetzer said, “Reality is we have peaked.”

The Green Bible

EthicsDaily.com has launched The Green Bible, “a warehouse of information on the biblical mandate to care for the environment–and what people of faith can and should do.”

Putting Beliefs Ahead of Your Children

Howard M. Friedman at Religion Clause reports on a Kentucky court case in which a divorced atheist attempted to prevent his son from attending a Catholic high school. Oldham County family court judge Tim Feeley avoiding ordering the parents to either send or not send the boy to the school by amending the joint custody agreement to give the mother complete control over the child’s education. Both child and mother prefer the Catholic school, and Oldham found the boy’s best interests were served by allowing him to attend that school. Follow this link for the story.

The fact the father is an atheist is somewhat beside the point. Whatever the specific belief systems involved, it’s amazing that a parent would enter family court to prevent a child old enough to make up his own mind from doing so. Nothing good ever comes from forcing your beliefs down the throats of other people, especially your own teenage children.

Mainstream Baptist Interviews Barbara Forrest on Creationism’s Trojan Horse

Bruce Prescott at the Mainstream Baptist blog has posted a podcast of his interview with Dr. Barbara Forrest, author of Creationism’s Trojan Horse. Forrest is Professor of Philosophy at Southeast Louisiana College. The title of her book refers to Intelligent Design.

From Prescott:

We talk about her book “Creationism’s Trojan Horse,” her testimony in the Intelligent Design trial at Dover, Pa. We pay special attention to the relation of Southern Baptists to the wedge strategy.

I hope my friends on both the conservative and moderate sides of the Baptist spectrum will take the time to listen to the interview. My position is that Intelligent Design should not be taught in our Sunday Schools, much less our public schools. It’s bad theology and worse science. God created and sustains the universe, but not in the manner imagined by Intelligent Design (or Creationism).

On Trying to Change Christian Attitudes Toward Homosexuality

At the Associated Baptist Press, David Gushee writes a moving editorial on the modern Christian response to homosexuality, a response that is too often based on fear, loathing, and ignorance. Gushee challenges us to extend the “rudiments of Christian love of neighbor” to homosexuals. Among other things, Gushee calls on Christians to stop blaming homosexuals for our social ills, to speak accurately about homosexuality as a sexual orientation, and to recognize the full humanity and dignity of homosexuals as persons made in God’s image. For Baptists, Gushee’s words challenge to us take seriously our long-standing position, rejected by the Southern Baptist Convention, that Jesus Christ is the criterion upon which the Bible is to be interpreted.

Brian Kaylor criticizes Richard Land

At EthicsDaily.com, Brian Kaylor, Communications Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Missouri, outlines a long list of “personal insults and character assassination[s]“ from Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Land’s targets are many and varied, and his language is often unfortunate.

Kaylor maintains a popular blog, For God’s Sake, Shut Up!, named after his book. The subtitle reads: Lessons for Christians on How to Speak Effectively and When to Remain Silent.