01: Bishops are a determining factor in the vitality of Catholic dioceses, according to a diocese-by-diocese study of American Catholicism. The study, presented in Crisis magazine (February/March), rates the vitality of dioceses according to the criteria of increases in the number of active priests, ordinations, and adults received into the church. There is a clear geographical pattern among […]
Mounting financial scandal in American Catholicism?
The Catholic Church in the U.S. is facing another scandal soon after the priest sex abuse crisis as a growing number of clergy embezzlement cases are surfacing. Time magazine (February 26) reports that 85 percent of the 78 U.S. Catholic dioceses responding to a recent survey (from a total of 174 dioceses queried) reported embezzlement cases, with […]
What’s new about the ‘New Atheism’?
In the last year both the religious and secular media have been widely reporting on the “new atheism,” which is expressed in three recent best-sellers: Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion, Sam Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation, and Daniel Dennett’s Breaking the Spell. In his syndicated column in the Long Island Catholic (Feb. 28), neoconservative writer George Weigel argues that […]
On/File: February 2007
01: The exclusive Brethren have long provided almost a textbook definition of a “sect.” Their members lead strict and separated lives that shun “worldliness” and outside attention. But judging by recent events in Australia and other parts of the world, the movement is taking a new interest in politics. In Australia, the exclusive Brethren have been under […]
Findings & Footnotes: February 2007
01: The current issue of the Religious Studies Review (October) carries a special feature on Internet resources for religious studies. The section will probably be of interest to others besides religious studies professors as the articles cover web resources on Christianity, Wicca and Paganism, new religious movements, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, religion and the media, and religious statistics […]
Islamic TV channels expand audience, face financial challenges
Islamic TV channels have multiplied in the Middle East in recent years and have been quite successful in terms of drawing a wide audience, but still are experiencing financial difficulties, the Saudi-owned daily Asharq Al Awsat reports in its English edition (January 31). Advertising firms do not regard such channels as appropriate for their products. This leaves […]
Escalating fears about Shi’i expansion
According to reports published in several Muslim countries in recent weeks, Shi’is are currently active in spreading their faith through converting Sunnis. It is difficult to separate fact from fiction, but those rumors provide more evidence of a deep mistrust between these groups, which may also be exploited by various groups for their own ends. […]
Current Research: February 2007
01: The new U.S. Congress is one of the most religiously pluralistic in American history, with a Muslim joining the ranks for the first time. The e-newsletter Sightings (January 4) reports that along with African-American Muslim Keith Ellison (who raised controversy by requesting to take his oath of office by swearing on the Koran rather than the Bible), […]
American pluralism and Hinduism at odds?
Compared to other immigrant religions, Hinduism does not appear to experience major problems in functioning in US society. But such is not the opinion of Belgian scholar Jakob De Roover (Center for Comparative Science of Cultures, University of Ghent). In an analysis posted on India Forum (January 22), he claims that “the American model of pluralism is […]
Style changes and economics hurting black church music
Changes in musical styles and economics is adversely affecting the supply of church musicians in black churches, reports the New York Times(January 13). The change in black musical style to rap, not requiring instrumental talent or training, as well as budget cuts in music education has reduced the number of young African Americans conversant with the […]
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