1. CNN – Surviving Beatles reunite to promote kid’s meditation: Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will reunite on stage next month [Change Begins Within Benefit Concert in conjunction with David Lynch Foundation] to raise money to teach transcendental meditation to children around the world to “help provide them a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world,” McCartney said. (March 4, 2009)
2. WorldNetDaily – GLSEN and the Hitler Youth by Dr. Judith Reisman: Such American classroom indoctrination is now found in “hate” and sexual diversity training and in 3,500 nationwide Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) school clubs. Under color of a “Safe Schools Movement” battling alleged “bullying” of so-called “gay” children (K-12), some see GLSEN as a modern version of the Hitler Youth and as preparing the ground for a larger, sweeping, schoolroom Youth Brigade. (April 3, 2009)
3. News With Views by Jim Kouri- Is the Obama Administration Targeting “Right-Wing Extremists” and War Vets – Reports Say Yes: The Obama Administration’s new Secretary of Homeland Security recently ordered immigration agents to stop their workplace searches for illegal aliens while at the same time denigrating US war veterans and conservative or right-wing groups. (April 15, 2009)
4. The Times (UK) – UK Article Predicts Mysticism to Replace Christianity: Christianity will be eclipsed by spirituality in 30 years, startling new research predicts. Our correspondent reports on the collapse of traditional religion and the rise of mysticism. Study after study appears to prove that people are increasingly losing faith in the Church and the Bible and turning instead to mysticism in guises ranging from astrology to reiki and holistic healing. (July 14, 2009)
5. Newsweek – “We Are All Hindus Now”: America is not a Christian nation. We are, it is true, a nation founded by Christians, and according to a 2008 survey, 76 percent of us continue to identify as Christian (still, that’s the lowest percentage in American history). Of course, we are not a Hindu–or Muslim, or Jewish, or Wiccan-nation, either. A million-plus Hindus live in the United States, a fraction of the billion who live on Earth. But recent poll data show that conceptually, at least, we are slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians. (August 19, 2009)
6. Mission Network News – Hate Crimes Bill sneaks through U.S. House: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a controversial Hate Crimes Bill late last week in a 281-146 vote, with 131 Republicans and 15 Democrats objecting to the measure.
The legislation adds sexual orientation to the list of groups under the protection of the federal law. It also gives states and local jurisdictions federal help in prosecuting hate crimes. The bill passed the House in April as a stand-alone, but there was enough controversy surrounding it that passage in the Senate was not guaranteed. (October 12, 2009)
7. CNN – Hundreds of studios across country teach yoga to children: Gigi reaches up into her sun salutation. She steps back into her high lunge and kicks her legs straight into plank pose, a push-up she holds without wobbling for 10 seconds before looking up impatiently at her yoga teacher.
It’s close to 6 p.m. She’s had a long day. She collapses on her mat, rolls on her back and closes her eyes. And then sends one finger digging up her nose. What? C’mon, she’s only 5. (November 13, 2009)
8. Argus-Courier by Dan Johnson – Taize services are gaining in popularity: A cantor stands in a sanctuary bathed in candlelight, repeatedly chanting a brief, devotional line from Psalms or another Biblical Scripture. Those present join in the chanting, and as it resonates with the rhythms of their hearts, they sometimes are inspired to add harmonic improvisations. The chanting is one component of Taize services. (December 7, 2009)
9. Underground News, US – Copenhagen and Melbourne: World Religion: Interfaith meetings continue at a great rate all over the world. Many religious leaders will descend at the UN Copenhagen Climate Conference this week. Plus, the Parliament of the World Religions is occurring at the same time in Melbourne, Australia.
10. USA Today – “More U.S. Christians mix in ‘Eastern,’ New Age beliefs”: Elements of Eastern faiths and New Age thinking have been widely adopted by 65% of U.S. adults, including many who call themselves Protestants and Catholics, according to a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released Wednesday. (December 10, 2009)
