My new Twitter handle is now live - check me out at @jackiewgibson!
CNN has posted a history of bias against Sikhs - more reason for people to learn about religions before they attack anyone:...
Sikh temple shooting unfolding, learn about Sikhism here: http://t.co/A0ltLLIm
Sikh temple shooting unfolding, learn about Sikhism here: http://t.co/l3KrAJZf
Hackers group Anonymous takes down Vatican website: http://t.co/B6lbGAVp
WGN-TV calls doomsday prophecies "an illusion": http://t.co/mv8Gzyw7
RT @graceishuman: Really,? Asking people JUST LEAVING the service how they felt about it? Tacky, tacky, inappropriate
Whitney Houston's funeral service really took the world to church. Love Pastor Winans' honesty, very moving.
#teacher ? Here are appropriate responses to situations with your Jehovah's Witness student: http://t.co/A6UfqcgH
#Teachers: Want to know why your Jehovah's Witness student won't say the pledge and how to respond? http://t.co/EIdlgDwW
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Religion Stats
Apparently, such multi-faith centers are especially appealing to women. The project’s spokeswoman, Kathryn Lohre, told Religion News Service, “Interfaith organizations provide opportunities for women’s leadership in a way that oftentimes the religious traditions themselves do not, simply because those positions do not need to be sanctioned by any religious head or body.”
Views about Jews and Muslims are unfavorable in Europe, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center’s Pew Global Attitudes Project.
The results showed that:
- 46% of the Spanish rate Jews unfavorably, and 52% viewed Muslims unfavorably.
- 34% of Russians rate Jews unfavorably.
- 36% of Poles rate Jews unfavorably, and 46% rate Muslims unfavorably.
- 25% of Germans rate Jews unfavorably, and 50% rate Muslims unfavorably.
- 20% of French rate Jews unfavorably, and 38% rate Muslims unfavorably.
- 9% of the British rate Jews unfavorably (Great Britain had the least anti-Semitic views), and 25% view Muslims unfavorably.
Researchers thus concluded there is some kind of relationship between anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim attitudes.
What about Christians?
Anti-Christian views are on the rise in Spain, but otherwise sentiments remain the same with little negativity toward Christians.
The survey also displays differences in religiosity among age groups as well as feelings toward terrorist activities. See the full survey results on the Pew Forum site.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has released the results of two of its recent surveys.
Do you believe in hell?
According to this survey, only 59% of 35,000 respondents said they believe in the type of hell “where people who have led bad lives, and die without being sorry, are eternally punished.”
That number is down, says Religion News Service. In a 2001 Gallup survey, 71% said they believe in hell as a physical place.
Do you think churches should be involved in politics?
According to the Pew Forum’s (based on their recent survey):
A slim majority of the public (52%) says that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of politics, an eight point increase compared with 2004. Fewer (45%) take the view that churches should express their views on day-to-day social and political questions. This marks the first time since the Pew Research Center began asking the question in 1996 that those who say churches should keep out of politics outnumber those who say churches should express their political views.
Perhaps more surprising, 50% of conservatives say churches should stay out of politics — up from 30% in 2004.
Find more survey data about churches and politics on the Pew Forum Web site.
Cancer patients are using complementary methods like prayer and massage to supplement traditional treatments, say researchers from the American Cancer Society.
Which methods are they using?
Among the methods used most often, the following spiritual methods were reported:
- Prayer/spiritual practice (61.4%)
- Relaxation (44.3%)
- Faith/spiritual healing (42.4%)
- Meditation (15%)
- Religious counseling (11.3%)
Apparently, nearly half of cancer survivors are using several complementary methods.
Who are these survivors?
Results confirmed that methods are most often used by women, whites, young survivors, those with higher income and more education, and breast and ovarian cancer survivors. The complementary methods are also used more often when cancer is advanced or has spread.
How did they get these results?
Researchers used data from 4,000 participants in the American Cancer Society’s Study of Cancer Survivors-I. Participants were surveyed 10-24 months after they were diagnosed with cancer. Results of the study will be published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal from the American Cancer Society.