Just in time for a large holiday season, ReligionTranscends is back. 

We’ve taken some time off for site maintenance and repairs. But now we’re back and ready to bring you the latest religion news in the new year. If you have ideas for the types of stories you’d like to see in 2009, visit the Contact page to send us a message — or simply leave a comment on this message.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and enjoy the Winter Solstice.

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That’s right. Kosher cell phones.

According to BBC News, new kosher cell phones can do everything other cell phones can — except for text messaging, browsing the Internet, and taking photos. The idea is to keep Jewish teens from using their cell phones for “illicit communication” between males and females.

The phones have the same stamp of rabbinical approval that kosher foods receive. 

Some parents are happy they can control phone use by their young teenagers. Beliefnet’s Idol Chatter bloggers wonder whether this means parents are sheltering their children from temptation when they need to learn to resist temptation on their own.

What do you think? Are kosher cell phones good for teens or do they prevent kids from having their faith tested?

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