Karen Scott is a member of the ReligiousLiberty.TV Advisory Panel. Freedom FROM Religion or Freedom FOR Religion? A Seminar Covering Eight Sundays at Pioneer United Methodist Church Time: 9 AM Sundays Room 102 Dates: October 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, 28, and December 5, 2010 209 E Birch St Walla Walla, WA 99362…
Year: 2010
The case against legalizing marijuana in California (Philadelphia Inquirer)
EXCERPT: Prop 19 pushers argue that by taxing and regulating marijuana, the state will reap a tax windfall. But the act would let every landowner grow enough marijuana to produce 24,000 to 240,000 joints a year for “personal consumption.” Who would pay the $50-per-ounce tax on marijuana (a 100 percent tax) when he could grow…
Colorado School’s Rosary Rule Disputed (KKTV)
EXCERPT: COLORADO SPRINGS — An announcement made by a Colorado Springs middle school, stipulating how students can wear rosaries, has the ACLU speaking out against the decision. The group says religious liberty does not stop at the entrance to a public school. [District spokesperson Elaine] Naleski says some students were offended at how others were…
French Court Approves Veil Ban (AJE)
EXCERPT: France’s highest court has approved a law banning full-facial veils in public – with the exception of mosques – eliminating the last hurdle for the ban. Those behind the law argue that it will protect women’s rights. Its critics, however, say that it stigmatises Muslim women and it is a breach of religious freedom….
Mainstreaming Hate in the Netherlands (ForeignPolicy)
Here is an excerpt from an article by former Financial Times writer and Dutch media Middle East correspondent Ferry Biedermann published on ForeignPolicy.com on October 4, 2010. The rise of the far right has hardly caused a ripple in the Netherlands. The Dutch coalition deal was done before the end of September, marking the political…
Druidry to be classed as religion in Britain (BBC)
EXCERPT: UNITED KINGDOM — Druidry is to become the first pagan practice to be given official recognition as a religion [in Britain]. The Charity Commission has accepted that druids’ worship of natural spirits could be seen as religious activity. The Druid Network’s charitable status entitles it to tax breaks, but the organisation says it does…
Texas Ed Board Adopts Resolution Limiting Islam (NPR)
EXCERPT: AUSTIN — The Texas State Board of Education adopted a resolution Friday that seeks to curtail references to Islam in Texas textbooks, as social conservative board members warned of what they describe as a creeping Middle Eastern influence in the nation’s publishing industry. The board approved the one-page nonbinding resolution, which urges textbook publishers…
Stopping US Muslim backlash (AJE)
EXCERPT: Religious leaders – Muslim, Jewish, and Christian – met in Washington, DC, on Tuesday [September 7] to denounce anti-Muslim bigotry. More than 30 religious leaders [were] in one room with one aim: to stop a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment that has already had violent consequences. There was the attack on a Muslim taxi driver…
Liberty and tolerance: Our checkered history with religious equality (OregonLive.com)
Here is an excerpt from a great article by Willamette Law Professor Steven K. Green published on OregonLive.com on September 10, 2010. Liberty and tolerance: Our checkered history with religious equality Published: Friday, September 10, 2010, 9:00 AM By Steven K. Green This seems like a good time for a refresher on an important American…
Petraeus Condemns U.S. Church’s Plan to Burn Qurans (WSJ)
EXCERPT: KABUL-The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the planned burning of Qurans on Sept. 11 by a small Florida church could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort. Gen. David Petraeus said the Taliban would exploit the demonstration for propaganda purposes, drumming up anger toward the U.S. and…