A crowd cheered fervently in Iowa this month as Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback quoted Mother Teresa telling him, "All for Jesus. All for Jesus. All for Jesus. All for Jesus." Barack Obama's recently launched Spanish-language radio ad in Nevada tells the targeted Hispanic audience, "Barack Obama is a Christian man." Hillary Clinton doesn't hesitate to let voters know the importance of prayer in her life, while Rudy Giuliani awkwardly dodges questions about his standing as a Catholic. And then there's Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Everywhere he goes, Romney faces questions about his Mormon faith. Religion has played a role in presidential elections throughout history. But not since 1960, when John F. Kennedy became the first Catholic elected to the White House, has it been as omnipresent on the campaign trail. Historians and political experts say it's unlikely religion - or social … [Read more...] about Religion shaping race & defining Prez candidates
Religion
Joe Bruno, Sheldon Silver in ‘religion’ war
ALBANY - The Legislature isn't even in session, but already Senate GOP leader Joe Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are at each other's throats.Bruno drew Silver's ire by telling Albany radio station WROW the Assembly should have been in session Sept. 25-27 because they "weren't holy days for the Jewish population or the people in that religion or anyone else."But the evening of Sept. 26 and all day Sept. 27 were part of Succoth, a holiday observed by religious Jews, such as Silver (D-Lower Manhattan).A spokesman for Silver charged the Rensselaer Republican with lobbing "offensive comments regarding religious holidays."Bruno also accused Silver of being "a wimp" for complaining Republicans are knotting up state government by probing Troopergate, the controversy involving efforts by Spitzer staffers to enlist state police to track Bruno's movements in New York City. Join the Conversation: … [Read more...] about Joe Bruno, Sheldon Silver in ‘religion’ war
In tour of major religions, Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Israel and Vatican on first foreign trip
WASHINGTON — President Trump will add visits to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome to his pre-planned trip to Europe later this month, the White House said Thursday, making his first foreign trip as president a tour of three great world religions.Trump made the announcement after meeting with Roman Catholic cardinals in the Oval Office Thursday, and during an event to mark the National Day of Prayer with an executive order on what he called "religious freedom.""Tolerance is the cornerstone of peace and that's why I'm proud to make a major and historic announcement this morning and to share with you that my first foreign trip as President of the United States will be to Saudi Arabia, then Israel, and then to a place that my cardinals love very much, Rome."But the White House clearly intends to send a signal by making his first visit to Saudi Arabia, home of the holiest sites in Islam, after controversial policies to suspend travel to the United States from six countries in … [Read more...] about In tour of major religions, Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Israel and Vatican on first foreign trip
7 DREAMS OF TOPPING 9-11. ODDBALLS TRIED MIX OF CREEDS & RELIGIONS
THE DETAILS EMERGING yesterday about the seven accused wanna-be jihadists did not make up a picture of your standard Islamic terrorists. Either Haitian immigrants or the sons of Haitian immigrants, they belonged to an off-the-wall Biblical sect called the Seas of David that mixed elements of Christianity and Islam. Their leader, Narseal Batiste, was known in his native Chicago for his large, wooden walking stick, flowing robes and matching headdress - either white or purple. "He used to stand on the corner for a long time talking up at the sky and holding a big stick," said Sarah Villasensor, 53, who owns the Latina Jewelry store a few doors down from where Batiste used to live. "He would stay for hours right there." Batiste, at 32 the oldest of the group, imposed an ascetic regime: no women, no booze, no drugs, no meat and lots of martial arts. They affected a military bearing and wore black uniforms with homemade shoulder patches that some described as a Star of David. "We … [Read more...] about 7 DREAMS OF TOPPING 9-11. ODDBALLS TRIED MIX OF CREEDS & RELIGIONS
Russell Crowe: I was curious about Scientology and asked Tom Cruise about religion
The Church of Scientology narrowly missed on another big name for its marquee. Oscar-winner Russell Crowe revealed that he explored the controversial religion years ago -- but ended up having "never graced [the church's] doorway." The flirtation with Scientology came out of a conversation with fellow Hollywood A-lister and Scientology poster child Tom Cruise, who was married to fellow Australian Nicole Kidman, Crowe told People Magazine. "From a young kid, I was quite interested in religion," the 51-year-old Oscar-winner told People. "When I met Tom Cruise when he was married to Nicole, we were spending a bit of time together so I thought I'd find out a little bit about what he was into." Just as he does for an on-screen role, Crowe set out to do his research. "I found a video in the video store about Scientology and I watched it," Crowe, who directed and stars in the upcoming, "The Water Diviner," told the … [Read more...] about Russell Crowe: I was curious about Scientology and asked Tom Cruise about religion
Pope Francis calls for people of all religions to unite in caring for the world
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is encouraging people of different religions to work together to care for the Earth, which he called our “common house.” Greeting people Sunday from his studio window, Francis praised a few hundred people who marched to St. Peter’s Square under the banner “One Earth, one family.” FOLLOW THE DAILY NEWS ON FACEBOOK. CLICK HERE TO "LIKE." Marchers included Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others. … [Read more...] about Pope Francis calls for people of all religions to unite in caring for the world
It didn’t involve religion or politics, but Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz’s sick act sending 149 to their deaths in French Alps still an act of terror
This is what everybody was saying on Thursday morning about the German co-pilot who killed himself and 149 other people on an airplane over the French Alps as surely as he had blown that plane up with a bomb or shot it out of the sky with a missile: They were saying that he was on no terror lists, even as Andreas Lubitz now becomes as much a face of terror as the masked men of ISIS, now that Lubitz’s suicide mission is officially an act of mass murder. It is also an act of terror, even if it had nothing to do with politics or religion. It is our terror, yours and mine, now that the other side of the cockpit door is still not safe from a madman, all this time after Sept. 11. This time terror, the idea in the modern world that we are not safe anywhere, is an Airbus A320 that has just reached its cruising altitude on its way from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, Germany. Lubitz, who has locked the pilot out of the cockpit, proceeds to fly his plane into the mountains the way the … [Read more...] about It didn’t involve religion or politics, but Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz’s sick act sending 149 to their deaths in French Alps still an act of terror
Conservative presidential hopeful Marco Rubio’s religion of many colors
Republican presidential wannabe Marco Rubio, a conservative, anti-gay marriage candidate from Florida, has lost and found his religion several times. As a child in Miami, he was a Roman Catholic. When his family moved to Las Vegas, he became a Mormon. When the family moved back to Florida he became a Catholic again. And then, in 2000, he began attending Christ Fellowship in Miami, a fundamentalist mega church that is rigidly opposed to homosexuality and asks employees to sign a declaration saying they've never been in a gay relationship. Now he attends both Christ Fellowship and a Catholic church, he says. All of which has sparked intense debate over just what, exactly, Rubio believes when it comes to God. His coat of many religious colors has led political pundits to declare the baby-faced aspirant is courting voters of all conservative faiths. If he can't decide something as fundamental as religion, experts say his changing beliefs could lead to questions about how he … [Read more...] about Conservative presidential hopeful Marco Rubio’s religion of many colors
Arkansas Senate passes religion bill, similar to Indiana’s, seen as homophobic
The Arkansas Senate overwhelmingly approved on Friday a Republican-backed bill whose authors say is intended to protect religious freedoms but critics contend could allow businesses to refuse service to gay people. The Republican governor of Indiana signed into law a similar "religious freedom" bill on Thursday, prompting protests from human rights groups and criticism from some business leaders. The bill advancing in the Republican-led Arkansas legislature says "governments should not substantially burden the free exercise of religion without compelling justification." Supporters say a business should not be forced to, for example, cater a same-sex wedding if doing so would violate the religious beliefs of the owner. Two of the most powerful companies in the United States, retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc, which has its home office in Arkansas, and technology giant Apple Inc came out against the measure. "We feel this legislation is counter to this core basic belief and sends the wrong … [Read more...] about Arkansas Senate passes religion bill, similar to Indiana’s, seen as homophobic
‘Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief’ review: Religion that lores Tom Cruise, John Travolta, other celebs
Tom Cruise, time to call L.R.H. in outer space! The searing, scalpel-sharp documentary “Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief” delves deep into the world of the Church of Scientology, the out-there “religion” that claims Cruise, John Travolta, many celebs and thousands of others as “parishioners.” In the process, it exposes this controversial group in ways it’s never been seen before. The film (also airing on HBO starting March 29) has interviews with high-ranking ex-members to dissect Scientology’s mysterious ways and its monetary — and, it’s said, menacing — means of control. In addition to chronicles of physical and mental abuse, the film’s central tenet is how Scientology bullied its way into religion status by burying the Internal Revenue Service — which was looking to collect a billion-dollar tax bill — with 2,400 lawsuits. The IRS eventually surrendered, granting … [Read more...] about ‘Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief’ review: Religion that lores Tom Cruise, John Travolta, other celebs