Category: Religion

Religion, Society

United Methodist Church’s Pacific NW Annual Conference Votes Not To Enforce Church’s Prohibitions Concerning Homosexuality

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

united-methodist-church-logoIn a significant move toward a possible future change to United Methodist Church’s doctrine and discipline, the Pacific Northwest Conference’s 2016 Annual Conference voted for non-conformity to the Book of Discipline’s mandates proscribing gay marriage, gay ministers, and the disbursement of funds toward gay causes. In effect, the measure declares that the PNW Conference will not participate in any judicial or disciplinary actions against those who violate these laws enumerated within the Book of Discipline.  This represents a strong departure from doctrine.

The subject of homosexuality has in the United Methodist Church traditionally brought decades of internal conflict within the Church from parishioners, clergy, bishops, and the various conferences; especially since the choices in the row have been polar in nature–either the status quo or to completely allow acceptance of homosexuality. The non-conformity action might finally offer a middle ground for the Church Community to move closer to that of society and of the secular laws.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Englishman Arrested For Posting Anti-Islamic Tweets After Brussels Bombing

England flagFreedom_of_SpeechThere is another arrest in the United Kingdom for criminal speech, a crime that is on the rise in the West to censor and punish those who are deemed hateful or insulting in their views. The latest arrestee is reported to be Matthew Doyle, 46, a partner at a London PR agency. He was arrested after tweeting about how he asked a Muslim woman to “explain” the terror attacks in Brussels. It was a stupid and insulting act, in my view. Moreover, Doyle reportedly used some slur for Muslims in later postings. However, none of that justifies criminalizing speech and the arrest shows the increasing appetite in England (and the West) for rolling back on free speech. Indeed, we recently discussed the Obama Administration’s threats of prosecution for those who speak in ways deemed misleading or hateful.

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Bizarre, Free Speech, International, Religion, Society

Catholic League President Rejects Pope’s Call To Apologize To Gays

120px-Pope_Francis_in_March_2013_(cropped)Recently, Pope Francis called on the church to apologize to gays and others for years of poor or abusive treatment. It was a signature moment for this Pope who has reached out to marginalized groups and rejected many of the long-entrenched positions and habits (and excesses) of the Vatican. However, his words were given an interesting spin by Catholic League President Bill Donohue, who had a remarkably heated exchange with CNN’s Chris Cuomo and refused to apologize to gays. The video is below.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion, Uncategorized

Saudi Arabia Arrests People For Wearing Ripped Jeans and Crocs As “UnIslamic”

125px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saudi_Arabia.svgOur close ally, Saudi Arabia, is again showing that it is as extreme as countries like Iran in its application of Sharia law and Islamic practices.  Ramadan has triggered a crackdown on clothing deemed “unIslamic” ranging from ripped jeans, Crocs shoes, shorts, necklaces and Western hair styles.  Up to 50 men have been arrested off the streets by the infamous Saudi “Mutaween,” or  the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

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Bizarre, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Sacramento Pastor Praises Omar Mateen and Says That God Will Finish The Job

920x920It often seems that when the world is grieving some terrible tragedy, there are some religious extremists who will celebrate the loss. Stepping immediately into that role was Sacramento pastor Roger Jimenez of the California-based Verity Baptist Church who praised Omar Mateen’s murder of gays and lamented that he did not “finish” the job. It appears however that Jimenez will have to find another place to peddle his religious-based hate. Harsch Investment Properties has decided not to renew the church’s lease and wants Jimenez out by next March.
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Bizarre, Religion

Pennsylvania Church Harassed After Wishing Muslims A Blessed Ramadan

636017790693237889-YDR-sub-061716-ramadan-signIn a true sign of our times, a Pennsylvania church and its pastor in Dallastown have been harassed after a message was added to the church sign wishing neighboring Muslims a “blessed Ramadan.” Trump supporter Matthew Jansen, an elected delegate to the Republican National Convention, is one of the irate people who called to denounce Rev. Christopher Rodkey and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. So a demonstration of tolerance and civility became a rallying cry of religious hatred.

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Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

“University of Jihad”: Pakistan Gives Millions To Maintain Extremist Madrassa

200px-Jameah_Darul_Uloom_DeobandTwo of the closest allies to the United States have long been primary sources for terrorists: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Both maintain Islamic schools or madrassas that espouse extreme views of Islam that justify the killing of homosexuals, blasphemers and others. While both countries continually insist that they are not supporting such groups, terrorists have been traced back to both countries in terms of support and education. Indeed, Pakistan continues to jail a doctor who helped the United States find Bin Laden but still receives massive U.S. aid. Now, it has been disclosed that Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated Rs 300 million to a madrassa known as the “University of Jihad” because of its infamous alumni of terrorists and extremists, including top Afghan Taliban leaders like the late Mullah Omar.

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Constitutional Law, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

New York Senate Approves Sweeping Ban On Funding of Student Groups Supporting Israeli Boycott and Other Forms of “Intolerance”

Seal_of_New_York_svgWe have been discussing the arrest of people in other countries for participating in protests to boycott Israel and other measures. These actions raise serious free speech issues. Some states have created laws barring contracts with companies that join the boycott of Israel. Now, a controversial measure has passed the New York Senate that bars the funding of any student groups that encourage boycotts of Israel and other allies as well as those groups involved in “hate speech” and “intolerance.” However, the bill introduced by New York state Senator Jack M. Martins (R-Nassau County) is so ambiguously worded as to defy definition of the underlying violations — a critical flaw under first amendment analysis. However, over the objections of various groups, the bill has garnered growing support among politicians.

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Criminal law, Religion, Society

Orlando Killer Identified As Muslim Extremist Who Pledged Allegiance To ISIS

352EF38500000578-3637414-image-a-131_1465749094436As the country mourns the massacre in Orlando, the police have identified the murderer as Omar Mateen, 29, from Port St. Lucie in Florida. He was born to Afghan parents who came to this country in the 1980s. He is responsible for the largest massacre of people in U.S. history after killed at least 50 people at a gay nightclub called Pulse in Orlando. Mateen reportedly called 911 shortly before the shooting and swore allegiance to the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion

Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Bans Girls Older Than Five From Riding Bikes As “Provocative”

imgresIn yet another example of how similar extreme groups in Judaism and Islam can be, an ultra-orthodox Jewish leader has reportedly banned girls aged five and older from riding bicycles;claiming it is “immodest” and too “provocative” for men watching girls as young as six on a bicycle.You may recall the outrageous move by the city of New York to remove bike lanes in an area in New York to protect the sensibilities of Hasidic men. Previously, an influential rabbi moved to block women from driving –just as his Islamic counterparts have done in places like Saudi Arabia.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Religion

Saudi Doctor Delivers Healthy Baby . . . Father Shoots Doctor For Exposing His Wife In The Presence Of A Male

220px-KFMC_Main_HospitalA Saudi husband’s view of the strict Islamic code led to his shooting a doctor despite the successful delivery of the man’s son. The doctor was also a man and the husband was irate that a female was not asked to deliver the baby in accordance with Islamic values. Muhannad Al Zabn, delivered the baby at the King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh and was later treated for his own gun shot wounds.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Religion

“I’m Muslim, Don’t Panic”: Three Muslim Migrants Savagely Beat Young Iraqi Who Wore Satirical T-Shirt

Screen-Shot-2016-05-29-at-6.11.30-PM-650x571Any Iraqi migrant spotted a t-shirt that seemed to capture the feelings of many Muslims who face assumptions that they are dangerous or unhinged. The 23-year-old wore the t-shirt reading “I’m Muslim, Don’t Panic” back to his asylum home in Berlin and was promptly almost beaten to death by three Muslim refugees who decided that the t-shirt was anti-Islamic.

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International, Religion, Society

Muslim Cleric In Ghana Proclaims That Gay Couples Cause Earthquakes

Kinemetrics_seismographMuslim cleric Mallam Abass Mahmud in Ghana has explained the real cause of earthquakes. Never mind those pesky seismologists and tectonic plates. The real cause it appears are gays and specifically gay sex. It is not clear if the level of gay relations corresponds to the Richter scale in the intensity of earthquakes.

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Bizarre, International, Religion, Society

Iran Flogs 30 College Students For Attending A Mix Gender Graduation Party With 99 Lashes Each

300px-fomfr_whipIran this month reminded the world that it remains entirely committed to the medieval Sharia legal system. Over 30 college students participated in a graduation party but were arrested by Iranian police for participating in a mixed gender party. Each of the students was given 99 lashes under the Islamic law.

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Bizarre, International, Religion, Society

Iran Accuses Kim Kardashian Of Being Secret Western Agent

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards has denounced Kim Kardashian as being a Western agent. Of course, crazed fatwas and threats coming from the Islamic Republic is hardly news. However, in this case, a country is suggesting that Kim Kardashian has a job other than just being a Kardashian. The Kardashians are rightfully viewed as the death of American culture as a group of people without a single discernible talent. The Kardashians literally made being a celebrity as basis for celebrity status — without the need of actually being successful as a dancer, singer, or some other actual skill. The fact that the Iranians view Kim Kardashian as actively engaged in some substantive effort other than being Kim Kardashian shows how out of touch they really are with reality.

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