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Religion News

2015-09-03T10:04:09-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Which U.S. churches accept legal abortion?

Last updated on: September 3, 2015 at 10:04 am By Richard Ostling

EVA’S QUESTION: Are there any Christian denominations that accept the legality of abortion? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: Yes. To make things manageable the following discusses only Christianity in the U.S. in the era of the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision to legalize abortion nationwide. Although some predominantly white “mainline” Protestant churches are officially neutral or opposed, five major denominations of this type provide significant support for abortion choice in various situations. Representative policy statements: Episcopal Church: The 1976 General Convention opposed abortions... Read more

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2015-08-26T11:52:10-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A common dilemma: Which Bible to use?

Last updated on: August 26, 2015 at 11:52 am By Richard Ostling

DALE’S QUESTION: I am no longer sure which Bible to use. I currently have the New American Standard Bible. How accurate is this? What are your thoughts on the New English Translation? [This is a direct response to our immediately preceding Religion Q and A for August 16, 2015, “Why were some verses removed from the New Testament?”] THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: There are so many different English translations in today’s alphabet soup of a marketplace that Dale’s dilemma is... Read more

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2015-08-16T19:31:12-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why were some verses removed from the New Testament?

Last updated on: August 16, 2015 at 7:31 pm By Richard Ostling

CASSANDRA’S QUESTION: I’m just shocked by the information I just received about the N.I.V. Bible, that many verses of the Scriptures have been removed. So I’m searching for a reliable version of the Bible to study from. Any suggestions? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: The Guy reassures Cassandra, who’s been reading the Bible for 21 years, that well-qualified translators produced the many modern English editions on the market, and that includes her New International Version. Inevitably, translators will make different word... Read more

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2015-08-08T16:58:37-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How come Judaism is broken into various branches?

Last updated on: August 8, 2015 at 4:58 pm By Richard Ostling

MADDIE’S QUESTION: What caused Judaism to break into branches? Are the branches even seen as a division? Does theology differ among them? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: The questioner has “a Christian background” so is familiar with a religion made up of separate groups. Christianity has long been divided into four main families, the so-called “Oriental Orthodox,” the Eastern Orthodox, Catholicism, and Protestantism. A fifth family of new, independent churches in the developing world developed in the 20th Century. Islam, too,... Read more

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2015-07-10T09:58:07-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Which Old Testament laws apply to non-Jews?

Last updated on: July 10, 2015 at 9:58 am By Richard Ostling

VALERIE’S QUESTION: Do God’s laws apply to Gentiles, including foods that should not be eaten, i.e. pigs, fish without scales? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: Valerie raises a broad topic but focuses on the ritually prohibited foods in the Hebrew Bible (what Christians call the Old Testament) as listed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. For traditional Jews, kosher observance involves both obedience to God and identity with their people and heritage across thousands of years. However, Judaism does not call... Read more

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2015-07-01T23:31:24-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What’s ahead for Americans who believe in traditional marriage?

Last updated on: July 1, 2015 at 11:31 pm By Richard Ostling

THE RELIGION GUY ASKS: With the U.S. Supreme Court’s mandate to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, what’s ahead for religious believers in traditional man-and-woman marriage alone? (The Guy poses this timely topic now in place of the usual question posted by an online reader.) THE ANSWER: The historic June 26 legalization, by a one-vote majority of a deeply divided Supreme Court, demonstrates with stark clarity religion’s declining influence and stature in American culture. The one aspect is obvious. Traditional marriage belief... Read more

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2015-06-23T11:10:28-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Does the Bible’s ban on “graven images” forbid art in church?

Last updated on: June 23, 2015 at 11:10 am By Richard Ostling

BRAD’S QUESTION: Why don’t Catholics have a problem with the graven images that surround them in church? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER Brad is obviously Protestant in his cultural outlook. That is, Catholic and Orthodox churches encourage religious art in church, seen as aids to devotion. Protestants’ policies vary (as on most things!) but they broadly unite with Judaism in limiting visual images in worship settings to avoid any association with idolatry. Some Protestants prohibit all art in sanctuaries. Others allow... Read more

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2015-06-12T18:11:18-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What can experts tell us about America’s growing “nondenominational” churches?

Last updated on: June 12, 2015 at 6:11 pm By Richard Ostling

RACHAEL’S QUESTION: In the recent Pew survey showing America’s religious changes, how were nondenominational churches categorized? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: Rachael asked previously what America’s biggest Christian groups are, and now has another demographic item about the Pew Research Center’s important “Religious Landscape Study,” which continues to spur discussion. (Text: www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/RLS-05-08-full-report.pdf. This blog scanned key findings May 16). Pew’s 2014 polling tells us how 35,071 U.S. adults identify themselves on religion, with important new fundings about these independent (a.k.a. “nondenominational”... Read more

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2015-06-03T16:24:04-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why did Jesus Christ “die for our sins”?

Last updated on: June 3, 2015 at 4:24 pm By Richard Ostling

JOHN’S QUESTION: I understand there is currently a debate between orthodox and progressive theologians on the doctrine of the atonement. I always considered this a cornerstone of Christian theology. Can you encapsulate the arguments? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: A tough one, and this mere journalist has long pondered how to reply. Tough because the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion stands right at the heart of the Christian faith — indeed the cross is its universal symbol — and so is vitally... Read more

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2015-05-25T12:30:04-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How do Christians interpret “You shall not kill”?

Last updated on: May 25, 2015 at 12:30 pm By Richard Ostling

GEORGE’S QUESTION: When are we as Christians allowed to fight back and protect our civilization? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: George wonders whether Christians should work in police departments, whose conduct is much in the news, as well as the armed forces or other security vocations that involve use of violence and possible injury or death. The Religion Guy previously addressed various religions’ views of military service: www.patheos.com/blogs/religionqanda/2014/08/is-military-service-sinful. But it’s a perennial and important topic worth another look, this time limited to... Read more

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