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This is a few days late, but we need to look at that Los Angeles Times “End Times” story. I’m not sure if the problem with the story is that it is disorganized or that the reporter just doesn’t get the topic about which he is writing.
Compared to the Womb story, this next Presbyterian Assembly story may not seem terribly exciting. But it is spicy in its own way. The Denver Post‘s Eric Gorski is one of my favorite religion reporters. He takes the time to understand and accurately convey the theology of complex stories’ various players. Well, Gorski had a different kind of story worth noting in Wednesday morning’s Post.
With all of the excitement surrounding the Episcopal convention, the action at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 217th General Assembly has been overshadowed. (And the coverage the Presbyterians have received in recent months has not been terribly positive, involving their budget and membership woes.) But Richard Ostling filed a story with the Associated Press that’s pretty juicy:
Like many Americans, I became extremely curious about Islam and its adherents in recent years. I joined a local study group to read the Quran and learn about Islam and have read many books on Islamic teachings. But even though I’m pretty sure I know a bit more than the average American, I’m not sure how much I really understand about this religion.
I am blessed and honored to have nine godchildren (that’s me with one of them and her mum). Oh how I love them, and I take my vows very seriously. As a Lutheran, being a baptismal sponsor means I am to pray for them daily, and assist with and ensure their catechesis. I am closer to some than others, but they all are the subject of my prayers. Having these godchildren is a huge part of my life. As such, I was so pleased to see a religion reporter write about being a godparent.
A British philosopher, and former faculty member at my alma mater, published a small paper recently that argued that practitioners of natural family planning cause “massive” early embryonic death. Incendiary! So I guess I should not be surprised that major media are picking up on the study.
The Episcopal Church begins its convention in Columbus, Ohio, today. I’m not sure if there is a church body in America that gets as much ink per member as the Episcopal Church. I’m not complaining about their coverage, I just wish that other church bodies of the same size could get half as much.
Libby Copeland’s 2,500-word profile of Sen. Sam Brownback thoroughly analyzes his religious views. Titled “Faith-Based Intitiative: Presidential Hopeful Sam Brownback Strives to Be Humble Enough for a Higher Power,” the piece is all religion, all the time.
The Washington Post had an interesting story on Sunday about Latino immigrants converting to Islam. I find conversion stories fascinating, and I wish newspapers would do more of them. It makes for very good copy.
