The New York Times has an interesting piece by Geraldine Fabrikant about a collector building a collection of ancient Bibles. With the goal of establishing a museum dedicated to the Bible, the family behind the Hobby Lobby chain of stores is on a bit of a spending spree. They’ve “bought illuminated, or decorated, manuscripts, Torahs, papyri and other works worth $20 million to $40 million from auction houses, dealers, private collectors and institutions, some of which may be selling because of financial pressure.”
Shameless plug for ... religion news
As you know, the basic idea behind this weblog is that it is, as a rule, impossible to do an informed, accurate and balanced job of covering real news in the real world without taking the power of religious faith seriously.
Bruce Almighty to the rescue
What? Nikki Haley's faith evolving?
OK, sports fans, I am still watching the coverage of Nikki Haley deep down there in South Carolina and, of course, her unique religious background.
Paparazzi's poker face for Lady Gaga
Everywhere I turn, it seems I’m unintentionally listening to a song by Lady Gaga in the grocery store or stumbling upon a spoof of her music videos (So far, I vote for NPR). Chances are, you’ve at least heard snippets of “Telephone,” “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “Paparazzi,” to name a few of her hits.
Getting off on the wrong foot
The San Francisco Chronicle had a story out of its Washington bureau that shows the importance of checking information you get from a press conference. Apparently the progressive Center for American Progress had an event about the fight for gay rights in Uganda. The event featured New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson and a former Anglican bishop of Uganda named Christopher Senyonjo. (In years past, his name was frequently spelled Ssenyonjo.)
Sally Quinn's dinner party
Newsweek/Washington Post‘s “On Faith” religion section has not gone without criticism in these parts. We want newspapers to cover more religion news, and cover it better. The “On Faith” site treats religion as an interesting topic for discussion at a civilized dinner party with mostly liberal guests. Somedays the guests are really interesting and add value to the discussion and other days you wish they’d stop drinking and head on home.
Ghosts in Big 12 explosion? Really?
If you care about college athletics at all and, especially if you have any ties that bind you to the Southwest, then one of the big stories of the day is the almost certain breakup up of the Big 12 Conference.
All religions are the same, right?
I love the lede on an Associated Press story this week about a California seminary’s plans to train leaders of three different faiths:
