A total of 13 contribution towards Texas faith were made, although, I have written in readers columns before, but officially, I started on 9/14th with Dallas Morning News.
Texas Faith: Which religion stories merited more and better coverage?
Published on 12/21/10 at Dallas Morning news
A great initiative was taken by the Foundation for Pluralism to mitigate conflicts by demystifying the myths about Qur’aan, which were aggressively pushed by the right wingers to pit one American against the other.
Pastor Robert Jeffress (of First Baptist Church of Dallas) called Qur’aan an evil book written by a false prophet. He did not tell the truth nor did he take up the challenge to identify what is evil in Qur’aan. The media failed to ask him the specifics; his words were carried on the airwaves like the gospel truth. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-which-religion-stories.html
Texas Faith: Why not worry about your theology?
Published on 12/14/10 at Dallas Morning news
America does it!
People of faith, particularly “conservatives,” continue to worry about maintaining theological continuity and integrity, but they really don’t have a choice and cannot “control” perceived “deviants” by frightening them with excommunication or persecution. America is the land of the free and it does bring freedom to one from the clutches of one’s own beliefs, however religious associations in America are tempered with free choice. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-why-not-worry-about-your.html
TEXAS FAITH: How should chaplains deal with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal?
Published on 12/07/10 at Dallas Morning news
Let us resist the temptation to become the moral police of our nation. We have led the world in innovation, science, technology, medicine and just about every aspect of life and it is time we consider moving from restrictive religious convictions to universalizing our God who loves his creation. It’s a new paradigm in broadening our moral compass.http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-how-should-chaplains-deal.html
TEXAS FAITH: Was Oklahoma out of line with Sharia amendment?
Published on 11/16/10 at Dallas Morning news
The Oklahoma referendum on Sharia is simply gratuitous and one of the best examples of politicians duping the public.
Getting the public to be riled up against something that ain’t there is the ploy the politicians have been using. Many a times they succeed and the responsibility falls on our shoulders to wake the public up to such abuses. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-was-oklahoma-out-of-line.html
TEXAS FAITH: How do you view God?
Published on 11/09/10 at Dallas Morning news
Has God created us in his image or have we created God in our own image? This new paradigm is gaining currency and it is worth looking into. There are nearly seven billion of us and each one of has his or her own idea of God on a personal level. We have given gender to that elusive creator and we have come to believe he is one, many or none. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-how-do-you-view-god.html
TEXAS FAITH: Why does fear sell on the campaign trail?
Published on 11/02/10 at Dallas Morning news
Fear has been ingrained into our psyche from the moment we had a chance to life. Darwin proclaimed the universal truth, “Survival of the fittest,” though his reference was to survival of the species; it is indeed applicable in political, social, religious, cultural and other contexts. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-why-does-fear-sell-on.html
TEXAS FAITH: Does firing Juan Williams improve our understanding of religious diversity?
Published on 10/26/10 at Dallas Morning news
No, we are not better off forbidding any view however ill-expressed in an honest discussion of America’s view of Islam. Neither God nor religion should be free from any critical study including Islam and Quraan. Yes, I am a Muslim, and like most Muslims I will defend that freedom to the core. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-does-firing-juan-williams.html
TEXAS FAITH: Should Christians (and other non-Hindus) beware of yoga?
Published on 10/19/10 at Dallas Morning news
Mohler seems to be threatened by the popularity of yoga, a beautiful practice to bring composure to oneself. He is obsessed with the idea that yoga is a bait to lure his congregation away into “a spiritual practice that threatens to transform their own spiritual lives into a `post-Christian, spiritually polyglot’ reality”, and then he asks, “Should any Christian willingly risk that?” How mistaken can one be? Yoga is not a mutually exclusive practice, nor is it a religion; it is indeed a catalyst in achieving the union of mind and body that is central to all spirituality. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-should-christians-and-other.html
TEXAS FAITH: Why do our faiths shape some political views, but not others?
Published on 10/12/10 at Dallas Morning news
A causal relationship exists between what one hears from the pulpit and his/her disposition towards the issues reflected in the survey. Causal relationships exist when one variable causes a change in another variable. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-why-do-our-faiths-shape.html
TEXAS FAITH: Why is there such a lack of religious knowledge?
Published on 10/05/10 at Dallas Morning news
The shallowness of religious knowledge can be attributed to the immediate gratification syndrome, which can lead one to be satisfied with quick fixes and shy away from seeking deeper knowledge about religion. Many people are content with simple answers to questions like “Mom where did we come from?” “What is the bottom line?” “Am I saved?” They are happy with the instant meals. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-why-is-there-such-lack-of.html
TEXAS FAITH: Why do we pray for Christopher Hitchens?
Published on 9/28/10 at Dallas Morning news
Our altruistic nature nudges us to wish well for others, and thus we pray for Christopher Hitchens for a speedy recovery. Prayers and wishes are the words to express one’s desire to include everyone to be a part of the universal energy that we long for regardless of our race, ethnicity, sex, belief or ability. We are simply wishing him well in our own way that we know of, and I am sure he has the capacity to receive the good on its face value. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-why-do-we-pray-for.html
TEXAS FAITH: Should faithful focus on charity or justice?
Published on 9/21/10 at Dallas Morning news
Charity or justice reminds me of the chicken or egg example.
Charity comes alive in response to social and economic injustices that happen in a given society. If the societies operate on the principles of justice in every aspect of life, then charity may remain a dormant element. However, there is something beyond all this that operates within all of us. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-should-faithful-focus-on.html
Texas Faith: What religion stories should the media focus on?
Published on 9/14/10 at Dallas Morning News
My first piece at Dallas Morning News – Bill McKenzie introduces, Sam Hodges had intiatied.
“The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell the country for his daily bread.” Ever since John Swinton, of the New York Times uttered those words in the last century, discussions among media barons have continued about the nature of their business. http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-what-religion-stories.html