Monthly Archives: December 2008

Has Christopher Hitchens Been Duped?

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Heather Mac Donald

Christopher Hitchens accuses Rick Warren of bigotry for believing that Jews will not go to heaven (thanks to Wally for the link). Hitchens’ condemnation strikes me as unduly harsh. I don’t think it’s fair to label a theological position as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 99 Comments

“Among the stingiest of the stingy…”

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Walter Olson

Nicholas Kristof at the Times is calling attention to those Arthur Brooks figures about how conservatives give more to charity than liberals, and religious persons give more than secular: A study by Google found an even greater disproportion: average annual … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 30 Comments

News flash: majority of American Christians are not Christian!

Posted on December 20, 2008 by David Hume

A month ago some bloggers were mooting whether Barack Hussein Obama was a Christian at all due to his heterodox beliefs.  Well, we now know how it was that the majority Americans voted for this avowed Christian non-Christian: most American … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, data | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

No We Can’t!

Posted on December 20, 2008 by David Hume

New Poll Gauges Americans’ General Knowledge Levels: Also in the “ideas have consequences” category, White House Philosophy Stoked Mortgage Bonfire.

Posted in science | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Ireland, the Middle East and religious strife

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Walter Olson

Commenter Ploni Almoni chides me for describing Northern Ireland’s Troubles in my post yesterday as an instance of “tribal violence based on religion” when in fact (Almoni says) the strife was “based on nationality, or ethnicity if you prefer”, between … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 15 Comments

My Error

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Heather Mac Donald

I regret having written an insensitive post on a recent tragedy in Cincinnati. It was an egregious failure of judgment for which I take full responsibility.

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments

The duly elected representatives of the people

Posted on December 19, 2008 by David Hume

Kevin Drum points me to some interesting data from the Pew Forum On Religion & Public Life. Here’s some specific denominational breakdowns….

Posted in data, politics | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Miscellany, Dec. 19

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Walter Olson

Christopher Hitchens on Rick Warren’s inauguration role. You know you want to read it, so go ahead. Meanwhile, Heather’s piece yesterday on Warren is getting enormous traffic and made Memeorandum. I seldom (okay, almost never) agree with left-leaning blogger Scott … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Religious-employee opt-out rights in health care

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Walter Olson

This topic, which I mentioned in passing last week, is back in the news with the announcement of an executive order by President Bush extending and entrenching the asserted right of hospital, clinic and pharmacy employees to defy their supervisors … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

Rick Warren and the Presidency

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Heather Mac Donald

Barack Obama’s invitation to evangelical powerhouse Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation has angered abortion and gay rights advocates. They are overreacting. The invitation merely confirms Obama’s admirable willingness to reach out across a relatively broad ideological spectrum . … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 57 Comments