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With violence in the streets of many of our most prominent cities, there is an underlying sub-theme that is also troubling. Christophobia, which attacks anything Christian, is surely on the march. Perhaps the latest example is the burning of Bibles in recent Portland protests. On Aug. 2, the Washington Examiner noted, "Portland protesters were filmed burning Bibles and the American flag as protests continue in the city for more than two months. Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz responded to a Friday video of people burning what was described as a 'stack of Bibles' on Twitter Saturday, saying, 'This is who...

I subscribe to a Mormon apologetic Newsletter titled FAIR (Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research). Normally it falls into my junk email account and I don't even open it, but today I had a few minutes and scanned the latest offering and was stunned to see the hypocrisy of the authors. Please note the entire email is posted below. This particular issue has a great deal of whining about those mean Christians who make the spurious claim that Mormons are not Christians, but are a cult. A couple of examples: -"Mormons are a cult" epithets into the national spotlight. In...

During the early 1830s, Emma Smith was beginning to have some strong suspicions that her husband, Joseph (Mormon prophet) might be involved in infidelity. While these were only suspicions, Oliver Cowdery (one of the three “witnesses” to the Book of Mormon) had proof of Smith’s adultery and confronted him on it. Smith denied to Cowdery that he was in any such activity. Cowdery would be excommunicated from the Mormon church on several counts including, “by falsely insinuating that he [Smith] was guilty of adultery.” 1 Emma’s suspicions were confirmed when she caught Joseph and 19-year-old Eliza Partridge locked in a...

<p>CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor Eric Marrapodi jumped into the fray on the topic with Foreman as well. He said while religious views shape Mormon politicians on a macro level, there is no evidence Mormon politicians have a "bat phone" to Utah and take orders from the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the church is formally known.</p>

Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Mormon church that practises polygamy, is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was given the maximum sentence for taking girls as young as 12 to be his brides. SNIP ...a Texas jury took just 40 minutes to hand him the toughest sentence open to them – life in prison for aggravated sexual assault and 20 years in prison for sexual assault of a child... SNIP The polygamist Mormons, under Jeffs's leadership, refused to renounce plural marriages and now have about 10,000 followers. The jury heard that Jeffs...

DRAPER, Utah— Federal officers arrested 53 year old Felix Callejas, his wife and two of their children at their home April 19. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says a judge ordered Luca Callejas to return to El Salvador in 2008. Callejas' other family members got the same deportation order in 2009. The family appealed and their case was dismissed earlier this month. Callejas is the president of a Spanish speaking LDS Church branch in Draper. Concerned church members called local activist Tony Yapias saying they're now afraid to go to church. “The whole membership was devastated over what happened,” says Latino...

In a recent survey by pollster Gary Lawrence of how Americans view "Mormonism," a whopping 77 percent said they were not sure Mormons are Christians. Understanding how the public views us can improve our responses to gospel questions. SNIP 2. Ditch the lingo. Gary Lawrence is a respected pollster and adviser to the missionary department. He suggests we use simple terms to which our Christian friends will relate: Use "Christianity" instead of "gospel," "re-established" instead of "restoration," and "men changed" instead of "apostasy." 3. Stay on message. Only 12 percent of Americans know our central message. It is this: We...

  Mormon youth, 12-18-year olds, are at least as mobile as any Milennial, and as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they now have access to a new iPhone app, LDS Youth, that allows them to view video messages from peers worldwide, access stories, thoughts, articles, and inspirational messages through their portable devices. With each amenity, is the share-feature, enabling youth to spread encouragement by phone among their peers and families.This app comes in conjunction with a newly updated LDS/Mormon website, Youth.lds.org (“Mormon” is a nickname for members of the Savior’s restored Church named in...

This Sunday morning, December the 21st a demonstration took place in front of the Saint-Priest Mosque, near Lyon in France. Earlier in the week, someone tried to burn down the Mosque, causing minor damage. No one was injured. Today's gathering included Muslims (of course!) and politicians (from the right and the left). Notable was also the presence of a Jewish representative from C.R.I.F. (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France): Maurice Amsellem. Gérard Collomb, Lyon's current mayor, said in his address: It is a hateful act that bring us here today. Alas, it not an isolated one! You are the...

Last Updated: Tuesday, 7 December, 2004, 16:50 GMT E-mail this to a friend Printable version Religious jokes 'won't be crime' The comedian said he was worried about freedom of speech David Blunkett has told MPs a new law targeting "incitement to religious hatred" will not curtail free speech. He said the measure "will not criminalise material just because it stirs up ridicule, prejudice, dislike, contempt or anger". The plans have come under fire from comedian Rowan Atkinson who is worried that the powers will stop him telling jokes and satirising people's beliefs. The Tories oppose the plan and the Lib...

A doctoral candidate in Australia was paid $51,000 in public funds to research Jesus' sexuality, declaring unequivocally that the founder of Christianity was homosexual.

Teens forced to make very public apology FAIRPORT HARBOR, Ohio (Court TV) — Two teenagers were forced to parade a donkey through a town after they admitted defacing a statue of the baby Jesus. Jessica Lange and Brian Patrick, both 19, were ordered by a judge to make the Feb. 2 march through the northeast Ohio town after they admitted stabbing and desecrating the statue with Satanic symbols at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church on Christmas Eve. Groups of residents watched as the two walked and asked for forgiveness. The repentant duo led a donkey provided by a petting zoo...

<p>OUTRAGED Catholics wanted comic-magicians Penn & Teller removed from ABC’s Super Bowl special over an act they performed featuring Jesus, a midget angel and a sex act. The duo - who are scheduled to perform on ABC’s pre- and post-game show from Times Square - acted out the controversial bit at the World Magic Seminar in Rio last week. When the Catholic League’s William A. Donohue got wind of it, he fired a letter to ABC saying that such "an incredibly anti-Christian statement" should not be "rewarded." A network rep told the Las Vegas Review Journal that Penn & Teller are still in the show.</p>

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. Las Vegans Al and Rita Cummins are not turning the other cheek to that risque crucifixion skit by local magicians Penn & Teller. "What they did is blaspheme the Lord," Al Cummins said. "I know there a lot of scenes in the casinos that we would not approve of. That's their business, but it became our business when they criticized our Lord." The Summerlin couple learned of the Jan. 13 routine at a magicians' convention after reading items in Norm Clarke's Review-Journal column. Penn & Teller have been publicly quiet about...

A sacrilegious stunt by Penn & Teller that offended some at a major magicians convention was defended Thursday by fellow local headliners. A group walked out of a roast of Amazing Johnathan on Monday after Teller, dressed as Christ on a full-sized cross, entered the room on a cart. A midget dressed as an angel performed a simulated sex act on the near-naked Teller. Penn Jillette, in a Roman gladiator costume, unveiled the scene by pulling away a "Shroud of Turin" that covered the cross. Rick Neiswonger, a longtime magician and local marketing executive, said "the majority" of the 400...

The magic-comedy team of Penn & Teller has performed a stunt parodying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, offending some attendees of a major magicians' convention, reports columnist Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review. The skit, performed last week in Las Vegas, included Teller, dressed as Christ on a full-size cross, entering the room on a cart. According to the column, a midget dressed as an angel "performed a simulated sex act on the near-naked Teller." Penn, in a Roman gladiator costume, unveiled the scene by pulling away a "Shroud of Turin" that covered the cross. A group of people...