A group of Muslim activist in Malaysia said that Isalm can longer be used as a means to discriminate against women.

Project director of Musawah (the global meeting for equality and justice in the Muslim Family) Zainah Anwar said, very often Muslim women who asked for changes to discriminatory laws and practices were told it was “God’s law” and thus could not be changed or negotiated”.

She goes on to ask that if justice is intrinsic in Islam then how can injustice and discrimination rise from such tenets?

When ask how she feels about groups that oppose these feminist views such as the Penang Ulama Association and PAS Youth, Zainah said, she felt rather sorry for them.

Nigerian Asma’ U Joda, who is part of the Musawah working committee, said it was not an issue of convincing men to allow women their rights.

“It is an issue of the community and men are part of that community. What we are demanding for is going to happen,” she said.

Throughout history many religions including Islam have used religious text as a means to discriminate against various groups. Is it the text itself that is discriminatory, or is something getting lost in the intepretation?

What do you think?
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/2/15/
nation/3273173&sec=nation

President Obama met with a group of religious leaders to put forth his ideas about faith in American Society. The President stated that while he believes that religion is important, no one religion should be allowed to dominate.

Rev. Peg Nowling of First Baptist Church called the Presidents remarks “timely and imperative.”

While some ministers chose to disagree with certain parts of Obama’s personal beliefs, they all seem to support the President’s mission to promote faith-base community initiatives in everyday society.

Rev. Dan Davis of St. Thomas Aquinas Church said that as a Catholic he could not support Obama’s position regarding abortion. But believes that the President is committed to cleaning up so many areas of society that encourage the need for abortions that he trust that abortions will actually  “decrease under his administration.”

The President was speaking at the annual prayer breakfast that has been held since 1953.

Should religion be a part of everyday society? Is the Governments partnership with faith-based organizations appropriate in a secular society? What do you think?
http://www.jconline.com/article/20090214/LIFE07/902140307

Is religion in the United States on an up tick or is it trending downwards? According to a recent study published by Baylor University the answer is neither. The report does state however that religious faith is holding steady. But another study disputes Baylor’s findings.

A report issued by the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH), calls in to question the way that Baylor conducted its research. Ignoring several polls conducted by Gallop, Harris, and Pew, that show a clear trend in the United States toward secularization. While America does maintain a higher percentage of people practicing religion than other Westernized countries, it also has continued to see a decline in people who worship and believe in God.

Why Baylor ignored other scientific research in its poll is anybody guess. Perhaps its because it is a Baptist University and wanted its findings to fall in line with its doctrine. What is clear however is that the CCH contends that if Baylor is to remain an institution that is credible then it must use research based in fact not in agenda.

Was Baylor University operating from purely a scientific point of view or was its research inherently flawed due to its religious position? Or are all surveys biased depending on what results one is after?

What do you think?
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/
2009/02/council-for-secular-humanism-r.html

In a report in the NewYork Times, President Obama is to select 26 year old Pentecostal Pastor Joshua DuBois to head up the faith-based initiative office created by outgoing President George W. Bush.

Mr. Dubois was essential in bringing religious leaders together during President Obama’s campaign to help drum up support.

The program has been renamed the Council for faith-based and Neighbor Partnership, and is to have a broader outreach than that of the former Bush administration.

One pressing question that is still being debated is whether or not  the faith-based organizations that receive money from the government can discriminate in hiring people that don’t share the same faith.

Are faith-based programs necessary for the health of American Society? Should such religious program be financed by tax-payers dollars?

What do you think?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29faith.html?ref=us

The creators of the Fox animated TV show “The Simpsons” are in a bit of a pickle over Homer’s voice being employed to promote a Scientology event.

According to news reports, actress Nancy Cartwright -who does the voice of Homer on the show, used it in a robocall to drum up support for a Scientology function. While Ms. Cartwright did identify herself in the ad she also used the voice of Homer at several points in the recording.

Al Jean, executive producer of “The Simpsons” said that the show does not endorse religion of any kind.

Meanwhile Fox says that its attorneys are looking into the matter.

When does a persons voice not become her own? Does lending her voice to the character of Homer Simpson automatically bar Ms. Cartwright from using it in any  other setting?

What do you think?
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/television/
1405011,CST-FTR-simp30.article