Oklahoma State University’s The Daily O’Collegian published this editorial today. It urges students to express and explore beliefs while in college. College is certainly the time for people out on their own for the first time to re-evaluate the world around them and learn tolerance for those who don’t share the same beliefs they do. If a student decides to continue with the religion with which they were raised, that’s fine. Equally acceptable is if a student chooses a different… Read more
Sally Quinn, a reporter for the Washington Post and author of several books, wrote this article about what her son taught her about faith. Essentially, her 24-year-old son (also named Quinn… which would make him Quinn Quinn?) believes in God and Sally really doesn’t. When her son was growing up, though, Sally didn’t know what to tell him. Over the years I struggled with what to tell Quinn about God. I couldn’t teach him but I wanted him to be… Read more
The Supreme Court is going to be deciding if a group of taxpayers has the right to sue the White House for using tax money on faith-based initiatives. The case (Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation (No. 06-157)) is brought about by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). Why should FFRF win this case? The government has been saying for years that religious groups deserve taxpayer money to provide social services. This gives religion a special standing over non-religious groups… Read more
Far be it from me to make light of a tragic situation. But I was watching local Chicago news. They were talking about a serial killer, Ralph Andrews, who may have killed dozens of women over the years (perhaps more people than John Wayne Gacy). The reason they were talking about him was because Andrews died in prison. The reporter spoke to Betty Hanson, a woman who was attacked by Andrews, but managed to survive. Speaking of the killer, she… Read more
For all those people who say “Jesus is the reason for the season,” Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn has a response. Jesus is not the reason. It’s the sunlight. In addition, he elaborates on how December 25 is not the date accepted by scholars as Jesus’ birthday, nor do scholars agree on his birth year. He concludes by saying: “Seasons greetings” and “happy holidays” take nothing from the Christians who also chose this time of year to celebrate the birth… Read more
