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Saturday, October 17, 2009
This Week

More reading around the web!

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First:

Some religion history experts noted the ironic adaptation of Fundamentalist techniques on the opposite side of the evolution debate. “Recently 'the new atheists' have been characterized, even in some of the mainstream media, as like fundamentalists in their dogmatism,” said George Marsden, a noted professor of American religious history at the University of Notre Dame. “Breaking relations with those who associate with your enemies sounds a lot like classic American fundamentalist 'second-degree separation.'”

Christianity Today, as commented on by ScienceBlogs, in a comment about Fundamental Atheism.

recently read an online article about how Religious leaders show[ed] support. Turns out, independent churches (notably, like Church of Our Savior) didn't turn up - only those "mainstream" anglican and methodist ones were represented by their religious leaders were present. Not sure about those from other religions though - but from what I know (and a check on the web and a muslim friend) there aren't any independent mosques; buddhists are probably the last to start any form of revolution but anyway in the picture you can see lots of monks in buddhist robes so there isn't as much of a basis for worry there. not sure about the other religions but so far they seem pretty chill to me (as in, politically, socially - for example, you don't hear about hindus writing in to the straits times or taking over NGOs, or jews asserting their moral right to speak in public).

and it's not like i'm against christians or anything, and from what i know, most of them are just as apathetic to politics (as is majority of Singapore).

i'm just curious, because followers of the independent churches seemed have made quite a bit of headline in the news in recent years (but easily overshadowed by the thing known as the economy) and it appears strange that they would turn down an opportunity like this to speak directly with the PM and other religious leaders.

expectedly, events such as these promote interfaith compromise, sort-of. so by choosing to shun such an opportunity to be heard and engaged, one can only guess that they are not interested in compromise. and you know what happens when you have to make a decision and one side refuses to compromise...



Not sure if they even received an invitation though - for if they didn't then the problem may lie with the organisers for not inviting them.

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In other news:

Labels: link, news, religion, science, video

6:27 PM