Mary Baker Eddy was adamently opposed to any ministry.

—————————————————————————————–
Likewise, the Christian Scientist denomination of Christianity as articulated by Mary Baker Edy has done much to alleviate the burdens suffered by the poor, especially poor women, across the world. “The Christian Science Monitor” is recognized throughout the world as one of the most objective sources of news.

Thanks,

Bon

One thing I can promise you is that I engage in well-rounded reporting. I also have a right to share what I think personally when it comes to the results of my reporting work. And if that bothers people who disagree with my conclusions, so be it. You have the right to say so here in our forums. And unlike others in the local media who offer these forums and then shy away from participating in them, I’ll actually recognize what you have to say and try to respond. Give me credit for that.

What makes you believe that “the American people” taking these surveys have the first clue what should or should not happen in ANY area of the world. Common sense minds on both sides understand we can not simply “pull out.” It’s too bad that this, like so much else, becomes a political football.

And please, do not follow the lead of so many in your world who accept the Democratic view and, in doing so, promote that view in their writings to the exclusion of well rounded reporting.

Your comment is right on target. Cities with a smart approach to economic development have long seen that to make money you have to spend money. The arts, for all their intangible benefits, also mean business for communities. On the federal level, every dollar spent on the arts creates about nine dollars in value (a 9:1 multiplier effect) and there’s a similar return locally. The Blackfriars, for example, last year created more than 125 FTE jobs and generated more than $156,000 in local government revenue. That puts money in the pockets of families, and it also funds fire, police, roads, and schools.

The arts enrich our lives in so many ways. But even if we never walk through the door of a theatre or never gaze at a painting, the arts are helping us all economically. And in today’s climate of rising energy costs and loss of industrial and even professional jobs to cheaper locations overseas like China and India, the arts are an all-American business that can’t be sent offshore. As an economic generator, the arts can’t be beat and any community that neglects to invest in the arts is failing to serve its citizens.

If those citizens want prosperous lives for themselves and their children, they’ll demand the arts.

Erik Curren
Director of Marketing, American Shakespeare Center

I’m curious as to where you studied Islam? Which sect? Sunni or Sufi or Shia or Wahhabi? I am particularly fond of the Sufi sect of Islam. What do you think?

I have been watching this exchange for a while now and I am growing more and more amused.

First, to assume that every facet of Islamic thought and theology is embodied in a controversial section of the charter of a Palestinian organization with ties to terrorist activity is a dangerous assumption. Similar assumptions were made by the Nazis in regards to portions of the various interpretations of the Jewish Khabbala and Torah, and those assumptions were used as one of the initial ways to justify treating Jewish Germans as a threat.

Second, there is a continuum within most major religions. At the risk of oversimplification, consider the continuum within the Christian faith to extend from conservative to liberal (similar to our modern political spectrum). The conservative group contains fundamentalists, messianic Jews, Evangelicals (though this is changing), dispensationalists, Catholics, etc. The liberal group might contain sects ranging from mainstream Protestants to Quakers and Brethren to the UCC and the UUA . One characteristics common to the conservative sects of Christianity is a literal reading of the Hebrew and Christian scripture. FDJ makes statements such as “Israel’s right to exist.” While we may agree that Israel should be a sovereign nation, FDJ would no doubt find the basis for Israel’s existence as the promise of Scripture. Other literalists like the Reverend Hagee, James Dobson, and that guy who wrote “The Late Great Planet Earth” see the existence of Israel as fundamental to the eschatological scheme outlined in the book of Revelations. Dispensationalist politicians, like the President, often take their foreign policy cues from an interpretation of Scripture that sees the descriptions of John in his “revelation” and sections of the Hebrew Scriptures as prophesy of actual events to occur at the end of time.

Many liberal Christians do not hold to this interpretation of scripture. While they believe in the divinity of Christ, they are unconvinced that the vision of a destructive God as promulgated by conservative, fundamentalist Christian sects is a valid interpretation of Christian scripture. Does this make those liberal Christians less than “Christian”? FDJ’s questions to you, Chris, seem to hint that he or she feels this way. “Are you a committed Christian?” FDJ asks. That statement reveals an underlying belief that your Christian beliefs would somehow be deficient if they were not the same as the beliefs held by FDJ. Likewise, the Christian Scientist denomination of Christianity as articulated by Mary Baker Edy has done much to alleviate the burdens suffered by the poor, especially poor women, across the world. “The Christian Science Monitor” is recognized throughout the world as one of the most objective sources of news. But, okay, some Christian Scientists do not share my views on medical care. Does this mean that Christian Scientists are less “Christian”? Hardly. Likewise, does the fact that Goodlatte is a Christian Scientist mean that he is automatically unqualified to make legislative decisions regarding health care? Please.

Islam has a continuum of adherents similar to Christianity, from liberal, moderate to conservative. The conservative camp of Islam is home to extremists, radical jihadists, etc.., just like conservative camp of Christianity is also home to terrorist groups like the Army of God.

To automatically equate Sam Rasoul with radical Islam solely because he is Muslim is the height of xenophobia, which brings me to my third and final point.

Many of Allen’s vocal supporters (Sharon Wright, Moshe/FDJ, Robin Waller, etc.) have made similar claims about Sam Rasoul. At first, I thought there were only isolated incidents of prejudice; however, this thread and the fact that it has been resurrected (excuse the pun) after so long convinces me that, for whatever reason, Janice Lee Allen seems to attract supporters who clearly have issues with people of different faiths and ethnicities. This is problematic for a number of reasons the most important of which is the fact that a Congressional representative must represent people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

The time has come for Janice Lee Allen to step out and disavow the statements of Moshe/FDJ, Robin Waller and Sharon Wright. She needs to make a strong statement indicating that she does not believe in these sorts of comments and that her campaign is not responsible for them. Additionally, the syntax, word choice, sentence structure and subject matter may also suggest that the above individuals are one and the same. In that case, it would be easy for Allen to disavow them and claim they are the work of a sole bad actor with an ax to grind.

This comment thread would be a great place for Ms. Allen to distance herself from such comments.