Following the Money Trail of the Faith-Based Initiative
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Date: 18 February 2009
Non-Believers Need Not Apply
Many faith-based agencies claim to do a better job when everyone in the office belongs to the same religion. They’re more motivated. More efficient. Serve people better. But what happens when they’re funded by taxpayers? Should government money pay for faith-based hiring? We sit down with a minister who says no...and lawyer who says yes.
Rev. Barry Lynn, the Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Scott Walter, Executive Director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Saving Jesus from the Church
Begins at 22 min 30 sec
Rev. Robin Meyers says that when it comes to the teachings of Jesus, a lot of Christians have it all wrong. If that ruffles your feathers, Rev. Meyers is used to it—he's the pastor of a liberal church in Oklahoma, one of the most conservative states in the country. In his new book, Meyers argues that Christianity should become less about creed, and more about deed.
Rev. Robin Meyers, author of Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus
Celibacy Uncensored
Begins at 35 min 38 sec
In the second part of our occasional series on faith and self control, we explore what might be the most difficult discipline of all: the vow of celibacy. Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest, says that while it’s certainly not for everyone, priestly abstinence has more to do with love than self-denial.
Fr. James Martin, SJ, editor at America Magazine and author of A Jesuit Off-Broadway
Commentary: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Single Life
Begins at 47 min 26 sec
On an Evangelical campus where marriage is the norm, how can a young Christian embrace being single? For Marcy Hintz, the answer is to imagine singlehood, like celibacy, as a worthy commitment to God.
Marcy Hinzt, staff writer at Wheaton College
This commentary is used by permission, and original appeared in the September issue of Christianity Today
This Week's Interfaith Calendar
February 23 - Mahashivaratri (Hindu)
This sacred day honors Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and transformation. Worshipers stay up all night fasting, telling stories and bathing an image of the deity, Shiva, with milk and honey.
February 25 - Ash Wednesday (Christian)
Lent, a period of 40 days leading up to the festival of Easter, begins today. Among Christians, Lent is a season for prayer, self-denial and charitable giving.
