News & Public Affairs

Religious leaders warn against crossing the fine line between faith and politics listen

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Tags: Religion, religious tolerance, Hassan Shibly, CAIR, Catholic Church, Judaism, Unitarian Universalists

As Americans are in the midst of a heated election year, a group of interfaith leaders is concerned about religious views being incorporated into politics. At a panel discussion at St. Petersburg College in Seminole this month, each member expressed devout religious views, but none supported basing political decisions on theological beliefs.

Abhi Janamanchi is a minister with the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater. His church doesn’t endorse and particular ...

Yael Dayan: it takes more than birth to be Jewish listen

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Tags: Israel, Palestine, Middle East, Judaism

Yael Dayan says Jewish identity is a concern of everyday life for Jews. She grew up in Israel and describes herself as a secular Jew. Beyond religion, beyond the common Hebrew language and traditions, Dayan says common values bind Jews from all over the world.

Around the world Jews were usually a minority, and that led to discrimination. Dayan said that in Israel, for the first time, Jews became a majority, and that such a big change created other problems.

Dayan acknowledges the divers...

Dozens protest "God hates fags" group listen

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Tags: Westboro Baptist Church, God hates fags, USF, University of South Florida, Catholic Church, Judaism, gay rights, Lady Gaga

Activists from Topeka’s controversial Westboro Baptist Church held several demonstrations throughout Florida this week. The group, which calls itself God Hates Fags, says it wants to spread an end-times message that targets everything from the military to Lady Gaga. But when they tried to bring their message to the University of South Florida this morning, they were met with massive resistance.

Dozens of count...