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Prolific writer and ascerbic atheist Christopher Hitchens died yesterday, more than a year into his public battle with esophageal cancer. Kicking, screaming and ‘blaspheming’ until the end, surrounded by friends and prayed for (despite his indifference) by supporters? It’s a comforting thought, in its own way. Some religion news links — and please share your own…

Six GOP presidential hopefuls schlepped for votes Wednesday at a candidates forum hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition (insert your own SNL Coffee Talk joke here). Background notes: Jews make up less than 2 percent of the U.S. population and vote overwhelmingly Democrat. But Republicans see opportunities to make inroads by appealing to socially conservative Orthodox Jewish voters and…

My ancestors defined the “golden mean” as the middle ground between extremes; moderation in all things. A few thousand years later, Goldilocks and three bears made a similar discovery about ideal food temperature and furniture comfort. This Greek philosophy seems to have no place in 21st century journalism, with our ever-expanding universe of media outlets — mainstream,…

Please RSVP by 3 p.m. Dec. 6 EST if you plan to attend the religion media networking event in Manhattan next week: RNA/RCC Happy Hour The Huffington Post, 6th Floor, 770 Broadway (at East 9th Street) 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14 Journalists, faith-based public relations professionals and graduate students are invited to mix and mingle over…

Oh dear: Saudis fear there will be ‘no more virgins’ and people will turn gay if female drive ban is lifted (Daily Mail) But hey, look on the bright side: if there aren’t any more virgins in this life, all the more reason to look forward to paradise! Martyrdom, ho! In all seriousness, I continue to…

Catholic comedian Stephen Colbert devoted a “Yahweh or No Way” segment to the new English translation of the Roman Missal (Mass). Only Colbert could work in references to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and They Might Be Giants’ “Istanbul (Not Contantinople)” into that story! Plus there’s some funny stuff about Pope Benedict’s “need for speed” and disregard…

Top five points I took away from last night’s “Can Foreign Aid Really Help Africa?” talk in Seattle, featuring American Jewish World Service president Ruth Messinger and University of Washington Prof. Dan Chirot: 1) Faith-based organizations are strongly motivated to help the poor, but be wary of those that may also be in it to…

This one just can’t wait for Fun Friday: Netanyahu Government Suggests Israelis Avoid Marrying American Jews (The Atlantic) Oy! I believe this qualifies as biting the hand that feeds you. And, as I noted on Facebook, nothing sends most young adults screaming from the mother(land) faster than a nonsense guilt trip. Besides, if the Netanyahu…

A bit late to the party, but USC’s Trans/Missions Scoop blog just alerted me to the latest nonsense from my old friend Pamela Geller: a diatribe against halal Thanksgiving turkeys, because real Americans shouldn’t be forced to eat Muslim-approved meat. Ball’s in your court, Butterball! For the record, here’s a gist of Muslim vs. Jewish religious…

Thanksgiving is supposed to remind us to be thankful for we have received, but as with most holidays, commercialization can make it hard to remember its original spirit. This sentiment, plus my fear of Black Friday frenzies and apathy towards football, explains why my favorite scene in “The Blind Side” is when Leigh Anne Tuohy (played…
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