The Great Dialogue

See:  http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/10/16/middle-easterners-see-religious-and-ethnic-hatred-as-top-global-threat/

SEE:   http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/04/05/397624826/in-easter-address-pope-condemns-violence-against-christians?sc=tw

See:  http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/

SEE:  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150316-isis-beheadings-egypt-pictures-photos-family/?utm_source=NatGeocom&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=pom_20150329&utm_campaign=Content#

SEE:   http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/17/393705311/largest-group-of-u-s-presbyterian-churches-allows-same-sex-marriages?sc=tw

See:  http://www.pewforum.org/2015/03/05/in-u-s-popes-popularity-continues-to-grow/

SEE:   http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/02/26/5-key-findings-about-global-restrictions-on-religion/ ...Anti-Semitism again on the rise...

SEE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-31173047

See:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31125338

SEE:  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/opinion/mona-eltahawy-egypts-war-on-atheism.html?mwrsm=Email&_r=0

SEE:  http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2015/01/25/379634318/piece-by-piece-monks-scramble-to-preserve-iraqs-christian-history?sc=tw

SEE:  http://www.npr.org/2015/01/04/374857829/a-pastor-moves-past-his-attraction-to-men-and-so-does-his-wife?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20150111&utm_campaign=mostemailed&utm_term=nprnews

SEE:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30829733

SEE:   http://www.wsj.com/articles/eric-metaxas-science-increasingly-makes-the-case-for-god-1419544568

SEE:   http://www.npr.org/2014/12/27/373298310/after-year-of-atheism-former-pastor-i-dont-think-god-exists?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20150104&utm_campaign=mostemailed&utm_term=nprnews

http://www.pewforum.org/2014/12/15/most-say-religious-holiday-displays-should-be-allowed-on-public-property/ The new survey also suggests that most Americans believe that the biblical Christmas story reflects historical events that actually occurred. About three-quarters of Americans believe that Jesus Christ was born to a virgin, that an angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, and that wise men, guided by a star, brought Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh. And eight-in-ten U.S. adults believe the newborn baby Jesus was laid in a manger. In total, 65% of U.S. adults believe that all of these aspects of the Christmas story – the virgin birth, the journey of the magi, the angel's announcement to the shepherds and the manger story – reflect events that actually happened. Among U.S. Christians, fully eight-in-ten (81%) believe in all four elements of the Christmas story. Even among people who are not affiliated with any religion, 21% believe all these ev...

China tightens church control ahead of Christmas http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_289563/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=SdcYgrZE (from @AP)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/25/opinion/religion-without-god.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

Luther's Preface to the Small Catechism: Martin Luther, to all faithful and godly pastors and preachers: grace, mercy, and peace be yours in Jesus Christ, our Lord. The deplorable, miserable conditions which I recently observed when visiting the parishes have constrained and pressed me to put this catechism of Christian doctrine into this brief, plain, and simple form. How pitiable, so help me God, were the things I saw: the common man, especially in the villages, knows practically nothing of Christian doctrine, and many of the pastors are almost entirely incompetent and unable to teach. Yet all the people are supposed to be Christians, have been baptized, and receive the Holy Sacrament even though they do not know the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, or the Ten Commandments and live like poor animals of the barnyard and pigpen. What these people have mastered, however, is the fine art of tearing all Christian liberty to shreds. Oh, you bishops! How will you ever answer to Christ for ...