Most people in our country believe their religion is the best, better than anyone else’s, because that is why they belong to the religion of their choice. They picked their religion as the best; otherwise, they would [have] joined some other religion until they were satisfied about their spiritual condition. — Del City Oklahoma Gazette […]
religion
Posted inFood & Drink
Community organizers
For many people who frequent the Plaza District, The Parish is more than a church. It has become a community hub where people can stop in, enjoy a cup of coffee and have a good conversation with friends. Those are things Pastor Kenny Deason believes make The Parish a vital part of the Plaza District […]
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Driven to paganism?
Credit: Brad Gregg Keith Cressman, pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Bethany, learned the religious liberty suit will return to U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton’s courtroom after state Attorney General Scott Pruitt elected not to appeal a higher court’s decision. In June, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Heaton made […]
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Monumental offense
By Mark Hancock According to House Bill 1330, the 2009 measure that allowed the monument’s installation, the Ten Commandments “are an important component of the foundation of the laws and legal system” of both the United States and Oklahoma and are frequently cited in court decisions. “The role played by the Ten Commandments in our […]
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Injunction junction
Credit: Brad Gregg Um, at least that’s the takeaway of state Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, a key supporter of an Oklahoma constitutional amendment to ban the use of Sharia law in state courts. On Aug. 15, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction against the amendment, which voters overwhelmingly approved in a 2010 statewide vote […]
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Poor logic on Hobby Lobby decision
According to a majority of the 10th Circuit, the businesses owned by the Green family are religious “persons,” and, therefore, can have the benefit of RFRA. But the court’s reasoning is utterly divorced from RFRA’s history and the larger context of federal law generally. It is critical to understand that due to the doctrine of […]
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Hobby Lobby deserves protection
After the U.S. Supreme Court decided to no longer strictly scrutinize most laws that substantially burden religious liberty, outraged people of all ideological hues vowed to restore the legal protection refused by the court. The Senate passed the bill 97-3. The House passed it unanimously. RFRA instructs courts to invalidate any law or government action […]
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Of wellness and worship
Ryan Kiesel Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, told the Oklahoma City Council and municipal attorney Kenneth Jordan on July 16 all potential trouble spots in the offer by Putnam City Baptist Church “should be resolved” quickly in order to avoid litigation. “A partnership between the city and a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Open house
BY: Shannon Cornman In those days, the city had about 25 Sikhs and fewer than 10 families. In May, the brand-new house of worship, called a gurdwara, opened its doors at 4525 N.W. 16th. About 300 people attended its grand opening, but Sabi Singh, Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma president, estimates the metro is now home […]
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In _____ we trust
Illustration: Brad Gregg What Oklahoman readers didn’t see was a full-page counter-ad released by Freedom From Religion Foundation, a nonprofit committed to preserving the separation of church and state. While Hobby Lobby’s “In God We Trust” ad included quotes from presidents, founding fathers, Supreme Court rulings and even “foreigners” (their words), FFRF’s “In Reason We […]