Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Muslims in the United States, the Chinese government's relationship with Tibetan Buddhism, and defining American evangelicals.
AROUND THE WORLD
British, French Leaders Join World Condemnation of Trump's Proposed Ban on Muslims Entering U.S.
by Annie Gowen
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the-world-reacts-to-trumps-proposed-ban-on-muslims-entering-us/2015/12/08/50eea1dc-9d4a-11e5-9ad2-568d814bbf3b_story.html
Donald Trump’s call for a “total and complete” ban on Muslims entering the United States drew widespread condemnation around the world Tuesday, including from British and French leaders and the U.N. refugee agency.
Icelanders Flock to Religion Revering Sumerian Gods and Tax Rebates
by Harriet Sherwood
Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/new-icelandic-religion-sumerian-gods-tax-rebates-zuism
Icelanders opposed to the state funding of religion have flocked to register as Zuists, a movement that worships ancient Sumerian gods and – perhaps more importantly – promises its followers a tax rebate.
Pope Opens the Church’s Holy Doors Before 50,000 People in the Vatican
by Delia Gallagher
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/world/pope-holy-doors/
Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, performing a ritual that has been a part of the Catholic Church since the 1500s.
China’s Tibet Party Boss Urges Senior Buddhist Monk to Shun Dalai Lama
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/12/08/chinas-tibet-party-boss-urges-senior-buddhist-monk-to-shun-dalai-lama/
China’s Communist Party boss in Tibet has urged the Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism, to reject the Himalayan region’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, state media said on Tuesday.
Chinese Government Adviser Denounces Fake Living Buddhas in Tibet
by Benjamin Lim
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/12/08/chinese-government-adviser-denounces-fake-living-buddhas-in-tibet/
A senior Chinese government official said fake living Buddhas were using donations to support pro-independence activities in Tibet and called on local authorities to take action against them, according to state media.
German Vice Chancellor Warns Saudi Arabia Over Islamist Funding
by Madeline Chambers
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/12/08/german-vice-chancellor-warns-saudi-arabia-over-islamist-funding/
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel urged Saudi Arabia on Sunday to stop supporting religious radicals, amid growing concern among some lawmakers in Berlin about the funding of militant mosques by the world’s biggest oil exporter.
Cameron Praises ‘You Ain’t No Muslim, Bruv’ Remark in London Attack
by Stephen Castle
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/world/europe/cameron-praises-you-aint-no-muslim-bruv-remark-in-london-attack.html?ref=todayspaper
Two days after a knife attack in a London subway station left one man seriously injured and prompted a terrorism investigation, Prime Minister David Cameron praised the reaction of one bystander, who told the attacker, “You ain’t no Muslim, bruv.”
DOMESTIC
Donald Trump Calls for Barring Muslims From Entering U.S.
by Patrick Healy & Michael Barbaro
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/07/donald-trump-calls-for-banning-muslims-from-entering-u-s/
Donald J. Trump called on Monday for the United States to bar all Muslims from entering the country until the nation’s leaders can “figure out what is going on” after the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., an extraordinary escalation of rhetoric aimed at voters’ fears about members of the Islamic faith.
Defining 'Evangelical'
by Jonathan Merritt
Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/12/evangelical-christian/418236/
While the word evangelical pops up in American media to describe everything from mega-churches to voting blocs, few people seem to know what an evangelical is exactly. Those who claim to know often disagree.
Some Muslim Americans Irritated By Obama's Call For Them To 'Root Out' Extremism
by Tom Gjelten
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/12/08/458869660/some-muslim-americans-irritated-by-obamas-call-for-them-to-root-out-extremism
President Obama's request that Muslim Americans help "root out" and confront extremist ideology in their communities is getting mixed reactions. Muslim leaders say they want to help, but some are not happy that they are being singled out.
Muslims and Islam: Key Findings in the U.S. and Around the World
by Michael Lipka
Pew Reaerch Center
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/07/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/
Lipka outlines the answers to some key questions about Muslims, compiled from several Pew Research Center reports published in recent years.
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