In the 2020 election, 84 percent of White Evangelicals voted for habitual liar, golf cheat, and serial adulterer Donald Trump because he was the GOP candidate. Astoundingly, according to a survey, many Trump supporters began identifying as evangelical during his presidency — he brought them to Jesus. At least superficially.
But some devout evangelicals, raised in conservative GOP households, say that their political views became more liberal as they immersed themselves deeper into their faith. A FiveThirtyEight video by Tony Chow.
“Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a bill to allow public schools to offer yoga, ending a ban that stood for nearly 30 years. Christian conservatives who back the ban said yoga would open the door for people to be converted to Hinduism.
The new law allows yoga to be offered as an elective for grades K-12. While it erases a ban that, over the years, some schools had not realized existed, it also imposes restrictions on how yoga should be taught. Students won’t be allowed to say, ‘Namaste,’ for instance. Meditation is not allowed.
‘Chanting, mantras, mudras, use of mandalas, induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, and namaste greetings shall be expressly prohibited,’ the bill states. It also requires English names be used for all poses and exercises. And before any students try a tree pose, they’ll need a parent’s permission slip.”
— “Alabama Will Now Allow Yoga In Its Public Schools (But Students Can’t Say ‘Namaste’),” Bill Chappell, NPR News
Image (“Zoom Yoga, after a 19th century Joga Pradīpikā manuscript”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
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In 1993 the state of Alabama outlawed yoga classes in public schools, fearing the exercizes would turn young Christian children into Hindus. School regulations specifically prohibit use of the greeting “Namaste.” If only students had started class by saying “How-do, y’all ….”
State Rep. Jeremy Gray, who also teaches Yoga, recently introduced a bill to legalize K-12 Yoga, and the Alabama House of Representatives approved it last month. The bill went to Alabama’s upper house, but state senators upheld the ban.
More:
“Alabama fails to reverse ban on school yoga as conservatives say they fear rise in Hinduism,” Akshita Jain, The Independent
“Yoga can leave you injured, psychotic and a Hindu, Christian groups claim,” Ed Pilkington, The Guardian
Image (“Zoom Yoga, after a 19th century Joga Pradīpikā manuscript”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
“Colorado’s second largest city, with a population of 445,800, has built itself a reputation as a playground for white, pro-gun, pro-life Evangelical Christians. It is also home to one army base, two air force bases, and an air force.”
— “Colorado Springs: a playground for pro-life, pro-gun evangelical Christians,” Josiah Hesse, The Guardian
There should be a substantial crowd for the senator’s appearance at the Vines Center, since the event is a Liberty University Convocation. All LU students who live on campus are required to attend these convocations, which occur three times a week.
Regent University, the august academic institution founded by game show host televangelist Pat Robertson, has announced this year’s commencement speaker: former Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R, MN-6).
The Bible predicts that today, October 21, 2011, will be the End of Days, claims Christian broadcasterHarold Camping. Brother Camping also said that about May 21, 1988, September 6, 1994, and May 21, 2011.
Today’s Forecast: fire, brimstone, plagues, dead sinners. The Righteous will fly upwards to Heaven but, due to the recession, they will fly Economy Class.
The world ends on a Friday. How cruel. A merciful God would at least let us have the weekend.
Actually, Mr. Camping is a bit more hesitant about today’s Rapture. He’s saying the world will “probably” end today. We’re waiting to hear the odds from Vegas.
Republican presidential candidates debated theology with right-wing fundamentalists this weekend in Washington. The Values Voters Summit, produced by the Family Research Council, staged a “Straw Poll” beauty contest, and lovely and talented Congressman Ron Paul won the tiara.
” … to say that the Values Voters Summit organizers are skeptical of Paul’s win is an understatement. Tony Perkins [President of the Family Research Council] twice noted that 600 tickets were bought this morning, and that a great many people left after Paul’s speech. The conference sold 3406 registrations, well over their 2007 record of around 2700. If half of those 600 were Paul ringers [aka Paulbots -ml] and we take them out of the equation, then Cain would have finished first, 27/26 with Santorum at 19%. If 80% of today’s registrants were Paul ringers and are removed, Cain would have had 32% of the vote, followed by Santorum at 23% and Perry in third place with 12%.” [Notes and links added]
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