Blog
RELIGIOUS LITERACY
A federal judge dismissed a suit by Libby Hilsenrath, a New Jersey mother who claimed that a seventh-grade social studies course entitled “World Cultures and Geography,” which includes information on all of the world’s religions, attempted to indoctrinate students in the Islamic faith.
SCIENTOLOGY RELIGION
When it comes up in conversation with someone that I’m a Scientologist, I usually say to the person: “…and you’re welcome to ask me anything you like about it.” People almost always take me up on the offer.
TOLERANCE
The entire premise of our nation’s founding is eliminating tyranny from people’s lives. Prime amongst tyrannies to avoid, and one of the main reasons for the settling of the original American colonies, is religious persecution. Freedom of religion—the very fabric of our country.
TOLERANCE
Egyptian media, live and online, pounced on the show of fellowship as inappropriate, seditious and treasonous, calling for the Egyptian star to be punished for associating with an Israeli.
COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE
They know what she sees as she peers out that window. She sees into their hearts as only an innocent can see. “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart,” she wrote. “I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.”
COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE
But something different happened. Neighbors, hearing of the incident on social media, responded in solidarity. Seven-foot-tall inflatable Black Santas began dotting front lawns throughout Lakewood. Christian families, non-Christian families, white families, families of color—all choosing to decorate their homes with 7-foot-tall inflatable Black Santas.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The designation holds a special significance. According to Gayle Manchin, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, “Nigeria is the first secular democracy that has been named a CPC, which demonstrates that we must be vigilant that all forms of governments respect religious freedom.”
TOLERANCE
I’ll stand up for truth and fairness and equal rights. I’ll stand up for your freedom of thought and expression. I’ll stand up for your right to use your own discretion. Because you’re worth it, and for me to stand up for you—well, to be truthful, that’s standing up for me, too.
TOLERANCE
But the only “knowledge” I had came from a “news” story about the marriage ceremony. I had never personally visited the church, read anything about it, or even met anyone who was a member.
TOLERANCE
It was the early 90s and we were sitting in a dingy film editing room in Encino, California. I looked over at Steve, who’d just asked me the question. He was a fellow film editor; we’d both met earlier that day when our boss, Fima, had pointed to stacks of film reels and told us in his thick Russian-Yiddish accent, “We have three film to cut, I don’t care who cuts which one.”
