Coptic leader apologises for bishop's Koran remarks in Egypt - said Muslims are guests only.

The leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt has apologised for the "inappropriate" comments made by the church body’s second highest ranking cleric regarding the authenticity of some Koran verses.

Last week, Bishop Bishoy sparked outrage when he was quoted by the Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper as saying that "Muslims are only guests" in the country. Bishoy was also quoted in the Egyptian media for wondering about the time frame for the revelation of the Koranic verses disputing the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

Six arrested in Gateshead over 'Koran burning'

Officers detained two men on September 15 and four more yesterday and all six were bailed pending further inquiries, Northumbria Police said.

''The arrests followed the burning of what are believed to have been two Korans in Gateshead on September 11,'' the spokesman said.

The men hide their faces as they hold a copy of the Koran prior to setting fire to it

Stephen Hawking's Leap of Faith - New Book Said God is unnecessary after all.

Western culture has an undeniable fascination with scientists, and with good reason. Patiently using the scientific method, they have brought us many good things, from the telephone to the airplane to antibiotics. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of the world’s first scientists were Christians who were seeking to discover not whether God created, but how he created the universe. Because science is based on the premise that God created an orderly universe. And the scientific method was a Christian contribution to our civilization. But later some scientists, in their pursuit to find the Holy Grail, began to question the God hypothesis. Many today (at least the most outspoken among them) have become determined atheists, insisting that science makes the God hypothesis unnecessary.

Report Reveals Salaries of Megachurch Pastors

The average salary for a lead pastor in a megachurch is $147,000, according to a recent survey.

Salaries for lead pastors go as high as $400,000 to as low as $40,000, Leadership Network reported in its 2010 Large Church Salary and Benefits Report.

Executive pastors at churches that have a weekend attendance of 2,000 or more persons earn, on average, $99,000 a year and worship pastors get paid $75,000.

Meanwhile, high school pastors earn $54,000 and the church technology director earns $58,000. The salary figures do not include the value of benefits.

Leadership Network has been tracking salary and benefits in large churches since 2001. It has found that the median salary has largely remained the same over the past few years even as attendance at those churches increased.

In this file photo, thousands attend a Sunday worship service at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

911 Mosque Site in New York Imam Says Proposed Site Not Sacred with Strip Joint and betting parlor at the corner.

The proposed site for the Islamic center and mosque near the former World Trade Center is not sacred, says the Muslim cleric who envisioned the project.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, said Monday it is an “absolutely disingenuous” argument to call the planned site for the Park51 project “hallowed ground.”

“[W]ith a strip joint around the corner, with betting parlors, to claim it is hallowed ground is … it doesn’t make sense – it doesn’t add,” said Rauf at the office of the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York-based think tank. “So let’s clarify that misperception.”

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, executive director of the Cordoba Initiative, addresses the Council on Foreign Relations, Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, in New York. Rauf is now in the midst of a polarizing political, religious and cultural debate over his plans for a multi-story Islamic center that will feature a mosque, health club and theater about two blocks north of ground zero in New York.

Christians Warn Against Double Standard in Wake of Quran Burning Row

The head of the world’s largest evangelical body said Friday that he welcomed the unanimous condemnation of one church’s plan to burn copies of the Quran but challenged world leaders and the media to do the same for radical actions committed against Christians.

“Speaking out strongly against the proposed burning of Korans was the right thing to do and we warmly welcome the unanimous condemnation from politicians, religious leaders and the global media in this case,” expressed Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance.


“As we consider the outcry against this one small, obscure group, we now plead that the world’s leaders and media demonstrate the same kind of outspoken condemnation when radical actions on an equal or larger scale are committed against Christians.”

Afghans shout anti-U.S. slogans as they burn tires and block a highway during a protest in reaction to a small American church's plan to burn copies of the Quran, at Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. Religious and political leaders across the Muslim world welcomed a decision by the church to suspend its plans to torch copies of their holy book but some said Friday the damage has already been done

Faith Scholars: Stephen Hawking 'Missing the Point' - said universal can be created from nothing.

Physicist Stephen Hawking made headlines this past week for taking on arguably the most influential scientist in human history, Sir Isaac Newton.

Newton, who left enduring legacies in mathematics and the natural sciences, had centuries ago warned against using the law of gravity - which he discovered - to view the universe as a mere machine, like a great clock.

“Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done,” the 17th century scientist and non-Trinitarian Anglican stated.

“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being,” he added.

Hawking, however, says “the universe can and will create itself from nothing” because there is a law such as gravity.

In this April 29, 2010, file photo, Stephen Hawking watches the first preview of his new show for the Discovery Channel, Stephen Hawking's Universe.

NYC Mosque Rhetoric May Harm Persecuted Christians

The sometimes hateful rhetoric being used by opponents of the proposed mosque near ground zero can result in violence against Christians living in Muslim-dominated countries, warned a ministry leader who works with persecuted Christians.

“I think it’s important to remember, as Americans are often unable to do, that there are millions of Christians in the Middle East,” said Dr. Carl Moeller, president/CEO of Open Doors USA, on Wednesday.

Moeller, who noted that there are some 10 million Christians in Egypt and six million in Pakistan, said the “more vile and hateful” protests against the proposed project can inflame Muslim extremists. Since extremists in the Middle East cannot take their anger out on Americans, they take revenge on local Christians, which they associate with America, he said.

Several years ago, the Danish cartoons that poked fun at the Muslim prophet Mohammed caused massive rioting in the Middle East, Moeller recalled. During the uproar, angry Muslims beat up local Christians and torched churches.

US Presbyterian church court rebukes minister for performing same-sex ceremonies

In a 4-2 vote by the Redwood Presbytery Judicial Commission, the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr was found guilty of representing the ceremonies as marriages, persistently disobeying church law, and violating her ordination vows.

An anonymous layperson had brought charges against Spahr, a lesbian activist and a Presbyterian minister for 36 years, after she officiated the weddings of 16 same-sex couples during the brief period same-sex marriage was legal in California between June and November 2008.

Notably, the guilty verdict came with a page of praise in the 2 1/2-page ruling.

"We commend Dr. Spahr and give thanks for her prophetic ministry that for 35 years has extended support to 'people who seek the dignity, freedom and respect that they have been denied,' and has sought to redress 'wrongs against individuals, groups, and peoples in the church, in this nation, and in the world,'" the church court stated.

The regional court went further to call on the PC(USA) to "re-examine" its "own fear and ignorance that continues to reject the inclusiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

The six-member panel argued that the PC(USA) constitution contains conflicting and contradictory rules and regulations pertaining to marriage. While the constitution states that marriage "is a gift God has given to all humankind for the wellbeing of the entire human family," the sentence is followed by "Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man," the panel pointed out.

"[I]n the reality in which we live today, marriage can be between same gender as well as opposite gender persons, and we, as a church, need to be able to respond to this reality as Dr. Jane Spahr has done with faithfulness and compassion," the panel stated.

US judge rejected appeal to lift block on embryonic stem cell research

Judge Royce Lamberth said the defendants are “incorrect” in many of their arguments in the request for a stay while the case is appealed. He wrote in the court order that granting a stay would “flout the will of Congress” by violating the Dickey-Wicker Amendment – a 1996 law that prohibits federal funding for research that involves destruction or damage to a human embryo.

“Congress remains perfectly free to amend or revise the statute (Dickey-Wicker Amendment). This court is not free to do so,” wrote Lamberth. “It is well-established that ‘[i]t is in the public interest for courts to carry out the will of Congress and for an agency to implement properly the statute it administers.’”

In late August, Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction that stopped the National Institutes of Health from funding human embryonic stem cell research. His decision was based on the fact that the funding violated the Dickey-Wicker Amendment.

A stunned Obama administration appealed the ruling Aug. 31, arguing that even a short break in funding could scrap millions of dollars worth of research projects that have the potential to cure many hard-to-treat diseases. Officials also assured that no federal money would be used to destroy embryos and thus no law broken.

Pastor Terry Jones Calls off Koran Burning, But Deal for Ground Zero Mosque Is Denied - Defense Secretary Gates Calls Pastor in Appeal to Cancel Koran Burning

A fiery Florida pastor called off his bonfire of Korans today after claiming he has a deal that will move a controversial mosque away from the site of the 9/11 terror attacks, but the Muslim cleric planning the so-called Ground Zero Mosque quickly denied to ABC News that he has agreed to move his project.

Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Fla., emerged from his church in Gainesville, Fla., along with Florida Imam Muhammad al-Masri to announce his decision to cancel his Koran burning, saying he viewed the supposed deal as "a sign from God."

The fiery pastor said that Imam Abdel Rauf, the leader behind the Ground Zero mosque in Manhattan, will meet with him in New York on Saturday.

"He has agreed to move it," Jones said referring to the Ground Zero Mosque. "And we have agreed to cancel our event on Saturday."


"Americans don't want the mosque there and of course Muslims don't want us to burn Korans," said Jones.

The White House is considering having a member of the administration call pastor Terry Jones in an attempt to head off this weekend's bonfire of Korans, which has sparked threats of violence worldwide.

Presbyterian Court Rebukes Minister for Gay Weddings

A California minister was rebuked on Friday by a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) court for performing same-sex ceremonies.

In a 4-2 vote by the Redwood Presbytery Judicial Commission, the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr was found guilty of representing the ceremonies as marriages, persistently disobeying church law, and violating her ordination vows.

An anonymous layperson had brought charges against Spahr, a lesbian activist and a Presbyterian minister for 36 years, after she officiated the weddings of 16 same-sex couples during the brief period same-sex marriage was legal in California between June and November 2008.

Retired Presbyterian minister Jane Spahr talks with her supporters after being found guilty of misconduct by a regional commission of the Presbyterian Church on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, in Napa, Calif. The Presbyterian Church (USA) ruled 4-2 that the Rev. Jane Spahr of San Francisco "persisted in a pattern or practice of disobedience" by performing the weddings in 2008 before Proposition 8 banned the unions in the state. The church's highest court has held that Presbyterian ministers may bless same-sex unions as long as they do "not state, imply, or represent that a same-sex ceremony is a marriage."

Most Americans Don't Recognize Obama's Christianity

Popular conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck is not among the 20 or so percent of Americans who believes that President Obama is a Muslim.

“I'm taking his word that he is a Christian,” said Beck this past week on his self-titled cable-news show. “But here's where it falls apart for many Americans: It's a Christianity that most Americans just don't recognize.”

The television and radio personality went on to examine past statements made by the president and prominent individuals who have been close to him over the course of his life, such as his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright; his close personal friend, Richard Pfleger; and his spiritual adviser, Jim Wallis.

Some 9/11 Families Show Support for Mosque Near Ground Zero

A group of religious and civil rights groups and family members of 9/11 victims announced on Wednesday the formation of a new coalition in support of an Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero.

Calling themselves the New York Neighbors for American Values, the coalition stood near City Hall in lower Manhattan defending religious freedom and diversity.

"We share the pain ... and yes, even the lingering fear caused by the September 11 attacks. But we unequivocally reject the political posturing, the fear mongering and the crude stereotyping that seek to demonize the project whose goal is to build bridges among the faiths," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

A pedestrian walks past the building on Park Place in Manhattan, N.Y., where Muslims plan to build a mosque and cultural center.

Lesbian Minister Heads to Church Court Again

A retired Presbyterian minister is facing trial Tuesday morning for performing same-sex ceremonies in California.This is the second time the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, a lesbian activist, has gone to court over violation of church law.

Earlier, in 2008, she was cleared of wrongdoing by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s highest court, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission. The high court had reversed a decision by a regional judicial committee that found Spahr guilty of misconduct when she conducted ceremonies for two lesbian couples in 2004.

New charges were brought against her by an anonymous layperson after Spahr officiated at the weddings of 16 gay and lesbian couples during the brief period same-sex marriage was legal in California between June and November 2008. The San Francisco minister has been accused of publicly, intentionally and repeatedly violating denominational law.

In this file photo, the Reverend Dr. Jane Spahr, left, a Presbyterian minister, performs a same-sex marriage for Sherrie Holmes, center, and Sara Taylor, right, at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, Calif., Friday, June 20, 2008.

Obama Is Not a Muslim - Hussein Is His Middle Name

President Obama told Christianity Today in 2008, "I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian." According to a new Pew Forum survey, only a third of Americans believe him. This is only slightly more than the 18 percent who think he is a Muslim. Among evangelical Christians, 29 percent believe Obama is a Muslim, but only 27 percent think he is a Christian.

Since March of last year, the percentage of Americans who think Obama is a Muslim has increased from 11 to 18 percent, while the percentage who think he is a Christian dropped from 48 to 34 percent.