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About this web site

Newly created, updated,
and planned essays

Sponsored link.

Updated essays:

On of 2009-SEP-06, we uploaded the 4,945th essay on this web site to our server in Dallas, TX. This includes our home page, thousands of menus and many thousands of essays. We update many dozens of essays each week. We continually add to our interesting quotes section; we update our news of religious tolerance, and religious intolerance and similar topics frequently.

Essays planned for the near future:

We estimate that we need to write at least another two thousand essays before our web site will be reasonably complete. Even then, there will probably be new "hot" topics emerge with a ethical and religious content -- like polygamous marriages, equal rights for transsexuals, etc. These will necessitate the writing of new articles.

We maintain a list of new topics about which we are currently working on or plan to write "someday." We have a larger list for internal use that, sadly, numbers in the many thousands of topics.

New and rewritten essays:

During the past four months, we have posted new or rewritten essays on the following topics:

2009-NOV:

This month, we recommend the book: "Jesus was a liberal: Reclaiming Christianity for All" by Rev. Scotty McLennan Amazon writes:

"For the millions of people who identify as liberal Christians. In McLennan's bold call to reclaim ownership of Christianity, he advocates a sense of religion based not on doctrinal readings of scripture but on the humanity behind Christ's teachings. He addresses such topics as intelligent design, abortion, same sex marriage, war. torture and much, much more. As he says in the Preface, 'We liberal Christians know in our hearts that there is much more to life than seems to meet the rational eye of atheists; yet we find it hard to support supernatural claims about religion that fly in the face of scientific evidence'."

Preventing future genocides through government action

Progressive Christianity:

	Overview. Who are progressives? An analogy.
	TCPC's eight points. Crosswalk America trek. Progressive groups.
	More liberal and progressive Christian websites and blogs
	Books and periodicals
	Books for kids and teens who are progressive Christians, etc.

Anti-Muslim hoax Email about Holocaust education

2009-OCT: 24 essays:

This month, we recommended the book: "Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus" by Robin Meyers. Amazon writes:

"Meyers takes the best of biblical scholarship and recasts these core Christian concepts to exhort the church to pursue an alternative vision of the Christian life: Jesus as Teacher, not Savior; Christianity as Compassion, not Condemnation; Prosperity as Dangerous, not Divine; Discipleship as Obedience, not Control; Religion as Relationship, not Righteousness. This is not a call to the church to move to the far left or to try something brand new. Rather, it is the recovery of something very old. Saving Jesus from the Church shows us what it means to be a Christian and how to follow Jesus' teachings today."

The Baha'i faith and homosexuality:

	Introduction: Baha'i beliefs. Science-religion conflict. Keeping a proper perspective
	Baha'i LGBTs on the Internet, agitating for full acceptance

The cross memorial in the Mojave National Preserve:

	Description of the cross and its history. What the cross signifies to people.
	Church/state separation. Lawsuit filed. 2002 court ruling. Bill in Congress.
	Case upheld on appeal, twice. Video of cross. Another appeal. Final appeal
	A possible compromise. Comments on the cross & lawsuit
	Supreme Court briefs filed. Oral arguments made. Possible impacts of the ruling.

Statement about recovered memory therapy by almost 100 experts

Same-sex marriage referendum in Maine:

Are the fears generated by anti-same-sex-marriage ads valid?

Public opinion poll results

The "Dr. Phil" TV program & sexual orientation

Overview: The two solitudes, and their resolution

Analysis of the "I'm gay, OK" episode of 2005-OCT-19

Analysis of the "Relationship Surprises" episode of 2009-OCT-08

Federal hate crimes legislation:

Bill signed into law:

Confusion over hate crimes: what they are and what they are not

Background. Bill becomes law. Positive reactions

More positive reactions

Deceptive and negative reactions

More negative reactions. Author's comments

	Washington state referendum 71 on enhanced domestic partnership
	Oklahoma's restrictive abortion laws

2009-SEP: 30 essays:

This month, we recommend a book: "How God changes your brain: Breakthrough findings from a leading neuroscientist" by Andrew Newberg M.D. & Mark Robert Waldman. Publishers Weekly writes: "The authors conclude that meditation and other spiritual practices permanently strengthen neural functioning in specific parts of the brain that aid in lowering anxiety and depression, enhancing social awareness and empathy, and improving cognitive functioning."

Fear-based evangelism: Media reports on Hell Houses at Halloween

Essays concerning the proposed federal hate-crimes bill:

	Conservatives' concerns over free speech aspects of hate crime bill
	Analysis of article by James Williamson, a lawyer from Tulsa, OK

Church/state conflict: Kentucky law creating Office of Homeland Security

About abortion access: When does human life become a human person:

	Beliefs expressed in U.S. law and among different faith groups
	Secularly-based beliefs that personhood occurs during pregnancy

Same-sex marriage in Maine:

Proposition 1: An attempt to prevent marriage equality

Video TV ads by the pro and anti groups

Suicide:

	Suicide and the Bible
	The World Suicide Prevention Day
	Worldwide efforts to prevent suicide

Concerning the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):

	Attempts to have the law declared unconstitutional
	Attempt to repeal the law

Mass murders in Colorado during 2007: Info on the perpetrator

Racism surfacing in 2009-SEP, directed against President Obama:

	Background. Birther movement. Disrespect in Congress. DC Tea Party
	Statements by former President Jimmy Carter & Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
	Response by Michael Steele, Jim Wallis and this website's webmaster.

An essay donated by Sharlene Dodds: An imaginative essay concerning the evolution of species

Same-sex marriage in Maine:

	A testimonial from the public hearing, and video.
	Prop. 1: Events leading up to the vote

Federal "ENDA" bill to end job discrimination against sexual minorities:

ENDA bill reintroduced in the House

	Review, bill introduced, status, hearing, testimony
	More testimony

ENDA bill reintroduced in the Senate

Support and opposition to the ENDA bill

Same-sex marriage in Maine. Support and opposition:

	2009: Mid-AUG to Mid-SEP
	Mid-SEP to now

Domestic partnerships in Washington state:

	Referendum 71
	Groups supporting and opposing Referendum 71

2009-AUG: 43 essays:

This month, we recommend a book: "Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the hidden contradictions in the Bible (and why we don't know about them)" by Bart D. Ehrman. He specializes in writing books which are accessible by the public and which reveal truths that are generally known mainly to academics.

Washington State Referendum 71 on domestic partnerships:

	2009: Referendum 71 to repeal domestic partnership law
	2006-2009 public opinion polls; Referendum 71 promotion

Links to Christian websites:

	Progressive & liberal websites
	Roman Catholic websites
	Other Christian websites

An essay donated by Robert Flatt: "Homosexuality: sin? shame? cause? A conservative Christian viewpoint"

Federal ENDA bills to end employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and identity:

	Background: Quotes, Past types of oppression, Definitions
	Public support for ENDA acts during the 1990s
	Basic information on the 2009 bill
	Bills reintroduced in Congress in 2009

Discrimination targeting transgender persons and transsexuals:

	Studies of employment discrimination
	Public opinion polls on prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity

Judge Sonia Sotomayor confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court

A Utah study into ritual abuse:

	1. General assessment of the report; Pages 2-5. Report preface.
	2. Introduction, Legislative concerns and funding, Goals & responsibilities of the Ritual Abuse Crime Unit, Occult groups
	3. Occult groups (Cont'd). Definitions. Symbols,
	4. Subtle forces. National perspective. Utah situation. Challenges.
	5. Recommendations. Conclusions. Exhibits.
	"Rachel Hopkins" story of ritual abuse

Statements about recovered memory therapy, mostly by professional organizations

	Statements from 1993 to 1995
	Statements during 1996
	Statements from 1997
	Statements from 1998 to 2000
	Statements from 2001 to now

Five YouTube videos on religious tolerance

Six YouTube videos on religious intolerance

Fun stuff: handling priorities in life

GLBT issues at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

Overview of the lesbian/gay/bisexual issue

	2003 & 2004
	2005 & 2006
	2007 & 2008
	Events leading up to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly

An essay on origins and consciousness donated by Donald Stark:

"Weinberg vs. a designed universe"

Introduction to conflict between science and religion

Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?

Recent persecution of the Roma (a.k.a. Gypsies) in Europe:

	Part 1
	Part 2
	News in the media and human rights reports during 2009

Videos and books that may help parents of gay and lesbian children

2009-JUL: 41 essays

This month, we recommended a book "Evolutionary Creation" by Denis O. Lamoureaux." He is both an evangelical and a believer in evolution. He shares his personal struggle to come to terms with both evolution and Christianity.

Origins and laws outside of the U.S. concerning gays, lesbians, & bisexuals

India's decriminalization of same-sex behavior in New Deli

Attempts to overturn California Prop 8 that banned same-sex marriages

	To have a new Proposition passed that would repeal Prop. 8.
	To challenge the constitutionality of Prop. 8 in a federal court.
	Previous Supreme Court cases vaguely similar to the Prop 8 case

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and homosexuality

About the denomination, the issue, and the GLAD Alliance.

Gay/lesbian clergy, and events 1977 to 2001

Events 2001 to now, and public opinion polls

Oklahoma Republicans' resolution on morality, "debauchery" etc.

About Multiple Personality Disorder & Dissociative Identity Disorder:

	Quotations. Points of view & implications of MPD/DID
	History and timeline of events
	About Sybil. Evolution of beliefs. The decline of MPD/DID
	Conclusions. Personal experience. Author's comments
	MPD/DID viewed as a serious psychological disorder
	MPD/DID viewed as a psychological fad or hoax

A new word for religious intolerance & hate: "religism"

"Religism" as defined on the Internet

Judicial philosophies on the interpretation of constitutions & laws

	More comments
	Implications of strict constructionist interpretations

President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor

Videos intended to dispel myths about the LDS faith

Federal hate-crimes bill: Concerns by social and religious conservatives:

	What the bill says. Concerns: 1. hate speech; 2. definition of sexual orientation
	More concerns: 3: Special privileges; 4: Limits hate speech; 5: Not needed.
	Additional information on free speech concerns
	Are the accusations that free speech is endangered reasonable?

Books and videos on LGBT issues:

	Books for children, teens, parents, teachers, & the general public
	Books on coming out of the closet, relationships
	Religion and GLBT issues. Reparative therapy. Videos
	LGBT crisis and suicide prevention help lines

Domestic partnerships in Washington State:

	More quotations, overview, King County Lawsuit
	King County Lawsuit (Cont'd)
	Thurston County lawsuit
	Ruling of the Washington Supreme Court
	2007: Legislative activity to create domestic partnerships
	2008-2009: Legislative activity to enhance domestic partnerships

About this web site

Newly created, updated, and planned essays

Updated essays:

Essays planned for the near future:

New and rewritten essays:

During the past four months, we have posted new or rewritten essays on the following topics:

Sponsored link

Go to the previous page, or to the "website features" menu, or choose:

Newly created, updated,
and planned essays