Religion

Treasury Dept. Plan Would Give Fed Wide New Power - The Treasury Department will propose on Monday that Congress give the Federal Reserve broad new authority to oversee financial market stability, in effect allowing it to send SWAT teams into any corner of the industry or any institution that might pose a risk to the overall system.

Zimbabwean voters elect president - People in Zimbabwe are voting in an election that will decide whether President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, wins a sixth term in office. Queues formed early at many polling stations, with voters determined to cast their ballots. The MDC fears the poll will be rigged but Mr Mugabe said as he cast his vote in Harare: "We don't rig elections."

First cities go dark for Earth Hour - Sydney's iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge went dark Saturday night as the world's first major city turned off its lights for this year's Earth Hour, a global campaign to raise awareness of climate change. This year, 26 major world cities and more than 300 other cities and towns have signed up for the event.

First, Self-Control. Then, Debt Control - If you have gotten in over your head in credit card debt, you are in good company. The Federal Reserve says Americans have accumulated nearly $1 trillion, a record amount, in what it calls “revolving credit.” But while the financial experts are urging people to pay down debt — particularly expensive credit card debt — that is easier said than done.

Bible course sparks wrangle - More disagreement surfaced Friday over the public school Bible course Texas lawmakers approved last year. The latest issue hinges on whether the state must adopt specific curriculum standards for the course, an elective that's supposed to start in the 2009-10 school year. 

There is a great piece over at The Nation by Bob Moser about politics and religion. It begins by explaining the obvious of how Republicans seem to benefit from Christian Conservatives. Mid-way through the article though it offers insight to a new movement of Religious leaders that are progressive compared to the Falwells, Dobsons and Robertsons. There is a new generation of young adults that are more educated and cynical when it comes to the culture war.

Moser asked the Rev. Mel White, a former ghostwriter and filmmaker for Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Billy Graham who now leads the LGBT rights group Soulforce, what progressives and Democrats could do to reach out to evangelical voters. It has to involve a message that emphasizes what the two sides have in common, White said: "We forget that Jesus was intent on liberating us from materialism--while fundamentalists are all about materialism. Jesus' message was: 'Sell everything you have; give your money to the poor; take up your cross and follow me.' The real Jesus calls us to justice and mercy." But while "the Republican Party has framed all the issues in moral terms, the Democrats have framed the issues mostly in economic terms," said liberal evangelist Tony Campolo. They haven't been asking voters to see "moral values" in social terms, rather than those of personal morality.

The new makeup of evangelicals under 3o "are less likely to be weekly churchgoers, less likely to be biblical literalists and they believe that the government should do more to protect the environment." This new generation of young voters are observing politics from different angles. Younger envangilical voters take a more moderate approach to government's role in society compared to older ones. Jesus would be no Democrat nor Republican but he would align himself with the party that would seek to help out the poor and promote tolerance. Whoever decides to pick up that challenge would most likely get the nod.