Churches that preach wealth as an essential part of Christian faith are under political review . . .
Religion
‘Prosperity Gospel’ Churches’ Spending Reports DueListen Now [5 min 32 sec]
Morning Edition, March 31, 2008 · Monday is the deadline for some popular mega-churches to report to Congress on how they spend their money. These churches all preach wealth as an essential part of faith.
Steve Inskeep speaks with religion professor Anthea Butler about “prosperity gospel.”
US News & World Report writes about “prosperity gospel” here.
Time Magazine does the same here:
Some see Grassley’s acts as a religious vendetta, launched by a white-bread Evangelical who doesn’t get the group’s view of rich pastors as a sign of divine grace. Grassley has hinted that his purpose may be to revamp tax laws to keep up with rapacious preachers.
Remarks Charles Haynes, senior scholar with the First Amendment Center: “I’m worried that [the six] might be used to push for stringent transparency regulations that would affect all religious groups. They are extreme, and extreme cases can lead to bad law.”
Grassley rejects the criticism. “We’re not looking at doctrine. I don’t know much about the words Prosperity gospel,” he says. But he acknowledges that religious-freedom concerns may make an investigation a “little more difficult to defend.”
Political Art? Identity Art? (Is There Home Education Art?)
30 03 2008Reading this I was thinking, aha! — maybe home education doesn’t need any more political advocacy. We sure need some of that “hot-button statement” avoidance! Steer us way clear of “easy condemnations and endorsements”!
Forget about which white males have the clout to push homeschool legislative initiatives from the pulpit yet again. Never mind whose religious tradition has ruled the roost to date, in homeschooling’s efforts to unite in defense of our freedoms. Maybe what we really need now to suit the troubles of our times, isn’t anybody’s brand of politics OR religion, at all. And forget the certified teachers and their union’s protectionist political pronouncements, too.
How about some real-live, bang-up, cutting edge, street theatre, indie to the max, audacious home education ART? Laura, wasn’t somebody working on a film version of home education art a few years back, or is that just wishful thinking?
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