10. The Catholic Church has its first majority on the Supreme Court as Samuel Alito is nominated and elected as Associate Justice.
9. The Episcopal Church elects Katherine Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop. Schori supported the consecration of its first gay bishop. Seven Episcopal dioceses have refused to acknowledge her election.
8. The conflict over same-sex marriage continues as seven states pass referendums prohibiting the practice, while Arizona becomes the first state to reject a proposal banning it.
7. The release of the film The Da Vinci Code, which caused quite a stir in churches all over the country, many of them using the event as an opportunity to do outreach and offer study groups on the subject.
6. President Bush vetoes a bill that would expand government funding for research on embryonic stem-cells.
5. The positive influence of mega-church pastor Rick Warren, as he calls attention to the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
4. The killing of five Amish girls in a schoolhouse, which highlighted the uncommon and forgiving nature of the Amish community.
3. Pentecostalism celebrates its 100th birthday. It is the fastest growing Christian movement in the world.
2. The emergence of the public voice of the "Religious Left" into the political debate, offering an alternative voice in evangelicalism on the war in Iraq, environmentalism, and economic issues.
1. Pope Benedict XVI comments on Islam and violence, which, not ironically, leads to violence by Muslims in various countries.
9. The Episcopal Church elects Katherine Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop. Schori supported the consecration of its first gay bishop. Seven Episcopal dioceses have refused to acknowledge her election.
8. The conflict over same-sex marriage continues as seven states pass referendums prohibiting the practice, while Arizona becomes the first state to reject a proposal banning it.
7. The release of the film The Da Vinci Code, which caused quite a stir in churches all over the country, many of them using the event as an opportunity to do outreach and offer study groups on the subject.
6. President Bush vetoes a bill that would expand government funding for research on embryonic stem-cells.
5. The positive influence of mega-church pastor Rick Warren, as he calls attention to the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
4. The killing of five Amish girls in a schoolhouse, which highlighted the uncommon and forgiving nature of the Amish community.
3. Pentecostalism celebrates its 100th birthday. It is the fastest growing Christian movement in the world.
2. The emergence of the public voice of the "Religious Left" into the political debate, offering an alternative voice in evangelicalism on the war in Iraq, environmentalism, and economic issues.
1. Pope Benedict XVI comments on Islam and violence, which, not ironically, leads to violence by Muslims in various countries.
1 comment:
Allan, Great list here. Much better than I could do, and all noteworthy. It was an interesting year (and in some or many ways, the sad side of interesting). Thanks.
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