Church of Scotland Votes to Allow Gay Ministers
THE GUARDIAN: General assembly votes to allow congregations to admit gay ministers but only if they specifically elect to do so

The Church of Scotland, the country's largest Protestant church, has narrowly voted to admit gay and lesbian ministers after traditionalists agreed to compromise after four years of division.

The church's ruling general assembly voted to allow congregations to admit gay ministers but only if they specifically elect to do so, in a radical departure from more than 450 years of orthodoxy set in train by the protestant reformer John Knox.

The vote is likely to lead to an end to a four-year controversy which has split the church after an openly gay minister, Scott Rennie, was selected to lead Queen's Cross parish in Aberdeen in 2009.

The general assembly, equivalent to the Church of England's synod, rejected a motion which would have made gay ordination – solely for ministers in civil partnerships or who are celibate - the default position of the Church of Scotland, by 340 votes to 282.

The new deal – which now has to be written into a new church law and authorised by next year's general assembly - affirms the traditional teaching of the church as favouring heterosexual ministers, but will allow congregations to opt in to select gay ministers if they wish. » | Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent | Monday, May 20, 2013

Die Welt hat Islam satt: "Annäherung der Zivilisationen gescheitert"
STIMME RUSSLANDS: Die Ablehnung des Islams sei gegenwärtig ein Phänomen der westlichen Welt, lautet das Urteil der jüngsten sozilogischen Studien. Die Bedrohung durch die Präsenz und die Ausbreitung des Islams fühlten am eigenen Körper alle, von den USA bis Asien.

„Der Islam wird als Eroberer und Sieger nach Europa zurückkehren, nachdem man ihn zweimal vom Kontinent vertrieben hat.“ Dies Erklärung gab nach dem Tod des römischen Papstes, Johannes Paul II., einer der Anführer radikaler Islamisten ab. Er versprach, den Christen „nur die eine Wahl, den Islam anzunehmen, oder die Dschiszya (eine Abgabe, mit der die Nichtmuslime besteuert werden, um berechtigt zu sein, in einem islamischen Land zu wohnen) zu zahlen.“ Es ist offenkundig, dass eine solche Prognose, die einst fantastisch zu sein schien, sich schon heute in eine grobe Realität verwandeln kann. Laut Prognosen mancher Analysten könnte Frankreich, wo die Zahl der muslimischen weißen Franzosen bereits 50.000 Personen übersteigt, in allernächster Zukunft zum ersten islamischen Land Westeuropas werden.

Dessen sind sich auch die Europäer selbst in vollem Maße bewusst, wovon die jüngste Studie spricht, die von der Bertelsmann-Stiftung vorgenommen wurde. Soziologen stellten fest, dass die Ablehnung des Islams gegenwärtig ein Phänomen der westlichen Welt ist. Die Bedrohung durch seine Präsenz und Ausbreitung fühlten am eigenen Körper mehr als die Hälfte Spanier und Israelis sowie 42 Prozent Amerikaner. In Europa wurde der höchste „Grad“ der Zurückweisung des Islams in Spanien und der Schweiz und der niedrigste (45 Prozent) in Großbritannien festgehalten. Was das Vereinigte Königsreich anbelangt, so ist eine solche Loyalität dem Islam gegenüber in vieler Hinsicht darauf zurückzuführen, dass die Studie im Grunde genommen nur die Hälfte der Bevölkerung betraf, denn die zweite Hälfte besteht aus Immigranten und anderen ethnischen Minderheiten. In den letzten zehn Jahren haben übrigens bereits 620.000 weiße Briten London verlassen.

Es besteht die Auffassung, dass der Islam in vieler Hinsicht dank den starken Traditionen und der Gottgläubigkeit sicheren Schrittes durch die Welt schreite, vor deren Hintergrund die Europäer, die unter einer Krise der Familienwerte und dem geistigen Hunger leiden, als weitaus schwächer aussähen. Eine nicht gerade unwichtige Rolle bei der nahezu gewaltsamen Eroberung der Welt spielten auch die finanziellen Ressourcen der islamischen Gemeinde, meint Juri Tabak, Schriftsteller, Religionsforscher, Experte des Moskauer Büros für Menschenrechte:

„Im Unterschied zu anderen Religionen, vom Christentum bis zum Judaismus, stellt der Islam gegenwärtig eine expansionistische Religion dar. Und gemäß seinen theologischen sowie praktischen Vorstellungen, ist der Islam bestrebt, seinen Einflussbereich zu erweitern, wobei dies auf verschiedenen Ebenen geschieht: Sowohl auf dem Weg der Umsiedlung von Migranten als auch auf den Ebenen solcher hinreichend aggressiven Strömungen des Islams, die bestrebt sind, den Koran, ihre geheiligten Quellen in dem Sinne zu lesen, dass sie die Welt buchstäblich gewaltsam erobern und ein weltweites Kalifat errichten müssen.“

» | Lubow Kurjanowa | Dienstag, 14. Mai 2013

Verwandt hier und hier

Deutschland: Warum der Islam bei uns keine Heimat findet
DIE WELT: Gehört der Islam zu Deutschland? Und welcher Islam ist gemeint? Eine Bertelsmann-Studie offenbart eine große Distanz vieler Deutscher zu Muslimen – und deren Distanz zu deutschen Wertehaltungen.

Gehört der Islam zu Deutschland? Eine schwierige Frage, findet Emel Zeynelabidin. "Wenn die Antwort nein lautet, was passiert dann mit den Muslimen, die hier sind, und ihren Kindern?", sagt sie. "Und noch wichtiger: Von welchem Islam sprechen wir hier?"

Für Zeynelabidin gibt es eine konservative Lesart des Islam, von der sie sich heute distanziert. Diese schreibt strikte Richtlinien vor, kein Alkohol, kein Schweinefleisch, kein Sex vor der Ehe, Fasten zu Ramadan. Wer sich daran hält, wird von Gott belohnt, wer die Regeln bricht, wird bestraft. "Ich bin Muslimin und fühle mich heute religiöser denn je!", sagt Zeynelabidin, "Aber mit diesem System habe ich heute nichts mehr am Hut.

Gott ist allgegenwärtig, da muss ich mich nicht mit Ritualen aufhalten." Für sie heißt Islam Freiheit, Liebe, nach dem vorbildlichen Verhalten Mohammeds, der aufrichtig handelte, der sich für die Rechte der Frauen einsetzte.

Die 52-Jährige ist die Tochter des Gründers der deutschen Sektion der türkischen Gemeinschaft Milli Görüs, die vom Verfassungsschutz überwacht wird. Lange Zeit war sie stramme Anhängerin des Islam, bekam sechs Kinder, war Vorsitzende eines Frauenvereins, gründete den ersten islamischen Kindergarten in Berlin, das war 1987. 18 Jahre später legte sie ihr Kopftuch ab. Dass die Hälfte der Deutschen sagt, der Islam passe nicht in ihr Land, überrascht sie nicht. » | Von Miriam Hollstein und Freia Peters | Mitarbeit: Achim Breitenbach | Sonntag, 28. Mai 2013

Ablehnung des Islam steigt weltweit: Annäherung der Religionen wohl gescheitert
SHORT NEWS: Russische Religionswissenschaftler sehen die Annäherung des Islam an die westliche Welt und an das Christentum als gescheitert an. Des Weiteren seien die meisten Länder wegen der aggressiven islamischen Expansionspolitik des Islams überdrüssig.

Die einzige Religion, welche sich noch immer weltweit verbreiten will, sei der Islam, so Juri Tabak, russischer Schriftsteller, Religionsforscher und Experte des Moskauer Büros für Menschenrechte. So sieht er Frankreich bedroht, das erste islamische Land in Westeuropa zu werden. » | Quelle: german.ruvr.ru | Samstag, 18. Mai 2013

Iraq Tribal Leaders Warn of War
Tribal chiefs in Iraq have issued a dire warning about the country's future after the latest wave of sectarian violence.

French Opt For E-cigarettes But Health Risk Remains
Almost half a million people in France have turned to the e-cigarette but studies show it may also be harmful to health.

Italians Lose Interest in Pizza-making Tradition
Despite a long recession and a high unemployment rate, many people in Italy do not want to get their hands dirty - with pizza dough.

Melanie Phillips - Islam in Europe (2011)

Radical Islamic Recruitment Inside US Prisons
Many prisoners become members of various communities to combat loneliness, and to ensure protection from the daily threats associated with life in jail. An unusually high number of convicts are being converted to Islam.

In particular, African Americans in the prison system are converting in large numbers. According to estimates, up to 20 percent of prisoners in the U.S. are Muslims. This figure is approximately 20 times higher than the national Muslim population average.

This excerpt from 'The Third Jihad' documents the high rate of inmate conversions to Islam and their indoctrination with an anti-American, violent ideology.

Have Shock Jocks Gone Too Far after Rush Limbaugh Called Sandra Fluke a Slut?

THE INDEPENDENT: Rush Limbaugh’s incendiary remark about a 30-year-old law graduate may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters

When Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a slut, he probably thought it was just another incendiary remark: the latest in a four-decade career full of – and, arguably, built on – incendiary remarks.

In February 2012, Fluke, a 30-year-old graduate law student at Georgetown, appeared before Washington lawmakers to explain why her university ought to offer free contraception under its student health insurance plan. Limbaugh, 62, the cigar-chomping king of conservative talk-radio, described her on his show as a “slut” and a “prostitute”.

When his comments proved controversial, rather than back down, he doubled down, suggesting: “If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it … We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.”

But this particular incendiary remark, and the ensuing controversy, were different to the others. A year later, observers believe his “slut” moment may prove to have been the beginning of the end for Limbaugh. Not only has the big beast been wounded, but some say the right-wing shock-jock’s entire species may be facing extinction. Radio industry expert Jerry Del Colliano, the editor of Inside Music Media, says, “When Limbaugh attacked Sandra Fluke, everybody said, ‘he’s killing himself’ – but he was dying off years before that.” » | Tim Walker | Sunday, May 19, 2013

Tornadoes Wreak Destruction across Oklahoma and the American Midwest
Tornadoes have wreaked havoc across the American midwest, with at least one person killed in Oklahoma.

Read the article here | Monday, May 20, 2013

British Business: We Need to Stay in the EU or Risk Losing Up To £92bn a Year
THE INDEPENDENT: Richard Branson and Martin Sorrell among signatories to a letter to ‘The Independent’ that takes aim at Eurosceptics

Some of Britain’s most successful and eminent business leaders have accused Eurosceptic MPs of putting “politics before economics” and abandoning the national interest in their calls for Britain to leave the European Union.

In a letter to The Independent, the group issues a trenchant riposte to politicians who have argued that Britain’s economic interest would be better served outside the EU. They also call for David Cameron to “strengthen and deepen” the European single market to boost Britain’s economy by £110bn. The letter, which is signed by senior figures including the current and next presidents of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as well as the chairmen of BT, Deloitte, Lloyds and Centrica, is the first co-ordinated response from the business community to increasing anti-European political rhetoric.

It reflects growing concern in the City that anti-European feeling is not being effectively countered by mainstream political leaders in the wake of last month’s local council elections.

Two cabinet ministers have already publicly stated that they would vote to leave the EU if a referendum were held today, while privately some senior Tories believe Mr Cameron will never be able to negotiate a new deal for Britain’s membership that Eurosceptics could willingly sign up to.

But in their letter the businessmen write that on a purely economic basis, exiting the EU would be deeply damaging to Britain. “The economic case to stay in the EU is overwhelming,” they say. “To Britain, membership is estimated to be worth between £31bn and £92bn per year in income gains, or between £1,200 to £3,500 for every household. » | Oliver Wright | Sunday, May 19, 2013

Iranian Authorities Hang Two 'Spies' Convicted of Working for U.S. and Israel

MAIL ONLINE: Mohammad Heidari and Kourosh Ahmadi were hanged at dawn in Tehran / It is not known when they were arrested or where a trial took place / Iran had the second-highest rate of executions last year, killing 314 people

Iranian authorities have executed two men convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad and the American CIA spy agency, according to the country's state radio.

Mohammad Heidari, accused of passing security-related information and secrets to Mossad agents in exchange for money, and Kourosh Ahmadi, accused of gathering information for the CIA, were hanged at dawn, it said.

The sentence for their execution was handed down by Tehran's Revolutionary Court and confirmed by the country's Supreme Court.

The report did not say when the pair were arrested nor when their trial took place.

Iran has in the past said it had successfully detected and dismantled spy networks operating inside the country. » | Helen Lawson | Sunday, May 19, 2013

'Neo-Ottomanism Driven Turkey Does NATO's Job, Adds Fuel to Syrian Fire'
Turkish police have fired gas at protesters in a town near the Syrian border - which was the scene of a deadly double car bombing a week ago. The unrest follows similar clashes in Istanbul and Ankara. Demonstrators are angry over Turkey's support for the Syrian rebels, which they say is putting Turks in the firing line. Journalist Manuel Ochsenreiter, who's covered the Syrian crisis extensively, says Ankara's aggravating the conflict.

Next Coronation to Involve Other Faiths Besides Christianity

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The coronation of the next monarch will include a role for people of other faiths besides Christianity, in a break with a thousand years of history, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

Church of England leaders have accepted the need to be “hospitable” to other faiths within any future service at Westminster Abbey, in order to reflect the spiritual diversity of modern Britain.

The Church has resisted calls for a multi-faith service in recent years, preferring to stress that the Christian nature of the coronation is preserved by law.

Senior church figures told this newspaper [t] that it was now accepted that other faiths should be recognised within the coronation service for the first time.

It will not, however, be a “multi-faith” service in the sense of a ceremony that treats all faiths as equal.

Representatives of other religions are likely to be asked to participate in a neutral symbolic act such as the lighting of candles, or to read from a text expressing shared values, rather than praying out loud or reading their own sacred texts.

The Church considers the coronation to be a royal ordination, setting apart the monarch for a sacred purpose under God, and will resist any compromise of that. » | Cole Moreton | Saturday, May 18, 2013

Glenn Beck – Why Obama Hid the Truth of Benghazi?

Glenn Beck: God Must Destroy Us Because We Are Becoming An Affront To Him In Every Way
Glenn Beck breaks down and tearfully begs God to forgive this nation.

Ex-Islamophobe to Produce Film on Islam, the Prophet
From Darkness to Light
RADIANCE VIEWS WEEKLY – EXTRACT: …[Arnoud van] Doorn repented for his involvement in the blasphemous film. “It was unfortunate that I did not make any efforts to know what really Islam is and who the Prophet is before blindly believing in the misinformation campaign being unleashed by the anti-Islamic forces. When I came to realise that it was not Islam, I decided to study about the religion and that led to my conversion,” he said. “Now, I am really enjoying the beauty of Islam and am extremely delighted in Allah’s great blessing to guide me onto His path. It is an explicable experience for me,” he said adding that his former colleagues in the Freedom Party are angry at his acceptance of Islam, which is still a bête noire for them. “The party stands against Islam and its spreading in Europe. Some of them now consider me as a traitor.”

The 46-year-old has continued on The Hague Council as an independent candidate since splitting from Wilders’s party. Doorn, who now serves as a regional adviser at the City Hall in The Hague, filed a formal application to the mayor of the city to allow him to perform prayers obligatory for Muslims during his working hours.

Doorn has a message to those who oppose his reversion to Islam. “Let me tell them that this is my personal decision and I see a new life in Islam that I don’t want any way to give it up. I happened to see on social networking sites several comments, expressing feelings of antagonism and hatred toward me,” he said adding that all these sprang out of ignorance, contempt and animosity against Islam and the Muslims. He also thanked all those who supported him and commended him for beginning a new life as a Muslim. Referring to his visit to the holy land, Doorn said: “Had anybody mentioned me about visiting the land of the two holy mosques earlier, I would have called him a lunatic.

“But what happened now is realisation of a dream and it is still unbelievable for me that I am now in the holy city that hosted the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him).” He continued saying: “I couldn’t control my feelings when I stood in front of the grave of the Prophet as well as in Rawdah Sharif, near the pulpit used by the Prophet. When I prayed at Rawdah Sharaif, my eyes were full of tears as I had the feeling that I am in a part of the Paradise.” … Read on and comment » | Majed Al-Sugairi | Undated

Gene Simmons Calls Muslims 'Vile'
YNET NEWS: After sparking outrage with anti-Islam comments on Melbourne radio station, Israeli-born musician explains he was specifically referring to 'extremists'

Legendary rock legend Gene Simmons sparked outrage in Australia earlier this month when he made anti-Muslim comments on a Melbourne radio station.

"This is a vile culture and if you think for a second that it's willing to just live in the sands of God's armpit, you've got another thing coming," the Israeli-born musician said on Melbourne’s 3AW radio.

"They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you're evil. Extremism believes that it’s okay to strap bombs onto your children and send them to paradise and whatever else and to behead people,” he continued.

The Kiss bassist, who was in Australia on tour, continued on his anti-Muslim rant for over a minute stating that dogs were treated better than Muslim women, and insinuating that the West was under threat.

"Your dog, however, can walk side by side, your dog is allowed to have its own dog house... You can send your dog to school to learn tricks, sit, beg, do all that stuff - none of the women have that advantage," Simmons stated.

Simmons said that the United Nations approach was not effective, suggesting that the West had to “speak softly and carry a big stick.” » | Ashley Baylen | Saturday, May 18, 2013

Greece’s Muslims Cite “Slaughter” Threat
GREEK REPORTER: The Muslim Association of Greece (MAG) said that it has received a threatening note giving all Muslims, Greeks and foreigners, one month’s time to evacuate the country or be “slaughtered like chickens,” according to a statement released by the association on May 18.

The note, published on the association’s webpage, is written in Greek, English and Arabic and the Golden Dawn emblem is printed on the paper, although there is no claim of responsibility from the neo-Nazi group that has 18 seats in Parliament, wants all immigrants out of Greece and has been accused of assaults on them, which the party has denied.

The note is printed over a symbol of Golden Dawn which has an openly anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-gay, anti-Semitic, anti-foreigner, ultra-religious jingoistic platform and says it wants a Greece populated only by Greeks with 100 percent Greek blood from both parents. » | Andy Dabilis | Saturday, May 18, 2013

Below is the content of the note, expurgated.

Muslim Murderers

Until June 30 you shut your bordela in Greece and you will go to hell.

From July 1 onwards those who are still here will [be] slaughtered like chickens on the road.

Islam F*** you, f*** you and the Koran f***ing your mothers.

There will be blood.