News Tidbits

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Arlington lawmaker's bill would protect questioners of evolution

Statesville Record & Landmark: Huckabee: Leaders Need Biblical Worldview/

CBC: Florist refuses to outfit same-sex couple's wedding

Washington Post: Ohio, Florida police recommended charges in case of runaway Muslim-to-Christian convert

The Advocate: Ex-Gay App Draws 90,000 Complaints (And Counting)

365 Gay: Growing evangelical clout shaping debate

San Diego Gay and Lesbian News: Uganda lawmakers to revive “Kill the Gays” bill

Commentary Tidbits

Dispatches from the Culture Wars: Texas BOE Wants Creationist Material in Schools. Again.

RH Reality Check: Illegal Abortion Providers and Anti-Choice Irresponsibility

RH Reality Check: "Sex Traffickers" Target Planned Parenthood in Possible Live Action Films Hoax

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: Homophobia of Chick Publications should remind lgbt community of how far we've come

Right Wing Watch: Stemberger Sets Up Legal Defense Fund Backed By Religious Right, Anti-Muslims Activists

Right Wing Watch: Barton: “I Guarantee You They Are Getting Homosexual Indoctrination” in Public Schools

The Cognitive Dissenter: God Hates Phelps

Talk to Action: Billy Graham and the Rise of the Religious Right

Religion Dispatches: Theocracy: “What Would Be So Bad About It?”

Media Matters: Beck: Progressives Have "Tried To Destroy" God

Think Progress Wonk Room: Iowa’s Anti-Marriage Crusader Compares Same-Sex Unions To Polygamy, Rails Against ‘Absolute Tolerance’

Friendly Atheist: I Don’t Want Your Cookie

Showing Christ’s Love: "US Government Under Satanic Control"

News Tidbits

Lexington Herald-Leader: Tennessee, Kentucky have different approach to biblical parks

St. Louis Today: Military chaplains are faith mismatch for personnel they serve 

The Baltimore Sun: Clergy take lessons on demonic possession, exorcism

ABC News (Australia): Pope says sex education an 'attack on religious freedom'

Providence Journal: Catholic Bishop Tobin lashes out at Rhode Island leaders for pushing gay marriage

Los Angeles Times: Some right-wing groups to skip GOP event

Orlando Sentinel: Florida Bar asks state Supreme Court to discipline Orlando lawyer for conduct in Rifqa Bary case

The American Prospect: Republican Minority Opens Investigation of Prosperity Televangelists

Minnesota Independent: Rep. Gruenhagen brings controversial views to Health and Human Services Committee

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Motions Fly in Bishop Eddie Long Case

Boston.com: Shift in mission for religious firebrand Scott Lively

Entertainment Weekly: Controversial Pastor Ted Haggard Lands TLC Reality Project

The Advocate: Arrested Birther Attended Rally with LaBarbera

Ms. Magazine: Boehner Announces Anti-Abortion Agenda

Strange Bedfellows: Ex-Muslims and the Christian Right

Just as Christianity has its defectors, so too does Islam. Ex-Muslims such as Ibn Warraq, Taslima Nasreen, and Salman Rushdie have embraced secularism and delivered hard-hitting criticism of Islam, often at great personal risk. Other ex-Muslims have converted to Christianity, finding Jesus' teachings more palatable than those of their former faith. Some, however, have found right-wing, fundamentalist Christianity to their liking.

The Religous Right, never one to pass up an opportunity, has deployed several prominent ex-Muslims in its ideological fight against Islam, including Ergun Caner and Rifqa Bary. While Ayaan Hirsi Ali (an atheist) is not a voice for the Religious Right, I fear that her comments about Christianity and Islam could all too easily play into the Religious Right's hands someday.