TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Senate has approved a bill promoting student-initiated prayer and other “inspirational messages” at public school assemblies. The bill was passed 31-8 on Wednesday with some Democrats joining Republicans to support the measure. Sen. Gary Siplin sponsored the bill. The Orlando Democrat says it keeps students and not administrators in charge […]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana Senate panel has approved a bill that would allow creationism to be taught in Indiana’s public schools. The Times of Munster reports the Republican-controlled Senate Education Committee voted 8-2 Jan. 25 to send the legislation to the full Senate despite pleas from scientists and religious leaders to keep religion out […]

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A mountaintop Jesus statue can stay at a ski resort in the western U.S. state of Montana — for now. The religious statue, which has been on federal land since 1955, was allowed to remain in place for at least 10 more years after the U.S. Forest Service reversed its eviction […]

WASHINGTON President Barack Obama linked his economic policies to his Christian faith, saying on Thursday that meeting the nation’s challenges requires strong values as much as smart policies. Obama, making his third appearance as president at the National Prayer Breakfast, used his remarks to justify many of his actions, such as his call for the […]

RICHMOND — Richmond Corner Baptist Church is planning a hymn sing, “Celebrating God’s Love,” for families of all ages on Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. The service will feature young violinists and cellists and older musicians. People are invited to bring their voices and an instrument if they wish. People may also bring a healthy […]

BRUNSWICK — First Parish Church, UCC, will open its labyrinth to the public on Tuesday from noon to 8 p. m. in Pilgrim House at 9 Cleaveland St. The labyrinth is an 11 circuit Chartres-style pattern, painted on a 30-foot canvas. Unlike a maze, which is intended to confuse, a labyrinth has a singular path […]

WEST BATH — “The foundation of all Buddhist practice is the development of an unbiased awareness of what our minds actually do moment after moment. This is called mindfulness meditation,” states a news release from the Dzogchen Meditation Center. And it will be the focus of an upcoming program. The release continues: “By practicing mindfulness […]

SEATTLE (AP) — Alaska Airlines is ending decades of giving passengers prayer cards with their meals, saying Wednesday the decision was made out of respect for all passengers. The cards began as a marketing ploy 30 years ago to differentiate the regional airline from its competitors. The cards offer a short excerpt of an Old […]

Mitt Romney’s newly released tax returns provide more than an accounting of the Republican presidential candidate’s remarkable personal wealth. The documents also give a rare glimpse into tithing to the Mormon church by one its most prominent members. Romney reports he will give a total of $4.13 million to The Church of Jesus Christ of […]

By the time you read this, Scooter, our beloved basset hound of the last nine years, will be dead. Right now, he is alive, blissfully unaware of his appointment with the vet, but certainly very much aware of the growth on his spine pushing against his prostate and colon. He doesn’t know his growth is […]