Yahoo recently published an article around the upcoming movie “2012″ that I found particularly interesting. The movie directed by Roland Emmerich is a disaster film about the end of the world in 2012, which is when the Mayan calendar ends.

Many famous landmarks are slated to be destroyed in this film, including many religious sites. One image from the trailer shows the dome of St. Peter’s at the Vatican rolling toward a crowd of worshippers.  The one religious site does not meet a tragic fate is the Ka’bah.  The Ka’bah is located in Mecca and the center of the Hajj – the largest pilgrimage in the Islamic faith.

The director wanted to include the destruction of the Ka’bah in the film but did not want to have a fatwa placed on his head. A fatwa is a ruling, or legal opinion, of Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. The term fatwa entered Western consciousness when Ayatollah Khomeini issued a death sentence in the form of a fatwa in 1989 to a British author, Salman Rushdie, for alleged blasphemies in his novel “The Satanic Verses.”

In October, I wrote a story for the Missourian about how Karis Community Church and International Community Church are using films to prompt spiritual discussions in Columbia. Since the story was published, I have come across a couple of other churches that are also hosting movie discussions.

The Crossing holds movie screenings and discussions every so often as a part of its “Talking Pictures” movie series. In October, the church hosted a viewing and discussion of “Doubt.”

“Few movies lend themselves so easily to further discussion as ‘Doubt,’” wrote pastor Nathan Tiemeyer on the church’s blog.

Once a month, First Christian Church also shows movies. Some flicks are offered just for fun, and others lend themselves to deeper discussion. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, the church hosted a viewing of “Citizen Kane.”

If you’d like to participate in these discussions, you’re welcome to attend any or all of the following events:

• At 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, International Community Church will show and discuss “Not One Less,” a 1999 Chinese film about the educational challenges in rural China. Childcare will be available during the event.

• At 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, First Christian Church will show “Second Hand Lions,” a 2003 movie starring Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Haley Joel Osment and Kyra Sedgwick.

• Karis’s movie showings and discussions for November have yet to be decided; visit the “Movies and MindMaps” blog for more information.

• The Crossing’s next installment has yet to be decided; visit The Crossing Web site for the latest information about “Talking Pictures.”

The role of religion in the military has long been a touchy subject. For the sake of unity, there is a lot of regulation on how religion is practiced among troops. It is generally understood that everything in the military is uniform for a reason: cohesion. However, a recent article, “Army Allows a Sikh Doctor to Serve Wearing a Turban,” indicates that exceptions are sometimes made in the name of religious practice. Wearing a turban and leaving hair uncut are important to religious practice among Sikhs, and Capt. Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, a doctor, has been given permission to serve in the Army without compromising the requirements of his religion. The article says the Army looked at the following factors: unit cohesion, morale, discipline and safety and/or health when deciding whether Kalsi’s request should be granted.

The Army deems it acceptable and not at all inappropriate for Kalsi to practice wearing religious symbols, but you have to wonder whether his Army comrades will accept him. As a doctor, Kalsi will play a vital role in the health and safety of those who are sent to him, but will they accept him or treat him fairly and equally? In the United States, religious followers can wear anything from hijabs, to turbans, to cross necklaces, to yamakas as an expression of their faith, and while they are free to do so it doesn’t mean they aren’t judged. But can those in the military afford to be judged?

I don’t know the answer to this question. I do wish I could have more details on the reasoning behind this decision. The article notes that members of Congress wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Gates saying, “We do not believe that any American should have to choose between his religion and service to our country.” I understand this sentiment, and I believe it to be true. But there are rules, so why was Kalsi given an exception? What makes him uniquely qualified to keep his beard and long hair? While Sikhs are supposed to follow certain rules of dress, there is no obligation.

Recently, Sikhs were also given the right to leave turbans, uncut hair, beards, etc. intact if they are federal security guards. I understand that: the government should not discriminate based on religious identity. But people who join the military knowingly give up certain freedoms for the sake “uniformity” and “equality” among one another. Of course, there are exceptions: the Army Command Policy handbook says “religious jewelry, apparel of articles may be worn while in uniform if they are neat, conservative and discreet.”

This ruling surprises me, but I’m even more surprised the decision applies ONLY to Kalsi. If he is allowed to wear a turban and groom himself differently, so should all Sikhs in the military or entering the military. Given the uniformity of the Army, wouldn’t it make all its decisions apply to everyone? I hope that Capt. Tejeep Singh Rattan, another Sikh, is granted his request to practice his religion in the same way as Kalsi. It would show that all Sikhs, and people of all religions, will be treated equally.

What do you think? Should there be more freedom or religious expression in all the military, and more decisions like that of Kalsi and the Army? Or should strict regulations be upheld on grooming and uniform?

The Crossing Church is holding a special holiday event this year called “Surviving the Holidays” to help divorced and separated men and women deal with the holiday season. It’s open to the whole community. The program is designed to help bring comfort to those who are hurting during the holiday season.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at The Crossing Church, 3615 Southland Dr. It costs $10, which includes brunch, childcare if needed, and a workbook. Scholarships are available upon request.

I think this is a neat idea. It’s a good outreach to the community, and there are probably many people who are looking for help during the holiday season. It’s a difficult and stressful time on anyone, especially if you are going through it alone. It’s a ministry that is needed now, due to more and more divorces occurring. It’s also a non-threatening way to invite people to the church and help them. These neutral events are a good way to attract people who might not otherwise come.

What do you think about the ministry? Is it an event that you think could be effective in the Columbia community? Have you ever attended something like this before?

For more information about the event, visit The Crossing Church’s Web site or email them at divorce.redemption@gmail.com

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church is beginning a stewardship and capital campaign called “Building for Christ’s Mission.” This 2-part campaign is trying to help raise money to support St. Andrew’s growing ministry and also raise funds for renovations to the church building. The stewardship campaign asks members to continue tithing or to begin tithing. The capital campaign asks members to make a 3-year pledge to the church for the renovations.

Desired renovations to the church include:

• An expanded narthex and new front entry
• Relocation of the driveway to the apex of West Boulevard for safer entry
• Revitalization of the Centrum, including new entrances, new carpet, new lighting and new sound
• Expanding the restrooms and making them handicap accessible
• Replacing offices and consolidating staff offices
• Providing a prayer room
• basic maintenance: new room, replace heating and cooling systems, new flooring on high-traffic areas (existing narthex and fellowship hall)

The “Building for Christ’s Mission” campaign features a few important dates:

• Nov. 15 – Mission Focus gathering (an all-congregational worship and fellowship event)
• Dec. 5-6 – Commitment weekend

More information about both campaigns is available on the St. Andrew’s Web site. The Web site includes an informational brochure of the campaign and a video of the building plan.

Did the Catholic church open up a larger problem by allowing married Anglican priests to return to the church? It opens up a long-time issue in the Catholic Church: celibacy.

I opened my  New York Times update  today, and there was another article about it called “Offer Raises Idea of Marriage for Catholic Priests.” Now some Catholic priests are starting to wonder if the Catholic Church will be moving to allow married priests. Also, would a unmarried Anglican priest have to take a vow of celibacy?

There are some loopholes created by this arrangement with the Anglican Church. Can people convert to Anglicanism to get married an then convert back? Celibacy is a foundation of Catholic tradition for its priests and bishops. Would changing this rule change the religion too much? Or could it simply be adapting to modern times? There is a shortage of priests in the world because it’s getting harder to get young men to agree to being celibate and giving their life to the church. The modern world doesn’t seem to view it as much of an honor as it once was thought. I know it is still an amazing honor to many men and many families, but there certainly are less of them.

Is this move to allow Anglicans to come back into the Catholic Church married a bad one? Does trying to unite Christianity come at the cost of changing traditional church doctrine? What do you all think? Should the Catholic Church allow married priests? Or should it stay true to its foundations?

It’s an interesting controversy the Catholic Church could find itself in. Right now everything is speculation about future problems, but there is a good possibility these speculations could become reality, especially if many Anglican priests choose to reenter the Catholic Church.

I was reading a USA Today article called “Is Moses the man who shaped America?” this morning and it struck me as very odd. The article was about author Bruce Feiler and his new book “America’s Prophet: Moses and the American Story.” In the book Feiler asserts that Moses has been more influential in American history than Jesus. He says that Moses has been entwined in our history, from the Puritans to Obama’s 2008 campaign. He also talks about how Moses could be a unifying figure for Jews, Christians and Muslims in the post 9/11 society.

What do you think of Feller’s bold statements?

I found myself reading it with a feeling of disbelief. This goes against the teachings I’ve learned since I was a little girl. To suggest that the prophet Moses was more influential and bigger than Jesus seems ridiculous and way off base. It makes me wonder what the rest of the book says about the topic. How much of this is fact or just Feiler’s opinion? I almost feel as if Feiler is challenging my faith and my beliefs, and I find myself getting mad. Maybe that’s not what he meant and that’s not how I should take it. I wonder what other people reading this article think though. Could he possibly have a valid argument? Or is he just trying to cause a stir?

There have been stories in the New York Times and USA Today about the most recent move of the Catholic Church. In an announcement Tuesday, the Catholic Church said it would allow conservative members of the Anglican church to reenter the Catholic Church. According to the USA Today article, they would be able to keep their liturgy and their married priests, but not their married bishops.

It seems like a big move for the Catholic Church, which is attempting to lure conservative Anglicans back into their congregation who are unhappy with the acceptance of female and gay bishops in the Anglican church.

Both articles talked about how this would mostly affect the Anglican Church of England, since in the United States many conservative sects have already broken from the Anglican Church and formed their own congregations. It will have a global impact, but the immediate effects will most likely be seen overseas.

What do you think of this bold move from the Vatican? The churches have been split for more than 500 years. What could their motivation be to offer this chance to the Anglicans now? Is it truly to give them a place to worship where they feel comfortable? Or could there be  political motive hidden in there as well? Are they trying to attract people who have already left the Anglican church? Or are they luring people away who are currently members of the Anglican church?

Will this announcement change local churches in Columbia? Does anyone know someone who this announcement is affecting?

I wasn’t raised Catholic, so some of the problems of the Catholic Church are a little foreign to me. I do know that this is a huge announcement though. It could change the current face of Christianity.

A new exhibition hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is set to open in March. This new permanent exhibit is on the “discovery and understanding of human origins.” There will be a panel of experts there during the opening  to help navigate the space between religion and science. The exhibit is scientific but it is sure to spark some conversations among different groups. The Smithsonian has created a Broader Social Impacts Committee to look at the interactions between religion and science.

The large exhibition hall will have various displays including more than 75 casts of skulls and an interactive human family tree. The official opening will be on March 17, 2010, which is also the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s 100th anniversary on the National Mall.

I am curious about the public’s reaction to this addition to one of our national museums.

I’ve been doing a series of articles about the CROP Hunger Walk that happened in Columbia on Oct. 4, 2009. CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. It was really the first series I’ve ever written, and I enjoyed being able to see the event from start to finish. Obviously I wasn’t there for every tiny part of the process, but it was rewarding to see it come together. In the two articles I wrote, there were a lot of observations I wish I could have included since I felt kind of connected to the event, but that wasn’t appropriate for a hard news story. I’m hoping to be able to collect my thoughts here in this forum.

Even though I’ve lived in Columbia almost 2 1/2 years while attending school at MU, I’ve never heard of the CROP Walk before. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have if my editor hadn’t mentioned it at our first beat meeting and asked who could cover it. Right away I was sent the press release for the recruiter’s rally, which ended up being the focus of my first story. I was very interested in all the different churches that came to the meeting to gain information. I had heard about the interfaith community in Columbia, but this was the first time I had seen it for my own eyes. I really wanted to focus on that for this first story.

When I went to cover the CROP Walk a month later, I was amazed to see how many people there were! It was quite a jump from the roughly 20 people at the rally to the over 200 participants in the walk. There were people there of all ages. Many different religious organizations were represented in the diverse group. I made an on-the-spot decision to go on part of the walk with them to try and capture the spirit of the event. I found it hard to incorporate a lot of that without throwing in my own personal commentary, which I felt was inappropriate. I was able to talk to a lot of people though, most of whom didn’t make it into the article. It really emphasized the interfaith aspect of the walk in my eyes. The event was very successful and seemed to be enjoyed by all who participated, which was one of the most important things.

According to the Columbia CROP Hunger Walk official Web site, they raised over $18,000. It was also the largest CROP Walk in Columbia. Over 22 faith communities and organizations participated.