New York

Evangelical Christian and Jewish leaders are calling for immediate sanctions against Iran to discourage the government from developing nuclear weapons.

Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, joined Paul de Vries, president of the New York Divinity School and leader of the New York Evangelicals, and Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, in issuing a statement urging all governments to apply sanctions as a tool for effective diplomacy and to encourage human rights efforts of Iranian citizens.

The leaders explained their concern derives from the “grave threat” of a nuclear Iran against people in the United States, Israel, as well as Iran’s Muslim neighbors. The threats posed by a nuclear weapon-possessing Iran include throwing Gulf Arab states into a nuclear arm race that would cause instability in the region; strengthening the rule of the militant Shia regime against Iran’s new reform leaders and youth attracted to human rights; and a likely total confrontation with Israel and the world to hasten the return of the 12th imam. more >>

"A million New Yorkers are good without God," according to one atheist group.

Those words will be plastered in a dozen subway stations in the most populous city in the country beginning next week.

The United Coalition of Reason says the New York ad campaign is intended to reach out to nontheists and let them know that they are not alone. At the same time, the organization wants to break stereotypes and let the public know that atheists are good people too. more >>

The case of a former kindergarten student whose art project with Jesus was censored by his New York school will be heard in an appeals court Friday.

Antonio Peck, the student, had drawn a poster with several religious figures with the words, “The only way to save the world,” for an art project that had to show understanding about the environment. Antonio meant to express his belief that God is the only way to save the environment, according to his legal representative Liberty Counsel.

The poster was rejected by his kindergarten teacher because of its religious content and he was told to create a second poster. more >>

Declining and dying congregations have found a new way to fill their pews – church mergers.

While the practice itself may not be new, more churches today have taken on a newer and more successful approach.

In recent years, congregations across the country that are dwindling in numbers have been contacting larger, healthier, and oftentimes younger (in terms of attendees) churches for help. A lot of times those calls result in "acquisitions" in which the struggling church adopts the identity of the larger and functions as an extension campus. more >>

Some prominent church leaders voiced support for President Obama Tuesday on his vision for resolving the thorny issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

From mainline church leaders such as the Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, to evangelical megapastors like the Rev. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church, a diverse group of over 30 religious people – including rabbis and imams – signed the letter that called for a comprehensive Middle East solution.

Signers say they support Israel’s right to security and the Palestinians’ right to a sovereign and secure state of their own. They also called for bold U.S. leadership to assist both parties in making difficult decisions and to hold each party accountable if they fail to fulfill their commitments. more >>