Ethics/rights

Joel Osteen told Oprah Winfrey in an interview Sunday that his message was one of hope for all people, not just those in the Christian community.

In the interview, which appeared Sunday on “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” Oprah questioned Osteen about the frequent criticism he receives for talking so much about prosperity and so little about Christ.

“There’s a belief that you’re supposed to be poor, and suffering, and show your humility. I just don’t see the Bible that way,” the megachurch Pastor said. “I see that God came and Jesus died so that we might live an abundant life and be a blessing to others.” more >>

A scorecard developed by the Secular Coalition for America has created debate over whether candidates should be allowed religious views or forced to follow a secular constitution.

The scorecard is a review by the coalition based on candidates’ stances on religious based issues. It was developed to help secular and nontheistic Americans to elect a candidate who would support their views. However, most presidential candidates received failing marks for mentioning their religious beliefs.

President Barack Obama was voted to have the most “secular stance,” but still only received average scores. Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum scored all but one “F” on the scorecard. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul also fell somewhere in between with mixed scoring, but few A’s. more >>

Christian conservative radio host Bryan Fischer recently told his listeners that HIV is man-made and experts attacked his comments as irresponsible.

Fischer, who is Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association, recently featured author of "Inventing the AIDS Virus,” Peter Duesberg, on his "Focal Point" radio show.

"The reason HIV was invented as the cause of AIDS is it was a way to get research money," Fischer said. more >>

Sinead O'Connor is apparently the latest celebrity to get hitched only to ditch her spouse within record time, after the Irish singer's marriage to a therapist lasted a mere 16 days. The controversial singer, made popular in the 90s with the Prince cover song "Nothing Compares 2 U," joins the ranks of Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Dennis Hopper, and dozens of other celebrities who have bailed on their marriages before "death do us part."

Blaming her short-lived marriage to Barry Herridge on criticism and "intense pressure" from her husband's family and friends, O'Connor explained on her website Dec. 26 why the union was quickly annulled.

"Within 3 hours of the ceremony being over the marriage was kyboshed by the behaviour of certain people in my husband's life," the singer wrote. "I saw his life leave him because of how people close to him reacted. And I can't take anyone's life. And a woman wants to be a joy to her husband. So... [you] love someone? Set them free." more >>

Glenn Stanton says one of the most significant social and cultural trends for 2012 could be one that no one is watching. Scientists call it Artificial Reproductive Technology. Stanton has another name for it: disembodied procreation.

ART is the growing industry surrounding sperm donation and artificial insemination. Stanton, the director of Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family, told The Christian Post that “it is a huge growth market that is just not getting much attention. But the implications are enormous.”

There are two main factors fueling the growth of ART and the sperm industry. The first is that many within the lesbian community are using artificial insemination to have children. more >>

Ayman Nour, leader of the al-Ghad el-Thawra political party in Egypt, has called for a march that will commemorate the death of 21 Coptic Christians.

Ayman Nour wants to march alongside members of his political party and political activists in the country. The march is to be conducted this Saturday on New Year’s Eve. Nour has stated that this march is meant to promote solidarity with the "martyrs of the church” and is in “memory of the church bombing."

Nour and his followers will try and march to Alexandria Church, the scene of a violent attack that involved the death of Coptic Christians. more >>