A Wisconsin church has built a 60-foot high cross on its property in an effort to make its surrounding community more "Christ-conscious," and perhaps help win the culture war, says the church's pastor.

"If the enemies of the cross force a cross to be removed from the public park, then maybe a church should put up a 60' or 100' cross on their property," Michael Jackson, lead pastor of New Life Assembly of God in Janesville, told The Christian Post. He said a big part of his church's decision to build the cross was the "culture war" against religious symbols on public property in America.

"Maybe several churches should go together and erect a large cross on some agreed on-church site. This is not a war that we sought, but it is a war that the church can and will win," Jackson said. more >>

On Wednesday, the Arizona House passed a measure which would offer further protection for the religious liberties of state citizens.

Senate Bill 1178, which passed the Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday with a 32-24 vote along party lines and reportedly with little debate, seeks to strengthen the language of the already existing Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The bill seeks to strengthen religious freedom in the state in several ways, predominately by giving all denominations the ability to file a lawsuit over an "impending" religious liberty violation, as opposed to a violation which has already taken place. more >>

A Washington woman who was sued by the state's attorney general after refusing to create floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding ceremony has filed a countersuit that argues her decision is constitutionally protected.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed the countersuit Thursday in Benton County Superior Court on behalf of Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Wash. Stutzman's attorneys say the state cannot force her to make decorations for same-sex weddings because she would have to go against her religious convictions to do so.

"Everyone knows that plenty of florists are willing to assist in same-sex ceremonies, so the state has no reason to force Barronelle to violate her deeply held beliefs," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Dale Schowengerdt in a statement. "In America, the government is supposed to protect freedom, not use its intolerance for certain viewpoints to intimidate citizens into acting contrary to their faith convictions. Family business owners are constitutionally guaranteed the freedom to live and work according to their beliefs. It is this very freedom that gives America its cherished diversity and protects citizens from state-mandated conformity." more >>

An inmate is reportedly suing the Massachusetts Department of Corrections for denying him materials he claims are necessary for him to properly express his Wiccan faith.

Daniel LaPlante, who is currently serving a life sentence for the 1987 murder of a Townsend, Mass., mother and her two children, has requested 121 items that he claims will aid him in performing Wiccan rituals.

Among the most interesting of these items include carrot cake, a ritual oil called "Dragon's Blood," various colors of pens, hazelnuts, and Mugwort ritual tea. more >>

A struggling Christian school teaching creationism in South Carolina is receiving some unexpected financial help after an atheist website posted an exam from the school on the Internet. Aid has come from Answers in Genesis and concerned readers.

"It is unmistakable that our culture greatly needs well-equipped warriors for Christ. Even though the attack on the school was meant to be harmful, God has used it to provide affirmation regarding the importance of our work," Diana Baker, an administrator at the Blue Ridge Christian Academy in Landrum, S.C., said in a press release emailed to The Washington Post regarding the recent controversy over a quiz provided to the school's fourth grade class, which included questions relating to creationism.

"We are hopeful that the recent unexpected interest in our school and in Christian Education will provide support for a future for BRCA," Baker added. more >>

Rev. Refaat Fikri, head of the Media Center for the Evangelical Church in Egypt, said the problems facing Egyptian Christians have been going on since the 1970s and looks to continue as there is a lack of political will by the ruling regime to solve them.

This came in response to the initiative launched on Wednesday by the Building and Development Party, the political arm of Gamaat Islamiyya under the title "A Unified Nation."

It aims to "strengthen the national fabric and maintain strong relations among all Muslim and Christian communities of the Egyptian society." more >>