Bible

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Sep 1 2011

Affirming the humanity of African Americans

The Pan African community is rich with a history of freedom-fighting and change-making, from Nat Turner’s insurrection to Marcus Garvey’s international Back to Africa Movement to the Civil Rights Movement. What many of these moments have in common is that they all encompassed a religious aspect that allowed their participants to connect spiritually to the struggle afoot.

Ginny Grimsley  |   OW Contributor
Aug 18 2011

Author says we shouldn’t let faith be shaken by hypocrisy

Hypocrisy season looks to be in full swing, but one expert says we shouldn’t let it get in the way of our own faith.

Between Weiner-Gate, John Edwards being indicted on charges he used campaign funds to cover up the affair that destroyed his political career and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich launching his presidential bid after admitting he cheated on his second wife, it seems as if there is no end to the breakout of hypocrisy that has infected the headlines recently.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Aug 11 2011

LDS enjoys recruitment gains in Africa

Some might say a Black Mormon is like a diet ice cream, an oxymoron. Although they don’t go door to door in California like Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is a growing Black Mormon presence throughout the country and abroad. 

Black people have a long, interesting history with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dating back to American slavery.

Jul 28 2011

New book discusses living with joy and purpose after 50

Paulette Meeks’ eyes light up as she tells of the preschool kids she teaches two days a week. This lively group of 3- and 4-year-olds delight in hearing about God’s love for them. They listen with rapt attention as this 71-year-old childless widow reads Bible stories to them. 

Sixty-five-year-old Marvin Powell hears similar joy in the voices of the Sunday School class of 50-to-93-year-old men and women who sing the Southern Gospel songs he strums on his guitar.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Jun 16 2011

In some traditions he is powerful but not perfect

Father’s Day is almost here and it is time that many around the nation pay homage to those whom we often forget played a part in the creation process.

In many religions, God is the epitome of the father. In fact, he is the first father, according to many traditions. But many religions present an interesting twist on the father.

John Miller, author of “Calling God ‘Father’” compares and contrasts the characteristics of the father in Christianity, Eastern and African traditions.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.