Top Religion Newsmakers, Game-Changers And Prophets Of 2013

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/31/top-religious-leaders-2013_n_4520539.html

Posted: 12/31/13 EST

Malala Yousafzai
By continually reminding everyone that her convictions around education and peace come from God and Islam, Malala proved again and again that her faith was stronger than the Taliban who attempted to kill her.



Pastors In Hoodies For Trayvon
Congregants across the country were led by their pastors who wore hoodies to services in a show of prophetic outrage in the case of Trayvon Martin.



Prabhjot Singh
This Columbia Professor was attacked near his home with shouts of 'Get Osama', yet his response to his attackers was full of the kind of grace that truly could change the world.



Anat Hoffman
Anat Hoffman has been seeking gender equality at the Kotel for over 25 years. This year the Women of the Wall saw some remarkable gains as the police, who had traditionally arrested them, began instead to protect them. But the fight is far from over.



more at link

[rug]

1. What an amazing range of humanity.

[struggle4progress]

2. Harlem hate crime victim Prabhjot Singh: I’m feeling gratitude

By Prabhjot Singh / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, September 24, 2013, 11:26 PM

... Yes, it is true that my assailants fractured my jaw and dislodged some of my teeth while shouting slurs at me. Yet, I understand that it could have been much worse. I am a resident physician in East Harlem, Manhattan, and I've seen the kind of damage people can inflict when inspired by hate. So I consider myself to be extremely fortunate.

People keep asking me if we're going to leave our neighborhood. My wife and I have no intention to move. We have loved spending the last few years in this vibrant and friendly area, and our experiences here have been largely positive. We love serving this community, and we have specifically structured our professional careers around helping our neighbors access health care. My wife just launched City Health Works, a nonprofit venture that helps cultivate health workers and improve the health of the Harlem community. I am also a doctor in this neighborhood and a professor at Columbia University, and my primary focus is to help provide health care for underserved communities.

Even more important to me than my attackers being caught is that they are taught. My tradition teaches me to value justice and accountability, and it also teaches me love, compassion and understanding. It's a tough situation. I care about the people in my local community. I want the streets to be safe for my young son, but at the same time, I am not comfortable with the idea of putting more young teenagers from my neighborhood on the fast track to incarceration. This incident, while unfortunate, can help initiate a local conversation to create greater understanding within the community ...

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hate-victim-prabhjot-singh-feeling-gratitude-article-1.1466721

I'm proud to live in the same country as Singh

[dimbear]

3. Ask yourself honestly, in a year where the news about religion was overwhelmingly negative and

violent, how it is possible that almost all the top stories are all feel-good. The biggest deal this year is bodies piled up, and sadly piled high. Reporting otherwise just isn't within the bounds of reality.

Does the soft pedal, the 'pass,' seem like fair play?

I make an exception for now slightly defrocked Frank Schaefer. He has been put on trail.

Hiking is fun. We have some hopes that trail ends in California.

[trotsky]

4. Well of course the stories are all feel-good.

Negative stories about religion are frowned upon.

And how interesting it was that nearly all of them were of individuals struggling AGAINST other religious believers or institutions.

[cbayer]

7. I don't agree with you that the news about religion was overwhelmingly negative

and strongly suspect that that POV is entirely due to you perspective.

Both good and bad stories about religion were posted in this very group throughout the year.

Perhaps it is you that just can't stand to see the good news.

[dimbear]

8. It depends on your analysis of what we're doing. Are we a fan club or are we

trying to be real?
I'm satisfied if we change the header to something like 'this year's inspirational stories' and leave the rest to the networks.

[cbayer]

9. Better question would be, are we a fan club or detractors?

Or are we able to see both sides of a complex issue and realize that there were both good and bad stories this year?


Just like every year.

[dimbear]

10. So true. There are two sides to be considered. If you see somewhere in this list the Boston

Marathon bombing, Syria in flames, Copts in disarray and rout, refugees in the tens of thousands, Arab Spring gone Winter, well then you are indeed better eyed than I am.

Of course it's lovely that Reza Aslan had his day on Fox. Was it so key? Really? Does it compare?

Maybe my radio is broken somehow. That's the kind of news I hear.

[cbayer]

11. Clearly this was a piece about the positive religious events and people.

I don't think it implies that all is good.

But when you have inspirational people like these who are fighting back against some of the horrors that religion can inflict, I think it is cause for recognition and applause, not an opportunity to try to score points about how "overwhelming" bad religion is.

[trotsky]

12. Please, cbayer, stop with the stupid "scoring points" nonsense.

You're the only one who talks about it. Why, by making your OP, aren't you just trying to "score points" for positive religious items? Kinda swings both ways, doesn't it?

Continuing to use such language is a lame attempt to dismiss viewpoints you don't like by questioning the motives of the individuals bringing them up. Honest debate and discussion should look at the various aspects of a topic, don't you think?

Or would you rather silence opposing viewpoints? Is that your goal in this group? Remember - you had a special group created where your agenda would reign supreme, no criticism of religion allowed. It failed miserably. DUers rejected your mission, so don't keep trying in this group. Please let others offer their opinions. Stop trying to silence them with your attacks.

[goldent]

5. Some great stories, some I hadn't heard about

Thanks for posting.

[okasha]

6. Great list.

n/t