Green Pope, Streisand vs Ultr-Orthodox, 'Pagan' License Plates

June 18, 2013 Subscribe · Forward The Pope's Chance To Inspire By Environment Correspondent Alister Doyle OSLO, June 17 (Reuters) - Few religious communities have gone as far in fighting climate change as a church in Queensland, Australia, which has 24 solar panels bolted to the roof in the shape of a Christian cross. "It's very effective. It's inspired some members of our congregation to install panels on their homes," Reverend David Lowry said of the "solar cross" mounted in 2009 on the Caloundra Uniting Church, which groups three Protestant denominations. Many religions have been wary of moving to install renewable energy sources on their places of worship, from cathedrals to mosques - or of taking a strong stand on climate change in general - despite teachings that people should be custodians of nature. But slowly, that may be changing, thanks to new religious leaders including Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Francis's stress on environmental protection since he was elected in March and his choice of the name of a 13th century nature lover - Saint Francis of Assisi - may make a difference for all religions trying to work out how to safeguard the planet from threats including climate change.  Continue reading... From Kissing Elvis To Joining The Convent Streisand Slams Ultra-Orthodox Pastor's Suit Against 'Pagan' License Plates Moves Forward Holy Harleys! Pope Francis Blesses The Bikes WATCH: Buddhist Monks Behaving Badly Pastor: God Doesn't Care If You Smoke Weed Pastor: God Doesn't Care If You Smoke Weed Dalai Lama Makes Controversial Statement About Women WATCH: Buddhist Monks Behaving Badly Dalai Lama Makes Controversial Statement About Women Pastor: God Doesn't Care If You Smoke Weed ROY SPECKHARDT Don't Be Fruitful and Multiply The traditional religious emphasis on copious reproduction and common teachings against the use of contraception are having a direct impact on population growth, especially in countries that can't afford it. Continue reading... JOEL L. WATTS A Theologian's Review of Man of Steel Man of Steel delivers not just great action, fantastic special effects, warm and original dialogue, but the chance to explore our theology as told and re-told by the many who surround us in the cloud of witnesses or has holographic projections of our consciousness. Continue reading... MARIANNE T. DUDDY-BURKE Catholic Church Unfriendly to LGBT People? No, Living a Split Reality While Catholics in general are supportive of LGBT people, the church is still perceived as unwelcoming. This seems to indicate that the church is so identified with the positions assumed by its leadership that the reality among "rank-and-file" Catholics is rendered meaningless. Continue reading... SCOTT MANLEY Everything You Know About Your Freedom Is Wrong The Bhagavad Gita states, "The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature." We think we are free, but actually we are being forced to act. Continue reading... BRYAN BERGHOEF A Rabbi, a Priest and a Minister Walked Into a Bar... Pub Theology sessions create a space for people of faith or no faith to gather and learn from each other, while enjoying a good, (preferably local) craft brew. And as we sit down from someone of a different perspective or religious tradition what we often discover is that many of our stereotypes simply aren't true. Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here. Unsubscribe here. Huffington Post, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003