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Division over Christianity & capitalism A


recent poll found that more Amer- icans (44 percent) see the free market system at odds with Christian values than those who don’t (36 per- cent), whether they are white evan- gelicals, mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics or minority Christians. But in other demographic break-


downs, several categories lean the other way: Republicans and Tea Party members, college graduates and members of high-income households view the systems as more compatible than not. The poll, conducted by the Public


Religion Research Institute in part- nership with Religion News Service, found that although conservative Christians and evangelicals tend to want their clergy to speak out on issues like abortion and homosexuality, they also tend to hold left-of-center views on some economic issues.


The poll found stronger religious distinctions over the question of businesses acting ethically without government regulation, and whether faith leaders should speak out about economic concerns such as the budget deficit and the minimum wage. Most Americans (61 percent) dis- agree that businesses would act ethi- cally without government regulation. White evangelicals (44 percent) are more likely than Roman Catholics (36 percent), white mainline (33 percent)


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military area on the West Bank near Jericho, to remove land mines the country placed there in the 1970s to deter Jordanian incursions. Future improvements include more shaded areas, a larger parking lot and acces- sibility to the river for those with disabilities.


10 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


or minority Christians (34 percent) to say unregulated businesses would act ethically.


White evangelicals also place a higher priority on religious leaders speaking out about social issues over economic concerns.


Minority Christians, in contrast, believe clergy should be vocal about both areas—particularly on the eco- nomic issue of home foreclosures, which 76 percent considered impor- tant, compared to 46 percent of the general population. In other findings:


• Half of women believe capitalism and Christian values are at odds, com- pared to 37 percent of men. • A majority (53 percent) of Demo- crats believe capitalism and Christian values are at odds, compared to 37 percent of Republicans and 41 per- cent of independents. • Nearly half (46 percent) of Ameri- cans with household incomes of $100,000 a year or more believe capi- talism is consistent with Christian values, compared to just 23 percent of those with household incomes of $30,000 a year or less. The poll was based on telephone interviews of 1,010 U.S. adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.


Religion News Service


is called “Lazarus at the Gate,” which challenges families to talk about money’s ties to morality and how they can spend their funds in better ways for greater impact in the world. Par- ticipants share household budgets, which they place in the larger context of moral responsibility. The ecumeni- cal Boston Faith and Justice Network shares the curriculum upon request.


Ali pleads hikers’ case


Famed boxing icon Muhammad Ali joined a group of Muslim Americans who are asking for the release of two American hikers. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, who trekked into Iran, have been imprisoned in the country for almost two years, charged with espionage. Ali’s wife, Lonnie, said Iranians are good people who love Ali. “And it is based on that compas- sion—the love of Allah, the love of (the Prophet) Muhammad—that we ask for their release,” she said.


Bell tolls for steeples


Money taboos Nothing makes people squirm in the pew more than the topic of money. Yet more and more, churches are raising the issue of household bud- gets, especially as families cope with unemployment, underemployment and continuing layoffs in a tough economy. A curriculum gaining steam


Nationwide, steeples are taking a beat- ing, and the bell tolls for bell towers, too, as these landmarks of faith are hit by economic, social and religious change. Steeples are weather-struck and maintenance-deprived. Architects and church planners say today’s new congregations meet in modern build- ings designed to appeal to contem- porary believers. And steeples may have outlived their time as signposts. People hunting for a church don’t scan the horizon—they search the Internet. A Baptist church in the Washington, D.C., suburbs got an aluminum steeple and $25,000 annually by allowing a cell tower to masquerade as its steeple.


Times they are a-changin’


Music icon Bob Dylan appears to have overcome his fans’ disdain at his well-known mystifying behavior on religion, a professor said. Dylan suf- fered greater fan outrage from his ini-


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