Taking A GAMBLE

BY HEATHER HAHN

Since summer, anti-gambling activist Larry Page has been visiting evangelical churches across the state to share his simple message: Vote no on a state lottery. “A government is supposed to be a guardian of its weakest people,” Page told a gathering last month at Levy Baptist Church in North Little Rock. “But the lottery makes it an economic predator, and those are mutually exclusive roles.” Page said he supports efforts to fund more college scholarships for Arkansans, as the lottery aims to do, but “the cost is too high.” Page, a lawyer and a Southern Baptist, is the executive director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council, which lobbies the Legislature on local issues on behalf of Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, Missionary Baptist, Nazarene and Free Will Baptist congregations. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Animal welfare groups link faith, vegetarianism

BY CHRISTIE STORM

The Humane Society of the United States, long a champion of animal welfare, is appealing to people of faith through a new film, Eating Mercifully. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Communities of faith

Church to dedicate organ at services BELLA VISTA — The congregation of First United Methodist Church will dedicate a Casavant/Temple pipe organ during special services Oct. 19. The celebration will begin during traditional worship services at 8 and 10:45 a.m. Organist Roiselle Grim and organist emeritus Roger Hatlestad will perform musical selections and will be accompanied by the church’s combined choirs. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Meeting of Catholic order to begin Friday

BY HEATHER HAHN

A Catholic chivalric order that dates to the First Crusade nearly 1,000 years ago will hold a regional gathering in Little Rock next week. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Palin a challenge to Southern Baptists

BY MIKE BAKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RALEIGH, N.C. — Within the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, a woman may not lead a church or a home. But prominent Southern Baptists see nothing wrong with Sarah Palin serving as vice president — or perhaps even commander in chief someday. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Church trades room, board for worship

BY JENNIFER GARZA MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It’s dinner time in the small, two-bedroom apartment near Sacramento City College. One by one, five students gather around a well-used dining room table for a meal that begins with a prayer. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

ON RELIGION : Priest says Orthodox Church’s ‘ethnic club’ status fading

TERRY MATTINGLY

These were the sad, sobering conversations that priests have when no one else is listening. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

California city’s new mega temple started out small

BY GILLIAN FLACCUS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUENA PARK, Calif. — In a suburban landscape dotted with evangelical megachurches and auto malls, followers of an Indian religion thousands of years old spent days decorating marble idols and lighting incense to herald the opening of one of their faith’s largest temples. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Bible is just one of the items found on menu

— The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Leave your Bhagavad-Gita at home while traveling out of town? - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Calendar

— Christie Storm

WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES “Turning Weakness Into Strength Through God’s Power” will be the Rev. Thad Moore’s sermon topic during the 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. worship services Sunday at Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd. (479) 855-1126. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

Christians in India in fight for rights

BY VISHAL ARORA RELIGION NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI — Franklin Caesar Thomas was one of India’s millions of unlucky souls, born into a Dalit, or outcast, family that is the lowest of the low in the nation’s rigid caste system. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

BOOK REVIEWS

— Ellis Widner

The busy, time-pressed lives many of us lead can leave little time for reflection, especially when we could use a shot of inspiration or comfort. These slender volumes offer readings as short as a paragraph and can fit in a pocket, handbag or briefcase. The source of these titles is Buddhism and one from Hinduism, but all are universal in their focus on love, compassion, loving-kindness and wisdom. - Saturday, October 11, 2008

BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW

Hindus believe karma is an impartial principle of cause and effect under which actions in a past life may have an effect on one’s present situation. Similarly, deeds undertaken in the present life may have an effect on both short-term developments and on one’s later incarnation. Only those who escape the cycle of birth and death may be said to go beyond the reach of karma. — The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the World’s Religions - Saturday, October 11, 2008