Religion and Faith

Friday, November 20, 2009

Rural Route Pastor Pops the Monogamy Question

04/13/2008

Today the Yonder proudly adds to our blogroll Rural Route Church. Baptist pastor "Waddey" from western Tennessee steps out of the pulpit to talk about his community and touch on matters (usually) more time-bound than eternal.

We were hooked after reading his "More Questions for the Presidential Candidates":

1. Do you believe that "gun control" involves legislation, or simply using two hands?
2. Bagels or biscuits?
3. Jam or jelly?
4. Time out or paddle?
5. Vegetarian or carnivore?
6 . What is the key distinctive characteristic of the 1979 Ford F 150?
7. Who sang "He Stopped Loving Her Today"?
8. Do you look forward to that glorious day when the first tomato comes off the vine?
9. Do you crumble your cornbread into your pinto beans, or do you just use it to soak up the bean juice and then eat it? Both are acceptable. . . I just need to know.
10. Do you believe that monogamy is a type of wood?

Arts and Culture | Politics and Government | Religion and Faith

Rural and Urban: What We Watch and What We Believe

04/08/2008

There really are differences between what rural and urban residents watch on television and believe about the country.

Arts and Culture | Cool Places | People to Know | Religion and Faith

Easter Nests: Lure for a Texas-German Spring

03/22/2008

As Texas springs into bloom, a DeWitt County family reunites and savors a custom from the Old Country.

Religion and Faith

States and Religion: The Dakotas are Mainline and Oklahoma is Evangelical

02/26/2008

A new survey finds incredible variety in the religious make-up of the states. When it comes to faith, few places are average.

Food | Religion and Faith

Rosca de Reyes: A Delicious Tradition

01/06/2008

In México, and much of South Texas, the arrival of the Three Wise Men is celebrated with a pastry present.

Religion and Faith

'Largely rural' California Diocese Secedes From Episcopal Church

12/09/2007

What the Los Angeles Times described as a "largely rural" diocese in Central California became the first to secede from the Episcopal Church. Delegates to the San Joaquin Diocese annual convention voted 173 to 22 Saturday (above) to withdraw from the U.S. church.

The San Joaquin Diocese runs from just below Sacramento south to Bakersfield, so it includes several metro areas, including Fresno. The region is agricultural and staunchly Republican in presidential voting.

The San Joaquin Diocese does not ordain women. The Bishop of the diocese contends that homosexuality is contrary to the Bible's teaching. These are two issues that led to the break with the U.S. church, which has a woman as Presiding Bishop and a gay bishop in New Hampshire. The diocese aligned itself with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of South America.

Religion and Faith

A Rural Synagogue's Last Caretakers

12/06/2007

There once were 45 families worshipping at the B'Nai Abraham Synagogue in Brenham, Texas. Now there's one. The synagogue was built in 1893 and for years held three services daily. But in a story common to many small Texas towns — the synagogue in Corsicana is now a community center — Brenham's Jews moved off to Houston or Dallas and now there are no regular services and only Leon Toubin (above) and his wife are left to care for the beautiful building.

Corrie MacLaggan of the Austin (TX) American-Statesman tells the wonderful and sad story of one of the state's oldest synagogues. It's amazing to see how, in a lifetime, the faith and structure of rural communities have changed. Brenham was built, in part, by the Jewish merchants who sold shows and clothes. Toubin's great-uncle repaired umbrellas (a dubious occupation in often drought-plagued Texas). Now they are gone, although the building and the Toubins remain.

It's a story worth reading .

Arts and Culture | Religion and Faith

Celebrating Freedom -- Remembering the 1680 Tesuque Pueblo Revolt

09/03/2007

The Indian July 4th is August 10th, when, in 1680 Pueblo warriors drove the Spanish out of New Mexico. One of the most successful Indian revolts in North America is celebrated each year in the Teseque Pueblo.