Ban on circumcision in SF contemplated

Click on this link to read a CNN piece (4-28-11) about a movement to legally ban male circumcision in San Francisco.  Advocates of the ban regard the practice as "male genital mutilation" while others believe it has religious importance and/or health benefits.

Manifested Glory Ministries performs Exorcism to Rid 16 year old of Homosexuality

Andrew sent over this link that he thought should be shared on the blog. This reminds me of the video I posted concerning the Pentecostal church and the way they react during services... but this definitely has no humorous undertones. Sure it seems silly that people dance crazily and mutter nonsensically while being "undertaken by the Holy Spirit", but this incident disturbs me on many levels. Firstly, this religious group is considering homosexuality to be something caused by possession of a demon. This notion ties in directly with what we have been discussing in class the past week or so. Secondly, a religious leader conducts an exorcism to "rid" this boy of his homosexuality "demon" involving over 20 minutes of this young boy writhing on the ground having seizures, even vomiting. How does everyone feel about this? Homosexuality is a topic that raises very controversial debates, but when included with religious exorcism it becomes the mother load of dangerous ideas.


Thanks Andrew for the heads up!

WARNING: The link posted will take you to an article about this incident, with a video interview of the religious leader on Tyra Banks as well as a youtube video of the actual service. The video of the exorcism is very disturbing and hard to watch, so please take this into consideration if you feel you would be upset in watching it. I could not even watch it all myself.

Modern Day Prophet Speaks

This link is to a contemporary Christian "prophet" named John Paul Jackson. In this video, he describes "the coming perfect storm" that he predicts will hit America soon (or maybe it has already begun to do so). This is information he claims he received directly from God. What do you think?