By Dan Merica, CNN

Follow @DanMericaCNN

Washington (CNN) – Half of young Christians have bucked the opinion of their older brethren and said they favor legalizing marijuana for recreational use, according to a recent poll.

Thirty-two percent of Christian’s aged 18-29 said they “strongly favor” legalization, while 18% said they “favor” the move, according to a Public Religion Research Institute survey released Thursday. Among Christian’s 65 and older, only 9% said they strongly favor legalization and 47% say they strongly oppose it.

Though the younger generations favor legalization, all Christians still lean toward keeping the drug illegal. While 39% of Christians say they favor or strongly favor legalization, 54% say they support keeping the drug illegal, according to the poll.

According to the poll, 45% of young Christians have “tried marijuana,” compared to 13% of Christian seniors who say they have.

“Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans who report they have ever tried marijuana support legalizing marijuana,” the report says. “While an identical number (65%) of Americans who report that they have not tried marijuana oppose its legalization.”

“Marijuana legalization connects to a broader generational story that we are seeing in religious culture,” said Robert P. Jones, CEO of the polling firm. “The younger, religious Americans are taking a lot of their cues from their generational cohorts. To be sure, they are colored by their religious affiliation.”

Jones continued: “The generational sea change on this issue is also shifting the ground inside churches.”

Marijuana, while a longtime political question, was thrust to the forefront of debate in 2012, when two states – Washington and Colorado – legalized use of the drug for recreational use. That same year, Oregon voted to keep marijuana illegal.

In Washington, legalization was a way to raise tax revenue. The Washington referendum called for a 25% tax rate imposed on the product three times: when the grower sells it to the processor, when the processor sells it to the retailer, and when the retailer sells it to the customer.

Marijuana use, according to the poll, is not seen as a sin by a majority of Americans.

Seventy percent of Americans said that recreational use of marijuana is not a sin, compared to 23% who said they believe using the drug is sinning. While most religious groups follow this trend, according to the poll, white evangelical Protestants are the most divided group, with 40% indicating using marijuana is a sin and 48% saying it is not.

These results have led poll organizers to believe marijuana use will continue to gain more acceptance in the coming years.

“Much like same sex marriage, what we are seeing here is generational replacement,” Jones said. “As more young Christians come to adulthood, they bring with them different experience and views.”

After electoral victories in November, the good news for those in favor of marijuana legalization keeps on coming. In early April, the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press released a poll that found 52% of Americans favored legalization, compared to 45% who favored keeping marijuana illegal.

This was the first time in the history of the Pew poll that legalization has been in the majority.

The PRRI poll results are based on telephone conversations with a random sample of 1,000 adults. The conversations took place between April 17 and April 21.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/25/survey-young-christians-want-marijuana-legalized/

CNN Belief Blog Dan Merica johalputt

09:28

By Dan Merica, CNN

Follow @DanMericaCNN

(CNN) – George Beverly Shea, a noted gospel singer and close confidant to evangelical leader Billy Graham, died Tuesday evening after suffering a stroke on Monday, according to the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. He was 104.

In honoring Shea’s death, the evangelical organization noted that the singer had “carried the Gospel in song to every continent and every state in the Union.”

“I first met Bev Shea while in Chicago when he was on Moody Radio,” Graham said in a statement. “As a young man starting my ministry, I asked Bev if he would join me. He said yes and for over 60 years we had the privilege of ministering together across the country and around the world.

He continued, “Bev was one of the most humble, gracious men I have ever known and one of my closest friends. I loved him as a brother.”

Reaction to Shea’s death lit up Twitter, with fans across the country remembering “a remarkable man” who led a life of “great significance.”

R.I.P. George Beverly Shea:) So thankful to have had the opportunity to meet him at the Gaither Tent Revival taping. lockerz.com/s/289732187—

Karen Peck Gooch (@karenpeckgooch) April 17, 2013

A pioneering worshipping warrior has stepped into the next dimension. R.I.P. George Beverly Shea. Darling man we loved… 104 yrs young #fb—

Reba Rambo-McGuire (@RebaRamboMcGuir) April 17, 2013

George Beverly Shea is with the King now. What a God used man. Met him 29 years ago at a crusade…—

David Burton (@DavidBurtonEv) April 17, 2013

Shea recorded more than 70 sacred music albums, according to the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. The work earned him a Grammy in 1965 — for his “Southland Favorites” album — and nine other nominations from the prestigious organization.

Additionally, the Grammy organization honored Shea with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

“Even though Bev was 10 years older than my father, he never acted his age,” Graham said. “He was absolute fun to be with. Bev was one of the most gracious and unassuming men I have known. He was always encouraging and supportive, a man of deep faith and strong commitment to Jesus Christ.”

Shea, born in Winchester, Ontario, on February 1, 1909, was the son of a Methodist minister. His father taught him the violin, and his mother taught him the piano and organ. He started singing in the choir of his father’s church.

Shea is survived by his wife, Karlene, and two children from his first marriage, Ronald and Elaine, according to the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/17/gospel-singer-graham-confidant-george-beverly-shea-dies-at-104/

CNN Belief Blog Dan Merica johalputt

08:58

(CNN)–A mother who was with her husband and five children in St. Peter's Square for the holiday helped lift her young son with cerebral palsy, Dominic, into the arms of Pope Francis for a blessing after Easter Mass. Christiana Gondreau describes the touching moment to CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"There was not a dry eye around us. It was really, really moving," she says. "Not in a million years, really, did I expect to end the Easter Sunday Mass with a kiss from the pope. It was very beautiful."

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/02/pope-embraces-disabled-boy-on-easter/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:43

By Kat Kinsman and Steve Kastenbaum, CNN

(CNN)–Plenty of traditional foods pack an emotional whallop, but few of them back it up with a sensory punch as strong as horseradish’s. The pungent root is a key part of a Passover Seder plate (along with salt water-dipped vegetables, a shank bone, a hard boiled egg, a sweet paste of apples and nuts called charoset, and a bitter vegetable – often lettuce) and symbolizes the harsh lives of the Israelites before they were delivered from slavery in Egypt.

Growing horseradish is a tradition for the Schmitt family. Phillip Schmitt’s grandfather moved the family’s farming operation from New York’s borough of Queens to the Eastern end of Long Island in 1929, under protest from his own father who couldn’t believe that anyone would want to set up shop in that then-desolate region. Schmitt Family Farm found a permanent home in Riverhead, New York in the 1970s, and now Phillip and his son Matt grow 164 acres of greens (mostly spinach, collards and kale), herbs, beets and flowers – and a single acre of horseradish.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/25/passover-horseradish-rooted-in-tradition/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:28

Editor’s note: Marc D. Stern is the general counsel of the American Jewish Committee and a contributor to the book, “Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty.”

By Marc D. Stern, Special to CNN

(CNN) – It was inevitable that the debate over same-sex marriage would have a strong religious component. This is partly because it involves such questions as the interpretation of biblical passages that, on their face, condemn homosexuality as a sin. But it also involves squaring the authority of ancient texts with modern theological understanding and developments in biology. And of course, the importance of love and human autonomy as religious values should be considered.

Those issues surfaced in the various briefs filed in the Supreme Court, some of which are written as if the court must inevitably choose one religious point of view as the winner and the other as the loser. This is a false choice. The Court can make all winners, or at least avoid allowing one side to suppress the other’s deepest beliefs.

The U.S. Supreme Court has not been asked — nor could it possibly answer — the question of what God or the Bible thinks about same-sex marriage. Religious groups are divided on that question, some supporting and others opposing same-sex marriage. And even if the religious viewpoint were clear, it should play no direct role in deciding whether the Constitution requires the states or the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage. Our government should not act to further one or another religious view of contested moral issues.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/25/my-take-will-gay-rights-infringe-on-religious-liberty/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:13

By Laura Smith-Spark, Ben Wedeman and Hada Messia, CNN

Castel Gandolfo (CNN)–Pope Francis is having lunch Saturday with his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in what may be an encounter unprecedented in Church history.

Since a new pope usually takes the reins only following the death of his predecessor, this is a rare occurrence.

Francis, who was inaugurated as the new head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics on Tuesday, has made some changes since taking the helm — most notably by adopting a simpler, personal style and calling for the Church to focus on serving the poor and needy.

The new pontiff was flown to Castel Gandolfo by helicopter for the lunch date.

Read the full story here

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/23/new-pope-old-pope-meet-for-lunch/

CNN Belief Blog Eric Marrapodi johalputt

07:13

By Kat Kinsman, CNN

(CNN)–All over the world, people gather to celebrate Passover – the holiday that commemorates the Jewish people's escape from slavery in Egypt. For seven or eight days (depending on where you live), families and friends come together for festive seder meals packed with ritual foods and a few dietary restrictions (for instance, no leavened grains).

And while many traditions remain the same the world over, favorite regional recipes can bring communities closer together. Here, families from Israel, Estonia and India share a few of their favorites, courtesy of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, to make your celebration a little larger in spirit.

Read the full story on CNN's Eatocracy

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/22/a-taste-of-passover-recipes-from-around-the-globe/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:43

(CNN)–CNN's Ben Wedeman looks at how the personable character of Pope Francis is energizing Catholics around the world.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/18/pope-francis-energizes-worlds-catholics/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:51

(CNN)–Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, shares details on the papal conclave with CNN's Chris Cuomo.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/14/dolan-conclave-not-all-fun-and-games/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:13

By Ashley Killough, CNN

Follow @KilloughCNN

(CNN) - As cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new pope, President Barack Obama said he believes U.S. politics wouldn't stand in the way of an American pope doing his job.

"It seems to me that an American pope would preside just as effectively as a Polish pope or an Italian pope or a Guatemalan pope," the president said in an interview that aired Wednesday morning on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Since Benedict XVI resigned at the end of last month, some American names have circulated in media reports as possible contenders for the papacy, including U.S. cardinals Sean O'Malley of Boston and Timothy Dolan of New York.

Critics argue an American pope would be controversial, saying the Vatican would then be too closely tied to Washington.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/13/obama-an-american-pope-would-preside-just-as-effectively/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:29

From Nasir Habib, CNN

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) - Outraged Pakistani Christians took to the streets of Lahore on Sunday, protesting a rash of violence against their community over the weekend.

Demonstrators denounced the burning of more than 100 homes of Christians on Saturday - a spree spurred by allegations that a Christian man made remarks against the Muslim prophet Mohammed.

Some of the hundreds of protesters Sunday threw stones at police, saying the government failed to adequately protect Christians, Lahore senior police official Rai Tahir said.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/10/christian-protesters-decry-muslim-mobs-arson-spree-following-blasphemy-charge/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

07:58

By Laura Smith-Spark and Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN

Rome (CNN) — In front of rapt crowds, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of moments of joy and struggle Wednesday during his final public address from a stage set up in St. Peter’s Square.

Dressed all in white and looking serene, the pope used his last general audience to call for a renewal of faith and speak of his own spiritual journey through eight years as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.

As he finished, cheers erupted from the tens of thousands gathered in the square — acknowledged by Benedict with an open-armed embrace.

As well as calling for a renewal of faith, he discussed his experience as pontiff and his almost unprecedented decision to resign the role starting Thursday.

Benedict recounted how when he was asked to be pope eight years ago, he had prayed for God’s guidance.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/27/thousands-flock-to-bid-farewell-at-benedicts-final-papal-audience/

CNN Belief Blog johalputt The Editors

05:13

By the CNN Wires staff

(CNN) – Pope Benedict XVI will keep the title "his holiness" once he retires and will be called "pontiff emeritus," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters at the Vatican on Tuesday.

Benedict surprised the world when he announced this month that he would retire effective this Thursday.

The Roman Catholic Church's cardinals will meet at the Vatican to elect a successor. The election is expected to start in March, though the exact date isn't yet known.

Read the full story here

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/26/vatican-reveals-pope-benedicts-new-title/

CNN Belief Blog Eric Marrapodi johalputt

04:58

By Ben Brumfield and Ben Wedeman, CNN

Vatican City (CNN) - Pope Benedict XVI delivered his final public prayer ceremony Sunday to a crowd of thousands at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

And he explained his decision to step down.

“Thank you for your affection,” the pope told the crowd as he appeared at the window of his apartment overlooking the square.

As is customary, he opened the weekly Angelus prayer with a short sermon.

Benedict spoke on the Transfiguration of Christ, one of the key moments in Jesus’ life on Earth, when, according to the church, he took three disciples to pray on a mountain. During his prayers, Jesus was miraculously changed and filled with light.

The crowd interrupted Benedict with rousing applause, as he told them that God wanted him to do the same.

Read the full story here

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/24/pope-benedict-leads-his-last-angelus/

CNN Belief Blog Eric Marrapodi johalputt

05:13

The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI will tender his resignation on February 28.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/11/pope-cites-advanced-age-in-resignation/

A. Hawkins CNN Belief Blog johalputt

04:28

The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI will tender his resignation on Thursday, February 28, 2013.

via CNN Belief Blog http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/11/pope-benedict-to-resign-at-the-end-of-the-month-vatican-says-2/

A. Hawkins CNN Belief Blog johalputt

04:28