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Religion News

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Published: January 2, 2008

Global team

The United Nations is seeking partnerships with the faith community to spearhead the drive against global warming.

The U.N. recently linked with the Bath, U.K.-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation, pouring funding and attention into the alliance's campaign to use faith groups as a vessel for tackling environmental problems.

Members of the Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Daoist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Shinto, Sikh and Zoroastrian faiths will launch a seven-year climate-change plan starting in 2009.

Indian Sikhs, for example, plan to cut down on fossil fuel use by cooking with solar power and other fuel-efficient equipment in their gurdwaras, or temples. Japanese Shinto shrines will follow sustainable forestry standards during their ritual rebuilding every 20 to 25 years.

About 50 countries are already involved in the effort with the alliance. The U.N. support will give the project a "massive surge forward,” said Martin Palmer, the alliance's secretary general.

Faith groups are a natural steward for environmental conservation, Palmer said. "If you're looking to the long-term future, they are the strongest and most stable unit anywhere in the world,” he said.

Storm survivor

•"Winds of Hope: Healing Devotions for Life's Storms” by Rebecca Hughes (New Hope Publishers, $10.99).

This past year, many people experienced hardships such as the California wildfires, the devastating earthquake in Peru, flooding in Texas and terrorist attacks throughout the world.

Hurricane Katrina survivor Hughes offers a book full of Scriptures and personal stories.

"Winds of Hope” includes 60 topical biblical devotionals of encouragement for victims of trauma or disaster who must deal with a wide range of feelings and emotions.

January Christmas

Thought Christmas was over? Think again.

While many Christians celebrated the holiday Dec. 25, many Orthodox Christians are accustomed to celebrating Jesus' birth 13 days later.

Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar will celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7, much the same way other Christians commemorated the occasion in December — with bedecked Christmas trees, gift exchanges and special Christmas worship services.

From Staff and Wire Reports