Thursday Religious (New Luthern denomination, Ted startup launch, free 'Origin,' Atheist billboard uproar ...

• Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal) organizing a new denomination (maybe): According to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Journal Sentinel, "a national Lutheran group angered by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's August vote to allow gay clergy said Wednesday that it is developing a proposal for a new denomination for congregations and individuals interested in leaving the ELCA."

  CORE members voted to begin discussing with congregations whether to move toward schism or work from within the church. It will vote on the breakaway proposal at its convocation Aug. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. Lutheran CORE would remain a free-standing synod serving congregations inside and outside the ELCA under a separate recommendation also being drafted, the organization said. Wisconsin CORE members will meet Nov. 28 in Lebanon (WI.).

  Shifting public attitudes may have some impact, we suspect.
  
• Sick ?: Christian ? Or as former evangelist Frank Schaeffer warns, trawling for assassins?
• Ted Haggard startup successfully launched: Having had 150 people show up rather than the 10 or 20 he said he expected, Haggard "will continue to host prayer meetings every Thursday night in his home" and/or his barn Yes, as we predicted, "He's back."
• 'Origin of Species' giveaway: The Pittsburg Post-Gazette reports that at 100 campuses nationwide the 150th anniversary "Origin of the Species" came with addendum:

  The books included a 50-page introductory section by religious author Ray Comfort that argues against evolution. In total, Mr. Comfort -- who hosts "The Way of the Master" television show with actor Kirk Cameron -- gave away 170,000 copies of the books at universities.
  

• Northern Irish uproar over atheist billboard: The Belfast Telegraph writes:

  The British Humanist Association (BHA) yesterday unveiled a billboard with the slogan “Please Don't Label Me. Let Me Grow Up And Choose For Myself” on one Belfast’s busiest routes.
  . . .
  However, religious leaders across Northern Ireland have hit out at the BHA, accusing the organisation of arrogance and hypocrisy.

  BBC reports that it's part of a broad campaign:

  The posters are part of a campaign to challenge state-funded faith schools. ... Professor Richard Dawkins, who has part-funded the BHA campaign in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, says labeling children as "religious" is a form of brainwashing.

  Remember the Holy Moly! Atheist Bus?
  
• Scriptural gamester's Christmas: An XBox 360 Bible for the children's stockings? Your nominees?
• Palin's parables: Going Rogue may not be quite as much a work of fiction as Left Behind, but Dan Gilgoff seems to think they're aimed at the same general audience. Doesn't he?
• Our Bulwer-Lytton religious journalism nominee: 'Twas a dark and stormy editorial:
  

  Despite the appearance of diversity, the interviewees were glaringly homogeneous in their religious pluralism. As a result, a significant portion of religious adherents, namely, those believing in some sort of exclusive religious claims, were cut-off from the conversation. A more fruitful discussion would have included religious practitioners that do not presuppose that there are a number of valid paths (Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, etc.) to the divine.

• 'Did they mean that?' Headline nominee of (a recent) day: Teams report movement from Native American revivals : People running away? Rejoicing? Falling asleep? What?