North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman is again making waves as Congress’ only proclaimed “humanist.” During an interview on the Freedom from Religion Foundation’s Freethought Matters program, Huffman, a lawyer by trade, said he believes requiring Congressional witnesses to pledge an oath to God is unconstitutional. “It’s unconstitutional to require a witness in congressional testimony to […]
Religion
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Iftar: Breaking the Ramadan Fast
The holy month of Ramadan is supposed to be hot. The word itself comes from the root Arabic term for intense heat, which is what you’d be feeling in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar if you were in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan or Syria. All the better to burn away one’s sins, […]
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Eureka Will Cease Prayer Breakfasts, Pay For Lawsuit
Eureka will discontinue prayer breakfasts as part of a settlement stemming from a 2013 lawsuit seeking the separation of church and local government. The Times-Standard reports that, in addition to no longer sponsoring or endorsing the prayer breakfasts (which Mayor Frank Jager conducted specifically in his capacity as mayor), the city will pay $16,500 to […]
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Prayer OK-er
A lawsuit intending to stop invocations at city of Eureka functions was denied last week after nearly a year in court. Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Bruce Watson ruled — on Christmas Eve, no less — that invocations at council meetings do not violate the California Constitution, according to a press release issued by the […]
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Tough on Prayer?
The U.S. Supreme Court has resolved just how much prayer is OK at government meetings, but California’s law is a fresh and different battleground, according to a lawyer suing Eureka over city-backed religiosity. So yes, the U.S. president can have a prayer breakfast if he wants, but mayor Frank Jager? Well, attorney Peter Martin said […]
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Dia de la Virgen
Today, December 12 (12/12/12!), is the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, celebrating the day on which Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in 1531 on Tepeyac hill (just north of Mexico City) to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoazin. Although it’s not an official holiday in Mexico, it’s a special day for Catholics (who comprise 83% of the […]
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The Light on the Bluff
The young man stands at the edge of Table Bluff, gazing west into one of the greatest of romances: Rumpled ocean kissing moody sky, wind-embraced, fog-enswirled, sun–glinted. His head, too, is aswirl, with passionate thought. Beside him is a giant cross. Behind, beyond the path he has just wandered, are decrepit white-washed buildings, a […]
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VIDEO: The Mormon Moment
In this week’s cover story, Journal superstar intern Scottie Lee Meyers follows a pair of Mormon missionaries through their strictly regimented daily rituals and goes door-to-door with them on their tireless quest for converts. Look for the story on newstands today and online tomorrow. And in the meantime, check out the companion video below.
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Guest Post: On the Implications of Evangelical Prayer at the Eureka Wal-Mart Opening Ceremonies
The following was submitted by friend o’ the Journal Austin Roberts in response to last week’s blog post about the juicy itinerary for the Eureka Wal-Mart’s impending opening ceremonies. Roberts has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Humboldt State University and a master’s in philosophy of religion from Claremont School of Theology. He is […]
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Jesus Christ, Chester Cheetah Invited to Wal-Mart Opening Ceremony Mega-Party Extravaganza Festivities
Holy crap! Wal-Mart may have been coy about moving into the Bayshore Mall, but its grand opening is gonna be off the chain! Get ready for a week-long explosion of orgiastic consumer pageantry the likes of which Eureka has never seen. According to an apparently genuine invitation sent to the Journal and other local media outlets, the festivities […]
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To Journal Crossword Lovers In Crisis…
… the pain can stop now. 7/7 NCJ Crossword Supplement!: Down 60. College QB, often 61. One of a trio on “Seinfeld” 62. Checked out 64. Flow out 65. Sign of summer 66. Raggedy ____ The Journal regrets the error.
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You Write Seven-O-Heaven
In case the attention lavished on local authors in this week’s NCJ Book Issue has you feeling a bit jealous, we at the Journal wanted to give you, the readers, the opportunity to do some brief writing of your own. Like, really brief. This week’s cover features Seven-O-Heaven star Will Startare delving into local author […]