By Alberto Toscano at Eurozine (07.12.2006) :
The label "fanaticism" is increasingly attached to the perceived threat posed by religious fundamentalism. But rarely is the history of the term and the variety of its uses examined. Here, a philosophical history of "fanaticism" from Martin Luther to the present.
By Jan Philipp Reemtsma at Eurozine (02.12.2006) :
It is said that Western societies are entering an age of post-secularity, in which there is a need for a truth beyond that offered by conventional science. Fine, say liberals, simply take your pick from the many faiths on offer. But from religion's standpoint, the idea that "You can believe what you want" seems indifferent and mistaken. Respect between the religious and the non-religious is necessary if this tension is not to become intolerance. Though the basis for respect may be different – the religious person respects the non-religious person as a potential believer, the non-religious person respects the religious person as an individual with the freedom to decide what or what not to believe – the outcome is the same. Secular society takes pride precisely in its refusal to interfere with the beliefs of its members. In excluding Muslim teachers wearing headscarves from state schools, Reemtsma argues, secular society has forgotten this.
"Taking down the cross (and taking trips) part of an unlikely alliance with local pastors" by Delroy Alexander and Margaret Ramirez at Chicago Tribune (05.11.2006) | Video.
"Dispensationalist Christian Zionism and the Shaping of US Policy Towards Israel-Palestine" by Rammy M. Haija at ICH (n.d.) :
Abstract
This article investigates the history of contemporary Christian Zionism in the United States and the impact of this movement on US policy issues related to Israel-Palestine. Dispensationalist Christian Zionists, often described the 'Armageddon lobby', make up the largest voting bloc in the Republican Party and have become a mainstay in US politics. More recently, the Christian Zionist lobby has had a profoundly damaging impact on the Israeli-Palestinian 'peace process' as well as creating a conspiracy of silence regarding Israeli offensives in the occupied Palestinian territories. Though the 'Armageddon lobby' has been successful in its efforts as a pro-Israel lobby, its influence is in fact counterproductive to Israel because the lobby hinders the prospect of Israel living in peace because of their policy of deterring the progression of negotiations.
By The Council for the National Interest at ICH (27.10.2006) :
Christian Zionism, a belief that paradise for Christians can only be achieved once Jews are in control of the Holy Land, is gathering strength in the United States and forging alliances that are giving increasingly weird shape to American policy toward the Middle East. The nature of the movement and its detrimental impact on policy was the subject of the 22nd Capitol Hill public hearing presented by the Council for the National Interest yesterday.
A new Zogby International poll commissioned by the CNI Foundation shows that 31 percent of those surveyed in the national poll strongly believe or somewhat believe in the ideas behind Christian Zionism, defined as “the belief that Jews must have all of the promised land, including all of Jerusalem, to facilitate the second coming of the messiah.” Other polls bear similar messages, that 53% of Americans believe that Israel was given by God to the Jews (Pew), and that 59% of the American public believes the prophecies contained in the Book of Revelations will come true (CNN/Time.)
"Reading David Kuo's 'Tempting Faith' in 5 minutes..." by Evan Derkacz at Alter Net (19.10.2006).
By Wayne Madsen at Online Journal (17.10.2006) :
Based on Ban's Friday press conference, his answers about his views of religion appear quite "Moonie-like." For example, Ban would not even answer a pointed question from the Financial Times whether or not he believed in God. Ban, who states in his biography that he is a member of a "non-denominational Korean Christian" sect, had an answer one might expect from a Moonie.
Question: "Do you believe in God? And to what degree does God or that religious belief inform your decisions?"
Answer: "Now, as Secretary-General, it will not be appropriate at this time to talk about my own belief in any particular religion or God. So maybe we will have some other time to talk about personal matters. Thank you."
Ban was asked another question about his views of religion and politics. Again, his answer was vague.
Question: "Many people who believe that the Enlightenment in Europe brought about reason against superstition are worried about the rise again of religion, especially extremist religion and its involvement in politics. I wonder if you could give us your views about politics and religion in the age we live in."
Answer: "Now, we have all differences of religions and ideologies. It is, I think, very much desirable, therefore, to engage in dialogue. We need to have a deeper understanding and appreciation for culture and history and ideology of the other, different cultures and the other side. That is why the United Nations has been holding many conferences and special meetings among the different cultures and interfaith dialogue. And, as the Secretary-General, I'll try always to encourage that kind of dialogue among different cultures."
Shunning religious issues? Dubious... 
By Sarah Posner at Alter Net (13.10.2006) :
Tommy Tenney, a televangelist and author, likes to let his audiences in on a little secret about a new movie based on his novel, Hadassah, a fictionalized account of the Old Testament Book of Esther. Tenney equates the movie, "One Night With the King," with Jesus' parables. It advances an agenda that reveals a hidden truth, even if the audience is unaware of it. As Tenney writes on his website, "'One Night With the King' preaches the Gospel in a subtle and nonconfrontational way. I call it 'sneaky' preaching."
Celina R. De Leon interviews Frederick S. Lane at Alter Net (11.10.2006).
By Guy Rundle at Arena Magazine (June/July 2006). — Many have been caught unawares by the re-assertion of Christian fundamentalism. Guy Rundle looks at the rise of a religious form uniquely suited to contemporary cultural mores.
By Paul Krugman at The NY Times/Donkey O.D. (02.10.2006). — "It will be interesting, by the way, to see how Dr. Dobson, who declared of Bill Clinton that 'no man has ever done more to debase the presidency,' responds to the Foley scandal. Does the failure of Republican leaders to do anything about a sexual predator in their midst outrage him as much as a Democratic president's consensual affair?"
By Max Blumenthal at The Huffington Post (28.09.2006). A very good entry.
By Caryle Murphy at Washington Post (28.09.2006) :
A Roman Catholic archbishop dismissed from the Church on Tuesday for consecrating four married men as bishops said yesterday that he does not accept his excommunication and will work to have the Vatican lift its requirement that priests be celibate.
"We do not accept this excommunication and lovingly return it to His Holiness, our beloved Pope Benedict XVI, to . . . withdraw it and join us in recalling married priests to service once again," Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo said in a written statement read for him at a news conference at Imani Temple in Northeast Washington.
Milingo, 76, who was archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia, for 14 years, clashed with the Vatican once before, when he married a Korean acupuncturist in a 2001 mass ceremony presided over by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon.
By Shekhar Bhatia & Lucy Bannerman at The Times (16.09.2006) :
IT IS a tale of forbidden love that has delighted the Indian press. But a Muslim schoolgirl’s decision to flee from London to India to marry a Hindu man she met on the internet has not exactly pleased her parents.
Subia Gaur, 18, from Plaistow, East London, and Ashwani Gupta, 21, began chatting online three years ago. Such was her parents’ opposition to the romance that the teenager secretly caught a flight to Delhi and abandoned her strict religious upbringing to become a wife in Ghaziabad.
I love this story. 
By Matthew Tostevin (Reuters) at Washington Post (31.08.2006) :
The "Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism" was signed by Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, a Palestinian, and by bishops of the Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran and Syrian Orthodox Churches in Jerusalem.
Many Christian Zionists are evangelical Protestants, and the declaration is a sign of a growing struggle between the groups.
"The Christian Zionist programme provides a world view where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism," said the declaration, accusing Christian Zionists of hurting hopes for Middle East peace.
"We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war," the declaration added.
By Rob Lanham at AlterNet (01.09.2006). Excerpt from his new book, The Sinner's Guide to the Evangelical Right (NAL).
By Danièle Hervieu-Léger at Eurozine (17.08.2006).
By Thierry Meyssan at Voltaire Net (14.08.2006).
Also see "Christians United for Israel: New Christian Zionism Lobby Hopes to Rival AIPAC" at Democracy Now! (15.08.2006).
"Atheists make up 10% of the United States population. Atheists only make up 0.2% of the prison population."
Well, corrupt and vile fools in America are my friends. 
Yisrayl Hawkins' prophecy cited at Sabbah's Blog (17.08.2006). With video.
By Courtney E. Martin at AlterNet (08.08.2006). A lead :
An evening at the New Life Church gives the author a clue to how evangelical right-wing Christians are attracting 'Generation Me.' PLUS: A video interview with the author.
Is it very close to Soka Gakkai and Def Tech?
By J.A. Miller at Dissident Voice (03.08.2006). On Zionist "wet dreams."
Mr. Michael Standaert contributes an excellent article to The Huffington Post (24.07.2006), warning of the "Rapture" epidemic in US. I've found it by means of Euro Correspondent.
He then criticizes the Newsweek interview with Tim LaHaye (28.07.2006), at The Huffington Post (30.07.2006).
See "Rapture Lunatics Enraptured by Mideast Turmoil" at God Is For Suckers! (20.07.2006). The "Rapture" hazard.
By Sarah Posner at AlterNet (03.08.2006). A lead :
Some influential evangelical leaders are lobbying for an attack on Iran. But it's not about geopolitics -- it's about bringing about the End Times.
By Karen Armstrong at The Guardian (31.07.2006).
By Thierry Meyssan at Voltaire Net (21.06.2006). A lead :
George W. Bush à titre privé et la secrétaire d’État Condoleezza Rice à titre officiel ont participé à la Convention annuelle des baptistes du Sud. Ils ont expliqué à 18 000 « messagers de Dieu » comment ils gouvernent pour propager la Justice divine sur Terre dans l’imminence de la fin des Temps.
Michael Standaert's first critical work on Left Behind series is published by Soft Skull Press. It was in August 2005 when I ordered this book at Amazon.co.jp. Nearly ten months passed and now it arrived here. You can download a PDF file, which contains "Introduction" and "Chapter One."
His writing reminds me of Inuhiko Yomota. Do you?
"Soft Skull Not Going with Left Behind" by Steven Zaitchik at Publishers Weekly (02.05.2005).
しばらく見に行っていなかった反米嫌日戦線「狼」(14.04.2006)で、某カルト教団の４コマ漫画が紹介されている。なるほど、笑えませんねぇ……。
By Doug Soderstrom on Christian Fundamentalism at ICH (17.04.2006).
いいエッセーだね。どこで見つけたのかな。
By Michael Broek at 49th Parallel 2005 Issue.
資本と信仰のスペクタクル。バーコヴィッチ、イーグルトンを参照。この種の論文を、もっと拾い上げたいね。
By Michael Standaert at The Huffington Post (26.01.2006).
アメリカ福音主義のレトリックについて。この種の切り口が、好みですが。憲法との関係はどうなのかな？
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