Religion

This filmmaker has decor to spare Regarding “Decorators shine in competition,” Dec. 17: This year, we were fortunate to have our home selected as one of the winners in the Burbank Civic Pride Committee’s Holiday Outdoor Decorating Contest. Peter Musurlian of Burbank Channel 6 called to say that he was doing a program on the winners and that he would like to interview us. We expected a television crew to show up. Musurlian was the crew. He was the camera operator, sound technician, lighting director and interviewer.

Atheists and agnostics, your prayers are answered with the release of ?Religulous,? a comedy disguised as a documentary and hosted by your spiritual leader, Bill Maher. This low-budget new release is offensive, insightful and controversial. It?s also the funniest movie I?ve ever seen on the polarizing subject of religion. Larry Charles, the director of ?Borat,? is back with a vengeance, and this time the high priest of comedy is making fun of Christians, Jews, Muslims and anybody else stupid enough to be interviewed by his guerrilla filmmaking crew as they go on a comedy pilgrimage across the globe visiting holy sites and sacred areas.

Ministers are being urged to stop faith schools in England selecting pupils and staff on the basis of their religion. Accord, a new coalition of secular and religious figures, wants the government to stop state-funded schools engaging in what they say is ?discrimination.? Does segregating students on religious grounds harm community cohesion, or do faith schools boost standards in deprived areas? ? Faith-based English schools represent a broad spectrum of the larger religions; they are supported by parental demand, and they often outperform ?

A n AP-MTV poll has found that after their relationship with parents and friends, 55% of youths say religion makes them happy. Does that number surprise you? Is this number at all reflected in your own congregations? ? I definitely believe that one who follows a life of spirituality will be happier, and I see this phenomenon within my congregation. A strong relationship with the Creator and a sense of shared fellowship and community with other believers can be a source of deep personal contentment.

Regarding ?Public School stage not the place for God,? Mailbag, Saturday: I could certainly understand citing the 1st Amendment in being critical of the presentations at John Burroughs High School ? if there was actually a connection or a point, but there isn?t, so I don?t. Before we wring our hands and whine while citing the separation of church and state, perhaps we might all revisit the history book and actually read the 1st Amendment: ?Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.