This article is a good example of how ham-handedly the secular press treats religious folks and religious issues.

First of all, Mr. Beam would be wise to learn the difference between a 'sect' and a 'denomination'. Seriously, there's a body of sociological and scholarly religious studies literature about the distinction. Jehovah's Witnesses are a sect. Mormons are a sect. Southern Baptists, Episcopalians, United Methodists, and the Disciples are all members of denominations.

Moreover 'sect' is pejorative.

Gene Robinson was certainly not the 'first openly gay pastor' in the Episcopal Church. There were and are many openly gay Episcopal priests. He is, instead, the first openly gay bishop of the Episcopal Church.

"Robinson teaches the standard Episcopalian gospel, save the obvious caveats about homosexuality."

I am a student at an Episcopal seminary, and I don't know what the phrase 'standard Episcopal gospel' means. I would love to find out.

Dear MSM, can we please, please, please have some reporters reporting about religion who know what they're talking about???

That would require finding a reporter who does know what they're talking about. Good luck with that.

We expect those who write about science to have at least some amount of scientific competency. The same with politics. And sports. Why is it, then, secular journalism about religion is predictably malinformed, or at worst, ignorant?

Your namesake would roll over in his grave knowing you are running with the wearers of pink panties.

The standard Episcopalian Gospel is spelled out quite clearly. For you to be in seminary and not know it is no credit to your scholarship. If memory serves it is not different from the basic, early Creeds.

Dd

...sect...denomination...all religions are cults...

I know that 'sect' is a perjorative term. But the 'sects' you mention are not sects to me. Mormons have a religion. Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists have a religion. I respect them all.

the religion is christianity...jehovah's witnesses and other christians have not created their own religion...a minor point, but there you have it.

suzie:

the religion is christianity...jehovah's witnesses and other christians have not created their own religion...a minor point, but there you have it.

um...all religions are "created"

JeanCalvin:

This article is a good example of how ham-handedly the secular press treats religious folks and religious issues.

First of all, Mr. Beam would be wise to learn the difference between a 'sect' and a 'denomination'. Seriously, there's a body of sociological and scholarly religious studies literature about the distinction. Jehovah's Witnesses are a sect. Mormons are a sect. Southern Baptists, Episcopalians, United Methodists, and the Disciples are all members of denominations.

Moreover 'sect' is pejorative.

Gene Robinson was certainly not the 'first openly gay pastor' in the Episcopal Church. There were and are many openly gay Episcopal priests. He is, instead, the first openly gay bishop of the Episcopal Church.

"Robinson teaches the standard Episcopalian gospel, save the obvious caveats about homosexuality."

I am a student at an Episcopal seminary, and I don't know what the phrase 'standard Episcopal gospel' means. I would love to find out.

Dear MSM, can we please, please, please have some reporters reporting about religion who know what they're talking about???

So your chief criticism can be boiled down to the semantics of "sect" and "denomination?"

I find it amusing that you define Mormons as a "sect"...and then describe "sect" as "pejorative."

fine, but the point is not that they are created, but that mormons et al have not created one seperate from christianity.

...is that one could identify Christianity as a Jewish sect. One could say it only became a "world religion" as a result of its expansion in geographical area and numbers.

Further, if Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, etc. are "denominations," should we say that Protestantism is a "sect?" I think you could see it that way, given that the word seems to imply schism or dissent.

I don't necessarily see "sect" as pejorative, though some people use it that way. "Cult" is pretty clearly pejorative, though.

FWIW

Aren't Mormons and SD Adventists both considered Christian groups, at least by themselves? I could see them as sects, but not as religions.

The reason that writers of religion don't know anything about religion, but science writers need to know about science is because science and religion are different.

If a reporter writes an article about two opposing scientific theories, no one is going to be offended. They may not like it, but it's not personal.

Religious people on the other hand are extremely thin skinned if you don't know (or care) about all the specific tenets and beliefs of their denomination, sect, cult, whatever.

i am a fairly devout person and not at all thick skinned about religion...but sloppy language does annoy me... like calling a denomination a religion...have whatever opinion you want about christianity...it is not as if some one else's lack of faith affects my faith, i don't get all wigged out by dissenting views or voices, or even hostile ones, let alone contrarian one's...i've heard people say christianity is a cult, or the realm of the irrational, or the stupid,or a fantasy based on magic beans or whatever, and i simply dismiss these views as incorrect, and misguided, but what do i care? i pray for all humanity, and pray that all people will find comfort and truth in god's mercy and then i have enough to worry about in reconciling myself and my life with the example set by christ and accepting that god's will will be done, even when it is beyond the scope of my desire or comprehension, to really worry about what others think about me doing so. if you want to know about the specific tenets of my faith, i'd be happy to share, but i don't feel offended if you don't

Xenu help us, next Slate will be giving us faulty information on all superstitions! Throw a black cat over your shoulder and don't break your ladders folks!