Religion Press Release Services

One of the nation's oldest Bible organization's syndicated TV program begins a new season

News Release
American Bible Society
1865 Broadway
New York, NY 10023

Media Contacts:
Roy Lloyd
American Bible Society
(212) 408-8731
rlloyd@americanbible.org


Nancy Hite/Katherine Foster
RLM Public Relations
(212) 741-5106 x211 / x232
nancy@RLMpr.com / katherine@RLMpr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York - March 26, 2007 -American Bible Society (www.americanbible.org), the largest and among the country's oldest Bible organizations, today announced the second season of American Bible Society Presents, its award-winning half hour TV news magazine showcasing the enlightening and transforming power of God's word at work. A weekly syndicated series, American Bible Society Presents, airs on 358 stations nationwide.

The Reverend Dr. Paul Irwin, American Bible Society's President and CEO, introduces each segment of American Bible Society Presents and subsequently profiles individuals whose lives have been changed by the Bible, in addition to organizations that apply its message to helping others. These stories of faith and fellowship demonstrate how God's word empowers ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.

"We are extremely excited about the second season of American Bible Society Presents," Dr. Irwin explained. "By moving to the news magazine format and going on location we can illustrate the Word of God working in people's lives in an entertaining and thought provoking manner."

In the last season American Bible Society Presents utilized a talk show format featuring distinct panelists who were experts in their fields discussing each show's unique topic.

Filmed in association with Associated Television International, American Bible Society Presents is carried by the affiliates of Faith TV, the CW network, ION, America 1, and independent stations nationwide. The first season of American Bible Society Presents was awarded a Telly, the honor for the best in local regional and cable programming, in the Religious/Spiritual fields.

"The goal of the American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to everyone in a language and format that is affordable and easily understood," Dr. Irwin said. "We want to provide programming the entire family can truly enjoy and even learn from."

The first episode of American Bible Society Presents spotlights a New York Faith Walk tour honoring heroes of September 11th; a relief center in Paterson, NJ, that redefines "service;" and an outreach ministry that is actually a drive-thru prayer booth in Irvine, CA. Future episodes include impact of Feed the Children on a neighborhood deep in the city of New York and a group of Los Angeles-based Christian magicians using their astounding talents to spread the message of the Bible.

For stations and airdates for American Bible Society Presents, please log on to www.abspresents.com.

About the American Bible Society
Founded in 1816 and headquartered in the City of New York, the mission of the American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford so that all may experience its life-changing message. The American Bible Society Web site is, www.americanbible.org


About Associated Television International
Associated Television International has been successfully producing and distributing television series, specials and feature films for over three decades. ATI's corporate mission is to produce projects that are both educational and entertaining for audiences worldwide. Its programs have aired on all US broadcast networks and the major cable channels. In the last year, such programs as The National Health Test, Laura McKenzie's Traveler, The Unauthorized Biography of Johnny Cash, and Unlocking DaVinci's Code, all received acclaim.


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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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A Production of Thirteen/WNET New York

** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY **

This week's edition of the PBS newsmagazine program RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY (distributed Friday, March 23 at 5 p.m., check local listings) will feature the following reports:

* Cover Story: "Pacific Garden Mission" - Robert Jordan visits Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago for a behind-the-scenes look at how its award-winning international radio drama "Unshackled!" is touching - and inspiring - people around the world.

* Perspectives: "Iraq War Anniversary" - Bob Abernethy is joined by William Galston, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Nancy Sherman, a professor of philosophy and ethics at Georgetown University, for a studio discussion focusing on the moral principles and religious perspectives that should guide America's exit strategy in Iraq.

* Belief and Practice: "Zoroastrian New Year" - Farzad Aidun shares his family's celebration of the Zoroastrian New Year (Norooz) from their home in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

To request a transcript of these reports, send an e-mail to schultzm@religionethics.org or go to the program Web site at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics where the transcript and streaming video of each story will be available after 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

For information, contact:
Mary Schultz
Director of Communications
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
202-216-2394
schultzm@religionethics.org


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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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21 MARCH 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: TARA M. LEPORINI
(301) 897-7334 X.213

BETHESDA, MD -The Shalem Institute will feature best-selling author and educator, Parker J. Palmer, in a lecture and workshop seminar entitled, "A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life." The lecture will be held on Friday, May 18, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the workshop will take place Saturday, May 19, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both events will be held at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, MD. The cost for the lecture is $25; the workshop is $75.

This second seminar is offered in memory of the life and legacy of Gerald G. (Jerry) May, Shalem's beloved Senior Fellow for Contemplative Theology and Psychology, who died in April 2005. This annual event will strengthen the great themes of contemplative understanding and practice that Jerry so valued.

In his Friday evening lecture, followed by discussion, Dr. Palmer will explore the dynamics that cause us to build a wall of separation between our inner and outer lives-and the spiritual insights and practices that can help us reclaim our "hidden wholeness." At the Saturday workshop, participants will be invited to relate the insights explored on Friday night to their own life and work-exploring ways to "rejoin the soul and role," making and remaking the decision to live "divided no more."

Parker J. Palmer is a writer, speaker and activist on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality, and social change who received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley. He serves as senior advisor to the Fetzer Institute and founder and senior advisor to the Center for Courage & Renewal; for fifteen years he served as senior associate of the American Association of Higher Education. His books include A Hidden Wholeness, Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, The Active Life, To Know as We Are Known, The Company of Strangers, and The Promise of Paradox. His work has been recognized with eight honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press, and major grants from the Danforth Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and the Fetzer Institute. In 1998, the Leadership Project, a national survey of ten thousand administrators and faculty, named Dr. Palmer as one of the thirty "most influential senior leaders" in higher education and one of the ten key "agenda-setters" of the past decade. In 2005, Living the Questions: Essays Inspired by the Work and Life of Parker J. Palmer, was published by Jossey-Bass/John Wiley.

For more information and to register for this event, contact the Shalem Institute at (301) 897-7334 or visit www.shalem.org.

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The Shalem Institute has been a resource for prayer and deepening in the life of the Spirit for over 30 years and has earned a reputation for assisting people in developing a deeper spirituality in their work and personal lives. Shalem provides programs and support for all who seek to deepen their relationship with God and bring the gifts of contemplative living and leadership to their lives and ministries.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Distribution Gains, World Premiere Programming and New Sponsors Drive Nation’s Only Family-Friendly Music Television Network Through its Strongest Growth Period

CONTACT:
Jim Weiss
Phone: 770-692-4579
Jim@GospelMusicChannel.com
www.GospelMusicChannel.com

ATLANTA, March 20, 2007-- Gospel Music Channel (GMC), the nation’s first 24-hour music television channel dedicated to all styles of Christian and Gospel music, has ranked as the #1 emerging or mid-size network in the new annual survey of cable operators, it was announced today. GMC also ranked #1 in “audience attentiveness to advertising” and #1 in “feeling comfortable viewing with family” in a recent major advertising industry research report. These results come at a time when the network is enjoying the strongest period of growth across all facets of business since its launch just 28 months ago.

Results of the annual Beta Research Cable Operator Study found that Gospel Music Channel ranks as the #1 emerging or mid-size network among cable providers with large systems in large markets (200K+ and 100K+ subscribers.) Gospel Music Channel rated ahead of two dozen other cable networks, including The NFL Network, WE: Women’s Entertainment, Soapnet, Hallmark Movie Channel, The Tennis Channel and Lifetime Real Women.

These results portend additional growth in the months ahead while coinciding with Gospel Music Channel’s already strong recent increases in distribution. GMC is now seen in more than 100 markets (DMAs) around the country representing more than 3,000 cities and towns coast-to-coast. The channel projects an additional 50% increase on top of that, expecting to finish the year in more than 150 of the top 210 DMAs. Gospel Music Channel added one million subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2006 alone. Comcast Cable—the nation’s largest cable programming provider—has added GMC in such major cities as Chicago, Washington DC, Memphis, Salt Lake City, Baltimore, Richmond and Portland, OR. These new markets were in addition to Comcast’s earlier successful launches of Gospel Music Channel in Atlanta, Nashville and Detroit.

Two other of the country’s largest cable providers, Cox Communications and Charter Communications, also are continuing to add Gospel Music Channel, as is Verizon FiOS in all its rapidly expanding video markets. And, the channel is now carried by nearly 50 independent cable operators and telephone companies offering video. The immediate acceptance and positive response to Gospel Music Channel in new markets has been overwhelming.

Gospel Music Channel’s growth extends to its expansion of world premiere original programming production. Gospel Music Channel has become the largest producer of original Gospel/Christian music television in the world, producing more than 200 hours of concerts, series, specials, and video with a commitment to producing the majority of new content in High Definition. Gospel Music Channel also just launched a seven-channel video on demand (VOD) service offering all genres on Gospel/Christian music. Gospel Music Channel On Demand is already available in more than 10 million homes and already ranks among the top third in popularity and usage in those homes.

Just two weeks ago, the channel wrapped a two-day, 10-artist, HDTV performance shoot in Nashville. The content captured in those few days will create numerous programs and have many applications including the network’s Front Row Live concert series, countdown series Hot List, music videos, artist wrap-arounds, on-air promotion and more. Among the popular artists performing and participating were The Clark Sisters (in their TV farewell), Michael W. Smith, Mike Farris, Randy Owen of Alabama, Tammy Trent, Hawk Nelson, The Isaacs, Family Force Five, Austins Bridge and KJ-52. A similar shoot featuring Latino artists, led by popular star Julissa, will take place in Miami this Friday and Saturday and another Nashville production is scheduled for May.

With accelerated growth in distribution and increase in original programming has come a similarly impressive gain in attracting major advertisers. GMC has signed numerous advertising partners, including Coca-Cola, Kraft, General Mills, Hallmark Stores, Walgreens, Unilever, Lincoln Mercury, Reckitt Benckiser, Geico, Sony, Allstate, Lions Gate, Sara Lee, Sunny D, Paramount Pictures and Wal-Mart. According to a recent major advertising industry research report—The Myers Emotional Connections Study measuring viewers’ emotional connections to nearly 50 emerging and mid-sized cable television networks—Gospel Music Channel ranks #1 in “overall emotional connections with audience,” #1 in “audience attentiveness to advertising,” #1 in “feeling comfortable viewing with family” and #3 in “audience engagement with network.”

Charles Humbard, president and chief executive officer, Gospel Music Channel, said, “It is very gratifying and humbling that our vision to provide family-friendly entertainment programming with strong Christian values is being embraced on so many levels. We look forward to continued growth and success in the months ahead and pledge to our loyal viewers that we will continue to deliver the very best that Christian and gospel music have to offer.”

About Gospel Music Channel
Gospel Music Channel (www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the first 24-hour, all music television entertainment network devoted to the uplifting, inspiring and diverse music that is gospel. From the soulful sounds of artists like CeCe Winans, to the country gospel roots of Johnny Cash and Randy Travis, to the contemporary Christian music stylings of Kirk Franklin and Jars of Clay – Gospel Music Channel celebrates music that has a deep, spiritual place in people’s lives. It embraces an audience that crosses cultures and captures generations delivering a fan base so large and passionate it deserves its own network.

From the soulful voices that fill the storied halls of Harlem to the contemporary sounds of today’s Christian pop, rock, hip hop and R&B, gospel music has never been more diverse, and Gospel Music Channel has it all.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

Synagogue 3000’s Atlanta Initiative presents composer/recording artist Taubman and local clergy leading services in aim to pack the pews March 23rd and 24th 2007

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joshua Avedon, Director of Communication
Office 310.553.7932
Mobile 310.291.5171
media@synagogue3000.org

ATLANTA, March 20, 2007 – Craig Taubman, the worship leader who created the “Friday Night Live” Shabbat service, comes to Atlanta this weekend for a series of “seeker” services aimed at the two thirds of Atlanta’s Jewish citizens who don’t belong to a synagogue, as well as existing members of congregations. The three Shabbat services are part of “The Atlanta Initiative,” a project of Synagogue 3000 (S3K), an institute dedicated to revitalizing synagogue life. “Craig’s approach to worship is inclusive and participatory,” says S3K President and co-founder Ron Wolfson, “…and that’s the exact feeling people want to get from their spiritual community.”

“The goal is to create an experience that leaves people wanting more,” according to Taubman, who helps congregations around the country to create services that use upbeat contemporary music to engage spiritual seekers. Similar approaches have become standard fare at many mega-churches and, in fact, Taubman has even helped lead services in places like Saddleback Church in Southern California, the mega-church founded by “The Purpose-driven Life” author Rick Warren. “Pastor Rick Warren is a genius at creating worship experiences that speak to believers and seekers alike,” says Taubman. “S3K hopes to create that same kind of welcoming atmosphere in synagogues.”

Synagogue 3000’s Atlanta Initiative is a project to increase synagogue membership and create a renaissance in Jewish spiritual communities in Atlanta which includes a series of workshops for congregational leaders, the Taubman Shabbat services and “Hallelu Atlanta,” a concert celebrating synagogue life on November 4, 2007.

Synagogue 3000 (S3K) (http://www.synagogue3000.org) empowers congregations to create sacred communities that are compelling moral and spiritual centers of Jewish life. The S3K Atlanta Initiative is a project launched in November of 2006 to help increase synagogue membership and create a renaissance in Jewish spiritual communities in Atlanta, Georgia.

Craig n’ Co. (http://www.craignco.com) is Craig Taubman’s production company. Craig is a celebrated composer and singer-songwriter whose dynamic music and moving performance style have been an inspiration to the Jewish community for over 22 years in addition to his successful career in television and film composing.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: (678) 990-9032;
Lisa Wheeler ext. 102, c: (404) 519-1987, lwheeler@maximusmg.com;
Ashley Walker ext. 109, c: (404) 791-9725, awalker@maximusmg.com

*** CALENDAR ADVISORY ***

WHAT: World Premiere of Champions of Faith: Baseball

Major League Baseball’s Mike Piazza, Jeff Suppan, Jack McKeon, Mike Sweeney, David Eckstein and Rich Donnelly lead the line-up in this All-Star baseball sports special.

Discussing how their faith has shaped their Major League careers, these superstars of America’s favorite pastime speak frankly about family, faith, sacrifice, leadership, humility and the many virtues and spiritual lessons they have learned from the game.

Shot in high-definition video and featuring thrilling game highlights from Major League Baseball Productions and music from legendary recording artist Bob Dylan, Champions of Faith is an emotionally powerful, action-packed glimpse into the lives and personal faith of the nation’s most popular sports heroes. Other players, coaches and managers featured in the film include: Tom Glavine, Craig Biggio, Sean Casey, Pudge Rodriquez, Jim Leyland, Mike Scioscia, Juan Pierre, Mark Prior, Ozzie Guillen, A.J. Pierzynski, Lance Berkman, Chris Speier, Roberto Beltran, Sandy Alomar and many more.

Additional features include music from Grammy Award-winning Christian band Third Day. “Champions of Faith – Baseball Edition” is scheduled for DVD release at the start of the 2007 Major League Baseball season.

WHEN: Sunday, March 25
7 p.m. – Exclusive Premiere featuring Major League Baseball Stars; the Bishop of Phoenix, Thomas J. Olmsted; Executive Producer Tom Allen; Writer/Narrator John Morales and other special guests.

WHERE: AMC Desert Ridge 18
21001 N. Tatum Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85050
NE Corner of 101st and Tatum

WHO: All-Star Catcher and now Oakland A’s designated hitter Mike Piazza, Kansas City Royals Captain Mike Sweeney and 2006 NLCS MVP Jeff Suppan will join Executive Producer Tom Allen of Catholic Exchange and Writer/Narrator John Morales.

INFO: Visit www.ChampionsofFaith.com/Premiere or call (678) 990-9032.


MEDIA: Interviews, in advance or on-site, can be arranged by contacting Lisa Wheeler or Ashley Walker at (678) 990-9032. Please visit the “Champions of Faith” website at www.ChampionsofFaith.com.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2007

Media Contacts:
Kelly Hughes, DeChant-Hughes & Assoc. Inc. Public Relations
(312) 280-8126, kelly@dechanthughes.com

Jill Maxick, Prometheus Books
800-853-7545, jmaxick@prometheusbooks.com

Amherst, NY -- The public face of atheism has recently been that of bestselling authors Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Victor Stenger, and Daniel Dennett, academic males and vocal critics of religion. A new memoir puts a kinder, gentler face on religious dissent.

Nica Lalli—wife, mom, and former PTA president—adds a personal perspective to the conversation about nonbelief with Nothing: Something to Believe In ($17, Prometheus Books, http://www.prometheusbooks.com/catalog/book_1876.html).

Lalli is not a scientist or a philosopher. Rather than critique God, religion or theology, Lalli dissects her own history, examining how she came to embrace being “nothing.” Lalli prefers to call herself “nothing” instead of atheist, explaining, “I like the word nothing because it makes no reference to a god, it cuts out that root (‘theo’) to stand on its own. I decided to share my journey to show people that I could be sure of my beliefs and my convictions, even if they are not based on a holy book, messiah or organized church.”

Lalli grew up nothing, with resolutely secular parents. She felt odd about it as a kid, because everyone else was something—her school friends were Catholic, Presbyterian, Jewish. Her memories of evangelists knocking on her door, her time at a religious ski retreat, and the lesson of life and death when she memorialized a dead bird, portray why the religion issue was such a big deal, and why, at times, being nothing was scary.

By the time Lalli married and had children, she was comfortable as a nonbeliever. But her born-again Christian in-laws did not accept her, she says: “They made it clear that without my conversion to Christianity, there could be no real friendship and maybe not even familial cordiality.” The strained relations with her in-laws spurred her to sit down and revisit all the times religion has come into her life.

She chronicles her experiences while confronting the broader issues of faith, tolerance and respect in the confusing religious landscape of America.

In the end, she finds the courage to define what she is rather than what she’s not. “Just because I call myself ‘nothing’ doesn’t mean I don’t have ideas. I have belief, I just don’t have religion,” she says.

So what does she believe? Her two young children have challenged her to articulate her beliefs, asking the same question she once asked her parents: “What do we believe in?” She tells them: “We believe in the human spirit, the strength and regenerative possibilities of people. And the kids ask, ‘What about God and Jesus?’ So I say that I do not believe in God and I do not believe that Jesus was the son of God.”

Lalli says she had to figure out how to present the lack of religion in their lives as something to be proud of: “We may not have a church, but we have community, and we work hard to help our neighbors and strengthen our neighborhood.” Her confidence has given her children a sense of security about what they are. “They see it as a way to keep open to possibilities in the world. They see wonder and mystery in life, love, and even in death.”

“Through helping the children find respect for their beliefs, I have had to find respect for mine,” Lalli says, “and tolerance for others, even for those who cannot tolerate me.”
Visit www.nicalalli.com and http://www.prometheusbooks.com/catalog/book_1876.html.

# # #

NOTE TO MEDIA: Nica Lalli (Brooklyn, New York) is an educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art working in the Outreach, Access and Family Programs. To interview Nica Lalli, contact Kelly Hughes at (312) 280-8126, kelly@dechanthughes.com. To request a review copy of Nothing: Something to Believe In (ISBN: 978-1-59102-529-0) contact Prometheus Books publicity at 800-853-7545 or publicity@prometheusbooks.com.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

Jonathan Miller Reveals the Hidden Story of Atheism
Three-Part Series Premiers May 4 on Public Television

"... the history of the growing conviction that God doesn't exist." - Jonathan Miller

March 15, 2007 - This spring the debate over belief versus disbelief, faith versus atheism, intensifies with the national airing of A Brief History of Disbelief on public television stations, premiering May 4. Hosted by Jonathan Miller, the three-part series comes in the midst of the upcoming release of two provocative books on atheism: Christopher Hitchens' God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything and Joan Konner's The Atheist's Bible.

God has rarely been such a contentious issue. The God Delusion and Letter to a Christian Nation are the top two bestselling religion hardcover books in the country, according to Publishers Weekly (week of March 12). Those and other bestsellers have forcefully challenged the sacred cows, doctrines and dogmas of conventional religious belief.

A Brief History of Disbelief is a deeply intelligent and rational journey through the highly divisive topic. A Brief History of Disbelief premiers in the U.S. on most public television stations on Friday, May 4, 2007 (check local listings). The series is presented by the Independent Production Fund, executive director Alvin Perlmutter.

Written and narrated by acclaimed British intellectual Jonathan Miller - author, lecturer, TV producer/host, director of theater, opera and film, and neurologist - A Brief History of Disbelief originally aired on the BBC in the U.K. It was the first-ever historical look at the controversial topic on television. It is only during the last few years in the U.S. that atheism can be fully and widely discussed. More and more leaders and celebrities are "coming out of the closet." Just this week, longtime U.S. Congressman Pete Stark publicly declared that he does not believe in a supreme being.

"This series is about the disappearance of something: religious faith," Miller says in the opening. "It's the story of what is often referred to as 'atheism,' the history of the growing conviction that God doesn't exist."

A Brief History of Disbelief combines an exploration of the origins of Miller's own lack of belief with historical perspective and interviews with leading authorities, including biologist Richard Dawkins, philosopher Daniel Dennett, recently deceased playwright Arthur Miller, and physicist Steven Weinberg.

"In making this series I have inevitably discovered that the history of faith and doubt is a great deal more complicated than it might seem," Jonathan Miller declares. Among the program's surprising revelations is that philosophy, not science as often assumed, played a larger role in the gradual erosion of belief. And contrary to what many Christian fundamentalists today consider America's founding principles, the first presidents were actually skeptical of religion. A Brief History of Disbelief traces the history of the first "unbelievers" in ancient Greece through the role of disbelief in America's founding to its flourishing today.

Part I: Shadows of Doubt
Miller visits the site of the absent Twin Towers to consider the religious implications of 9/11 and meets Arthur Miller and the philosopher Colin McGinn. He searches for evidence of the first "unbelievers" in ancient Greece and examines some of the modern theories around why people have always tended to believe in mythology and magic.

Part II: Noughts and Crosses
With the domination of Christianity from 500 AD, Miller wonders how disbelief began to re-emerge in the 15th and 16th centuries. He discovers that division within the Church played a more powerful role than the scientific discoveries of the period. He also visits Paris, the home of the 18th century atheist Baron D'Holbach, and shows how politically dangerous it was to undermine the religious faith of the masses.

The Final Hour
The history of disbelief continues with the ideas of self-taught philosopher Thomas Paine, the revolutionary studies of geology, and the evolutionary theories of Darwin. Miller looks at the Freudian view that religion is a "thought disorder." He also examines his motivation behind making the series touching on the issues of death and the religious fanaticism of the 21st century.

A Brief History of Disbelief is presented by the Independent Production Fund, which has produced highly acclaimed information programming for over thirty years. The company and its producers have used television to educate, engage and challenge viewers to consider issues, ideas and public figures from new perspectives.

Major funding for the U.S. showing of A Brief History of Disbelief is provided by the Center for Inquiry, with additional funding from American Ethical Union, American Humanist Association, Institute for Humanist Studies, and HKH Foundation. The program is being distributed to public television stations by the Executive Program Service.

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Media Advisory: Writer and narrator Jonathan Miller and some of the program's experts are available for interviews.

Contacts: Scott Tillitt - 917-449-6356, scott@antidotecollective.org

Website: www.abriefhistoryofdisbelief.org

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
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Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

SHAMOON COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING PLANS FOR 130% STUDENT INCREASE MAJORITY ARE SOUTH ISRAEL'S UNDERSERVED BRAIN TRUST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Annabelle Stevens - 310-435-6996
Dahlia Greer - 310-339-1060

March 19, 2007, New York ... The American Friends of Sami Shamoon College of Engineering in Beer Sheva and Ashdod has opened its first American office, at 5 West 36th Street in Manhattan. Douglas Stern, President of AFSSCE remarked, "With the leadership of our new Executive Vice President, veteran fundraiser Joshua Karlin, we are creating a high profile Executive Committee in the Northeast United States to raise $12 million by 2012." This will finance Shamoon's 130% planned increase in student enrollment from 3,000 to 7,000, Stern explained.

Israel's fastest growing college, Shamoon plays a unique role in Israel's development by recruiting, training and retaining the Negev's brain trust, which helps spur the region’s economic growth. Recognizing Shamoon's uncompromised academic excellence, Israel's Council for Higher Education selected Shamoon to be the first and only college to open a second campus, in the southern port city of Ashdod.

Eighty percent of Shamoon students hail from the Negev and south Israel, fulfilling the government mandate to make higher education more accessible to people living on the periphery. "We reach out to young adults who lack the typical opportunities," Prof. Jehuda Haddad, Shamoon College President said. "We give them a vision - that of becoming professional engineers - to make better lives for themselves, and for all who live in Israel’s south. Then we give them a chance to realize that vision."

Shamoon has developed a special psycho-technic test to identify those with high scientific aptitude. "Once they qualify, we train them to be counted amongst the finest engineers in the country," explained Haddad.

Founded in 1996 with just 95 students, Shamoon is now Israel's largest engineering college. It offers special scholarship programs for Israeli-Ethiopians, Bedouins, Israeli soldiers, single mothers and others with financial hardships. Israeli Arabs, Bedouins, and Druze comprise 15% of the student body. Shamoon has produced the first, and to date, only, female Bedouin engineer. Eleven Israeli Ethiopian engineers have graduated, the most from any Israeli college or university.

Shamoon's graduates are helping fill the extreme shortage of engineers in Israel, especially in the southern region. Approximately 77% of Shamoon graduates stay in south Israel, employed at companies such as Intel, Amdocs, El-Op, Dead Sea Works (DSW), and Bromine Compounds.

Shamoon is involved in numerous co-ventures with world industry leaders, such as research with General Motors to develop safer, "greener" automobiles. Microsoft-Israel's Forum for Young Developers and Shamoon are jointly motivating more young females to enter careers in engineering. The new Negev Monte Carlo Research Center has already begun to identify markers of Alzheimer's disease, developed a test for early cervical cancer detection, and is the nation’s leader in paradigm-building for military preparation for atmospheric dispersion of radiation in terror attacks. Additionally, Shamoon is the only Israeli college or university with Green engineering or earthquake studies.

The College's architecture embodies its philosophy of innovation and outreach. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Haim Dotan, the Minkoff Building, known as "the spaceship", stands adjacent to Beer Sheva’s oldest neighborhood, Shikun Aleph. "This juxtaposition is symbolic of Shamoon's providing a bridge from the hardships of the past to the promise of the future," commented AFSSCE Executive Vice President Karlin.

While Karlin builds the New York office for Shamoon, he continues to operate his consulting firm, Aliya Marketing and Fundraising Group, in Rhode Island where he previously raised more than $25 million as Director of Development and Endowment for the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island.

For more information, contact Annabelle Stevens, 310-435-6996, annabelle@annabellestevens.com or Dahlia Greer, 310-339-1060, dahlia.greer@gmail.com. Visit Shamoon College's website: www.sce.ac.il

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Press Release

Date: March 12, 2007
Contact: Jack Figel (703) 691-8862
President
Eastern Christian Publications

For Immediate Release

Fairfax VA: The Orientale Lumen Conferences will be held in four different cities around the world this coming year. These ecumenical conferences focus on the Christian East and are open to the public, for both lay persons and clergy. The well known presenters come from four main religious groups: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and Oriental Orthodox. These conferences encourage ecumenical dialogue (discussion of the similarities and differences among the groups) on a specific theme through presentations and discussions. The conferences include a variety of prayer services, from a wide range of Church traditions. In this way, the conferences provide a learning experience and intellectual discussion, as well as a unique spiritual experience.

The goals, then, of the Orientale Lumen Conferences are to:
-- educate and promote information about the Eastern Christian Churches, their traditions, liturgy, spirituality, monasticism, theology, and more
-- provide an unofficial forum for ecumenical dialogue at the "grass roots" level among lay persons and clergy, as well as include senior Church officials and theologians who normally participate in official dialogues.

Orientale Lumen XI East will be held in Washington, DC, June 18 - 21, 2007, at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in northeast Washington, DC next to the campus of The Catholic University of America. The theme of the conference will be "Icons - Expressions of Our Faith". Icons are the graphical representations of scripture, the people and events of the church, and guide the spiritual thought and experience for many people. They are found in all human activity, and are helpful visual guides for each person, sometimes differently for each one. They can be touchstones of beauty and inspiration, used with many caring and devoted purposes for all of us. The conferences will explore the theology and symbols of icons and how they are used for religious devotion.

The distinguished speakers and guests are from around the world:

Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos, Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, Johnstown, PA, USA
Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia, Oxford, United Kingdom, (by recorded video from Constantinople)
Archimandrite Robert Taft, SJ, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, Italy
Father Mark Morozowich, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA
Prof. Richard Schneider, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Father Daniel Findikyan, St. Nerses Armenian Orthodox Seminary, New York, NY, USA Father Andrij Chirovsky, Sheptysky Institute, Ottawa, Canada.

The moderator will be Rev. Msgr. George Dobes, US Navy Chaplain Corps, Retired, Washington, DC, USA.

Each speaker will give a plenary session followed by a panel discussion and questions from the audience. All of the papers presented will be published and provided to the attendees in a Proceedings book after the conference. A variety of liturgical services will be conducted during the conference to provide an opportunity for attendees to pray together for Church unity. Opening and closing remarks will also be made by various Church leaders in attendance.

Church leaders, lay persons, monastics, clergy and students are all welcome and invited to participate. These conferences have been appreciated and discussed all across the world, and have been mentioned in meetings among the religious leaders in the Vatican, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch, and many others.

The Pope's visit to Istanbul in November, 2006, as well as the official dialogue of Catholic and Orthodox Churches that was held in September, 2006, demonstrate the improved relations among the Christian Churches. The Orientale Lumen conferences function in an unofficial capacity parallel to those official discussions. They are unique because of the extensive participation of lay persons, and because of the involvement of Eastern Catholics -- a small minority within the Catholic Church, and who are rarely represented at other dialogue meetings.

The OL XI East Conference is one of the four OL Conferences being held this year. It follows the EuroEast Conference II which will be held May 7 - 10, 2007 in Istanbul. The next following conference will be in San Diego, CA, on June 25 - June 28, 2007. Both OL Conference XI East and West will also have the theme of "Icons - Expressions of Our Faith".

The fourth Orientale Lumen Conference this year will be in Melbourne, Australia, on September 26 - 29, 2007. The theme will be "The Life in Christ."

The Orientale Lumen Conferences have been meeting annually since 1997 in Washington, DC and other locations around the world. Primarily sponsored by the Society of Saint John Chrysostom and Eastern Christian Publications, other co-sponsors include the Halki School of Orthodox Theology in Constantinople, the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and the University of San Diego, in San Diego, CA.

Registration details are available on the website: www.olconference.com.

Contact:
Jack Figel
Orientale Lumen Conferences
PO Box 192
Fairfax, VA 22038-0192
(703) 691-8862
info@olconference.com

For further information:
Society of Saint John Chrysostom: www.ssjc.org
Eastern Christian Publications: www.ecpubs.com
The Catholic University of America: www.cua.edu
The University of San Diego: www.sandiego.edu

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Media contact: Juan Michel +41-79-507-6363 media@wcc-coe.org
WCC president from North America, Rev. Dr Bernice Powell Jackson,
is preaching today at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC,
as part of a Christian Peace Witness for Iraq. See:
http://www.christianpeacewitness.org

In a statement for the fourth anniversary on 19 March of the invasion of Iraq, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia warns of “further carnage and destruction” because “the sponsors of this tragic war insist on carrying on military pursuits”.

“We hear the cries of the Iraqi people, the women, the children and the innocent civilians who are in pain and agony and despair,” Kobia says, citing studies that report over 600,000 Iraqi casualties as a direct and indirect result of violence since the 2003 invasion, as well as more than 1,6 million refugees displaced by the war.

This situation “demands that the churches continue not only to assist and support the victims of this disastrous war, but also to speak on their behalf and to redouble interventions for peace with governments and with intergovernmental bodies”.

Kobia praises the encouraging “upsurge of anti-war sentiments all over the world [and] particularly in the United States,” whose churches “are called to witness to Jesus Christ, the life of the world”. He calls on WCC member churches “to pray and intercede on behalf of the people of Iraq, before God, that the war forced upon them may come to an end and that peace with justice and dignity may prevail”.

The WCC general secretary recalls that in 2003 “political brinkmanship and the arrogance of power triumphed over reason and good sense” as appeals to exercise restraint by churches and civil society as well as by the international community “were ignored with contempt and disdain”.

At that time, the WCC executive committee called the war “immoral, ill-advised and in breach of the principles of the United Nations Charter”. The committee warned that the war would cause an “humanitarian crisis of great magnitude with untold human suffering, specially for the children of Iraq, loss of life, property, environmental destruction and waste of precious resources”. The WCC body also warned of regional consequences, saying the war would “reinforce and polarize division and hatred between communities, resulting in further destabilization in the region”.

Kobia notes that “four years down the road, the above has come true”. Today, Iraq “is in turmoil and disarray,” with “strong indications that the country may fragment, creating greater chaos and human suffering”. In particular, “ethnic and sectarian tensions and conflict” are putting the country “on the brink of a civil war”.

Only a “federal system of governance that meets the aspirations of the three communities” - Sunnis, Shias and Kurds - can avoid “chaos, confusion and blood-letting even worse than what we witness at present”. For such “an equitable and just formula of power-sharing” to be achieved, “adjustments, concessions and, most of all, understanding and patience” from all sides are needed.

The full text of the statement is available at: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=3271

Additional information on the WCC and the Iraq war is available at: http://wcc-coeorg/wcc/what/international/iraq.html

The World Council of Churches is the world's most inclusive ecumenical organization, whose purpose is to promote Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. A fellowship of churches inaugurated in 1948, today the WCC brings together 347 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches in over 100 countries, representing more than 550 million Christians. The Roman Catholic Church works cooperatively with the WCC.

Sign up for WCC press releases at http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

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A Production of Thirteen/WNET New York

** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY **

This week’s edition of the PBS newsmagazine program RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY (distributed Friday, March 16 at 5 p.m., check local listings) will feature the following reports:

* Cover Story: “Huntsville: Death Capital” — Lucky Severson journeys to the nation’s death capital to talk with prison chaplains, a state prosecutor and a victim’s mother about the debate over capital punishment and the role of religion in the healing process. (Rebroadcast from May 16, 2003)

Web link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week637/cover.html

* Profile: “William Sloane Coffin” — Bob Abernethy talks with the late Presbyterian pastor and anti-war activist William Sloane Coffin about his views on faith, civil rights, U.S. policies in Iraq and his lifelong commitment to world peace. (Rebroadcast from August 27, 2004)

Web link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week752/profile.html

* Feature: “Buddhist Mandala” — Cameras provide a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of a seven-foot-wide mandala by Tibetan monks at the Smithsonian Institution in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. (Rebroadcast from January 18, 2002)

Web link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/transcripts/520.html

Please note that because this week's show may be pre-empted in several markets due to special PBS Pledge programming, the reports listed above were originally broadcast on earlier dates and can be accessed on the Web site links provided.

For information, contact:
Mary Schultz
Director of Communications
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
202-216-2394
schultzm@religionethics.org

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The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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“This book is a fresh breath from the meditation room, written with kindness, energy and wit. Three cheers for a cheerful contemplative.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A beautiful tapestry of Buddhist insight woven together with modern science, this book is a landmark in the development of a contemplative neuroscience . . . a must-read for anyone interested in the causes and consequences of happiness.” —Richard J. Davidson

“Marvelous. . . . I heartily recommend this to anyone interested in the healing arts, consciousness studies, and genuine contemplative practice today.”—Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within


A recent major study investigating the effects of meditation on the brain found that mental training in the areas of compassion and loving kindness can have dramatic effects on brain function. One of the subjects in this study was Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, who was handpicked by the Dalai Lama to participate. Mingyur Rinpoche is considered a prodigy among the masters of Tibetan Buddhism, and in his new book, THE JOY OF LIVING: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness (Harmony Books, March 13, 2007), he shares his wisdom and guides readers down the path to a healthier, happier life through meditation.

All humans share the same basic concern—the desire to be happy and to avoid suffering. THE JOY OF LIVING helps readers navigate their way through the maze of personal pain and discomfort that characterizes our everyday lives. Born in 1975 in Nepal, Mingyur Rinpoche spent much of his childhood in a persistent state of fear. His panic attacks were so severe that it was several years before he found any source of relief. He was finally able to overcome these fears by learning how to relax and rest his mind through meditation. Understanding meditation is not as complicated as many think. In the beginning some might feel frustration as they become distracted by the sounds around them, but soon they will realize that these distractions are actually a sign of progress! Becoming more aware of the constant stream of thoughts that enter your mind is essential to meditation.

In THE JOY OF LIVING, Mingyur Rinpoche teaches us how to change the direction of our thoughts and perceptions through meditation, revealing how we can create positive changes in our lives. The aim of Buddhist teachings is to develop the capacity to recognize that this universe exists in the here and now. In order to recognize it, however, it is necessary to learn how to rest the mind. Who wouldn’t want to feel confident and calm in the face of difficulties or reduce or eliminate their sense of isolation? All it takes to accomplish these goals is a little patience, diligence, and willingness to let go of conditioned ideas about yourself and the world around you. THE JOY OF LIVING combines the ancient wisdom of Buddhism with the latest breakthroughs in Western medicine to help you achieve these goals, and ultimately, greater health and happiness.


CONTACT: Sarah Breivogel, 212-572-2722; sbreivogel@randomhouse.com or
Josh Baran, jcbaran@aol.com, 212-779-2666

Mingyur Rinpoche is on a North American book and teaching tour, March – July. He will be visiting San Francisco, Phoenix, Houston, Seattle, Chicago, Madison, Boulder, New York, Boston, Toronto, Vancouver and other cities. His full schedule – www.mingyur.org. He is available for interviews.

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Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
News Release

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2007 – The First Baptist Church of Washington will offer the last session of a dynamic speaker series, “Faith, Giftedness, and (dis)Ability,” at 7 p.m. this Sunday, March 18, in its sanctuary at 1328 16th St. NW.

The final topic is “Caregiving: In the Arms of Faith.” Experts, theologians and others will explore the tensions between the goodness of God's creation and the particular hardships of caring for those with disability. They will also discuss the unexpected gifts that may result.

Dr. Bruce Birch, Dean and Professor at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, will lead the discussion. He will be joined by Ollie Cantos, associate director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, who has been blind since birth; Patty Marceron, long-time caregiver; and Steven Tingus, director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

“We hope to explore Christian views about and responses to disabilities and gifts in ourselves and in others,” First Baptist Pastor Dr. Jim Somerville said. “We want to offer a valuable forum about an important topic for many people.”

The audience may ask questions during the program and meet speakers at a reception following. Anyone interested is invited and encouraged to make reservations by e-mailing fg&d@firstbaptistdc.org or by calling (202) 387-2206 ext. 5.

FBC is located at the corner of 16th and O streets in NW. Free parking is available in the adjacent church lot at 17th and O Streets NW, or in the Colonial Parking Garage, 1616 P Street (tickets validated in the church), between 16th and 17th Streets. For directions and more information, please visit www.firstbaptistdc.org.

Reporters, contact: Dr. Art Sherwood, (713) 824-8151, or Dr. Jim Somerville, (202) 387-2206 x241.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2007

CONTACT:
Gerry Harrington
(845) 331-7168
gerry.harrington@humanitysteam.org

NEW YORK -- Humanity’s Team congratulates Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor on being named the recipient Wednesday of the Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities.

Taylor’s observation that the world’s problems can only be solved by considering their spiritual roots is aligned with the Humanity’s Team mission.

Like Taylor’s, our position is that humanity’s struggle is not merely economic or military. If it were, then the struggle would be over because the richest country with the mightiest military would easily win.

The struggle, as we see it, has to do with what people believe about each other and their views about God and life, which come from the sum total of our cultural values and most sacred beliefs, or our spirituality.

Only when people change their minds about these things can humanity claim victory in the struggle to bring peace and harmony to the world at last.

And this will only occur when humanity understands that the world’s problem is not a military problem, nor a political problem, nor an economic problem. The problem facing humanity today is a spiritual problem.

Yet when this is understood, then military, political and economic tools can help solve the problem.

Humanity’s Team is a grassroots spiritual movement whose purpose is to communicate and implement the belief that people are all one, one with God and one with life, in a shared global state of being, so that humanity’s behavior may shift to reflect this understanding. Dubbed “a civil rights movement for the soul,” the movement has some 15,000 adherents from more than 90 countries on six continents.

It is set to begin a 39-day, six-continent world tour to promote its ideas next week.

The tour stops are Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, March 22-24; Tokyo March 27; Estoril (Lisbon), Portugal, April 4; Chisinau, Moldova, April 7; Birmingham, England, April 10; Offenbach (Frankfurt), Germany, April 12-13; Pretoria, South Africa, April 15; Buenos Aires April 22-23; Atlanta April 27-29; and Vancouver, British Columbia, April 29.

For more information, visit www.humanitysteam.org and www.htworldtour.org or call (845) 331-7168.

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The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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New Jewish Museum Opens in Birthplace of Nazism
Work of American Comic Book Artist Jordan B. Gorfinkel
Included in Permanent Exhibition

Munich Jewish Museum to Open March 22


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Shira Dicker
212.663.4643/917.403.3989
shira.dicker@sd-media.com

New York, NY (March 14, 2007) -- A monument to Jewish survival will open on March 22nd in the very city that was the birthplace of Nazism – Munich, Germany.

On that day, the city’s first-ever Jewish Museum will open its doors to the public. Therein, the story of Munich’s Jewish community will be told through the form of a four-panel American newspaper comic strip – a conceptual leap of faith – that will become part of the museum’s permanent exhibition.

Veteran comic book artist, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, creator of Everything’s Relative -- a comic strip that has been featured in Jewish newspapers around the world for the past ten years – is the creator of the innovative and edgy artwork. “It is a great honor -- but also, a tremendous responsibility -- to be entrusted with portraying one of the most central and important narratives in contemporary Jewish history in cartoon form,” said Mr. Gorfinkel.

The opening of this new museum in Germany’s “other city” is the culmination of a process that began in 1928 and was cruelly derailed by the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party. Over 4,000 Munich Jews perished during the Holocaust and the proximity of the infamous death camp, Dachau, to Munich is a constant reminder of the horrors inflicted by the Nazis.

The Nazis sought to erect museums to the “extinct Jewish race,” yet the creation of the new Munich Jewish Museum celebrates Jewish survival.

“Opening an exhibition on the history of the Jews is something that Hitler had planned as well, to be able to celebrate their extinction. But the exhibition on these walls tells another story. It defies the world to take notice of the return of Judaism to the streets of Munich in fulfillment of the prophetic promise, 'The eternity of Israel shall never be forsaken,’” stated Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

To read more about Jordan B. Gorfinkel and his important new exhibition, please visit www.jewishcartoon.com. For further information about the MJM, please visit www.juedisches-museum-muenchen.de.

To request an interview with Mr. Gorfinkel or see samples of his work, please contact Shira Dicker at 212.663.4643 or 917.403.3989 or at shira.dicker@sd-media.com.

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The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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Proceeds will benefit orphans in Russia and Swaziland

Media contact: Matthew Monberg, phone: 719-487-7800; e-mail: matthew@hopechest.org

March 14, 2007

Colorado Springs, CO – Children’s HopeChest, a non-profit organization and world leader in orphan outreach and care, is organizing a summer Run for One racing event to raise funds and awareness for the plight of teen orphans worldwide.

Walkers and runners of all skill levels and ages are invited to join the Run for One team, which will complete the Rock ’N’ Roll half-marathon in Virginia Beach, VA, on September 2, 2007 (travel dates August 31-September 3, 2007).

Run for One is dedicated to the memory of Katya Toschakova, a 15-year-old Russian orphan who took her life in the fall of 2004 shortly after her departure from a Russian orphanage.

“Run for One will shine a light on tragedies like Katya’s in the hopes that we can provide even more ongoing guidance, support, skills, and hope to young people like her,” said race organizer Matthew Monberg.

Children’s HopeChest currently works with over 3,000 individuals in 50 orphanages in 2 countries. Its successful programs have helped many children and young people avoid falling into crime, prostitution, drug abuse, alcoholism, or suicide, and make the successful transition to adulthood outside the walls of an orphanage.

The organization will provide athletic coaching and fundraising training to the 50 runners who are chosen to raise $4,000 each to benefit orphans currently served by Children’s HopeChest programs worldwide. The organization is an Official Charity Training Program of the Virginia Beach Rock ‘N’ Roll half-marathon, and will provide round-trip transportation, lodging, and entry fees for the race.

Runners and walkers will be coached from Lisa Rainsberger, winner of the 1985 Boston Marathon and world class running coach. “Anyone can start a 1/2 marathon,” said Rainsberger, “but we can help you finish one!” Rainsberger and her daughter Meghan will participate in the charity race.

Walkers and runners who are interested in participating in Run for One can contact Matthew Monberg at 719-487-7800 or runforone@hopechest.org.

Children’s HopeChest, founded in 1994 and based in Colorado Springs, has a staff of more than 80 employees in Russia. Over the past decade the organization has helped meet the long-term needs of more than 15,000 orphans. In addition to Russia, Children’s HopeChest has work in Ukraine, South Africa and Swaziland. Funding for its programs comes primarily from churches, corporations, foundations and individuals in the U.S.

For more information about Children’s HopeChest visit: www.hopechest.org.

For more information about the Virginia Beach Rock ‘N’ Roll half-marathon visit www.rnrhalf.com.

For media information contact Matthew Monberg, phone: 719-487-7800; e-mail: matthew@hopechest.org.

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The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

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Inspirational Tale Moves Audiences

Grace Hill Media
Tara Shaffer
(818) 762-0000
tshaffer@gracehillmedia.com

March 13, 2007 – AMAZING GRACE www.amazinggracemovie.com, Michael Apted’s inspirational film about the true story behind the fight to abolish the British slave trade, hit an important box office milestone over the weekend by passing the $10 million mark in gross receipts.

Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions have responded to public demand and expanded the Bristol Bay Productions release to over 1,000 screens this past weekend, grossing a total of $11.4 million to date. The increase in screen count helped push the film back into the top ten grossing films for the weekend in its third week in release. AMAZING GRACE opened on 791 screens nationwide on February 23, 2007 and grossed $4 million its first weekend, with a $5,442-per-screen average that matched and surpassed the top releases, landing it in the top ten along with films on well over 3,000 screens. A plan is in place to bring the total number of screens up to 1,500 in the coming weeks.

From acclaimed director Michael Apted (49 UP, HBO’s ROME, COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER), AMAZING GRACE, tells the inspiring story of how one man’s passion and perseverance changed the world. Based on the true life story of William Wilberforce played by Ioan Gruffudd (FANTASTIC FOUR and its sequel FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER), a leader of the British abolition movement, the film chronicles his epic struggle to pass a law to end the slave trade in the late 18th Century. Along the way, Wilberforce meets intense opposition from members of Parliament who feel the slave trade is tied to the stability of the British Empire. Several friends, including Wilberforce’s minister, John Newton, played by Albert Finney (OCEAN’S TWELVE, ERIN BROCKOVICH), a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace,” urge him to see the cause through.

From an original screenplay by Academy Award® nominee Steven Knight (DIRTY PRETTY THINGS), the film boasts a tremendous ensemble cast including Romola Garai (ATONEMENT, VANITY FAIR), Michael Gambon (HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN), Benedict Cumberbatch (STARTER FOR 10), Rufus Sewell (THE ILLUSIONIST), Ciarán Hinds (HBO’s ROME, MIAMI VICE), Toby Jones (INFAMOUS) and world-music sensation Youssou N’Dour. Executive Producer is Jeanney Kim, with Mark Cooper as co-producer. Producers on the film are Terrence Malick and Ed Pressman under their Sunflower Productions banner, Patricia Heaton and David Hunt for FourBoys Films, and Ken Wales.

Following a massive and successful grassroots outreach campaign by Bristol Bay Productions to build a coalition of organizations and leaders, extremely positive exit polls have shown that of the more than 2 million people who have seen the film, some 40% said they were encouraged to see the film at church. February 18, 2007 was designated as “Amazing Grace Sunday.” Through the work of faith organizations, approximately 6,000 churches signed up online www.amazinggracesunday.com to participate in a variety of activities, most commonly pledging to sing the famous hymn at services that day.

The grassroots campaign for the film also included direct outreach to the home school community, outreach to major political leaders- including private screenings in the U.S. Senate, the White House, and state capitols throughout the U.S., as well as outreach to African American leadership during February’s Black History Month celebrations. Educational and faith resource guides were also made available for use in classrooms and sermons.

One of the key components of the outreach campaign was the creation of The Amazing Change www.theamazingchange.com campaign to end modern day slavery. The Amazing Change involved more than 75 organizations around the country who are dedicated to ending modern day slavery including human trafficking, child sexual slavery, and forced labor practices and improving the world in other ways. Participating organizations including International Justice Mission, Child Voice International, Rugmark and Free the Slaves represent a diverse group of faith-based and secular organizations focused on ending human slavery. The Amazing Change website features a virtual petition to end slavery with more than 100,000 signatures to date. Many other organizations working on humanitarian, environmental and other issues that provide for the common good have also joined the campaign including the Humane Society, World Vision and Prison Fellowship.

In addition to the film, an “inspired by” AMAZING GRACE soundtrack was released in February by Sparrow and EMI Records featuring a new version of the favorite hymn by Christian music star Chris Tomlin.

Several books have also been published to co-inside with the film’s release and The Amazing Change campaign. HarperSanFrancisco released two books, Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery, by Eric Metaxas and Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade—And How We Can Fight It by David Batstone, on February 6, 2007. Also released in February was Be The Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World by 15-year old abolitionist Zach Hunter published by Zondervan.

ABOUT ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS
Roadside Attractions is an independent film distribution company committed to championing films that entertain, delight, and enlighten audiences of all kinds. The company works with filmmakers to devise innovative marketing strategies that encourage audiences to see films that are not typical studio fare.

ABOUT SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS
Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company. The company develops, produces, and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries, working with world renowned and emerging writers and filmmakers. Goldwyn is consistently committed to filmed entertainment offering original voices in uniquely told stories.

ABOUT BRISTOL BAY PRODUCTIONS
Bristol Bay Productions finances and produces feature films in all genres—dramas, comedies, thrillers and action adventure—that tell uplifting stories appropriate for audiences of all ages. Bristol Bay’s films come from a number of sources: popular books that have engaged millions, as well as drawing upon the lives of influential people, timeless heroes, themes and events that inspire us all. Because of their broad appeal, Bristol Bay’s films are rated G, PG and PG-13.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karolyn Kelly-O’Keefe, Morehouse Publishing, an imprint of Church Publishing, Inc.
717-234-5356, kkokeefe07@comcast.net

NEW YORK (March 9, 2007) – At the dawn of Christianity, holy women went into the wilderness of the deserts of northern Egypt to give themselves totally to lives of prayer. In her new book from Morehouse Publishing, Episcopal Priest and retreat leader Mary Earle explores the spirituality of these little known “desert mothers” from the fourth century. Earle invites readers to learn ways to apply the wisdom of these ancient women today.

“We are discovering, often through painstaking, detailed examination of primary texts, that women played an essential role in the early years of the Christian faith,” says Earle. “In those first centuries, before the church was marked by the institutional division between East and West, women were functioning in a variety of roles. They were seeking to live out the faith in Christ…and living in ways that were authentic and true to the gospel. Their example challenges our ways of understanding the faith.”

The Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness provides an introduction to discover some of the foremothers in the Christian faith, and an invitation to practice their way of living. These women began to create and shape lives in the deserts of the Holy Land as “ammas,” -- literally, “mothers” -- but also implying wise guidance and care of souls. The book is available direct from Morehouse Publishing (www.morehousepublishing.org, 800-877-0012) and through local bookstores.

Mary C. Earle is a spiritual director, retreat leader, writer, and Episcopal priest. She is the author of Broken Body, Healing Spirit: Lectio Divina and Living with Illness and Beginning Again: Benedictine Wisdom for Living with Illness, and the co-author of Holy Companions: Spiritual Practices from the Celtic Saints.

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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C., March 8, 2007 - RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, the Thirteen/WNET New York-produced PBS news magazine program hosted by Bob Abernethy, has been recognized for broadcast excellence in awards competitions sponsored by CINE, New York Festivals and Excellence in Media.

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY received two prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Awards for "Scott Neeson," the profile of a Hollywood mogul who made a life-changing commitment to helping Cambodia's most disadvantaged kids, which was reported by Lucky Severson and produced by Trent Harris; and for "DNA and Fair Trials," a look at the legal and ethical implications of post-conviction DNA exonerations, featuring correspondent Tim O'Brien with Phil O'Connor serving as producer. Since 1957, CINE has recognized the highest production standards in filmmaking and videography through its international award competition.

In addition, Severson's report examining the debate over capital punishment - "Huntsville: Death Capital," produced by Susan Grandis Goldstein - was awarded a Bronze World Medal by the New York Festivals. This award competition, which also originated in 1957, pays tribute to exceptional work in radio and television programming.

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY was also honored with eight Silver Angel Awards for the following reports: "Scott Neeson" and "Peru Doctor," both reported by Severson and produced by Trent Harris; "Homeless Hospice" also reported by Severson and produced by Goldstein; "Down Syndrome" and "Basil Brave Heart," produced by Marcia Henning with correspondent Bob Faw; "Rick and Kay Warren," produced by Judy Reynolds and featuring correspondent Kim Lawton; "Rev. Gardner C. Taylor," also reported by Lawton and produced by Keisha Dyson; and "Jean Vanier," produced by O'Connor and featuring correspondent Judy Valente. Since 1977, Excellence in Media's Silver Angel Awards have recognized outstanding achievements in various fields of communications that have moral, spiritual or social impact.

Since the show's debut in 1997, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY has received nine CINE, 11 New York Festival and 31 Silver Angel Awards.

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY celebrates 10 years of distinctive, cutting-edge news coverage and analysis on PBS. The acclaimed one-of-a-kind program offers compelling and in-depth reports on important religion and ethics stories and newsmaking headlines impacting communities across the U.S. and worldwide. Executive producer is Arnie Labaton; Thirteen/ WNET executive-in-charge is Stephen Segaller.

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For more information, contact:

Mary Schultz
Director of Communications
202-216-2394
schultzm@religionethics.org


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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777

A Production of Thirteen/WNET New York

** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY **

This week’s edition of the PBS newsmagazine program RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY (distributed Friday, March 9 at 5 p.m., check local listings) will feature the following reports:

* Profile: “Barbara Brown Taylor” — Bob Abernethy visits noted rector and author Barbara Brown Taylor to discuss the pastor’s spiritual transformation documented in her new book, “Leaving Church.” (Rebroadcast from July 7, 2006)

Web link http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week945/profile.html

* Feature: “Father Joe: Slum Priest” — Phil Jones talks to Catholic missionary Father Joe Maier about his commitment to help poor and underprivileged children living in the slums of Bangkok. (Rebroadcast from June 4, 2004)

Web link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week740/profile.html

*** EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE FOLLOWING SEGMENTS
WILL AIR DEPENDING UPON LOCAL PBS STATIONS’ SCHEDULES***

* News Feature: “Obama Church Controversy” — Kim Lawton looks at the political controversy arising from Senator Barack Obama’s spiritual connection to Reverend Jeremiah Wright, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. (NEW)

* Belief and Practice: “The Hajj” — American Abdul Alim Mubarak describes his pilgrimage to Mecca. (Rebroadcast from 1998)

Web links: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week130/feature.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week133/feature.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week145/cover.html

Please note that because this week's show may be pre-empted in several markets due to special PBS Pledge programming, the reports listed with Web links above were originally broadcast on earlier dates and can be accessed online. The transcript and streaming video of the News Feature segment will be available on the show’s Web site, www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics after 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

For information, contact:
Mary Schultz
Director of Communications
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
202-216-2394
schultzm@religionethics.org

*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.

The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.

Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.

Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777