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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: conversion

conversion stories: 13 news summaries
analysis



 Why Gingrich 
 Became Catholic 


Aug 16, 09 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - Newt Gingrich shrugged off religious issues while in office, and was recently seen reading a novel before Mass—so why his sudden conversion to Catholicism? Some analysts say he converted this spring to position himself for the Republican nomination in 2012. Joining other high-profile conservatives on the road to Rome,... More »

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Newt Gingrich • Catholic Church • conservative • convert • Catholic • conversion • Election 2012

Foiled Robber Leaves Store With $40, Bread

Shopkeeper pulls gun on would-be perp, who begs for mercy, food

Jun 3, 09 10:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - A man approached a Long Island convenience store counter with a baseball bat, demanding cash; the shop owner whipped out his shotgun, prompting the man’s tearful pleas for mercy. The impassioned display worked, Newsday reports: Mohammad Sohail took pity on the robber and gave him $40 and a loaf... More »

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Islam • crime • bread • robbery • money • convenience stores • Long Island • conversion • Mohammad Sohail

(Newser) - The US military burned bibles sent to Afghanistan by an American church, reports CNN. Officials feared the bibles, sent last year, would cause problems if they were used in a campaign to convert Muslims to Christianity. The unsolicited bibles were printed in the two most popular Afghani languages. Ironically, Taliban... More »

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Afghanistan • Taliban • Christianity • Muslim • US Army • Bible • conversion

John Paul II's Attacker Wants Vatican Baptism

Man who shot pontiff seeks ceremony after prison release

May 13, 09 1:46 PM CDT
(Newser) - The man who shot Pope John Paul II gets out of prison in January—and when he does, he wants to be baptized at the Vatican, his lawyer says. Over the years, Mehmet Ali Agca has claimed to be the Messiah or Jesus Christ, fueling speculation about his mental health... More »

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Christianity • Vatican • Pope John Paul II • assassination attempt • conversion • baptism • Mehmet Ali Agca

(Newser) - The Pope urged Catholics in Angola to reach out and convert witchcraft believers frightened by “evil powers,” the AP reports. “In today's Angola, Catholics should offer the message of Christ to the many who live in the fear of spirits,” a fear that can lead them... More »

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Africa • Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic • witchcraft • conversion • Angola

 LiLo Takes Up Judaism for Sam 

Catholic actress wants to convert

Mar 3, 09 9:05 AM CST
(Newser) - Lindsay Lohan apparently thinks her relationship with Samantha Ronson is strong enough to warrant a change in religion, the New York Post reports. The pair recently attended Ronson’s half-brother’s bar mitzvah, and Lohan, raised Catholic, now wants to convert to Judaism. LiLo’s dad? Not convinced: “She’... More »

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Scientology • religion • Lindsay Lohan • Judaism • celebrity • Kabbalah • conversion • Samantha Ronson • Michael Lohan

Oy, Caramba!
Cubans Turn
to Judaism

But for some, religious awakening looks a lot like exit strategy

Jan 14, 09 8:25 AM CST
(Newser) - Cuba's Jewish community is growing for the first time in decades, the Wall Street Journal reports. The country's Jewish population dwindled to 1,000 by the late 1980s but has now hit 1,500. Hundreds of other Cuban Jews have recently emigrated, landing in Israel, Canada, and the US. Many... More »

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Israel • Jews • Cuba • Judaism • emigration • conversion • Jewish

Christians Secretly Target Converts in North Africa

Islamic leaders oppose 'unethical' tactics

Dec 15, 08 12:03 PM CST
(Newser) - Islamic leaders in north Africa say they are incensed by the tactics of Christians bent on secretly converting their followers, Reuters reports. Religious authorities gripe that missionaries in Morocco and Algeria are using “unethical” methods, such as spreading false information and preying on the weak. “People respond positively... More »

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Christianity • Algeria • Morocco • worshippers • missionary • Christians • convert • conversion

Meet Mikaeel: Jacko Converts to Islam

British tabloid says King of Pop assumes new name in ceremony

Nov 21, 08 11:40 AM CST
(Newser) - Michael Jackson has followed the path of fellow entertainer Cat Stevens in converting to Islam, a source tells the British tabloid the Sun. Jackson—now called Mikaeel—recently went through a ceremony at a friend’s Hollywood Hills home, after being swayed by pals who said the faith had made... More »

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Islam • Michael Jackson • conversion • Muslim convert • Cat Stevens

(Newser) - A divorce ruling in Israel has thrown thousands of Jewish conversions into question and sparked a debate over who is really Jewish, the Washington Post reports. Ultra-Orthodox rabbis, who frame one side of the dispute, refused to let a Jewish convert divorce last year, saying she was never married because... More »

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Israel • religion • Judaism • conversion • Jewish

How Jindal Traded Vishnu for Jesus

Hindu-born La. governor's conversion could help McCain

Jul 25, 08 1:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - When political observers talk about Bobby Jindal’s vice presidential credentials, they often mention that his devout Christian faith might sway the base. It’s a curious advantage for the Hindu-raised son of Punjabi immigrants, but Jindal’s conversion was the sincere product of a deep spiritual quest, the More »

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John McCain • Republican • Christianity • Lousiana • Bobby Jindal • conversion • running mate • vice presidential sweepstakes • Hinduism

Judaism's Black Converts Growing Part of US Mosaic

More African-Americans switch religions even as Obama seeks to renew connection

Jul 17, 08 8:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - The number of African-Americans converting to Judaism is growing, the Christian Science Monitor reports, at a time when Democrat Barack Obama is seeking to renew what was once a strong alliance between the groups. Politics, though, plays a small role; "Obama's candidacy, African-Americans choosing to be Jews ... is all... More »

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Barack Obama • Jews • religion • presidential politics • conversion • Election 2008 • black voters

Blair Now Officially Catholic

Former British PM makes long-awaited conversion

Dec 22, 07 11:16 AM CST
(Newser) - Tony Blair converted to Catholicism yesterday, confirming months of rumors that he would switch from the Church of England, the UK Times reports. "I am very glad to receive Tony Blair into the Catholic church," said the archbishop of Westminster, who performed the ceremony in London. The former... More »

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Tony Blair • Catholic Church • Vatican • communion • Archbishop of Westminster • conversion

13 Stories


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