Religion

Forwarded email purports to be an eyewitness account of a Muslim terrorist 'dry run' aboard AirTran flight 297 from Atlanta to Houston on November 17, 2009.

According to this email tale, 400 Christians living in the predominantly Muslim city of Meulaboh, Indonesia were miraculously saved from death in the December 26, 2004 tsunami because they had left to celebrate Christmas in the hills after being told they could not do so in town.

When Jim Neugent sent an email to ABC-TV complaining about the depiction of homosexuality in an episode of "The Practice," he got more than he bargained for in response.

Is the American Civil Liberties Union against displaying crosses on federal property, including military gravesites?

Has the ACLU raised objections to U.S. service personnel praying based on a photo showing a group of Marines with bowed heads?

Email chain letter claims the ACLU has filed lawsuits to remove all crosses from military gravesites and to prohibit military personnel from praying. The email further states that "thanks to the retched [sic] ACLU and our new (Obama) administration," Navy chaplains can no longer mention Jesus' name in prayer.

Alleged quotation from a book written by Al Gore derides Christians as "a blight on the environment."

In this emailed anecdote by an unknown author, a university student named Albert Einstein humiliates his atheist professor by proving that God exists.

Email describes an encounter between a Christian minister and a Muslim imam in which the latter admits that his religion requires violent jihad (holy war) against all infidels (non-believers in Islam).

Email flier from the American Family Association urges recipients to boycott Allstate Insurance Company due to the alleged firing of an employee for expressing 'Christian beliefs' against homosexuality.

From 1999: "IDChip.com" creates apocalyptic hysteria - a cautionary tale for aspiring Net satirists.

An atheist and his ACLU lawyer go before a judge to complain that while Christians have Christmas and Easter, and Jews have Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, there is no such holiday for atheists.

Email rumor claims charismatic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is the Antichrist prophesied in the New Testament.

Email rumor labels presidential candidate Barack Obama a racist for attending a church that describes itself as "unashamedly black" with a "non-negotiable commitment to Africa."

Email rumor alleges that probable U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is actually a loyal Muslim who has lied about his religious background, including his claim to being a devoted Christian.

It all adds up... to 666.

Email flier describes an evangelical gathering in New Orleans during which 87-year-old pastor Billy Graham allegedly led a procession through the French Quarter on his mobility scooter.

Email flier claims the First Amendment rights of a Christian group reading Bible passages at a gay pride event were violated when they were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and hate crimes.

To outward appearances, Anton LaVey's so-called Church of Satan still survives despite his passing — or so its most recent High Priestess, Blanche Barton, has tried hard to convince the world.

Outdated email protest declares the Dr. Pepper/Seven Up company guilty of "anti-Christian political correctness" for leaving the phrase "under God" out of a Pledge of Allegiance excerpt. (Variant: Pepsi Omits 'Under God')

Forwarded email describes a personal encounter with President G.W. Bush at St. John's Church, Washington, D.C.  True story!

In this emailed image, a rock formation and its reflection in a body of water resemble a mother and child praying.

In which we attempt to draw a distinction between presidential folklore and boldfaced lies.

According to this forwarded email, President G.W. Bush declared his favorite Bible verse to be John 16:3 ("And they will do this because they have not known the Father nor Me").

Email petition aims to block the release of a movie (sometimes referred to by the title 'Corpus Christi') allegedly depicting Jesus Christ and his disciples as gay.

Email rumors warn parents that a new children's movie, <i>The Golden Compass</i>, was written by an atheist and is aimed at selling books promoting anti-religious themes.

An email chain letter alleges that author J.K. Rowling created the Harry Potter books to recruit young children into witchcraft and satanism.

'Dear Guide: Bill Gates is NOT the AntiChrist, compared to someone on welfare he RICH, compared to real wealth less than avaerage. Bill Gates is not powerful just being used by Satan like many good people in the world.'

"I made this bet that I could find 300 people who believe in God before my friend could find 300 people who do not..."

Forwarded emails express alarm that a Muslim Day of Prayer with an estimated 50,000 Muslims attending has been announced for Washington, D.C. on September 25, 2009.

Did Janet Reno suggest on national TV that virtually all practicing Christians are cultists?

Like President G.W. Bush and Vice-President Al Gore before him, John Kerry stands falsely accused of declaring his favorite Bible verse to be John 16:3 ("And they will do this because they have not known the Father nor Me").

Forwarded article attributed to Egyptian-born Christian convert Nonie Darwish warns that radical Islamists aim to destroy western civilization by imposing Sharia law on the entire world.

This petition alleging that the FCC is under the spell of atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair and plans to eliminate religious broadcasting in America is just as false today as it was when it was launched a quarter of a century ago.

Rumor has it that Mel Gibson may harbor anti-Semitic sentiments and that his new movie "The Passion," which depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life, blames Jews for his crucifixion and death.

Did a crashing airliner unaccountable remain aloft for nine minutes while a pastor's wife led fellow passengers in prayer?

Emailed slide show claims that microchips used in Mondex 'smart cards' are being implanted in people's hands or foreheads and constitute the 'mark of the beast' prophesied in the Biblical Book of Revelation.

Emailed photos show Muslims brandishing signs advocating violence against anyone who insults Islam at a purported 'Religion of Peace demonstration' in London.

In which we are asked to believe that NASA scientists inadvertently proved that the biblical account of God causing the sun to stand still for a day is true.

Forwarded email claims an NBC poll asking respondents if they believe in God yielded 86% in favor of keeping the words "In God we trust" on currency and 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Forwarded email claims President Obama declared the U.S. "no longer a Christian nation" and canceled the annual National Day of Prayer ceremony "under the ruse of not wanting to offend anyone."

The story of Pam Tebow, who contracted amoebic dysentery just before becoming pregnant and was placed on strong medication which doctors believed damaged the fetus. She refused to have an abortion and ultimately gave birth to future football star Tim Tebow.

Text of "politically incorrect" prayer given by Pastor Joe Wright before the Kansas House of Representatives in 1996.

Emailed essay attributed to Paul Harvey defends Christian prayers at public events: "I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations."

Arkansas woman mistakes the driver of a pickup truck for Jesus and dies while trying to ascend to heaven through the sun roof of her car.

An update on devilish rumors that have haunted Procter & Gamble for two decades.

"For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace."

Forwarded email claims the Obamas will have "holiday trees" instead of Christmas trees in the White House this year, and no ornaments with religious themes will be allowed.

U.S. Court of Appeals declares the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. Online petition drives promise to deliver "millions" of names to elected officials in protest.

Will filling in 'Jedi' as your religion on census forms force the government to recognize it as a legitimate faith?

Forwarded emails say a Tyson Foods poultry processing plant in Tennessee has dropped the traditional Labor Day holiday in favor of a paid day off on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Forwarded slide show claims microchips used in Mondex 'smart cards' are now being implanted in people's hands or foreheads and constitute 'the Mark of the Beast' prophesied in the Book of Revelation.

Forwarded slide show claims microchips used in Mondex 'smart cards' are now being implanted in people's hands or foreheads and constitute 'the Mark of the Beast' prophesied in the Book of Revelation.