How much is a Bible website worth? A disgruntled investor has sued Bible.com, saying the website’s name alone should make it a “goldmine.” James Solakian filed suit against Bible.com, according to the Reuters news agency. He says the website should be worth as least as much as Dictionary.com, Reference.com and Thesaurus.com, which together sold for $100 million in 2007. R.S. “Bud” Miller, an Arizona pastor, registered the domain name in 1996 for $50, and Solakian acquired 28 percent of the company’s equity in 2001. According to the website, it draws more than 2 million visitors each month and is part of a nonprofit ministry that offers daily devotionals, Bible verses and biblical answers for hot topics.
Study notes fitness benefits of faith for black women. Adding faith to the exercise regimen of African-American women may prompt them to be more fit, a UCLA study shows. Researchers studying black women from three Los Angeles churches who participated in faith-based physical activity found the women increased their walking by about three miles per week. The study results, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involved 62 women. All participated in exercises but some also listened to Scripture reading and participated in group prayer. Others, in a control group, listened instead to lectures on topics such as memory loss and identity theft. The women involved in the faith-based program increased their weekly steps by 78 percent, while those in the control group saw a 19 percent increase.
Most think sex offenders should be in pews. Nearly eight in 10 respondents who participated in a Christianity Today International survey said convicted sex offenders should be welcomed in church pews. The vast majority of survey participants agreed—so long as offenders who were released from prison were subject to appropriate limitations and kept under supervision. A significant majority — 83 percent — said a demonstration of repentance is a key factor in shaping views about whether or not convicted offenders should be welcomed by a congregation. Two in three respondents said their views would depend on whether one or more of the victims of the offender attend the church. The survey was based on the responses of 2,864 people.
Americans want more forgiveness — theoretically. Most Americans want more forgiveness, but they are picky about choosing who to forgive, a new survey showed. Sixty-two percent of American adults said they need more forgiveness in their personal lives, and 94 percent wanted to see more forgiveness in the country, according to a study by the Michigan-based Fetzer Institute. More than half of Americans said there are situations where people never should be forgiven, including abuse, sexual crimes, murder and other intentionally committed crimes. The survey found a majority of Americans also believe forgiveness is conditional. Findings were based on an online survey taken Aug. 4-15 by 1,000 U.S. adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Compiled from Religion News Service