Actor Anthony Hopkins talks about his faith

Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins has played some scarily evil characters in his time, including the infamous cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, but Hopkins displayed another side of himself recently when he readily spoke about his faith in God.

Hopkins was being interviewed on CNN’s Piers Morgan Saturday, when Morgan questioned him “Do you believe in God?” To which Hopkins replied, “Yes, I do. I do.”

The 73-year-old actor told Morgan that he came to believe in God 35 years previously when he was suffering through an intense bout of alcohol addiction and prayed to God even though he considered himself an atheist at the time.

“I was hell bent on destruction. And I just asked for a little bit of help, and suddenly, pow. It was just like, bingo,” remembered Hopkins.

Hopkins likened his addiction to possession.

“It was like being possessed by a demon, an addiction, and I couldn't stop. And millions of people around like that. I could not stop.”

Hopkins said he called out for help in desperation and a woman told him to just trust in God.

“And I said, well, why not? And was such a quantum leap from this to that.”

Hopkins plays a priest that does exorcism in his latest movie, ‘The Rite,’ and pointed out that his character Father Lucas is both weak and powerless.

“The priest says that’s humility,” said Hopkins, who also said that he originally didn’t want to play the role because he didn’t want to play another ‘weirdo,’ but eventually decided to take it on because he enjoyed the idea behind the film.

“I liked the idea that it was based on a true story and that he (director) didn’t want to do anything strange with it, you know, spinning heads and things and all that,” the veteran actor explained.

Obama confirms his Christian faith

Over the last year, US President Barack Obama has endured unfair speculation about the reality of his professed Christian faith, but at a recent national prayer breakfast Obama took the opportunity to share more deeply about the role faith plays in his life.

Obama said that he not only prays for peace in the Middle East, but also for assistance for his 12-year-old daughter, Malia.

"Lord, give me patience as I watch Malia go to her first dance, where there will be boys. Lord, let her skirt get longer as she travels to that place," Obama recounted to laughter.

Obama went onto explain the roots of his faith: "I came to know Jesus Christ for myself and embrace him as my Lord and Saviour."

Obama described his childhood as "not religious", his father as a non-believer and his mother "grew up with a certain scepticism … she only took me to church at Easter and Christmas – sometimes".

It was only when Obama became involved in community efforts, "working with pastors and laypeople, trying to heal the wounds of hurting neighbourhoods", that he first began to identify himself as a Christian.

Obama also shared something of the frustration he feels when people doubt the integrity of his professed faith - a study done last year found that 18% of Americans claimed Obama was a (covert) Muslim – and that the number had increased since he became president. Only 34% of those surveyed said he was a Christian.

"My Christian faith then has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years, all the more so when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time," Obama emphasised.

"We are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we're being true to our conscience and true to our God."

Christians protect praying Muslims

Incredible photos of religious unity have emerged amidst all the chaos in Egypt as Christian protesters joined hands and encircled Muslims to protect them as they prayed.

The photo was taken in Cairo by Nevin Zaki and she shared the images on Twitter, writing, 'Bear in mind that this pic was taken a month after the Alexandria bombing where many Christians died in vain. Yet we all stood by each other.'

The suicide bombing that Zaki refers to took place shortly after New Year's Day killing 23 Coptic Christians, who make up 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million person population. It is believed that radical Muslims were responsible for the bombing.

1,500-year-old church uncovered

Israeli archaeologists have announced the discovery of a 1,500-year-old church, complete with a remarkably well-preserved mosaic floor with images of lions, foxes, fish and peacocks.

A spokesperson for the Israel Antiquities Authority, Amir Ganor, said the church located in the hills south-west of Jerusalem was active as a faith community between the fifth and seventh centuries.

Archaeologists only began digging around the site after noticing thieves plundering it.

Mr Ganor said archaeologists were thrilled to discover a mosaic "unique in its craftsmanship and level of preservation".

Experts initially believed the discover was a synagogue, but after further investigation concluded it was a Byzantine church.
Journalists were allowed a brief viewing of the mosaic before it was recovered until funding becomes available for its proper preservation.

Obama and Jesus ranked top of the pops by teens

A recent Barna Group survey has found that among American teenagers, the US President Barack Obama and Jesus Christ get equal ranking as role models.

While the majority of teens name a relative, friend or teacher as a primary role model, a significant number also named public figures such as sports stars, actors or other celebrities.

In the study, done on teens between 13 and 17, 6% named entertainers as their role models compared to only 1% who listed science or medical professionals. Sports heroes as a whole garnered 5% of the vote, with political leaders at 4% and faith leaders also at 4.

Figures such as Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, LeBron James and Paul McCartney were repeatedly named as heroes.

President Obama and Jesus Christ were also commonly named, each receiving 3% of the total vote. Teenagers such they admired Obama for his hard work and confidence, while Jesus was respected for his concern for others and being an example to follow.

“For better and worse, teens are emulating the people they know best,” said David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group. “Many parents and youth workers fret about the role models of the next generation. Yet, one reason to remain hopeful about the development of young people is their reliance upon the people they know best: friends, relatives, teachers, pastors, and coaches.”

“At the same time, that reality underscores the insistence of many parents that they influence the people with whom their child associates, in order to be sure that their kids are surrounded by people modeling positive values and life choices,” he added.

The majority of teenagers nominated their role model based on personality traits (26%), identifying them as being caring, loving, polite, or courageous. The second biggest factor in teens’ decision for their role model was someone they could emulate or “follow in the footsteps” of (22%). Other factors included a role model accomplishing his or her goals (13%), encouraging them by helping them become a better person or being there for them (11%) and overcoming adversity (9%).

Interestingly enough, Kinnaman observed that faith and religion played a relatively minor role in the choosing of teen role models.

“Even among young Christians, their role models are virtually no different than other teenagers,” he noted.

‘Wicked Bible’ on display

Cambridge University have opened a previously unseen section of their library archives to public display that includes a collection of rare religious texts.

The exhibition is centred on the King James Bible of 1611, which is widely regarded by literary experts as the most influential English book ever written.

However, the display will also include a copy of the 1631 edition of the Bible in which the word "not" was accidentally omitted from one of the commandments reading ‘Thou shall commit adultery.” The omission earned a public rebuke from the Archbishop of Canterbury for its printers. This particular translation became known as the ‘Wicked Bible’ and was mostly destroyed with only a handful surviving to this day.

Other bibles on display include the Gutenberg Bible of 1455, which is the first printed bible, Henry VIII's enormous Great Bible and an ancient 11th century psalter.

Author and journalist Adam Nicolson launched the exhibition and in his opening address described the King James Bible as ''the great national text''.

He said: ''The King James Bible is the most influential book in the English language. For almost 300 of its 400 years it was the core of English consciousness and the touchstone of the culture.

''For those years it became the great national text, a national shrine, the one umbrella under which the whole country could gather.

''It gathered all the best from the translations of the 16th century and winnowed them, sifting out what was good, coining new phrases where these were better.

''The King James Bible is the most marvellous polishing job in the history of English and nothing I have ever seen brings that home more clearly than this exhibition.''

John 3:16 Super Bowl advert rejected by Fox Sports

Super Bowl final advertising is big business in the States, and has not been shy of a little controversy either in the last few years. In their review of advertisements for this years Super Bowl final, Fox Sports has rejected a Christian group’s application to flight a commercial featuring the Bible verse John 3:16. This is because The Fixed Point Foundation’s “Lookup 316 commercial” was deemed as containing too much “religious doctrine,” said FOX.

"[The commercial] was deemed to be too offensive," confirmed Larry Taunton, executive director of Fixed Point Foundation, in an interview with The Christian Post.

However, Taunton strongly disagrees with Fox’s assertion. He describes the advert as beginning with a living room scene of men and women watching a football game. They all cheer at something that occurs on the screen, although you are not shown what. The camera then zooms in on a football player with John 3:16 written on his eye black. One of the fans watching the game asks his neighbor what John 3:16 means and the neighbor shrugs. A fan reaches for his cell phone and says, "I'll look it up." Then the commercial ends.

The advert does not actually feature anything from the Bible other than that verse, nor does it show a preacher or a sermon. It just asks people to look up John 3.16, which is why Taunton cannot understand its rejection.

"It' doesn't sell a product. It doesn't give out the Fixed Point website," argued Taunton. “It simply links to the Lookup 316 website where there is an explanation of the verse's meaning.”

The rejection of this 31-second ad comes despite the fact that the Super Bowl has often allowed quite racy ads to flight. The most famous of these was probably the 2007 “Snicker’s Kiss” ad which showed two men end up kissing after eating a Snickers chocolate bar from opposite ends. The commercial was canned only after public complaints.

"That's deemed OK. [But the 3:16 commercial] is deemed controversial," Taunton said.

Taunton refuses to give up the issue, however, and plans to try again next Super Bowl.