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saturday march 29 2003 15 economist sun suntribune ggedjnto online faith message cant replace gathering of souls by kathleen griffin staff writer aith groups across york region are taking advan tage of the internet to get their message out with many churches synagogues and mosques creatingwebsites offer ing sermons daily prayer sugges tions and religious links but online worship partici pation in religious service web casts is riot likely to replace faith services in canada despite its growing popularity in the united states religious represen tatives said in fact they argued the fellow ship of worship is almost as important as worship itself i dont see it coming ever said shabbir mohamed of the jaffari islamic centre in thornhill we pray five times a day its a physical thing and even in those daily prayers people are encouraged to get together according to a recent us pew internet project study 28 million americans have logged on to find out more about their faith or research other religions its easy to see the attraction the web provides around-the- clock and aroundtheglobe opportunities to share prayers and concerns a convenient and- anonymous way to learn about other faiths and a massive resource for prayers hymns and all things religious to aid people with daily prayers and devotions chats and forums take place i every day on microsoft networks online religion and beliefs groups with people joining a plethora of discussion groups including christian stay at home moms 1187 members muslims around the world 1421 mem bers and the rabbis study 115 members at faithandvaluescbm which boasts 70 christian and jewish faith groups as members reli gious information news updates and discussions on faithrelated rev ralph garbe of unionville unitedghurch said his churchs website allows people to find out about the ministry without actually attendirig services issues are offered but online worship hasnt to be mainly an american phe- religious education and theol- exploded in canada the way it has nomenon they are a very reli- ogy courses in many denoniina- downsouth gipus society and to marry both tions can also be found online as i have heard very little about it the spiritual and technical aspects can faith history teenage activi- here said freelance religious ties and links to crisis counselling writer ron csillag said it seems see website page 17 ron csillag can inusarmy t o judge by his rhetoric frac tured syntax misplaced modi fiers subpar grammar and all united states president george w bush believes god has cho- sen him to lead the us in this war against evil the god talk in bushs white house surpasses even that of onetime sunday school teacher jimmy carter who rec ognized god forgave hirn certain sins committing adultery in his heart for one butmr carter never gave the impression god was on our side former bush speechwriter david frum the putative author of the presi dents nowfamous axis of evil remark summed up the tone in the current white house when he recounted the first words he heard on the job missed you at biblevstudy president bushs view of the world could be even more black arid white man cold warrior ronald reagans the terrorists hate the fact that we can worship god almighty as we see fit president bush told a group of religious broadcasters in late february odd that philosophy doesht apply to the terrorists who also worship god as theyseefit then he laid out his vision the us is fr called to bring gods gift of liberty to while few doubt president bush is sincere 1 in his faith the problem is with his evident conviction hes doing gods bidding god is firmly in his corner because l as a recent article in the atlantic noted the almighty has played a salvific role in his life you know i had a drinking prob lem he told a group of clergy who met with him last september right now i see bushs page 16 no sugar todighf ton aint seen nothiif yet andmore march 31 ft april 1 2003 at 800 pm tickets 4950 look no further than every song teds a story for evidence of randy bachirtans timeless legacy coming across like an ageless rocker during this 16song live set of classics by the guess who and bachmantumer overdrive opening act will feature the laws 9 tkeotmjfdms may 2 ft 3200s at 8 pm single tickets 3400 maikliaill j j j l town centre blvd frjffjf 33 markham ontario r yifinaulttt for tickets cull to vwlrm700qi not available in flggjiarcj cotc special rates available for groups of 10 or more call 9053055973 box office hours mon- sat 11 am 6 pm