news-record.com

As the trombones blared, the "saints" -- dressed in white -- filled the streets in front of God's White House in Northwest Washington yesterday to be soaked in the name of Jesus during the final day of the 82nd annual Holy Convocation of the United House of Prayer for All People (there's one on the corner of East Market and Bennett streets in Greensboro, where they have a public cafeteria).

The mass outdoor baptism service was the first major event presided over by Bishop C.M. "Sweet Daddy" Bailey, the new leader of the District-based organization that has more than 1.5 million members nationwide. Bailey succeeds Bishop S.C. "Sweet Daddy" Madison, who died in April after a brief illness.

The region is marked by religious tensions between Christian missionaries who work with mostly poor tribes in the region and hard-line Hindu groups that claim the Christians are forcing or bribing people to convert.

In this YouTube video Oxford Professor, evangelical atheist and bestselling author Richard Dawkins reads his hate mail from the faithful. Between his gentle English accent and the over-the-top bloodlust of the adherents of the Prince of Peace, it's a hoot.

If you haven't read Dawkins' The God Delusion, you should - whatever your belief system.Those who honestly engage with the book and disagree will find their faiths strengthened. Incredibly thought-provoking and good for hours of conversation