Religion notes: Poll reports beliefs on Jesus’ return in ‘07

Twenty-five percent of Americans believe it is at least somewhat likely that Jesus Christ will return to Earth in 2007, a new poll from The Associated Press and AOL News shows.

The international polling firm Ipsos found that 11 percent of those surveyed said it is “very likely” that Jesus will return to Earth this year. An additional 14 percent said it was “somewhat likely.”

Twenty-five percent of those polled said it was “not too likely,” compared to 42 percent who said it was “not at all likely.” Eight percent said they did not know or were not sure.

While a quarter of Americans polled said that it is at least somewhat likely that Jesus will return to Earth this year, views about the topic varied depending on religious persuasion.

For example, 46 percent of white evangelical Christians believe it’s at least somewhat likely that Jesus will return this year, while 17 percent of Catholics and 10 percent of those with no religion feel the same way.

The poll, conducted Dec. 12-14, was based on telephone interviews with 1,000 adults from all states except Hawaii and Alaska.

Muslim cab controversy

Airport officials in the Twin Cities are trying to crack down on Muslim taxi drivers who refuse to carry passengers traveling with alcohol or dogs.

A subcommittee of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which oversees Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, decided Wednesday to recommend public hearings on a policy that would suspend the licenses of drivers who refused service.

“We have been working with the Muslim community, trying to find solutions that work for everybody. Frankly, we have not been able to,” said commission spokesman Patrick Hogan, who described a failed effort last year to label taxis with special lights to indicate whether drivers would transport alcohol or dogs.

As many as 100 passengers have been denied service each month. That number dropped in August, when the Transportation Security Administration limited carry-on liquids, reducing the number of people traveling with alcohol.