Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 15
July 2, 2018
Communism Is Back in Fashion
As progressives are moving further and further to the left, some are not stopping at socialism or even at the identity politics of post-Marxism. Some are embracing old-fashioned Cold-War-era, Soviet-style communism. Slovenian thinker Slavoj Žižek is such a communist. He is described as an author of “sheer brilliance” with a big following in Western academic circles. […]
Who Needs Palliative Care When We Have Euthanasia?
“Palliative care” refers to medical treatments that ease pain and suffering, particularly for the terminally ill. But in jurisdictions that have legalized euthanasia, palliative care is becoming less and less available. This, in turn, causes more patients to turn to physician-assisted suicide. So observes Wesley J. Smith, who cites a physician in the Netherlands: “One […]
June 29, 2018
My Thoughts on “The Benedict Option”
I finally read Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option: a Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation. It’s a good book, an important book, one that all Christians would do well to read. I just have a few friendly criticisms. First of all, he shoots down what he considers to be Christians’ illusions. We are not going […]
A New Tax That Will Hit Some Churches
The tax legislation passed by Congress was a long, complex bill that hardly any lawmakers read all the way through. Some surprises are coming out. Though the effect of the tax bill was to cut taxes dramatically for most Americans, at least one provision will force churches and other non-profits that are normally tax-exempt to […]
June 28, 2018
The Created Order
The doctrine of creation means more than opposing evolution. It teaches that there is a “created order” that we belong to. As Christians wrestle with the controversial issues of our day, we often forget this fact. So says Breakpoint writer and Patheos blogger G. Shane Morris in his post Rules Without Reasons: Why the Culture Is […]
We Will Smoke Marijuana in Muskogee
“We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee,” sang the great Merle Haggard in his iconic Okie from Muskogee. That will change now that Oklahoma voters have approved a referendum to legalize marijuana, as long as you have a license to use it. Technically, the measure legalizes medical marijuana, but it is different from the laws in the […]
June 27, 2018
Justice Kennedy to Retire from the Supreme Court
Justice Anthony Kennedy, 81, has announced that he is retiring from the Supreme Court. Described as “the court’s most important member,” he has been the perennial swing vote, sometimes voting for the liberal side and sometimes voting for the conservative side. Justice Kennedy was the author of the decision legalizing gay marriage, as well as […]
“Baptism Violates the Baby’s Rights” and More from Once-Catholic Ireland
Ireland was once one of the world’s most Catholic countries, but now that the nation voted to legalize abortion, the whole fabric of not just Catholicism but Christianity is becoming unravelled. The former president of Ireland, Mary McAleese, is claiming that baptism oppresses babies because it denies them the right to choose their religion for […]
Supreme Court: Pro-Life Clinics Can’t Be Forced to Promote Abortion
In another important religious liberty and free-speech case, the Supreme Court overturned a California law that forced pro-life clinics to post advertisements for abortion. From Calvin Freiburger at LifeSiteNews: The United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Tuesday that California cannot force pro-life pregnancy centers in the state to advertise abortions. National Institute of Family […]
June 26, 2018
An Example of a Christian Nation
Poland officially crowned Jesus Christ as its king. It also remains resolutely pro-life. Christian morality reigns. And the Catholic Church enjoys a special status and official influence. Poland may thus be the world’s only explicitly Christian nation. But is there something wrong here? Here is a report from Jozef Andrew Kosc in First Things: In […]
