Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 168

The Democrats debate tonight

Hillary Clinton has an almost insurmountable lead thanks to the Democratic establishment super-delegates, but Bernie Sanders keeps beating her in the primaries. So the drama is building in the Democratic party and in the nomination battle. Tonight Clinton and Sanders will debate each other in Brooklyn, a build-up to the New York primary, with its huge delegate [Read More...]

Proof of literacy in Bible days

Liberal scholars arguing for a late date for the texts of the Old Testament say that the Hebrews couldn’t have been literate until after the Babylonian exile.  (Circular reasoning, anyone?)  But archaeologists have discovered a trove of letters written on pottery from a remote military installation.  They are dated around 600 B.C., shortly before Nebuchadnezzar [Read More...]

The First Amendment Defense Act

A bill is before Congress that would protect individuals, churches, and other organizations from being discriminated against because of their beliefs about gay marriage.  The First Amendment Defense Act, which ingeniously frames the issue in terms of discrimination, has been bottled up in committee for over a year.  Lawmakers don’t seem to want to take [Read More...]

Updating the Constitution?

According to a recent poll, 41% of Democrats believe that the Constitution should be “updated.”  The study did not go into details about what they think should be changed.  The Second Amendment, probably.  I wonder what else they would change.  This compares to 28% of the general public and  20% of Republicans. Do you think [Read More...]

We’re going back to the old commenting system!

This blog is going to stop using the World Table commenting system and is going back to Disqus.  That means as of today, barring glitches, you can comment without ratings or being rated.  The whole story after the jump. UPDATE:  The change hasn’t quite clicked in yet, but keep checking. UPDATE:  Disqus is live.  Right [Read More...]

Is Ted Cruz a theocrat?

Ted Cruz is shaping up to be the main alternative to Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.  No one doubts that he is a thorough, consistent conservative.  He is also a vocal Christian.  But some of what he says makes many Christians, not to mention virtually all secularists, leery. Some say he is a “dominionist,” [Read More...]

Defeat ISIS with comedians

U2 frontman Bono told a Congressional committee that the way to defeat ISIS is to send in comedians. From Watch: Bono urges Congress to deploy comedians to fight ISIS | Washington Examiner: Rockstar and international activist Bono mulled over the idea of sending comedians to fight the Islamic State during a hearing before a Senate [Read More...]

The separation of doctrine from practice

After much study and debate among the bishops, Pope Francis has issued a letter on the family entitled Amoris Laetitia (the joy of love).  In wrestling with how to minister to gays, the problems of modern families in a time of sexual revolution, and  whether or not to allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion, the [Read More...]

Freedom of worship or freedom of religion?

The citizen test given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services speaks of “freedom of worship.”  Senator James Lankford (R, OK) has been trying to get the agency to change the test and the study materials so that they refer to the “freedom of religion.”  The agency has finally agreed to do so. Do you [Read More...]

Princeton University vs. the Battle of Princeton

The Battle of Princeton was arguably the turning point of the Revolutionary War, the first time George Washington beat Cornwallis, thanks to Washington’s personal bravery that from that time forward inspired the continental troops. But now preservation of  the battlefield is threatened.  Not by a strip mall.  Not by a theme park.  But by Princeton [Read More...]