Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 200
December 4, 2015
Women will now serve in combat, all military jobs
The Defense Secretary has opened all combat units to women. All branches of the military must now allow women to serve in any and all positions. From In historic decision, Pentagon chief opens all jobs in combat units to women – The Washington Post: Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said Thursday that he is opening [Read More...]
F.B.I. is treating San Bernadino shootings as terrorism
The married couple that killed 14 people and wounded 21 at a center for the disabled in San Bernadino, California, had jihadist connections. The shooting might have elements of workplace violence, since the male assailant worked there and apparently was angered at a Christmas party, but the FBI is handling the case as a counterterrorism [Read More...]
December 3, 2015
What members of the LCMS actually believe
That Pew Religious Landscape study we blogged about last month now has denominational breakdowns. This includes information about demographics, political beliefs, religious beliefs, and moral beliefs. Members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (categorized under “evangelical,” “Lutheran family”) are not as conservative as their church is (though the same could be said of other “conservative” [Read More...]
How to calm a crying baby
From How to Instantly Calm a Crying Baby – In The Loop Tips & Advice | mom.me: A video posted by pediatrician Dr. Robert Hamilton demonstrating a technique he calls “The Hold,” has taken the Internet by storm. In the video, the father of six, employs some simple steps to immediately calm several wailing babies. [Read More...]
Christian teaching on marriage as discrimination?
The Catholic church of Australia published a booklet about marriage, explaining why the institution is for men and women, not same-sex couples, and setting forth basic Christian teachings on the matter. Now it faces a discrimination complaint filed by a transgendered gay activist (a man in a relationship with a woman, but then he had [Read More...]
December 2, 2015
Top 25 Christian Classics
Christian History surveyed 70 of its authors to compile the 25 most influential Christian writings, after the Bible. Martin Luther had three titles, second only to St. Augustine, who had four. See the list and links after the jump. From Christian History Magazine: 25 Classic Works #1. Augustine, Confessions (c. 398) #2. Thomas Aquinas, Summa [Read More...]
LCMS dissolves relationship with Boy Scouts
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has formally dissolved its Memorandum of Understanding with the Boy Scouts of America. As of now, congregations may still sponsor troops, though a task force will apparently study whether that should continue. The action is due to the Boy Scouts’ decision to allow for gay scoutmasters and various legal issues [Read More...]
How many people can we know?
150. See the explanation after the jump. From The Oklahoman: Q: Can you propose numbers and perhaps even a sort of formula for maintaining human friendships? A: The magic number is about 150 for the natural size of social groups, according to University of Oxford’s Robin Dunbar, as reported by Catherine deLange in New Scientist [Read More...]
December 1, 2015
Still not getting Vocation
Our newspaper publishes Billy Graham’s Q&A column. Here is a recent question from Mrs. K. W.: DEAR DR. GRAHAM: My husband and I want to serve God, but we’re still tied down with family responsibilities and jobs. Maybe we can volunteer for some kind of mission work once our children are grown or we retire. [Read More...]
Hitler’s worldview
In the course of a column about whether a nuclear Iran can be trusted not to attack Israel, George Will reviews Yale historian Timothy Snyder’s Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning. I woud just add that his account of Hitler’s worldview and why he hated the Jews is in accord with my book [Read More...]
