Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 238
June 30, 2015
“Conscientious objection against the state”?
LCMS president Matthew Harrison has issued a response to the Supreme Court marriage ruling. It’s a strong statement, but what’s most striking and surprising, coming from a Lutheran with a Two Kingdoms theology, is his quotation of the anti-Nazi theologian Hermann Sasse on signs that the state has lost its Romans 13 legitimacy. President Harrison [Read More...]
“Elder orphans”
As the Baby Boomers move into old age, a new problem is emerging. Many of them chose not to have children. Now large percentages of the elderly will have no children or other family members to care for them. As it is, 60% of the residents of nursing homes have no regular visitors. These isolated [Read More...]
The sixth extinction will include us
Some scientists are saying that we have entered the sixth phase of mass extinction of animal species, the biggest since the dinosaur days. They add that this sixth extinction is likely–due to climate change, etc.–to also take out the human race. For the original scientific article, go here. Notice: One of the authors is Paul [Read More...]
June 27, 2015
Special Saturday edition
This is usually a weekday blog, but, given the significance of the Supreme Court decision on gay marriage, my sense is that we need to talk about it. While we still can.
“Voting Republican will not save us now”
Rod Dreher takes a bleak look at the Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage. It is now clear, he says, that we really do live in a post-Christian culture. Now that homosexuality has been given the status of race, the government and the public really are going to go after those who don’t believe that [Read More...]
Newspaper won’t allow opinions against gay marriage
Where we are already, after the Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling: A Harrisburg, PA, newspaper has announced that since the gay marriage issue is now “settled,” it will not print op-ed pieces or letters to the editor that oppose gay marriage or say that homosexual acts are immoral or unnatural. We won’t print racist, sexist, [Read More...]
Withstanding beatings, but not tweetings
Christians want to be liked. And we want to be known for our love. So the charge that we are “haters” cuts deep, and public scorn is hard to take. To the point that we are sometimes tempted to adopt a more socially-accepted posture. David French has some trenchant words about being a Christian in [Read More...]
June 26, 2015
Supreme Court makes gay marriage the law of the land
The Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage throughout the nation, going so far as to rule that gay marriage is a constitutional right. So now it is done. What now? Discuss. From Robert Barnes, Supreme Court rules gay couples nationwide have a right to marry – The Washington Post: The Supreme Court on Friday delivered [Read More...]
“Don’t you care that we are perishing?”
More great teaching and Biblical application from Pastor Douthwaite, preaching on Mark 4:35-41, about the storm on the Sea of Galilee, with Jesus being, literally and figuratively, “in the same boat” with the disciples. From Rev. James Douthwaite, St. Athanasius Lutheran Church: Pentecost 4 Sermon: When you’re on a boat out in the middle of [Read More...]
New rhetorical strategies for the anti-gun crowd
Opponents of the Second Amendment, inspired by other rapid changes of public opinion, are formulating new ways of framing their arguments against the ownership of firearms: Make gun ownership a public health issue, as with tobacco and drunk driving Make gun ownership morally problematic, as with the Confederate flag Adopt the language of “liberty,” as [Read More...]
