Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 251

Church growth tactics don’t work with Millennials

Rachel Held Evans was something of an evangelical renegade who left the church for awhile, only to come back recently as an Episcopalian.  In an op-ed piece, she explains that the church growth tactics that churches try to use to reach her Millennial generation just don’t work.  “Young people don’t simply want a better show,” [Read More...]

Christian leaders threaten civil disobedience

A number of prominent Christian leaders are threatening civil disobedience if the Supreme Court rules that gay marriage is constitutionally mandated.  Here is the statement and here are the signers.  I’m curious what acts of civil disobedience they have in mind.  An account of the pledge after the jump. I didn’t notice any Lutheran signers.  [Read More...]

Ben Carson is running for president

Ben Carson will announce today that he is running for president.  One of the country’s leading neurosurgeons, Dr. Carson is an African-American conservative known for his fiery rhetoric and his Christian faith. I actually met him.  He is impressive in many ways and has a compelling personal story.  Do you think he has a chance?  [Read More...]

David, Jesus, and the 23rd Psalm

Last Sunday was the day in the church year when the regular round of Bible readings comes to the 23rd Psalm, as well as the New Testament passage about how Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18).  Therefore, the day is heralded as Good Shepherd Sunday. Pastor Douthwaite began by posing this question:  “I would [Read More...]

Religious organizations that oppose gay marriage may lose tax exemption?

An exchange between a Supreme Court Justice and the Solicitor General: Justice Alito: In the Bob Jones case, the [Supreme] Court held that a college was not entitled to tax-exempt status if it opposed interracial marriage or interracial dating. So would the same apply to a university or a college if it opposed same-sex marriage? [Read More...]

Socialist Bernie Sanders is running for President

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent who identifies himself as a Socialist, is running for president on the Democratic ticket.  You may think, another socialist?  But Sen. Sanders is at least open about his radicalism, and he has a constituency in the Democratic party. Charles Lane discusses how the Democratic party has veered sharply to [Read More...]

Christians as enemies of the human race

Michael Avramovich observes that “In the ancient Roman world, Christians were referred to as ‘hostis humani generis’ (enemies of the human race). This was a legal term of art and signified that Christians were undeserving of any legal protection.” He sees this mindset returning.  He then quotes from Wallace Henley, who says that “prophetic voices” [Read More...]

Encrypted phones vs. law enforcement

With a warrant, law enforcement agencies have been able to put a tap on a suspect’s telephone.  Now that we have cell phones and smart phones, it has come out that the government has been monitoring calls without a warrant.  Users are looking for encryption technology to protect their privacy, not just from the government [Read More...]

School testing as a civil right

Teachers, who have big clout in the Democratic Party, don’t like standardized testing, a major reason being that it often provides evidence of their ineffectiveness.  So Democrats generally support gutting No Child Left Behind, George W. Bush’s education law designed to make sure that children who perform poorly get the help they need.  Republicans, who [Read More...]

Hillary says “religious beliefs. . .have to be changed”

Hillary Clinton says that “religious beliefs. . .have to be changed” when they interfere with “reproductive health care” (that is, abortion).  And pro-abortion laws “have to be backed up with resources and political will.” Notice that she doesn’t say “religious beliefs have to change.”  That would arguably be bad enough, but it allows for religions [Read More...]