Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 255

Why the percentage of the non-religious is declining

We blogged about the Pew study of global religious affiliation, which included the rather surprising fact that the percentage of “nones,” or people with no religion, is declining world-wide.  An article at the Pew website explains why. From Why people with no religion are projected to decline as a share of the world’s population | [Read More...]

New video on vocation

The Christian History Institute has put out a two-part video on vocation.  It’s called Going on Vocation.  I’m in it.  See the trailer after the jump.For more details, see the website.    

“Free range” kids temporarily taken away from parents

We blogged about the parents in Maryland who got in trouble for letting their six and ten year old children walk home by themselves.  (See this and this.)   It happened again, and this time the Child Protective Services took their kids, if only temporarily.  CPS had found the parents guilty of child neglect, so [Read More...]

Now Marco Rubio enters the race

Marco Rubio announced his candidacy for president.  That makes two Cuban-Americans (with Ted Cruz) and two Floridians (assuming Jeb Bush runs).  He claims that he can attract Hispanics and other minorities, young people, and the less well off, bringing these important demographics into the Republican fold. Do you think he can?  Do you think he [Read More...]

The fastest growing religion

A new Pew study of trends in world religions says that Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion.  Though Islam will come close, Christianity will still have the greatest numbers, with 40% living in sub-Saharan Africa.  The number of atheists, agnostics, and the unaffiliated–though increasing in the United States–will dwindle worldwide.   Details and more findings [Read More...]

Does capitalism undermine traditional values?

The left is always saying that big business really runs this country.  There may be some truth to this claim.  The irony is that big business is supporting the left, at least on social and moral issues.  When corporations from Apple to Walmart turned against Indiana’s religious freedom act to support the gay agenda, notice [Read More...]

Hillary Clinton announces her candidacy

Hillary Clinton has officially thrown her hat into the ring, announcing that she is running for president.  This is no big surprise.  She has long been assumed to be the inevitable Democratic nominee, as if she is the heir apparent.  Lots of people, many of them nostalgic for the prosperity of the Bill Clinton years, [Read More...]

The Luther Reading Challenge

Some people from the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasburg, France, have been teaching Luther and his theology to an international crowd in Wittenberg for the last six years.  They have been amazed at how Luther’s articulation of the Gospel addresses contemporary issues and contemporary religious struggles. So in conjunction with Lutheran Forum, this group [Read More...]

What Is Religious Freedom, anyway?

Think-tanker Joseph Backholm cites some of the absurdities and posturing in the controversy over the Indiana Religious Freedom act–such as Apple threatening to stop doing business in Indiana, while still doing business in Saudi Arabia where gays can be executed, and a governor banning state travel to Indiana even though his state has a broader [Read More...]

Making dismemberment abortion sound better

Kansas has banned late-term abortions that dismember the child.  Other states are considering passing the same law.  You have got to read the news story in the Washington Post, excerpted after the jump.  You might notice some bias in the story.  But notice to what extent the journalist has to twist her language–to the point [Read More...]