Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 290
November 14, 2014
ISIS & al-Qaeda form alliance
The Islamic State and al-Qaeda have been bitter rivals and have fought each other on the battlefield. But now the two terrorist groups are joining forces. From News from The Associated Press: Militant leaders from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida gathered at a farm house in northern Syria last week and agreed on a [Read More...]
November 13, 2014
Church design that appeal to Millennials
The Christian pollsters and research company the Barna Group has researched what kind of church architecture and design elements appeal most to the Millennial generation, the 18-29 year-olds that churches are trying hard to reach. Briefly, the Millennisals much prefer traditional church design, as well as quiet, contemplative spaces, to the auditorium-style sanctuaries with screens [Read More...]
Military strategy in the new Iraq war
Gen. Robert H. Scales (ret.), former commandant of the U.S. Army War College, explains the strategic situation in Iraq and what the administration hopes to accomplish with the nine 150-person training units of American troops that have been sent there. From Robert H. Scales, The Pentagon’s ‘nine-brigade gamble’ on Iraq – The Washington Post: Last [Read More...]
Not naming the holidays on the school calendar
The school board in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D. C., has voted not to name the holidays associated with religions on the school calendar. School will still be dismissed for Christmas, Easter, and the major Jewish holidays. But when Muslims wanted time off for their holidays, the school board decided to think [Read More...]
November 12, 2014
Protestants who believe in Purgatory
Some Protestants, including some evangelicals, are trying to bring back the belief in Purgatory. After the jump, read details and then my thoughts on the matter. From Does purgatory have a prayer with Protestants? – Religion News Service: (RNS) This Sunday (Nov. 2), on what is known as All Souls’ Day, Roman Catholics around the [Read More...]
Thou shalt not covet
Chuck Bentley at the American Thinker discusses the forgotten Commandment (some might say, the forgotten two Commandments): “Thou shalt not covet.” He argues that coveting–that is, envy–is at the root of many of our economic, political, and cultural problems. From Chuck Bentley, Articles: The Tenth Commandment and Crabs in a Barrel, the American Thinker: Former [Read More...]
The New York Times on World Magazine
The New York Times, of all publications, has an appreciative article on World Magazine, where I used to be cultural editor. It lauds the conservative Christian publication for investigating and exposing wrongdoing among conservative Christians. From Mark Oppenheimer, A Muckraking Magazine Creates a Stir Among Evangelical Christians – NYTimes.com: In October, Mark Driscoll, the evangelical [Read More...]
November 11, 2014
The poppies of the Tower
London is transfixed by a stunning war memorial commemorating Armistice Day, when World War I ended on November 11, 1918, honored in the United States as Veteran’s Day. All around the iconic Tower of London are 888,246 ceramic poppies, one for each soldier of the Commonwealth who was killed in that war. A beautiful sea [Read More...]
Is being a tightrope walker a Christian vocation?
Nick Wallenda is the tightrope walker who recently walked on a wire–blindfolded–between two skyscrapers in Chicago. He is a Christian and often talks about his faith, praying before his stunts (which have included walking across the Grand Canyon and the Niagra Falls) and calling on Christ for help. So is being a tightrope walker a [Read More...]
Panic
Americans are panicking over Ebola, and authorities are concerned not just to stem the disease but to stem the panic. They are saying the chances of any of us actually dying of Ebola is microscopically low, that we are more likely to die of a shark attack, bee stings, or falling out of bed. Alexandra [Read More...]
