Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 347
March 14, 2014
Should the NSA revelations win the Pulitzer Prize?
One of the biggest stories in journalism last year had to do with the revelations from Edward Snowden about the extent of the National Security Administration’s surveillance program, which includes harvesting data from the cell phones and internet usage of non-accused American citizens as well as foreigners and their leaders. Now the Pulitzer Prize committee [Read More...]
March 13, 2014
“Begone, Satan!”
More from that Lenten sermon on the Temptation of Christ (Matthew 4:1-11). From Rev. James Douthwaite, St. Athanasius Lutheran Church: Lent 1 Sermon: This story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness shows you Jesus fighting for you. And that’s more important because I could stand up here all day and tell you to fight [Read More...]
Attitudes of the Millennial generation
There is a new Pew Report on the attitudes of the Millennial generation–specifically, Americans aged 18-33. It finds that they are less religious, less patriotic, less married, more liberal, and less trusting than other generations. For the whole report, go here. A summary from Reid Wilson, More diverse Millennial generation rewrites traditions: Millennials’ detachment from [Read More...]
The Four Republican Factions
Most analysts see the Republican presidential race in terms of a conflict between the “establishment” and “insurgents” of the Tea Party variety. But the reality is far more complicated than that, according to think tanker Henry Olsen, writing in the National Interest. There are actually four factions, he says, whose electoral behavior in presidential primaries [Read More...]
March 12, 2014
Temptation to a false good
The Old Testament reading for the first Sunday of Lent was about Satan’s successful temptation of Adam & Eve. The New Testament reading was about Satan’s unsuccessful temptation of Jesus Christ. That’s a good reminder about how Jesus not only paid the penalty for our sins; he also fulfilled the righteousness that we so painfully [Read More...]
Happy 25th birthday to the Internet
The “world wide web” came into existence 25 years ago today, making the internet as we know it possible. It’s only been 25 years! What did we do without it? Write letters, go to actual stores to buy things, read newspapers, visit friends at their houses–can you believe people way back then actually had to [Read More...]
‘Cosmos’ calls out Bible believers
The much-hyped remake of Carl Sagan’s TV documentary series Cosmos premiered on Sunday, replete with much-improved special effects, up-to-date scientific marvels, and an introduction by President Barack Obama. But a major theme of the series is apparently to beat back creationists of every stripe. From Bradford Thomas, at TruthRevolt: The host of Seth MacFarlane’s new series [Read More...]
March 11, 2014
When the church “doesn’t really stand for anything”
Newsweek has an article about how Protestantism is dwindling in the land of Luther. It shows, I think, the futility of the liberal theology that the state church has embraced, the notion that in order to reach people you need to change your teachings so as to conform to the dominant culture. That’s a formula [Read More...]
“No better than the ancient Philistines”
Strong words from Mike Huckabee at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC): “These are the things that I know. I know there is a God, and I know this nation would not exist had he not been the midwife of its birth. And I know that this nation exists by the providence of his hand, [Read More...]
The mystery of the missing Boeing 777
On Saturday, Malaysian Airlines flight 370, flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 227 passengers, just vanished. As of right now, no one has found any debris. An oil slick that was slighted turned out to be ship fuel. The sea is shallow. But still, nothing. Terrorism is an obvious explanation. Four passengers were carrying [Read More...]
