Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 361
January 13, 2014
The Rolling Stone Manifesto
Rolling Stone Magazine published an economics manifesto that “Millennials should be fighting for.” You can read it after the jump, but I’ll summarize it for you here. Author Jesse A. Myerson says that “unemployment blows,” so that the government should guarantee work for everybody. But then he says that “jobs also blow,” so the government [Read More...]
Baptists want a catechism
Another example of Baptists wanting what Lutherans have but have neglected in order to be more like Baptists: Some Baptist leaders are saying that what their churches need in order to address decreasing attendance and to combat religious illiteracy is a catechism! From Jeff Brumley, Baptists eye catechism (again) to instruct the faithful, Associated Baptist [Read More...]
January 10, 2014
Reducing religion & morality to what is “useful”
More from Daniel Schwindt on de Tocqueville, this time about how Americans–because of their rationalism and individualism–tend to see both religion and morality in terms of what is “useful.” (Again, thanks to Daniel Broaddus.) From Daniel Schwindt, Refuting Tocqueville by Way of Tocqueville – Ethika Politika: Elsewhere Tocqueville daringly elaborates that religious notions, under this [Read More...]
January 6, 2014
Schism in the atheist church, already
The atheist church we’ve blogged about, the Sunday Assembly, has split over doctrinal issues, worship style, and fellowship controversies. The breakaway denomination is calling itself Godless Revival. From After a schism, a question: Can atheist churches last? – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs: In October, three former members of Sunday Assembly NYC announced the [Read More...]
Al-Qaeda takes Fallujah
My 2013 prediction started coming true the week after I made it. This time my 2014 prediction started coming true the day after I made it! Al-Qaeda has taken Fallujah, the site of the most intense fighting in the Iraq war, and the U.S.-trained Iraqi security forces are faltering. From Al-Qaeda force captures Fallujah amid [Read More...]
Tax breaks that have expired as of Jan. 1
Fifty-five tax breaks have expired with the new year. Some are clearly special-interest perks. Others are time-honored staples, such as companies getting to deduct Research & Development expenses and tax incentives for wind power and energy-efficient appliances. Others amount to broad-based tax increases. From The list: Tax breaks expiring at end of year | Business [Read More...]
Everly brother dies
Phil Everly, 74, died. He and his brother Don formed the Everly Brothers, whose harmonies–characteristic of the “brother groups” in early country music–they carried over into rock ‘n’ roll, serving as models for the Beatles, Beach Boys, the Byrds, and many others. (Are there any contemporary groups that do much with harmony these days? I’ve [Read More...]
January 3, 2014
Lutheranism FAQ
I stumbled across this Lutheranism FAQ put together by Steve Born, a convert to Lutheranism who bases it on the objections to Lutheranism and various questions he received from his earlier Pentecostal co-religionists. It includes topics often raised here, such as “how can Lutherans believe both in salvation by faith and in infant baptism?” and [Read More...]
What in Obamacare now goes into effect
However bad HealthCare.gov has been, much of Obamacare is now in effect with the turning of the new year. You need to know what all applies now, so details after the jump. From Key Obamacare changes come with the new year – Kyle Cheney – POLITICO.com: Pre-existing condition coverage In 2014, health insurers no longer [Read More...]
The ecumenism of blood
Pope Francis is still confounding just about everybody, but here he articulates a striking concept. After the jump he tells an anecdote about a Lutheran pastor and makes us realize what all Christians might be facing: Today there is an ecumenism of blood. In some countries they kill Christians for wearing a cross or having [Read More...]
