Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 420
March 27, 2013
Learning from gay activists
Homosexuals have pulled what may be the greatest public relations revolution in history, going from reviled to celebrated in the twinkling of an eye. Illegal immigrants have also scored a public relations coup, as their cause is now ascendant. Immigration activist Frank Sharry says that the success of his movement has been consciously modeled after [...]
A vacuum is not empty
More weird science: Two forthcoming research papers question whether or not the nature of a vacuum remains static. In one paper, Marcel Urban from the University of Paris-Sud, located in Orsay, France identified a quantum level mechanism for interpreting vacuum as being filled with pairs of virtual particles with fluctuating energy values. As a result, [...]
March 26, 2013
“We must save our gods”
In church on Palm Sunday, our pastor gave another powerful sermon, with a great missionary story: “Where are their gods? . . . Let them rise up and help you; let them be your protection!” [Deuteronomy 32:37-38] Those are the words of God through Moses to the people of Israel on the border of the [...]
Eggsploitation and the New Eugenics
Couples seeking egg donors have been placing ads in Ivy League student newspapers, seeking the perfect blonde, blue-eyed Aryan with a high IQ to sell one of her eggs for $20,000. Nothing is said about what the ovary-manipulating drugs may do to her. From Melinda Henneberger in the Washington Post: “Exceptional egg donor needed,” said [...]
Supreme Court begins hearing on gay marriage
Today the Supreme Court will hear arguments on California’s Proposition 8, in which the people of the state voted not to allow gay marriage. On Wednesday, the court will hear a related case on whether the Defense of Marriage Act, in which Congress defined marriage as being between one man and one woman, is Constitutional. [...]
March 25, 2013
Bach’s “Passion” as online meditation
Bach is among the very greatest of Christian artists, and his “St. Matthew Passion” is considered one of his greatest works. It is an oratorio, something like an opera, that sets to music Matthew’s account of the crucifixion of Christ (Chapters 26-27), with soloists singing the lines of the various characters and magnificent choral music, [...]
The Unitarian controversy over polyamory
Most churches and theological traditions have their controversies, spats, factions, and schisms. Unfortunately, that is to be expected among groups of people with strong beliefs. One would think, though, that Unitarian Universalists would be relatively immune from internal controversies over doctrine, morality, or practice. After all, Unitarians can believe anything, everything, or nothing at all. [...]
Whoville vs. Whomville
The always amusing Alexandra Petri of the Washington Post writes about allegations that the word “whom” is doomed. The Whos down in Whoville are perfectly safe. But the Whoms, down in Whomville, having staid, WASPy dinners of roast beast and refusing to pass Little Susie Lou Whom a slice unless she uses the subjunctive correctly [...]
March 22, 2013
Conservative Christians and immigration reform
A group of Bible-believing Christians has formed the Evangelical Immigration Table to promote immigration reform. It is promoting what it is calling the “I Was a Stranger” Challenge. They give you 40 Bible passages that have to do with how we should treat immigrants. They ask you to read, meditate, and pray about each one, [...]
Bogus youth drop-out statistics
Nine out of ten young people leave the church as soon as they graduate. That is, churches are losing 90% or (in another version) 88% of their children. Have you heard that? Has your congregation, alarmed at these statistics, started elaborate youth group programs or family ministries? Or scrapped your traditional worship services and brought [...]
