Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 58

Trump blames both alt-left and alt-right

Having issued a tepid blame-both-sides statement about the Charlottesville killing, President Trump on the next day issued another statement squarely blaming white nationalist racists.  But then he undid that damage control in a press conference once again blaming both sides: “You had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group […]

The zeal of converts

Many of the critics of Pope Francis in his more liberal positions are converts to Catholicism, a fact that liberal Catholics are throwing in their face. The gist goes something like this:  You converted to Catholicism so now you think you’re more Catholic than the pope.  You still think like a Protestant.  Or like a […]

National legalization of marijuana as the next big political issue

Shaping up to be the next big political issue:  legalizing marijuana nationally. Currently, eight states have legalized the recreational use of the drug (Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Alaska, Maine, and Massachusetts, plus the District of Columbia).  Twenty-nine states have legalized marijuana for medical uses.  But the federal laws against it stand in the way of marijuana […]

Why Lutheranism appeals to Russians

Vladimir Putin continues to crackdown on religions that are “non-traditional” to Russia, persecuting people because of their religious beliefs on a scale unknown since Soviet days.  Interestingly, Lutheranism is considered one of the “traditional” religions (as are Baptists), so that some Protestant church work is still legal.  In fact, Lutheran Christianity, as an alternative to both Orthodoxy and other kinds […]

And now war with Venezuela?

Venezuela, with its leftist dictator Nicolas Maduro, is already a basket-case.  The country is in a state of economic meltdown, other Latin American countries are isolating his regime, and ordinary Venezuelans are rallying against their government.  Now President Trump has said that he is considering a “military option.” But why?  And that threat has only […]

Latest developments

  I’m going to experiment with some short form blogging for the weekend, calling your attention to some interesting happenings and ideas in the news for your reflection and discussion. . . . How small wars can turn into big wars:  China says that if North Korea attacks first and the U.S. intervenes, it will […]

What Constitutes “Heresy” and “Orthodoxy”?

Does acceptance of same-sex marriage on the part of a Christian constitute "heresy"? It may be wrong and un-Biblical, but does it rise to that level?

What constitutes “heresy” and “orthodoxy”?

Does acceptance of same-sex marriage on the part of a Christian constitute “heresy”?  It may be wrong and un-Biblical, but does it rise to that level?  Conversely, can a Christian hold other-than-traditional opinions on sexual morality or other issues and still be considered “orthodox”? Calvin College professor James K. A. Smith has ignited a controversy over the definitions […]

Purists vs. Pragmatists

Christian political activists agonized over the last presidential election:  Some asked, “How can we support a womanizing, profane, non-religious candidate like Donald Trump?”  Others said, “But he would be much better for our cause than Hillary Clinton.  And if we support Trump, we will have a place at his table and have a better chance […]

Glen Campbell–guitarist, singer, & Christian convert–died

You don’t have to have grown up with the music of the 1960’s, as I did, to enjoy it–The Mamas and the Papas, the Beach Boys, the Association, The 5th Dimension, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, etc., etc.  Hearing it today, you might note that some of the songs are pretty weak, but the instrumentals […]