Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 59

Blog changes

As you have surely noticed, this blog has a completely new look.  I knew that Patheos would be implementing a new design, but I didn’t know when.  So I was as surprised as you were to see the changes.  (And since I’m visiting in Australia,  I didn’t see them until the middle of the American […]

“Fire and fury like the world has never seen”

As North Korea successfully develops its intercontinental ballistic missile capability, U.S. intelligence says it may have learned to miniaturize nuclear warheads, meaning they could be put on those missiles. In the meantime, the UN has slapped new sanctions on North Korea, further provoking its crazed communist dictator Kim Jong-un, who has been making lurid threats against the United […]

More Biblical illiteracy from the media

A study of DNA from modern Lebanon found that its population is descended from the ancient Canaanites.  Which is proof that the Canaanites survived Joshua’s invasion–as the Bible said they did. But, somehow, the news media had the impression that the Bible taught that the Canaanites were wiped out!  So headlines crowed that the Bible […]

The Democrats’ war against the working class

Donald Trump would seem to be very vulnerable politically, to say the least.  But Democrats have gotten little traction. Part of their problem is that President Trump and the Republican Party still have the support of the white working class, the traditional base of the Democratic party. Democrats shouldn’t blame the Christian right, as they are […]

Vatican Condemns U.S. Catholic Conservatives

An official Vatican publication has condemned Catholic conservatives in America for participating with evangelicals in an "ecumenism of hate."

Loneliness is greater threat to health than obesity

  A study has found that social isolation is a greater threat to public health than obesity. A meta-analysis of 148 studies found that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone showed a strong correlation with premature death, one equal to or exceeding the commonly-accepted risk factors such as obesity. Conversely, according to a report on the research, [Read More...]

Murder by text, update

The young woman we blogged about who was charged with manslaughter for writing texts that urged her boyfriend to commit suicide was convicted. She was sentenced to 15 months in prison.  But her punishment was stayed, pending appeal. Her attorneys persuaded the judge that the conviction may not stand, due to the free speech issues [Read More...]

The new “prophets” and “apostles”

There is a new movement in contemporary Christianity, known as the “New Apostolic Reformation” or the “Independent Network Charismatics” (INC) or “Network Christianity.” It combines “signs and wonders” Pentecostalism, the prosperity gospel, and megachurch techniques.  But the new elements are an emphasis on leaders who are considered authoritative “apostles” from God and a this-worldly post-millennialism. [Read More...]

Mueller has impaneled a grand jury

Special prosecutor Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in conjunction with his investigation of the Trump administration’s alleged connections to Russia during the campaign. That sounds like he has found evidence and is preparing indictments.  But the Washington Post article on the subject, linked after the jump. says that’s not necessarily so.  In a [Read More...]

JFK assassination files are unsealed–and reveal doubts about the Warren Commission

In 1992, a law was passed requiring the release in 25 years of all government documents pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Twenty-five years after 1992 is 2017.  Last week, hundreds of boxes of previously secret files with thousands of documents were made public. They reveal that the CIA had doubts about the [Read More...]