Society & Culture

Michael Bird: As Americans debate the Benedict Option, anti-Christian fervor in Australia has convinced me that we need a more disruptive strategy.

Planned Parenthood under investigation by Justice Department over sale of fetal tissue

“Over the past 300 years, Western culture has overthrown its traditional understanding of virtue and replaced it with an ersatz morality. This revolution has allowed personally vile people to claim the loftiest moral standing while, in their daily lives, freely treating those around them with gross disrespect and abuse.” American Conservative

In a move that could undo decades of American diplomacy, President Trump on Tuesday told Arab and Israeli leaders he will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital — despite opposition from many sides. A formal announcement is expected to come Wednesday, but Trump laid the groundwork on phone calls Tuesday to leaders of the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.

“Is there any possibility of getting the super Welfare State’s honey and avoiding the sting? Let us make no mistake about the sting. The Swedish sadness is only a foretaste. To live his life in his own way, to call his house his castle, to enjoy the fruits of his own labour, to educate his children as his conscience directs, to save for their prosperity after his death—these are wishes deeply ingrained in civilised man.

“The entire time, all the girls are lying?” the man shouted, right before he was escorted out of the event. “Why would they lie?” ….Pastor: “I would remind everyone,” he sniffed, “that this is a worship service.” One could laugh, or cry, or marvel at how much this strange episode eerily resembles a cut-rate, mawkish cable-TV stereotype of a benighted Southern church.

Doug Groothuis: My Dear Wormwood - I lick my parched lips with delight that our propaganda efforts are going splendidly well … We may have won the battle of words. Not that we have won any arguments—that is expecting too much. But we may have succeeded in eliminating arguments entirely. Oh, the delight in it!

Next week, the Supreme Court will hear one of the most important free speech cases in years … Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission involves Jack Phillips, a baker who claims a First Amendment right not to be compelled to design and create custom wedding cakes for same-sex weddings. Many legal commentators think the case is either a very close call or a certain defeat for Phillips.

Roger Olson: If Jesus or one of his apostles came among us (American Christians) and spent time with us in our churches and “circles,” would they recognize the church they founded and established anywhere?