Church, Politics, and Culture
FETAL FARMING
Chuch Colson has some insightful comments about the real motives of stem stell researchers.
Supernaturalism and the Occult in Pop Culture
The Don Johnson Show, 9-24-05 We analyze pop culture's current fascination with the supernatural and the occult.
WE MUST NOT TOLERATE THESE INTOLERANT CHRISTIANS
Just one more example of the radical multiculturalists pushing their religion on the rest of us.
THE RISE OF TOTALITARIANISM IN THE WEST
I have argued often in this space that the breakdown of a Christian worldview will inevitably lead to totalitarianism in the West. In the words of Pope John Paul II, "If one does not acknowledge transcendent truth, then the force of power takes over, and each...
IT’S THE THEOLOGY, STUPID
Many conservatives seem to think the biggest battle in our culture is over which values we should embrace. They argue for "family" values or "Judeo-Christian" values, as opposed to "progressive" values or even "extremist"...
The Rise of Religious Totalitarianism in the West
The Don Johnson Show, 7-30-05 Stories from England, Australia and Canada show how governments are primed to take over control and banish free exercise of religion. Our Jonathan Swift Award goes to Michael Read, who argues that he caused his mother to be made fun of,...
“SAINTS ARE NOT NICE”: ON PEACE AND TRUTH
I just finished Peter Kreeft's excellent little book, How to Win the Culture War and I highly recommend it. Here is a taste (and a nice addition to this post and this post by my friend Greg over at Doulos): Perhaps the popular conception of saints is "nice,"...
The Suppression of Religious Free Speech and Rise of Propaganda in the West, The Killing of Babies to get a “Baby-Smooth” Face and Some Advice for Tom Cruise on How to Evangelize on Behalf of Scientology
The Don Johnson Show, 6-25-05 From ridiculous "hate-crime" laws in Australia and Britain, to fake documentaries in America, truth seeking and open debate are on the way out. This week's Jonathan Swift Award goes to the Russians who are extracting stem cells from the...
“THE CHURCH’S FIRST POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE THE CHURCH”
Today's excellent Christianity Today editorial about the church and politics includes these two great quotes: Nearly a quarter of a century ago, just as the Religious Right was blossoming, Richard John Neuhaus put it this way: "Jesus Christ is Lord. That is the...
KAZUO ISHIGURO’S NEW BOOK
I haven't read it it, but Chuck Colson is recommending Never Let Me Go, a fictional story about cloning, as being in the tradition of Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal. I'm guessing it is well worth checking out.
BETTER TO BE DEAD THAN A PET?
PETA always said that animals should be treated like humans. Unfortunately for the animals under PETA's "care", that apparently means imposing the same quality of life ethic advocated by the likes of Henry Morgentaler: better to be dead than to live under...
The Idiocy of Judgment Free Spirituality and More
The Don Johnson Show, 6-4-05 Howard Dean claims to be a "Christian" but then denies that that label means anything that can be objectively characterized (judged). We show how ridiculous this approach to religion is. Judith Christ and the "Make up your own Scriptures"...
CHRISTIANS TOO FOCUSED ON STATE?
James L. Evans makes some excellent points in this article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. There is a long registration process to view it so I've pasted the whole thing here: In his new book, "So Help Me God," former Alabama Supreme Court Chief...
WAS JESUS A LOBBYIST, GURU OR TRUTH TELLER?
As I read Jack Hitt's LA Times op-ed this morning I found myself first nodding my head in agreement then rolling my eyes in frustration. Hitt accurately points out a major problem in today's politicized view of Christianity: Jesus was not a lobbyist. Hitt decries the...
The Religious Right’s Quest to Reclaim America
The Don Johnson Show, 4-16-05 Last week we talked about Christians who aren't concerned with following the rules of their faith. This week we talk about the other extreme - those who are overly focused on the rules. We discuss the goal of many Christians to create a...
“ONE MOMENT, ONE WALL, ONE TRUTH”
You must read this column by Terrence Jeffrey. He reflects on June 12, 1987, when President Reagan stood at the Berlin Wall and told Gorbachev to tear it down and the Pope said Mass in Gdansk, Poland, hometown of the anti-communist solidarity trade union. Both men...
THE POPE AND GEORGE FELOS
On yesterday's radio show, we discussed how the Pope's theologically conservative worldview formed the basis for two major areas of his legacy - his hatred of communism and fascism, and his battle against the "culture of death" - and how that worldview...
BECKONING THE ANGEL OF DEATH?
Some thoughts to ponder from Cal Thomas:What if the polls are right and the public sees the removal of Terri's feeding tube as an act of mercy and not murder? What then? In that case, we will know that the problem is not at the top - with judges and politicians - but...
BECKONING THE ANGEL OF DEATH?
Some thoughts to ponder from Cal Thomas:What if the polls are right and the public sees the removal of Terri's feeding tube as an act of mercy and not murder? What then? In that case, we will know that the problem is not at the top - with judges and politicians - but...
JUST THE FACTS?
I think there is general consensus that if Terry Schiavo had left her wishes in writing, there would have been no story here. Either she would have been left without food and water to die without fanfare years ago or she would still be alive, just one anonymous case...
WAR AGAINST CHRISTIANITY
From RealClearPolitics, two good stories about the under-reported global war against Christianity: here and here.
POWER HUNGRY DEATHHEADS
Some more thoughts today on what motivates the "pull-the-tube" people. Mark Early of Prison Fellowship scratches the surface when he suggests fear of suffering, but the most accurate and thoughtful diagnosis so far comes from Timothy Birdnow in the American...
What Motivates Cultural Warriors
The Don Johnson Show, 3-26-05 The Terry Schiavo case has brought the foundational issues in the culture war to the forefront. We examine those issues as well as the motivations driving each side.
WHAT MOTIVATES CULTURAL WARRIORS
One of the basic premises of this blog and of my radio show is that the culture war is not primarily political or even ethical in nature but rather theological. That is to say, the basic dividing line is over questions such as "Is there a God?" and "If...
THE MEANING OF LIFE
The Wall Street Journal's Brendan Miniter provides some excellent context for the Terry Schiavo case: From stem cells to abortion, Americans are confronting questions about life--when it begins and when it ceases to be valuable--more than at any time in our history....