My church, Wellspring Anglican Church, is co-sponsoring a conference on human trafficking. This is from the web page:
The U.S. Department of State estimates between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year. Millions more are enslaved within national borders. Human trafficking is truly a world-wide phenomenon -- paradoxically hidden in the shadows and out in the open for all to see.
This is part of the underside of globalization: a global slave trade has reemerged. Slavery even exists in the United States! Please attend this important conference, to be held at Greenwood Community Church on October 25. Please see Human Trafficking Awareness Conference for more.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Drive by Bloggers
I notice that many posters on the CC are anonymous. I will not forbid this, but it lessens the moral weight of what is said. I have never published anything anonymously; nor have I used a ghost writer. We should own our words, written or spoken. And, by the way, God knows our address.
Doug Groothuis Radio Appearance
I will be on "Backbone Radio" (KNUS-AM) Sunday, August 31, from 7:00-7:30 to discuss Obama, Abortion, and Evangelicals.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
The Truth
Someone sent me this. I don't know if it is real or computer generated. Either way, it speaks the truth about the Democrats.
The Democrats' Value Problem
This is from GOPUSA on the Democrat's Party Platform:
Special Rights for Gay Couples: "We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections. We will enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us."
Taxpayer-Funded Abortions: "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right." According to the Grand Rapids Press, "The plank in support of abortion rights is even stronger than usual....Gone is the phrase from the past that abortions should be safe, legal and 'rare." (Editorial, Grand Rapids Press, 8/26/08)
Special Rights for Gay Couples: "We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections. We will enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us."
Taxpayer-Funded Abortions: "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right." According to the Grand Rapids Press, "The plank in support of abortion rights is even stronger than usual....Gone is the phrase from the past that abortions should be safe, legal and 'rare." (Editorial, Grand Rapids Press, 8/26/08)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Hurray for Sarah Palin and Alaska
Strange surges of emotion came over me today after hearing of Sen. John McCain's selection of Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential candidate. Only the evening before had I realized that Ms. Palin--the Governor of the state where I was born and grew up--was a serious contender. I was overjoyed when I read of the selection. Given the present political climate, joy over anything political is not a common emotion for me.
Gov. Palin has made a mark by fighting corruption in high places. She has even taken on Sen. Ted Stevens, a forty-year veteran of Alaska politics and a fellow republican. (I went to school with his son and my father knew him.) She took on the political establishment and beat a long-time politician in the race for governor. Her approval ratings in Alaska are in the stratosphere, and Alaskans are not easy to please. They are independent, tough, and carry with them a frontier spirit. Many living Alaskans, such as my mother, can remember living in Alaska when it was not a state, but a territory. I was born in the territory of Alaska on January 3, 1957--two years to the day before "the battle for statehood" was won. Alaskans were thrilled to join the union as the forty-ninth state.
Gov. Palin is not a Washington insider, but a leader who felt a call to service where she lived, "the last frontier." She was known as "Sarah Barracuda" on her high school basketball team (because of ther tenacity), but also became Miss Wasilla and was named Miss Congeniality. Quite a combination, that. She is ardently pro-life and recently gave birth to a Downs baby, whom she never considered aborting. Sadly, 80% of Downs children are now aborted, a sad testimony to our culture of preference. It is a near genocide in the name of designer children. But the Palins showed the character to support and celebrate their offspring, who joins four previous siblings in the land of living. The Palins are Christians, who believe that all humans--born and unborn--are made in God's image and likeness and are, therefore, of unique worth and have a right to life.
Sen. McCain benefits greatly from this choice, since Ms. Palin is a fiscal conservative, pro-life, young, attractive, and articulate. Unlike Sen. Obama, she has executive experience and got to where she is by fighting corruption instead of being part of a notoriously corrupt political machine. (On this, see David Fredosso's book, The Case Against Barack Obama.) While some may dismiss her as a new governor of a sparsely populated state, Alaska is not easy to govern and Gov. Palin has started very well. It is geographically the largest state in the union (sorry Texans), suffers from extreme weather conditions, and is far removed from the contiguous 48 states. And as I said, Alaskans are a spirited lot.
So, if I may wax a bit autobiographical and even emotive (having now lost half my readers), why was I so moved at hearing John McCain introduce Gov. Palin? I was surprised that I wiping away tears as I listened to the radio as I was driving to school. I was proud that a fellow Alaskan, fellow conservative, fellow pro-life, fellow fiscally conservative woman (elected to office, not appointed by affirmative action) had attained this position of significance.
Hurray for Governor Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain, and for Alaska!
Here is a June, 2007, article on Governor Palin by Fred Barnes.
Gov. Palin has made a mark by fighting corruption in high places. She has even taken on Sen. Ted Stevens, a forty-year veteran of Alaska politics and a fellow republican. (I went to school with his son and my father knew him.) She took on the political establishment and beat a long-time politician in the race for governor. Her approval ratings in Alaska are in the stratosphere, and Alaskans are not easy to please. They are independent, tough, and carry with them a frontier spirit. Many living Alaskans, such as my mother, can remember living in Alaska when it was not a state, but a territory. I was born in the territory of Alaska on January 3, 1957--two years to the day before "the battle for statehood" was won. Alaskans were thrilled to join the union as the forty-ninth state.
Gov. Palin is not a Washington insider, but a leader who felt a call to service where she lived, "the last frontier." She was known as "Sarah Barracuda" on her high school basketball team (because of ther tenacity), but also became Miss Wasilla and was named Miss Congeniality. Quite a combination, that. She is ardently pro-life and recently gave birth to a Downs baby, whom she never considered aborting. Sadly, 80% of Downs children are now aborted, a sad testimony to our culture of preference. It is a near genocide in the name of designer children. But the Palins showed the character to support and celebrate their offspring, who joins four previous siblings in the land of living. The Palins are Christians, who believe that all humans--born and unborn--are made in God's image and likeness and are, therefore, of unique worth and have a right to life.
Sen. McCain benefits greatly from this choice, since Ms. Palin is a fiscal conservative, pro-life, young, attractive, and articulate. Unlike Sen. Obama, she has executive experience and got to where she is by fighting corruption instead of being part of a notoriously corrupt political machine. (On this, see David Fredosso's book, The Case Against Barack Obama.) While some may dismiss her as a new governor of a sparsely populated state, Alaska is not easy to govern and Gov. Palin has started very well. It is geographically the largest state in the union (sorry Texans), suffers from extreme weather conditions, and is far removed from the contiguous 48 states. And as I said, Alaskans are a spirited lot.
So, if I may wax a bit autobiographical and even emotive (having now lost half my readers), why was I so moved at hearing John McCain introduce Gov. Palin? I was surprised that I wiping away tears as I listened to the radio as I was driving to school. I was proud that a fellow Alaskan, fellow conservative, fellow pro-life, fellow fiscally conservative woman (elected to office, not appointed by affirmative action) had attained this position of significance.
Hurray for Governor Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain, and for Alaska!
Here is a June, 2007, article on Governor Palin by Fred Barnes.
Politics
Another reason not to vote for Obama or any pro-choice Democrat.
For the record, I'm rooting for Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as VP for McCain.
For the record, I'm rooting for Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as VP for McCain.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Doug Groothuis Review of "Philosophers Without Gods"
My review of Philosophers Without gods: Meditations on Atheism and the Secular Life, edited by Louise Antony and published by Oxford University Press, 2007, has been published in The Christian Research Journal, Volume 31, number 4 (2008). It is not on line, but I recommend the journal to you. I have been writing for it since 1986.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Republican Party Platform
This just in from The National Right to Life. What follows is part of The Republican Party Platform:
Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children. We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.
We have made progress. The Supreme Court has upheld prohibitions against the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. States are now permitted to extend health-care coverage to children before birth. And the Born Alive Infants Protection Act has become law; this law ensures that infants who are born alive during an abortion receive all treatment and care that is provided to all newborn infants and are not neglected and left to die. We must protect girls from exploitation and statutory rape through a parental notification requirement. We all have a moral obligation to assist, not to penalize, women struggling with the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy. At its core, abortion is a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life. Women deserve better than abortion. Every effort should be made to work with women considering abortion to enable and empower them to choose life. We salute those who provide them alternatives, including pregnancy care centers, and we take pride in the tremendous increase in adoptions that has followed Republican legislative initiatives.
Respect for life requires efforts to include persons with disabilities in education, employment, the justice system, and civic participation. In keeping with that commitment, we oppose the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and infirm, just as we oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, which endanger especially those on the margins of society....
Compare this to the Democratic Party Platform, which applauds Roe v. Wade and says that all women have the right to abortion, whether or not they can pay for it. That means that taxpayers should pay for other people's abortions, even if they view abortion as morally wrong.
Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children. We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.
We have made progress. The Supreme Court has upheld prohibitions against the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. States are now permitted to extend health-care coverage to children before birth. And the Born Alive Infants Protection Act has become law; this law ensures that infants who are born alive during an abortion receive all treatment and care that is provided to all newborn infants and are not neglected and left to die. We must protect girls from exploitation and statutory rape through a parental notification requirement. We all have a moral obligation to assist, not to penalize, women struggling with the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy. At its core, abortion is a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life. Women deserve better than abortion. Every effort should be made to work with women considering abortion to enable and empower them to choose life. We salute those who provide them alternatives, including pregnancy care centers, and we take pride in the tremendous increase in adoptions that has followed Republican legislative initiatives.
Respect for life requires efforts to include persons with disabilities in education, employment, the justice system, and civic participation. In keeping with that commitment, we oppose the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and infirm, just as we oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, which endanger especially those on the margins of society....
Compare this to the Democratic Party Platform, which applauds Roe v. Wade and says that all women have the right to abortion, whether or not they can pay for it. That means that taxpayers should pay for other people's abortions, even if they view abortion as morally wrong.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Muggeridge on Darwinism, 1980
I myself am convinced that the theory of evolution, especially the extent to which it’s been applied, will be one of the great jokes in the history books of the future. Posterity will marvel that so very flimsy and dubious an hypothesis could be accepted with the incredible credulity that it has.--Malcolm Muggeridge, The End of Christendom (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1980), 59.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Prayer at the Democratic Convention
Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz closed the Democratic Convention tonight in prayer. I offer a few comments:
1. He prays that we should care for people, not just causes. The Democratic platform and its candidate does not recognize unborn humans as persons. Thus, it endorses aborting over a million of them a year legally for any reason or no reason.
2. He prays they should care for "the least of these," of course, not including the utterly silent, helpless, and fragile unborn humans in this category. A condor egg has more rights than an unborn human in the US--and the Democrats do not care.
3. He speaks of concern for "children," but excludes the youngest children: unborn children.
4. He prays in the name of Jesus, but only says Jesus died "to fight the forces of injustice." That leaves out the most basic reason Jesus died: to atone for our sins and set us right with God. Yes, Jesus' death had social and political consequences, but not without atonement and propitiation. That was omitted from the teleprompter prayer.
5. Much more could be said about how the prayer was framed according to a left-wing perspective on issues, but enough is enough. Donald Miller was the chaplain for The Party of Abortion on Demand. No prophets were to be found. Maybe a few of them will get arrested outside the gate.
1. He prays that we should care for people, not just causes. The Democratic platform and its candidate does not recognize unborn humans as persons. Thus, it endorses aborting over a million of them a year legally for any reason or no reason.
2. He prays they should care for "the least of these," of course, not including the utterly silent, helpless, and fragile unborn humans in this category. A condor egg has more rights than an unborn human in the US--and the Democrats do not care.
3. He speaks of concern for "children," but excludes the youngest children: unborn children.
4. He prays in the name of Jesus, but only says Jesus died "to fight the forces of injustice." That leaves out the most basic reason Jesus died: to atone for our sins and set us right with God. Yes, Jesus' death had social and political consequences, but not without atonement and propitiation. That was omitted from the teleprompter prayer.
5. Much more could be said about how the prayer was framed according to a left-wing perspective on issues, but enough is enough. Donald Miller was the chaplain for The Party of Abortion on Demand. No prophets were to be found. Maybe a few of them will get arrested outside the gate.
Shame on You
Here is an utterly vacuous endorsement of Obama by Brian McLaren and others. Obama has been married for 16 years and has two "beautiful children." So, elect him as the leader of the free world!
This clip is sponsored by "Matthew 25"! That chapter features vs. 31-46 where Jesus speaks of caring for "the least of these." Of course, in McLaren and Obama's minds, that doesn't include the unborn--or those born alive after failed abortions.
Obama is for "the family," supposedly, but refuses to support The Marriage Amendment, which would insure that marriage is not redefined by the courts as same-sex unions.
Those who think (instead of gaze agog) should not be fooled. See John 7:24.
This clip is sponsored by "Matthew 25"! That chapter features vs. 31-46 where Jesus speaks of caring for "the least of these." Of course, in McLaren and Obama's minds, that doesn't include the unborn--or those born alive after failed abortions.
Obama is for "the family," supposedly, but refuses to support The Marriage Amendment, which would insure that marriage is not redefined by the courts as same-sex unions.
Those who think (instead of gaze agog) should not be fooled. See John 7:24.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Propositions to Ponder Concerning the Presidency
1. No important decision a President of the United States makes is read off a teleprompter.
2. Any presidential candidate that thinks Roe v. Wade is good constitutional law is himself constitutionally aberrant. There is no "right to privacy" in the Constitution, but that is how they deconstructed it. It was, as a dissenting judge said, an act of "raw judicial power" and not logic.
3. Any presidential candidate who claims he does not know when human life begins or when a fetus gets human rights is both a moral and biological ignoramus and unfit for The White House.
4. Any presidential candidate who rises to the top in Chicago politics (the most corrupt political machine in the country) is automatically suspect.
5. Any presidential candidate who is friends with--and who has never denounced--a man who admits to bombing the Pentagon while in The Weathermen (William Ayers) is not to be trusted.
6. If a candidate is endorsed by The Communist Party USA, one has to ask why.
2. Any presidential candidate that thinks Roe v. Wade is good constitutional law is himself constitutionally aberrant. There is no "right to privacy" in the Constitution, but that is how they deconstructed it. It was, as a dissenting judge said, an act of "raw judicial power" and not logic.
3. Any presidential candidate who claims he does not know when human life begins or when a fetus gets human rights is both a moral and biological ignoramus and unfit for The White House.
4. Any presidential candidate who rises to the top in Chicago politics (the most corrupt political machine in the country) is automatically suspect.
5. Any presidential candidate who is friends with--and who has never denounced--a man who admits to bombing the Pentagon while in The Weathermen (William Ayers) is not to be trusted.
6. If a candidate is endorsed by The Communist Party USA, one has to ask why.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Os Guinness Lectures on Line
Here is a large assortment of MP3 files of lectures and sermons by Dr. Os Guinness. There is no fluff in this man; he is articulate and prophetic. I have been learning from him through his books and lectures for over 30 years.
Demonstration for Dalit Rights in India
[I received this from The Dalit Freedom Network. Please support this work for justice and human rights. "Dalit" is a word for "untouchable" in the Hindu caste system.]
LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you." 2 Chronicles 14:11
Dalit Christian leaders across India will protest injustices related to Dalit believers on August 26, 2008. Due to caste oppression, Dalits are often unable to qualify for civil job positions based on a lack of education, training or experience. Because of this disadvantage, Indian law guarantees civil jobs for Dalits through a "reservation" system that requires a designated number of job positions to be filled by Dalit workers. These reserved employment spots are not available to Dalits who profess Christian or Muslim beliefs. In response to this discrimination, thousands of Dalit Christians plan to peacefully protest by blocking the trains at railway stations in the major cities of India for thirty minutes on August 26 with the goal of gaining national attention for this injustice.
From now through August 26th, please pray that the demonstration will:
remain peaceful,
attract national media attention for the issue of rights for Dalit Christians
effectively mobilize thousands of Dalit Christians and other supporters
LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you." 2 Chronicles 14:11
Dalit Christian leaders across India will protest injustices related to Dalit believers on August 26, 2008. Due to caste oppression, Dalits are often unable to qualify for civil job positions based on a lack of education, training or experience. Because of this disadvantage, Indian law guarantees civil jobs for Dalits through a "reservation" system that requires a designated number of job positions to be filled by Dalit workers. These reserved employment spots are not available to Dalits who profess Christian or Muslim beliefs. In response to this discrimination, thousands of Dalit Christians plan to peacefully protest by blocking the trains at railway stations in the major cities of India for thirty minutes on August 26 with the goal of gaining national attention for this injustice.
From now through August 26th, please pray that the demonstration will:
remain peaceful,
attract national media attention for the issue of rights for Dalit Christians
effectively mobilize thousands of Dalit Christians and other supporters
Cell Yell for Tykes?
Robert Velarde has an excellent article on children and cell phones on his blog. Please read it
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Moral Life in Three Dimensions
Today in my Ethics course at Metro State College of Denver, I realized that the moral life includes and demands at least three discreet, but interrelated, elements:
1. Moral evaluation: attempting to determine moral states of affairs in the world.
2. Moral affect: orienting oneself to feel the proper emotions given a successful execution of (1)
3. Moral agency: acting in the world according to knowledge (1) and proper feeling (2).
I have never put it together quite like that before. What do you think?
1. Moral evaluation: attempting to determine moral states of affairs in the world.
2. Moral affect: orienting oneself to feel the proper emotions given a successful execution of (1)
3. Moral agency: acting in the world according to knowledge (1) and proper feeling (2).
I have never put it together quite like that before. What do you think?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Sheep and the Goats
Jesus said:
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Obama on "The Least of These"
America On Line reports this about Obama's remarks at Saddleback Church this evening, where he appeared with John McCain.
Obama said that the country's greatest moral failure was not doing enough for its underprivileged.
"We still don't abide by that basic precept of Matthew -- whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me," Obama said.
Physician, heal thyself! Who is lesser, more vulnerable, less able to speak out than an unborn human being? The unborn have fewer rights than endangered species in the United States. Over one million of them are legally aborted each year, and have been since 1973. Obama would keep abortion "safe and legal" by signing The Freedom of Choice Act, which would nullify all state restrictions on abortion. He would appoint only pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court and Federal Courts. He would send more your tax dollars to Planned Parenthood and other "abortion providers (what a euphemism). He would oppose any ban on partial birth abortions, since that what he did as a State Senator. He would support foreign aid for abortions. Remember, he proudly sports a perfect (100%) voting record on abortion according to The National Abortion Rights Action League. His National Right to Life rating is 0%--the worst possible.
Senator Obama, if you are going to unctuously quote the Bible to try to impress ignorant Christians, at least some of us are going to turn that Book back on you. And we will remember that we, too, will be evaluated by its truths.
Obama said that the country's greatest moral failure was not doing enough for its underprivileged.
"We still don't abide by that basic precept of Matthew -- whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me," Obama said.
Physician, heal thyself! Who is lesser, more vulnerable, less able to speak out than an unborn human being? The unborn have fewer rights than endangered species in the United States. Over one million of them are legally aborted each year, and have been since 1973. Obama would keep abortion "safe and legal" by signing The Freedom of Choice Act, which would nullify all state restrictions on abortion. He would appoint only pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court and Federal Courts. He would send more your tax dollars to Planned Parenthood and other "abortion providers (what a euphemism). He would oppose any ban on partial birth abortions, since that what he did as a State Senator. He would support foreign aid for abortions. Remember, he proudly sports a perfect (100%) voting record on abortion according to The National Abortion Rights Action League. His National Right to Life rating is 0%--the worst possible.
Senator Obama, if you are going to unctuously quote the Bible to try to impress ignorant Christians, at least some of us are going to turn that Book back on you. And we will remember that we, too, will be evaluated by its truths.
When Humans Disappear: Take One
The Qwest Internet service was down--again. A robot asks a series of questions, all heartfelt, of course. I am transferred to "a representative" who is not there either, since it is Saturday. Vacuity upon vacuity, it is.
How does one speak with a bot? One may yell and call names, which are never heard or even processed. Should one be kind, just as Kant said we should be kind to animals--not because animals have rights, but because our bad behavior to animals might spill over to how we treat humans?
Of this I am sure: talking to bots dehumanizes us. We take what is distinctively human--our words, our voice--and direct it (ourselves) to what cannot hear, but pretends to hear, to what cannot respond, but pretends to respond. Data exchange replaces dialogue. Why? The answer is one word, a word that dominates us (usually without our knowledge): efficiency. Bots are faster and cheaper for business. It matters not what they do to us, the humans, the unplugged.
How does one speak with a bot? One may yell and call names, which are never heard or even processed. Should one be kind, just as Kant said we should be kind to animals--not because animals have rights, but because our bad behavior to animals might spill over to how we treat humans?
Of this I am sure: talking to bots dehumanizes us. We take what is distinctively human--our words, our voice--and direct it (ourselves) to what cannot hear, but pretends to hear, to what cannot respond, but pretends to respond. Data exchange replaces dialogue. Why? The answer is one word, a word that dominates us (usually without our knowledge): efficiency. Bots are faster and cheaper for business. It matters not what they do to us, the humans, the unplugged.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Senator, Come to Your Senses!
Sen. John McCain is floating the idea of choosing a pro-choice vice president. Unless Sen. McCain can justify political suicide, I don't recommend it. He is already on very thin ice with Reaganite conservatives, and truly pro-life evangelicals (and, yes, those categories overlap). No truly pro-life evangelical can vote for Obama, by the way, for reasons articulated here before. If you wonder about Obama's record on abortion, read the chapter on this in The Case Against Barack Obama by Freddoso.
To chose a pro-choice vice-president (like Tom Ridge or Joe Leiberman) would be to bow toward the culture of death. You don't want those who favor the slaughter of the innocents (over one million a year) on your team. This kind of diversity should be put in the dumpster. This is not simply a minor matter of political opinion. It touches the fundamentals of morality, law, and culture.
If McCain chooses a pro-choice VP, many pro-life people will either stay home or vote for a protest candidate. In fact, the Republican convention could get ugly under such as circumstance. It certainly wouldn't be a coronation.
To chose a pro-choice vice-president (like Tom Ridge or Joe Leiberman) would be to bow toward the culture of death. You don't want those who favor the slaughter of the innocents (over one million a year) on your team. This kind of diversity should be put in the dumpster. This is not simply a minor matter of political opinion. It touches the fundamentals of morality, law, and culture.
If McCain chooses a pro-choice VP, many pro-life people will either stay home or vote for a protest candidate. In fact, the Republican convention could get ugly under such as circumstance. It certainly wouldn't be a coronation.
Doug Groothuis on Denver Radio Program Today
I will be on Gino Geraci's radio talk show (KRKS, 94.7 FM) Friday, August 15, from 4:00-600, discussing Obama, Abortion, and Evangelicals. I was quoted today in The Washington Times on this issue.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
End Point
The fake,
the fraud,
the phony,the pseudo,
the faux,Will be revealed,
not concealed,
in
the End.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Impressed by China: Historical Amnesia Strikes Again
David Brooks, editorialist for The New York Times, reflects on invidualism and collectivism in light of the China Olympics. He is quite taken with the open ceremonies in Bejing that highlighted the harmony and collectivism of the Chinese people. He wonders if individualism, Western-style, will hold up globally and historically. Perhaps collectivism has something to offer that we miss. Brooks writes:
Brooks utterly ignores the totalitarian nature and history of the Chinese authorities. Collectivism means top-down uniformity and conformity to a Marxist-Maoist ideal. Mao, the great Murderer of the Twentieth Century, has not been renounced. Marxist allows for some economic freedom in order to gain power. This was true even under Lenin the USSR. However, it cannot allow for political and social liberty, which threatens its statism (political idolatry: see Ezekiel 28:1-10). China continues to squelch dissent, which includes persecuting the underground church, as Brother Yun dramatically narrates in The Heavenly Man. It reaches around the world through economic and political infiltration. This includes buying up as much valuable goods and land as possible in underdeveloped Africa. It supports genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
One should hark back to 1939 when the world was so impressed by another Olympics and another government. Remember Germany and its lavish displays of Aryan sensibilities. Consider this description of Hitler's Olympic spectacle, written by Jeffrey O. Segrave, writing for George Mason University's "History News Network":
From the very beginning of the project, Hitler recognized the political value of architecture as a vehicle to proselytize Nazi Socialism and he mandated that not only should the stadium be constructed entirely with German materials but that in appearance it must enhance the collective tribalism that would resurrect the majesty of the Volk. One of German fascism's first major architectural statements, the entire Wagnerian scale venue reflected the chauvinistic agenda of the Third Reich: statues and reliefs celebrated Aryan athletic youth, the Maifeld's four stone pylons were named after early Germanic tribes (Frisian, Franconian, Saxon, and Schwabian), and the Dietrich Eckart Amphitheater underscored Greco-German links--both real and imagined--to the new regime. Even the Olympic Village was laid out in the form of the map of Germany with the main dining hall representing the city of Berlin. On May 1st, 1939, Hitler appropriately employed the viewing stand at the Olympic Stadium for his May Day address during which he expounded upon his theory of "Lebensraum." On September 1st he put his theory into practice and invaded Poland.
"Study history. Study History"--Winston Churchill.
The opening ceremony in Beijing was a statement in that conversation. It was part of China’s assertion that development doesn’t come only through Western, liberal means, but also through Eastern and collective ones.
The ceremony drew from China’s long history, but surely the most striking features were the images of thousands of Chinese moving as one — drumming as one, dancing as one, sprinting on precise formations without ever stumbling or colliding. We’ve seen displays of mass conformity before, but this was collectivism of the present — a high-tech vision of the harmonious society performed in the context of China’s miraculous growth.
If Asia’s success reopens the debate between individualism and collectivism (which seemed closed after the cold war), then it’s unlikely that the forces of individualism will sweep the field or even gain an edge.
Brooks utterly ignores the totalitarian nature and history of the Chinese authorities. Collectivism means top-down uniformity and conformity to a Marxist-Maoist ideal. Mao, the great Murderer of the Twentieth Century, has not been renounced. Marxist allows for some economic freedom in order to gain power. This was true even under Lenin the USSR. However, it cannot allow for political and social liberty, which threatens its statism (political idolatry: see Ezekiel 28:1-10). China continues to squelch dissent, which includes persecuting the underground church, as Brother Yun dramatically narrates in The Heavenly Man. It reaches around the world through economic and political infiltration. This includes buying up as much valuable goods and land as possible in underdeveloped Africa. It supports genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
One should hark back to 1939 when the world was so impressed by another Olympics and another government. Remember Germany and its lavish displays of Aryan sensibilities. Consider this description of Hitler's Olympic spectacle, written by Jeffrey O. Segrave, writing for George Mason University's "History News Network":
From the very beginning of the project, Hitler recognized the political value of architecture as a vehicle to proselytize Nazi Socialism and he mandated that not only should the stadium be constructed entirely with German materials but that in appearance it must enhance the collective tribalism that would resurrect the majesty of the Volk. One of German fascism's first major architectural statements, the entire Wagnerian scale venue reflected the chauvinistic agenda of the Third Reich: statues and reliefs celebrated Aryan athletic youth, the Maifeld's four stone pylons were named after early Germanic tribes (Frisian, Franconian, Saxon, and Schwabian), and the Dietrich Eckart Amphitheater underscored Greco-German links--both real and imagined--to the new regime. Even the Olympic Village was laid out in the form of the map of Germany with the main dining hall representing the city of Berlin. On May 1st, 1939, Hitler appropriately employed the viewing stand at the Olympic Stadium for his May Day address during which he expounded upon his theory of "Lebensraum." On September 1st he put his theory into practice and invaded Poland.
"Study history. Study History"--Winston Churchill.
Obama: Abortion Absolutist
Pat Buchanan is dead-on in his editorial, "The Catholic Case Against Obama." Every point he makes should be endorsed by Evangelical Protestants as well. Consider Buchanan's chilling statement:
"In 2007, Barack pledged that, in his first act as president, he will sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would cancel every federal, state or local regulation or restriction on abortion. The National Organization for Women says it would abolish all restrictions on government funding of abortion."
My God, consider the implications of this! All the incremental restrictions on abortion, won state-by state, over the years since 1973, wiped out with a signature. This is an act of congress brought forth after the ban on partial birth abortion was signed into law. Make no mistake, Obama supports partial birth abortion.
Please read this telling editorial. If you are in any sense pro-life (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or other), how can you vote for this "abortion absolutist"?
"In 2007, Barack pledged that, in his first act as president, he will sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would cancel every federal, state or local regulation or restriction on abortion. The National Organization for Women says it would abolish all restrictions on government funding of abortion."
My God, consider the implications of this! All the incremental restrictions on abortion, won state-by state, over the years since 1973, wiped out with a signature. This is an act of congress brought forth after the ban on partial birth abortion was signed into law. Make no mistake, Obama supports partial birth abortion.
Please read this telling editorial. If you are in any sense pro-life (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or other), how can you vote for this "abortion absolutist"?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Blog Fumigation
I just discovered that a white racist was putting comments on my post about Obama's Muslim upbringing. I had not checked the thread for a few days and didn't know what was going on. He is now banned and I have a fuller explanation posted in that discussion. Consider it a fumigation.
For the record, I have nothing but contempt and loathing for all white supremacist ideas, individuals, or organizations. My beef with Obama concerns his ideology and character, not his skin color. I was sincerely hoping that Condoleeza Rice would run for president. I would have supported her. All people are made in God's image and likeness, all are sinners, all need the grace of God in Christ, and all can be used for Kingdom purposes as they submit to God.
I have closed comments on the recent Obama post. But simply because a racist (or someone posing as such to try to make me look bad) tried to hijack The Constructive Curmudgeon doesn't mean I won't continue to critique Barack Obama.
For the record, I have nothing but contempt and loathing for all white supremacist ideas, individuals, or organizations. My beef with Obama concerns his ideology and character, not his skin color. I was sincerely hoping that Condoleeza Rice would run for president. I would have supported her. All people are made in God's image and likeness, all are sinners, all need the grace of God in Christ, and all can be used for Kingdom purposes as they submit to God.
I have closed comments on the recent Obama post. But simply because a racist (or someone posing as such to try to make me look bad) tried to hijack The Constructive Curmudgeon doesn't mean I won't continue to critique Barack Obama.
China Wall
The Olympic facade
over The Great Wall
(keeping truth out and repression in)
should fool
no one.
over The Great Wall
(keeping truth out and repression in)
should fool
no one.
Friday, August 08, 2008
One Word of Truth...
Alexander Solzehenitsyn, Russian literary giant and prophet of freedom, has died at age 89. This man dared to tell the truth about the Soviet system of repression through his novels and speeches. Thirty years ago, he came to Harvard and told America the truth about itself. I remember watching this address on television and noting the bemused responses by the commentators.
Please reread--or read for the first time--this historic speech by a hero of our time, who along with Pope John Paul, II, Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan, were instrumental in bringing down the monster called Russian Communism. Sadly, Chinese Communism is still alive and lying to the world as best it can.
"One word of truth outweighs the world'--Russian Proverb.
Here are three gems from the speech (pointed out to me by a faithful CC reader):
"When a government starts an earnest fight against terrorism, public opinion immediately accuses it of violating the terrorist's civil rights."
"How many hasty, immature, superficial, and misleading judgments are expressed every day, confusing readers, without any verification. The press -- The press can both simulate public opinion and miseducate it."
"A person who works and leads a meaningful life does not need this excessive burdening flow of information."
Please reread--or read for the first time--this historic speech by a hero of our time, who along with Pope John Paul, II, Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan, were instrumental in bringing down the monster called Russian Communism. Sadly, Chinese Communism is still alive and lying to the world as best it can.
"One word of truth outweighs the world'--Russian Proverb.
Here are three gems from the speech (pointed out to me by a faithful CC reader):
"When a government starts an earnest fight against terrorism, public opinion immediately accuses it of violating the terrorist's civil rights."
"How many hasty, immature, superficial, and misleading judgments are expressed every day, confusing readers, without any verification. The press -- The press can both simulate public opinion and miseducate it."
"A person who works and leads a meaningful life does not need this excessive burdening flow of information."
Obama's Muslim Upbringing
Daniel Pipes, a credible scholar of Islam, claims that Obama was raised a Muslim, despite Obama's claims to the contrary. The implications are (1) Obama is lying about his past (2) If he was raised a Muslim and is not now practicing it, then he is considered an infidel in Islam and ought to be executed. That is a keep principle of Islamic law. This could have significant political implications if he were to be elected president.
Notice that Pipes is not claiming that Obama is now a Muslim.
Notice that Pipes is not claiming that Obama is now a Muslim.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Dutch Historian Speaks to Today
One of our graduates from Denver Seminary, Jedd McFatter, recently sent me these quotes from an obscure source, not impertinent to our day (and presidential election).
----------
Interesting quotes from great Dutch Historian Johan Huizinga, written in an essay about the Spirit of the Netherlands in 1935:
"Not much psychological knowledge is needed to realize that emotive words can very easily be used to cause the unformed intellect to suspend independent judgment, if not forever, at least until there is some rude awakening. When judgment drops the reains, the harnessed instinct runs away with the cart."
"The average man of small leisure parrots opinions continuously drilled into him by every possible power of persuasion."
"The belief that what is evil becomes good if only enough people want it is one of the most terrifying abberations of our age."
----------
Interesting quotes from great Dutch Historian Johan Huizinga, written in an essay about the Spirit of the Netherlands in 1935:
"Not much psychological knowledge is needed to realize that emotive words can very easily be used to cause the unformed intellect to suspend independent judgment, if not forever, at least until there is some rude awakening. When judgment drops the reains, the harnessed instinct runs away with the cart."
"The average man of small leisure parrots opinions continuously drilled into him by every possible power of persuasion."
"The belief that what is evil becomes good if only enough people want it is one of the most terrifying abberations of our age."
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Tenth Printing of Truth Decay: Some Reflections
My publisher, InterVarsity Press, has sent me a copy of the tenth printing of Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism (2000). There are 24, 934 copies in print. Why mention this, outside of crass self-promotion? It is remarkable to me that a philosophical and theological critique of the many aspects of postmodernism--artistic, ethical, theological, philosophical--would stay in print this long and sell this many copies. I am not blowing my own horn, I am simply thankful. Of course, 25,000 copies is a hiccop for J. R. Rowling or Eckhart Tolle, but it isn't bad for a book with footnotes and arguments written by a curmudgeon.
My central thesis is that Christianity is a worldview that is inexplicable apart from its claim to objective, absolute, universal, and knowable truth. It is only by articulating, defending, and applying this view of truth that we can commend the Christian message in its fullness today and tomorrow.
This book has its detractors; it probably got more bad reviews than any of my other books. But it also won awards, including a second place in apologetics (or social criticism) from Christianity Today. (Getting no reviews is worse: a fate experienced by several of the other books.) Some expected the book to be an in depth textually dense analysis of Foucault, Derrida, Rorty, et al. (I did go into the most detail with Richard Rorty, partially because he wrote in intelligible prose.) They were disappointed, since that was not the purpose of the book. Some criticized my use of secondary sources, but the vast majority of footnotes were not to secondary sources. Moreover, quoting a secondary source does not mean it is wrong! The book received endorsements by academics such as C. Stephan Evans, Winfried Corduan, and J.P. Moreland. Moreover, Millard Erickson's Truth or Consequences (IVP, 2001) goes into considerably more detail in exegeting the likes of Derrida, et al, and comes up with essential the same conclusions as I did. Many wanted an embrace of postmodernism as "the next big thing." They, of course, were repulsed and disgusted and called the book all manner of names.
Eight years on, I think the book holds up fairly well. It should give insights to those trying understand the philosophy behind "the emerging church," although that movement (which more headline than text, I think--and hope) was not yet named in 2000.
One reason why some critics attacked the book is that it is written at an intermediate level. It has loads of footnotes and arguments, but it is not an academic tome per se. Neither is it a memoir (my precious thoughts on postmodernism) or a breezy treatment (postmodernism for dummies). I was taken by the idea of writing at an intermediate level in 1980 after listening to a remarkable lecture by Os Guinness from a series of lectures he gave in Houston, Texas called, "The Defense Never Rests." (Some years ago this was available from Ligonier Ministries.) Guinness claimed that the church suffers from the want of literature that makes more scholarly ideas accessible. Yet his kind of writing gets hit from both above and below. Academics call it "popular"--the death sentence. Nonacademics may get frustrated with the demands that this writing makes on them. Exemplars of this manner of writing are Francis Schaeffer, Os Guinness, Nancy Pearcey, James Sire, and Charles Colson (who usually works with a co-writer).
I recently received a request from a man in Iran for a copy of this book. May it stay in print as long as it glorifies God and advances the Kingdom. Of course, God is the final judge of its worth.
My central thesis is that Christianity is a worldview that is inexplicable apart from its claim to objective, absolute, universal, and knowable truth. It is only by articulating, defending, and applying this view of truth that we can commend the Christian message in its fullness today and tomorrow.
This book has its detractors; it probably got more bad reviews than any of my other books. But it also won awards, including a second place in apologetics (or social criticism) from Christianity Today. (Getting no reviews is worse: a fate experienced by several of the other books.) Some expected the book to be an in depth textually dense analysis of Foucault, Derrida, Rorty, et al. (I did go into the most detail with Richard Rorty, partially because he wrote in intelligible prose.) They were disappointed, since that was not the purpose of the book. Some criticized my use of secondary sources, but the vast majority of footnotes were not to secondary sources. Moreover, quoting a secondary source does not mean it is wrong! The book received endorsements by academics such as C. Stephan Evans, Winfried Corduan, and J.P. Moreland. Moreover, Millard Erickson's Truth or Consequences (IVP, 2001) goes into considerably more detail in exegeting the likes of Derrida, et al, and comes up with essential the same conclusions as I did. Many wanted an embrace of postmodernism as "the next big thing." They, of course, were repulsed and disgusted and called the book all manner of names.
Eight years on, I think the book holds up fairly well. It should give insights to those trying understand the philosophy behind "the emerging church," although that movement (which more headline than text, I think--and hope) was not yet named in 2000.
One reason why some critics attacked the book is that it is written at an intermediate level. It has loads of footnotes and arguments, but it is not an academic tome per se. Neither is it a memoir (my precious thoughts on postmodernism) or a breezy treatment (postmodernism for dummies). I was taken by the idea of writing at an intermediate level in 1980 after listening to a remarkable lecture by Os Guinness from a series of lectures he gave in Houston, Texas called, "The Defense Never Rests." (Some years ago this was available from Ligonier Ministries.) Guinness claimed that the church suffers from the want of literature that makes more scholarly ideas accessible. Yet his kind of writing gets hit from both above and below. Academics call it "popular"--the death sentence. Nonacademics may get frustrated with the demands that this writing makes on them. Exemplars of this manner of writing are Francis Schaeffer, Os Guinness, Nancy Pearcey, James Sire, and Charles Colson (who usually works with a co-writer).
I recently received a request from a man in Iran for a copy of this book. May it stay in print as long as it glorifies God and advances the Kingdom. Of course, God is the final judge of its worth.
Safe?
Google says they accidently targetted blog as spam. Well, well. 900 posts were in danger by a bot. We hope we are safe now.
The New York Sun ran an article in which some claim their anti-Obama blog posts were frozen deliberately. I take no position, but think about it.
The New York Sun ran an article in which some claim their anti-Obama blog posts were frozen deliberately. I take no position, but think about it.
Constructive Curmudgeon in Danger of Deletion
"When humans disappear, things get strange."--Rebecca Merrill Groothuis
It looks like this Google warning about being automatically labeled a "spam blog" is real. However, the link Google sent me does not go to what they say: a review form. Moreover, they say they get "false positives" (they sure did with me!) and will freeze pages that are not in fact spam blogs. Impersonal technology strikes again. There is a grace period and then will delete. Good night! Maybe Obama is after me.
Can anyone help? Humans are getting locked out by the computers.
It looks like this Google warning about being automatically labeled a "spam blog" is real. However, the link Google sent me does not go to what they say: a review form. Moreover, they say they get "false positives" (they sure did with me!) and will freeze pages that are not in fact spam blogs. Impersonal technology strikes again. There is a grace period and then will delete. Good night! Maybe Obama is after me.
Can anyone help? Humans are getting locked out by the computers.
Question and warning
I just got an email supposedly from Google saying that if I did not fill out a form, they might delete my blog because they suspect it is a "Spam Blog."This sounds very phishy. I have yet done nothing. Does anyone know about this?
I am back from a short trip to Alaska. So beware! Curmudgeon is back in season.
I am back from a short trip to Alaska. So beware! Curmudgeon is back in season.