Some opponents of broad religious freedom protections have spent over $500,000 on advocacy and public relations campaigns related to the Masterpiece Cakeshop Supreme Court decision, a CNA analysis of recent foundation grantmaking has found. The spending is among at least $2.4 million . . . Continue reading →
Religion in America
Senator Sanders And The Twofold Kingdom
In early June (2017) Russell Vought appeared before a committee of the United States Senate as the president’s nominee to serve as the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). During the hearing, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) questioned Vought . . . Continue reading →
The Muslim Brotherhood In America (Ikhwan): A Present Threat To Religious Liberty
Part Of The Answer: Americans Ignorant Of Basic Civics?
According to the 2015 State of the First Amendment Survey: When asked to name the five specific freedoms in the First Amendment, 57% of Americans name freedom of speech, followed by 19% who say the freedom of religion, 10% mention the freedom . . . Continue reading →
Justice Thomas: Obergefell v Hodges Threatens Religious Liberty
Numerous amici—even some not supporting the States—have cautioned the Court that its decision here will “have unavoidable and wide-ranging implications for religious liberty.” Brief for General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists et al. as Amici Curiae 5. In our society, marriage is not simply a governmental institution; it is a religious institution as well. Id., at 7. Today’s decision might change the former, but it cannot change the latter. It appears all but inevitable that the two will come into conflict, particularly as individuals and churches are confronted with demands to participate in and endorse civil marriages between same-sex couples. Continue reading →
One Reason Why Religious Liberty Is In Jeopardy
Baker takes a job his faith says he can’t do, bad choice, like a Muslim taking a job to sell bacon. #equalrights @RScottClark @reg1776
— Chuck (@CherMemorabilia) April 9, 2015
The Real Danger Of Theocracy In America
Since evangelical re-engagement with social and cultural issues in the mid-1970s, symbolized by the 1976 election of a self-professed born-again, Southern Baptist (Democrat) from Georgia to the White House, in the wake of the Watergate scandal, against the background of the Moral . . . Continue reading →
Marriage As State Sanction Of Affection + Consent = NAMBLA
The moral mathematics behind the current tsunami of cultural pressure for homosexual marriage is fairly clear and simple. Marriage has been redefined as the social (and state) sanctioned expression of mutual affection and consent. The great problem with the math in this . . . Continue reading →
American Civics 101: No Established Church
Warren Throckmorton, who teaches psychology at Grove City College, the fellow who blew the whistle on Mars Hill, has set his sights on David Barton of Wallbuilders fame. You may have seen Barton on late-night infomercials or on the web. He is known for . . . Continue reading →
Chaplain Punished For Mentioning His Faith
The Army has disciplined a military chaplain for making references to the Bible during a suicide-prevention seminar last month. …The chaplain, Capt. Joe Lawhorn, conducted the training session on suicide prevention Nov. 20 at the University of North Georgia. During the session, . . . Continue reading →
Rick Warren And Catholics Together
Darryl Hart has a thought-provoking post today on Rick Warren’s recent comments about what Rome and Protestants have in common. Warren’s comments are a sterling reminder of the importance of knowing our church history. Yes, Christians of all the major traditions receive . . . Continue reading →
Independence And The Practice Of The Faith
On Independence Day 2014 we should remember that one of the principal concerns of the founders of the Republic was the freedom not only to assemble for public worship but also to practice one’s religion. Since the so-called (and self-described) Enlightenment of . . . Continue reading →
Scalia On The Lemon Test As Late-Night Ghoul
Like some ghoul in a late-night horror movie that repeatedly sits up in its grave and shuffles abroad, after being repeatedly killed and buried, Lemon stalks our Establishment Clause jurisprudence once again, frightening the little children and school attorneys of Center Moriches . . . Continue reading →
Freedom From Religion Foundation v Lew: What Now? (New Links Added)
Links are being added below. Refresh the page for updates throughout the day. For elders and parishioners and not infrequently for ministers, clergy taxes are one of the more difficult aspects of ministerial finances. Those difficulties just became potentially greater last week. . . . Continue reading →
Does The State Illegitimately Control The Church?
It has recently been argued to me that, in the various states, because the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act(s), the Uniform Child Custody Justice Enforcement Act(s), and because most congregations (and denominations) have formed non-profit corporations (in the USA congregations usually become . . . Continue reading →
Protestants Looking For Authority Convert to Rome
As part of trend, which has been observed here since October 2009, a retired Episcopal minister, Larry Gipson, has become a Roman priest. Gipson was formerly the rector of the USA’s largest Episcopal church. He’s in process of becoming a Roman priest . . . Continue reading →
What We Think We Know About Religion in America
The typical American adult pegs religious affiliation in the U.S. as follows: 24% Catholic, 20% Protestant, 19% unaffiliated, 9% Jewish, 9% atheist or agnostic, 7% Muslim, 7% Mormon, and 5% from all other religious groups. Continue reading →