God’s Sovereignty And The Chosen People Of Israel

(OPINION) Israel was chosen because of the sovereignty of God, not because of Israel’s own merit. He set His love on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and determined to bless the world through their offspring, meaning through the people of Israel and, ultimately, through the seed of Abraham par excellence, Jesus the Messiah. And because He made unconditional promises to the patriarchs, He has kept His word through the generations, preserving the people of Israel, disciplining them, scattering them and regathering them.

Israel, Jewish, Judaism, OpinionDr. Michael BrownMay 11, 2024Michael Brown, Dr. Michael Brown, Israel, Middle East, Jews, Judaism, Hamas, opinion, news, Gaza, PalestiniansComment

How Many Atheist And Agnostic Republicans Are There?

(ANALYSIS) The field of religion and politics presents me with a whole bunch of combinations of folks who would clearly fall into this cross pressured category. I wanted to focus on one today that may be the most incongruent — people who identify as atheist or agnostic on the religion question but then say that they are Republicans.

Religious ‘Nones’ Have Soared In Recent Years, But Why Not The Number Of Atheists?

(ANALYSIS) The number of individuals in the U.S. who do not identify as being part of any religion has grown and “the nones” are now larger than any single religious group. According to the General Social Survey, religiously unaffiliated people represented only about 5% of the U.S. population in the 1970s. This percentage began to increase in the 1990s and is now around 30%.

Crossroads Podcast: The Catholic Trads Are Coming!

The feature is framed with bad news — that progressive Catholics in the United States are experiencing pain because of the rising numbers of young priests and young adults (especially parents with, wink-wink, lots of children) seeking a more pro-Catholic Catechism approach to faith.

⚾️ New Biography Gives Insight Into Star Pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s Faith 🔌

A new, 400-page biography of 10-time All-Star pitcher Clayton Kershaw delves into his baseball success, his family life and, yes, his faith.

Most Americans See No Moral Or Spiritual Good In AI

A majority don’t see a moral or spiritual benefit to AI, the American Bible Society said on May 9 in the latest release from its 2024 State of the Bible. Most, 68 percent, don’t believe AI could be used to enhance their spiritual practices and thus promote spiritual health, while 58 percent don’t believe the technology could aid in their moral reasoning.

Presbyterians’ Latest Sexuality Showdown Follows Methodists’ Historic Shift

(ANALYSIS) While drama with the United Methodist Church continues to develop, the sexuality spotlight shifts to America’s Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)., which has already approved gay clergy and marriage but is heading into a different sexuality fuss that carries some risk of another church split.

How The Apocalypse Became Both A Secular And Religious Idea

Fears of AI are not the only things driving public concern about the end of the world. Climate change and pandemic diseases are also well-known threats. Reporting on these challenges and dubbing them a potential “apocalypse” has become common in the media — so common, in fact, that it might go unnoticed, or may simply be written off as hyperbole.

Book Excerpt: ‘Soul By Soul’ By Brazilian Journalist Adriana Carranca

In “Soul by Soul: The Evangelical Mission to Spread the Gospel to Muslims” Adriana Carranca follows the pilgrimage of a missionary family from Brazil as they move to Afghanistan. Carranca brings us on a harrowing journey through the underground passages of the global evangelical movement as it clashes with militant Islamic groups. What follows is an excerpt from Carranca’s new book.

Books, Christianity, Islam, NewsAdriana CarrancaMay 9, 2024book excerpt, "Soul By Soul", Christianity, religion, Islam, newsComment

Gaza’s Christian Presence Dwindles Following 7 Months Of Israel-Hamas War

An estimated 25 percent to half of the 900 to 1,000 Christians who lived in Gaza before the war have fled, and that an additional 25 percent are applying to leave. Israel’s occupation of the Rafah border crossing threatens safe passage to Egypt. Thousands of displaced Palestinians are fleeing Rafah for Deir el-Balah about 12 miles north and were straining a scant supply of fresh water.

A Post-Passover Predicament: What To Do With All That Matzo?

Passover ended a little over a week ago. The big question now is what do you do with all the leftover matzo? That’s what many Jews are asking themselves now that the eight-day holiday — in commemoration of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt — has passed.

On Religion: Yes, Most Southern Baptists Support Religious Liberty For All

Neighborly Faith studied academic publications addressing this issue and created a detailed, 14-point compromise definition stating, in part: “Christian Nationalism is a movement advancing a vision of America's past, present, and future that excludes people of non-Christian religions and non-Western cultures. Christian Nationalists romanticize Christianity's influence on America's development, attributing the nation's historical provenance to God's special favor.”

Nearly 50 Christians Killed In Nigeria Attacks, Dozens Wounded

Neary 50 Christians have been killed in a series of militant attacks on villages in Benue, Plateau and Kaduna states in late April through early May, with dozens more wounded and displaced, according to news reports. Militant Fulani killed six Christians in southern Kaduna on May 5 in the latest in a series of attacks.

Pastor John MacArthur Denies Existence Of Mental Illness: ‘No Such Thing’

Speaking recently at a church conference, popular author and pastor-teacher John MacArthur told attendees that mental illness doesn’t exist. He also implied that a child who takes medications due to mental health diagnoses is turned into “a potential drug addict” or “potential criminal.”

London’s Wallace Collection Expounds On TheLife And Times Of A Sikh Warrior King

Ranjit Singh, known as the “Lion of Punjab,” was responsible for the creation of the Sikh Empire in 19th century north India. A skilled warrior and revered king, as well as the first maharajah of the Sikh people, Singh is one of the most important figures in Sikh history. Now, his life and reign as a ruler are the subject of the exhibition “Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King” at London’s The Wallace Collection.

US Watchdog Group Recommends Adding 15 Nations To List Of Religious Freedom Violators

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2024 report urged the U.S. State Department to add 15 nations to the current list of egregious religious freedom violators, and recommended key policy guidance for the Biden administration. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Nigeria and Vietnam should be added to the 12 Countries of Particular Concern.

Turkey Officially Converts Istanbul’s Iconic Chora Church Into A Mosque

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopened an iconic Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it an Islamic house of worship. Despite criticism from Christians around the world, Turkey formally converted Chora Church into a mosque after it had turned Istanbul’s landmark Hagia Sophia into a Muslim prayer space.

Palestinian Journalists Receive Pulitzer ‘Special Citation’ For Gaza War Coverage

The Pulitzer Prize committee awarded a “special citation” to journalists covering the war in Gaza. In addition, “A Day in the Life of Abed Salaman: Anatomy of a Jerusalem” Tragedy by Nathan Thrall, which documents the experience of a Palestinian father whose 5-year-old son was killed in a bus crash, won the prize for general nonfiction.

Fighting In Putin’s ‘Spiritual War’: Indian Men Forced To Join The Russian Army

The Russian military’s need to replenish its ranks for what appears to be a long-term war against Ukraine and its Western allies has resulted in Indian men being lured to Moscow with the promise of work, only to discover that they have been forced to enlist in the army. Russian President Vladimir Putin has even justified the invasion of Ukraine partly as a defense of the Moscow-oriented Orthodox Church.

Radio Host Eric Metaxas Lawsuit Moves Forward Despite Free Speech Concerns

In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel agreed with 2nd Judicial District Judge Marie Avery Moses in rejecting a motion to dismiss the suit, but struck down a key item. The suit was filed by former Dominion Voting Systems executive Eric Coomer after businessman and podcaster Joe Oltmann went to conservative media, including Metaxas’ show, purporting to have evidence that Coomer conspired with Antifa to rig the 2020 election.

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