Free Republic

‘If we let those Christian groups stay on campus, how can we keep out the Klan?” Defend religious liberty in higher education, and that is the question you’ll be forced to answer. I’ve heard it every year at least once for the last 16 years, since I first defended a Christian student group, at Tufts University in 2000. The problem, you see, is that Christian groups stubbornly wish to be led by Christians, and at hundreds of universities they have refused to sign pledges or conform to policies that mandate that they not even consider a candidate’s religious faith when...

There was an interesting ripple in the Obamacare story over the weekend, coming as most of the country was more tuned in to the closing out of the old year than any political stories. A federal judge in Texas issued an injunction which prevents certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act from taking effect. Buzzfeed brought the story to light on New Years Eve, describing how US District Court Judge Reed O’Connor halted enforcement of Section 1557 of the act, which “forbids discriminating on the basis of ‘gender identity’ and ‘termination of pregnancy.’” Explaining the lawsuit, O’Connor wrote, “Plaintiffs claim...

The Democratic Party has a “religious illiteracy” problem that prevents them from reaching out to evangelicals, according to a former Democratic staffer. Michael Wear, a former Obama White House staffer, explained three reasons why the Democratic Party fails to reach out to evangelical voters or voters with different theologies. Wear, speaking with The Atlantic, pointed out that many young Democrats don’t know how to discuss or deal with religious topics. This “illiteracy” contributes to why Democrats fail to reach out to evangelicals, Wear explained. “It’s tied to the demographics of the country: More 20- and 30-year-olds are taking positions of...

Huston Smith, a renowned scholar of religion who pursued his own enlightenment in Methodist churches, Zen monasteries and even Timothy Leary’s living room, died on Friday at his home in Berkeley, Calif. He was 97. His wife, Kendra, confirmed his death. Professor Smith was best known for “The Religions of Man” (1958), which has been a standard textbook in college-level comparative religion classes for half a century. In 1991, it was abridged and given the gender-neutral title “The World’s Religions.” The two versions together have sold more than three million copies.

There aren’t many people like Michael Wear in today’s Democratic Party. The former director of Barack Obama’s 2012 faith-outreach efforts is a theologically conservative evangelical Christian. He is opposed to both abortion and same-sex marriage, although he would argue that those are primarily theological positions, and other issues, including poverty and immigration, are also important to his faith. During his time working for Obama, Wear was often alone in many of his views, he writes in his new book, Reclaiming Hope. He helped with faith-outreach strategies for Obama’s 2008 campaign, but was surprised when some state-level officials decided not to...

Bible Reading Plans for 2017 from Nathan W. Bingham Dec 28, 2016 Category: Articles Many Christians take the beginning of a new year to evaluate their Bible reading habits, and then change or begin a Bible reading plan.Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of Bible reading plans for you to choose from. Maybe in 2017 you will read more of the Bible each day. Perhaps you’ll slow down your reading and instead spend more time considering what you read. Whatever it is you’re looking for...

Nestled in a boat for a crib with a barbed-wire Christmas star, the infant Jesus was given a “contemporary face” by an Austrian Catholic bishop who claimed that “Jesus 2016 is a refugee in a boat”. Broadcast live on Christmas Day via television to the German-speaking world, Catholic diocesan bishop Aegidius Zsifkovics of St. Martin’s Cathedral, Eisenstadt, Austria, compared the “scandal” of the migrant crisis to the Christmas story, alluding to the Virgin Mary as a pregnant migrant. “For how can it be that a pregnant woman has to go on a strenuous journey? … It is precisely this scandal...

In the coming film adaptation of “The Shack,” a fictional book by William P. Young about a father’s path to renewed faith and healing after his young daughter’s murder, the character of God — as depicted in the novel — is portrayed as a curvy, maternal black woman. And just as the book earned widespread notoriety and scathing critiques nearly a decade ago, the film is garnering its own praise and condemnation. At issue is Young’s characterization of the Holy Trinity, seen through the eyes of the story’s main character, who on the four-year anniversary of his daughter’s brutal killing...

In this season’s most anticipated holiday spin-off, Campus Reform visits the University of Virginia dressed as “The Hipsters Who Stole Christmas.” With schools across the country outright banning even such innocuous Christmas decorations as evergreen trees and images of Santa because they could be interpreted as being “non-inclusive,” Campus Reform wanted to find out what students think of the idea.

This morning’s Gospel reading is Matthew 1:18–24: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the...

Sparrow Records and Christian recording artist Amy Grant announced Thursday the release of her new Christmas album, which becomes the 200th Christmas collection Grant has produced in her career, a record among all recording artists. The latest offering, Greatest Hits From This Year’s Christmas Albums, which compiles some of the best songs from the other six Christmas albums Grant has released this year, arrived on shelves to a robust response.Industry experts attribute the instant success of the album to a growing sense of unrest among Christians, who had not been blessed by a new Amy Grant Christmas album in almost...

The predominantly Christian country of Slovakia passed a law on Nov. 30 that effectively bans Islam as an officially recognized religion, which also blocks Islam from receiving any state subsidies for its schools, reported Reuters. The prime minister, Robert Fico, said in May that "Islam has no place" in Slovakia. Prior to the law being passed, Slovak National Party Chairman Andrej Danko said, "Islamization starts with a kebab and it's already under way in Bratislava -- let's realize what we can face in 5 to 10 years." "We must do everything we can so that no mosque is built in...

I have spent the better part of the last 10 years working diligently to investigate and relate information on economics and geopolitical discourse for the liberty movement. However, long before I delved into these subjects my primary interests of study were the human mind and the human “soul” (yes, I’m using a spiritual term). My fascination with economics and sociopolitical events has always been rooted in the human element. That is to say, while economics is often treated as a mathematical and statistical field, it is also driven by psychology. To know the behavior of man is to know the...

""Radical Far Left Group Demands World War I Memorial to Fallen Soldiers Be Torn Down Because It Includes a Cross"" The Bladensburg Cross was built in 1925 in Bladensburg, Marlyand in 1925. The cross was a designed by mothers of local soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. The American Legion raised the money to build the cross on private land. Now a radical far left group is demanding the cross be taken down. It offends them. The Becket Fund reported: For 90 years, a war memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland has reminded passersby of the ultimate sacrifice made...

'Highlights' children's magazine agrees to indoctrinate children regarding homosexuality Where is the last place parents would suspect their kiddos to be exposed to same-sex "families" portrayed as normal? In the current controversy, Highlights magazine decided to include same-sex families in their magazines. Babies and preschoolers will soon be introduced to this sensitive topic in the Highlights line of magazines. Parents are seeing more examples of children being indoctrinated to same-sex families as normal, especially in the media. Children's publications are no longer off limits, even those that cater to toddlers and elementary age children. A lesbian mom reportedly complained that...

The billionaire philanthropist chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to be his education secretary, Betsy DeVos, has expressed her preference in the past to give Christianity a bigger part in schooling in the United States. . . . In the recording, the Devos couple reportedly discussed how they are motivated by the Christian faith in pushing for reforms in how the youth are educated in the U.S.

State official demands AFA discard its Christians beliefs Created On: Monday, December 5, 2016 10:56 AM Last Update: Monday, December 5, 2016 4:39 PM Regardless of election results this past November 8, secular progressives in America remain intent on driving Christians out of the public square. Actions by the state of Connecticut last week proved it. On Wednesday, November 30, 2016 the American Family Association received a letter from the State of Connecticut Comptroller’s Office. The letter alleged, "AFA may be in violation of the regulations governing the Connecticut State Employee Campaign for Charitable Giving that broadly prohibit discrimination."

Police say Joseph Jorczak's ranted about LGBT church members on social media - A man who barricaded himself inside an apartment building Wednesday in Miami Beach is facing charges after he harassed, cyberstalked and threatened members of the Miami Beach Community Church, authorities said. According to an arrest report, Joseph Jorczak, 34, posted numerous comments on social media from Nov. 17 through Tuesday, where he said, "Orlando will look small to what is coming to Miami Beach, specifically the Miami Beach Community Church." .....A social media post also claimed that Jorczak had been diagnosed with a tumor and that "the...

Liberal elites are paying the price for sidelining religious liberty. But Catholics must not leave the fightback to maverick populistsOne reason Donald Trump was able to put together a coalition big enough to get him elected as president was that there were so many single issues about which different groups of people were exercised. They cared much more deeply about that one issue than a whole range of other issues, on which they may have disagreed with the Republican nominee. This is one explanation for Trump’s lead among Catholics. Particular concerns among Catholics included life issues, of course. Many people...

She begins by saying: “God has established Mr. Trump as the 45th President of the United States…for the sake of the American people. God has kept the first part of His promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14…If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and will heal their land. “The only possible answer for Mr. Trump’s dramatic victory is that God has indeed heard from Heaven. Just as certainly as He has answered our prayers for...