Free Republic

...My interviews with the two recent converts took place over the course of a year. Do you believe in the resurrection? I asked them. In heaven? Where do you stand on demons? But what I saw of the two young men’s faith, finally, was not through their answers to my generic questions about Christianity. It was reflected in their faces and enacted in their gestures as I attended religious services beside them. ... I discovered the two young comedians were not outliers when it comes to my generation’s relationship to faith in Britain. Not only did I meet a host...

ABSTRACT: Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripelike lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for hypovolemic shock as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion his wrists were nailed to the patibulum, and after the patibulum was lifted onto the upright post, (stipes) his feet were nailed to the stipes. The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly, death resulted primarily...

Did Christ Abolish the 7th day Sabbath?? Acts 13:14-15 show that the Apostle Paul was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath many years after Christ died. In verse 42, after Paul’s Sabbath sermon, many of the Jews who heard him became offended and left. But notice, “the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.” The Gentiles, those who had no prior knowledge of Sabbath observance, asked if Paul could come back the next Sabbath. Notice what happened: “And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of...

Quote from his sermon: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. This is another one a lot of people don't do. And there's no good reason not to. There is no place in the Bible that cancels out the Sabbath. Yes Jesus did push back on how they observe the Sabbath but let's be very clear, Did Jesus observe the Sabbath? Yes he did. Yes he did. Now he protected works of mercy on the Sabbath, but he protected the Sabbath. And here it makes it very clear that when we honor the Lord, and his creation, then we...

A “quiet revival” in UK Catholicism appears to be occurring, especially among those age groups referred to as Generation Z and younger Millennials, reports The Times of London, while noting that Catholics are rapidly catching up with Anglican numbers across all age groups. Catholicism could soon overtake Anglicanism to become the country’s largest denomination of worshippers for the first time since the English Reformation initiated by King Henry VIII in 1527. Anglicans could even slip into third behind Pentecostals among churchgoers aged under 35 years of age. ... the new report by the Bible Society suggests that the proportion of...

What religion is this? United Methodist Minister explains that praying to God as 'Our Father' can be painful, damaging, and traumatic for some, so she advises to pray instead 'Our Grandmother who art in heaven' or 'Our coach....'From Grandville Church in Lancaster. pic.twitter.com/8QMrK6l5OD— Protestia (@Protestia) April 7, 2025Whether you pray 'Our Father in heaven,' or 'Our mother in heaven,' or 'Our parent in heaven,' it makes no difference in terms of the prayer itself. The Apostle Paul is quite literally rolling over in his grave right now. God, by His own Word, is OUR FATHER. Jesus refers to God as...

There’s an old saying about foxes guarding henhouses. It turns out the Presbytery of Western North Carolina has taken that metaphor and cranked it up to eleven, not just letting the foxes guard the chickens, but setting up a cozy little Airbnb for them right inside the coop. Because, in their infinite wisdom, they’ve decided that teenage boys—sorry, “girls”—should bunk with actual girls at youth retreats. What could possibly go wrong? The policy, officially titled the Child & Youth Protection Policy—because irony is dead—was adopted in 2020 and claims to create a “safe and secure environment for children and youth.”...

Yemen launched a major assault, firing ballistic and hypersonic missiles at Israel and U.S. warships. The attack marks a dangerous escalation in regional tensions, with the Yemeni Armed Forces vowing to continue their blockade on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas.

TBN Israel's Yair Pinto reports on the Israel-Hamas War. Israel is intensifying its operations against Hamas leadership with precise airstrikes targeting high-ranking officials. In the past 24 hours, the newly appointed Hamas prime minister, along with key financial and military leaders, have been eliminated. The IDF is preparing for a significant ground maneuver while tightening control over Gaza’s humanitarian aid and security zones. Meanwhile, Hezbollah is attempting to reestablish its presence along Israel’s northern border despite facing setbacks. On the broader regional front, Iran is escalating rhetoric while facing pressure from the U.S. over its nuclear ambitions. With diplomatic negotiations...

CV NEWS FEED // Progressive theological shifts may be contributing to the steep declines in both membership and finances that mainline Protestant denominations in the United States continue to face, according to a recent report from the Associated Press (AP). While circumstances vary, the March 14 AP News report highlighted a shared pattern among several groups: internal divisions and declining participation often follow moves toward more progressive positions on doctrine and culture. The United Methodist Church, for example, lost a quarter of its U.S. congregations amid debates over the ordination and marriage of LGBT individuals. Its denominational workforce has shrunk...

The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) has officially completed its transformation from a nominally Christian denomination into yet another rubber-stamping committee for the moral revolution. With its latest amendment, enshrining LGBTQIAP+ identities into its Constitution, the PCUSA has removed any last fig leaf of theological credibility, not that it had any left, opting instead for total allegiance to the gods of sexual identity politics. This was inevitable. Believe it or not, here and there, there did exist at least somewhat remotely faithful PCUSA congregations, but only because it was so difficult to exit the denomination. But, the PCUSA abandoned biblical fidelity long...

Two years ago, Christian teacher Glawdys Leger told students during a religious studies lesson at Bishop Justus Church of England School that being LBTQ was sinful and that transgender people were “confused.” One would think such talk would not be out of place for a school that frequently and explicitly touts its Christian beliefs as making up its vision, ethos, and values. However, Leger was deemed guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by a professional conduct panel (PCP) and later terminated from her employment. She filed a lawsuit against the school for wrongful dismissal, hoping to overturn her firing, but the...

The next 24 hours could change everything. The last few hours have been unlike anything we’ve seen before! Israel has launched multiple strikes in Lebanon and Syria, while the U.S. has carried out major attacks in Yemen. Iran is on high alert, fearing a possible U.S. strike, while Iraq braces for Israeli military action. Meanwhile, President Trump has sent three additional aircraft carriers to the Middle East, signaling a dramatic escalation. Could this be the moment that forces Iran to back down?

TBN Israel's Yair Pinto reports on the Israel-Hamas War and rising Houthi tensions. Pinto reports that the U.S. has escalated attacks on the Houthis in Yemen, eliminating at least 53, including senior leaders. Meanwhile, Hezbollah is under pressure from both Israel and new clashes in Syria. In Gaza, Hamas continues to violate ceasefire talks while the IDF strikes terrorist targets. Plus, Israeli forces uncover a weapons depot with UNRWA equipment in northern Samaria. Stay up-to-date with the latest developments here on TBN Israel.

TBN Israel’s Yair Pinto reports on a deadly weekend of military action across the Middle East: U.S. airstrikes hit Yemen after Houthi missile threats IDF escalates in Gaza, eliminating a Hamas drone unit Israel targets Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon Trump warns Iran: "Your time is up" ISIS’ “#2” leader eliminated in U.S. airstrike in Iraq Hamas hostage talks collapse—Is war about to restart? Russia, Iran, and China tighten alliances amid U.S. pressure IDF pressures Syria—A secret Israeli offer to Assad? With ceasefire talks stalled and the U.S. shifting to an offensive strategy, the Middle East is on edge. Will Israel...

Iran, Russia & China just conducted massive naval drills in the waters of the Middle East—how concerned should the United States and Israel be? Plus, these same three charter members of what Erick calls the Gathering Storm coalition are holding talks in Beijing this Friday over Iran’s nuclear program. Is the Trump administration planning to flip Russia away from this evil axis? Watch now!

A Church of England diocese has introduced a new prayer guide stating that Christianity was historically propagated through “racist European ideologies.” The "anti-racist toolkit," developed by the Diocese of Norwich's Racial Justice Action Group, and which advises clergy to move away from Eurocentric prayers, includes suggestions for addressing racial justice in church services, and is designed to align local parishes with the Church of England’s efforts to combat racism. The guidance says parishes need to prepare for demographic shifts, particularly in rural East Anglia, where Norfolk remains about 94% white, according to The Telegraph. Despite the region’s prevailing homogeneity, the...

A group of over 100 Christian pastors and social justice activists have signed an open letter denouncing the Trump administration's cuts to welfare programs, foreign aid and large-scale deportations of immigrants in the country illegally. Titled "Returning To Jesus: Practicing Lent In Our Time," the letter was the result of meetings among faith organization leaders in January, with the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University, headed by longtime Evangelical progressive activist Jim Wallis, helping organize signatures and other logistics. The letter does not mention President Donald Trump by name, though it does take issue with the current efforts...

The Warren Willis Camp is a United Methodist Camp and Conference Center on Lake Griffin’s picturesque shores in Fruitland Park. They are “dedicated to providing a sacred space where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to experience growth, connection, and transformation.” A ministry of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church and proud partner of the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries (UMCRM,) they offer overnight camps for everyone from 4th-grade students to recently graduated seniors. Here, students enjoy a week of chapel services, worship times, nature hikes, swimming, canoeing, crafts and ceramics, archery, wall-climbing, and making...

CV NEWS FEED // A federal court this week upheld New York’s vaccine mandate, requiring Amish children to be vaccinated despite religious objections. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled March 3 in Miller v. McDonald that the repeal of religious exemptions for vaccines does not violate the First Amendment, The People’s Voice reported. New York eliminated religious exemptions for vaccines in 2019 following a measles outbreak. Under the law, children must be vaccinated to attend a school — whether public, private, or religious — unless they qualify for a medical exemption. According to the appellate court’s...