This week at the National Press Club here in Washington, D.C., Baylor University's Institute for Religion Studies held a fascinating seminar titled, "The End of Religion? An Essential Correction to the Secularization Myth."
Led by Dr. Byron Johnson, who gave an outstanding lecture at FRC several years ago on how religious faith diminishes crime, the scholars who presented debunked the notion that religious faith is on the wane in the US or the world generally. They noted that more than 80 percent of the world's population identifies with an organized religion. And in the US, the rise of the so-called "nones"-- younger Americans with no professed faith -- is a much more complex matter than is often present.
As Baylor professor J. Gordon Melton observed, "Are 'nones' to be equated with irreligious? That's not the case. We have a large segment of the 'nones' who are atheists and irreligious, but we have a large segment that fall into (the) spiritual but not religious category. ... The largest group are ones who say Christianity is not a religion."
People long for the vitality of a rigorous faith, not simply some undemanding, self-created religion-of-choice. As William Voegli, writing in the Claremont Review of Books, says, “If and when people who turned to moralistic therapeutic deism for spiritual nourishment come to regard that creed as a starvation diet, they are likely to seek out, or return to, more fortifying alternatives. In that sense, the serious problem of replenishing moral and religious capital may prove to be self-correcting.”
Christianity is the one true “fortifying alternative.” It’s the only one that endures and fulfills, since it is grounded in the historic Person Jesus of Nazareth, Who claimed to be God in the flesh and the only way to the Father. That’s good news, especially since His claim possesses the advantage of being true.
Sincerely,
Rob Schwarzwalder
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council
P.S. Many of the results of last week’s election were encouraging to conservatives. As FRC President Tony Perkins’ “Washington Watch” newsletter reported on Nov. 4, “If social issues are dead, you could have fooled U.S. voters … the enormous impact of issues like marriage and religious liberty” echoed throughout the nation. That’s why Molly Ball asserts in The Atlantic that “Liberals Are Losing the Culture Wars.” One thing is certain: Social conservatives are here to stay. Regardless of next year’s election outcomes, we’re going to keep both defending and advancing faith, family, and freedom in the public square.
Religious Liberty
“Free to Believe” –
- Why a friend is suing me: the Arlene’s Flowers story - Barronelle Stutzman, Seattle Times
- Kentucky Governor-Elect Promises Freedom for Kim Davis and Other Clerks – Liberty Counsel
- Fla. city’s discrimination against church costs taxpayers nearly $300,000 – Joseph Infranco, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Steve Largent: Coaches like Joe Kennedy are why I made it in the NFL – Steve Largent, Seattle Times
- Tennessee School Bans Distribution of Bibles, Other Religious Material – Walter Todd Huston, Breitbart.com
- School Bans Religious Drawings After Parent Complains About “Draw Muhammad” Assignment - Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post
- Becket Defends Christian Printer Ordered to Print Shirts for Gay Pride Festival - Becket Fund
- Christian Belief Cost Kelvin Cochran His Job - Jason L. Riley, Wall Street Journal
International Religious freedom-
- The African Church Is the New Champion of Orthodoxy - Stephen Beale, Crisis
- On the brink: Christianity facing Middle East purge within decade, says group - Perry Chiaramonte, Fox News
- "The Crisis of International Religious Freedom" - US Commission on International Religious Freedom Chairman Dr. Robert George’s recent congressional testimony
Military Religious Freedom
- Military Under Sexual Siege – Tony Perkins, “Washington Watch”
- Military high court to hear Marine vet's religious freedom case - Matthew L. Schehl, Marine Corps Times
- Sgt. Phillip Monk: Setting the Record Straight – Ken Klukowski, Breitbart.com
Religious Liberty in the public square –
- Making Our Children Weak—How Violating the Religious Rights of Teachers like Joe Kennedy Harms Society – Mike Berry, Liberty Institute
- What’s Religious Liberty Got to Do with the Common Good? – Mark David Hall, Daily Signal
- Concerns over religious freedom in U.S. increasing, finds new survey – The Weekly Number
- Protecting Your Right to Serve: How Religious Ministries Can Meet New Challenges without Changing Their Witness – Eric N. Kniffen, Heritage Foundation
Life
Abortion
- Abortion Reversal Treatment Saves More Than 100 Babies’ Lives – The Federalist Staff
- Is Planned Parenthood Illegally Performing Partial-Birth Abortions - Casey Mattox, The Federalist
- Abortionists Admit Emotional Toll of Grisly Work - Bob Brown, WORLD Magazine
- “China’s New Two-Child Policy and the Fatal Conceit,” Nicholas Eberstadt, AEI
- Dems on New Planned Parenthood Panel Got $81k from the Abortion Giant - Katie Yoder, Newsbusters
- British woman rejects abortion, cancer treatment to protect pre-born baby - Lisa Bourne, LifeSiteNews.com
- Constitutional Abortion and Culture – Helen Alvare, Christian Bioethics (republished by George Mason School of Law)
- Planned Parenthood: Compare and Contrast – Rev. Jerry J. Pokorsky, The Catholic Thing
Adoption
- WATCH: The New Face of Adoption Isn't a Newborn Baby – Natalie Brumfield, Charisma News
- Couple’s Adoption Offer After They Watched the Planned Parenthood Videos Goes Viral - Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com
- Adoption has a vital place in society – Malcom Hall, Massillon (Ohio) Independent
- Surrounding orphans with family - Lindsay Steele, Mission News Network
- November is month to draw attention to needs of children – Bill Bumpas, One News Now
Fetal Pain
- Why Big Abortion is afraid to challenge fetal pain laws –Texas Right to Life, Live Action News
- Legal and Medical Scholars Testify in Support of Ohio’s Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – Charlotte Lozier Institute
Federal funding of abortion
- 3 ways taxpayers are funding abortion at Planned Parenthood – Becky Yeh, Live Action News
- Obamacare and Abortion – Chris Jacobs, Conservative Review
Healthcare conscience
- Family Research Council Urges Supreme Court to Respect Religious Liberty in Upcoming HHS Mandate Cases – Tony Perkins, FRC
- Supreme Court Will Hear Case to Stop Obama from Forcing Little Sisters to Obey HHS Mandate – Steve Ertelt, Life News
- Little Sisters of the Government – Wall Street Journal
- Supreme Court Will Hear Obamacare Abortion-Inducing Drugs Case. Why That’s Important for Religious Freedom - Elizabeth Slattery and Sarah Torre, The Daily Signal
Family
Marriage
- My Alternative Lifestyle as a Married Millennial – Josh Craddock, The Stream
- The Meaning of Marriage: A Return to God’s Original Design – Taylor LaJoie, Canon and Culture
- Why marriage is good economics - Aparna Mathur, American Enterprise Institute
Human Sexuality (Homosexual/ gender issues)
- Way to Go, Houston – John Stonestreet, Breakpoint
- Feds: Schools Must Grant Mentally Disturbed Boy Unfettered Access to Girls’ Locker Room – David French, National Review
- Beyond Houston: Media Censor Opposition to School Transgender Bathroom, Locker Room Laws – Kristine March, Newsbusters
- Rending the Rainbow Veil: How to Make Your Church a Safe Space for Christians with Same-Sex Attraction – Jean Lloyd, The Public Discourse
- Spot the difference: This update to a classic children’s book reimagines gender roles – Quartz.com
- Daycare Manager Fired for Refusing to Call Girl a Boy - Veronica Neffinger, ChristianHeadlines.com
- Book Review: Transforming Homosexuality – Eric Davis, The Cripplegate
Human Trafficking
- Pope Francis pushes labor rights, human trafficking fight - Inés San Martín, The Crux
- Sex Trafficking: The Abuse of Our Time - George Philips, The Gatestone Institute
- State Report Cards: Ratings of State Efforts to Fight Trafficking – Shared Hope International
Pornography
- Anti-porn advocates recast growing acceptance of pornography as public health problem – Sara Israelsen-Hartley, Desert News National
- Carmen Rasmusen Herbert: Can pornography really kill love? – Carmen Rasmusen Herbert, Desert News National
- History and Importance of Law in Combatting Pornography – Robert Peters, National Center on Sexual Exploitation - Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation 2015 Summit
FRC Events and Publications
Lectures
- Jonathan Imbody, VP, Government Affairs, Christian Medical Society and author of Faith Steps: Moving toward God through personal choice and public policy
- Dr. Jay Richards: Why Religious Liberty and Economic Liberty Stand and Fall Together
Blogs
- Identity: Some Thoughts on Race and Transgenderism – Mandi Ancalle
- Beware of False Rhetoric on Chinese Population Control Modifications – Chris Gacek
- A Sheikh, the Supreme Court, and an Abortion Center: Matters of Life and Death – Rob Schwarzwalder
- I Agree with Bernie Sanders – Rob Schwarzwalder, FRCAction.org
Op-eds
- Free Markets, Competition and Health Insurance – Ken Blackwell, Townhall.com
- China's Policy Should Be “All Children,” Not One or Two – Rob Schwarzwalder, Christian Post
- Evangelicals in the Public Square: Straw-Men Need Not Apply – Rob Schwarzwalder, The Stream
- Persevering for Life, Family, Religious Freedom in an Eroding Culture – Rob Schwarzwalder, Christian Post
Publications (booklets, Issue Analyses, Issue Briefs)
- The Government Nondiscrimination Act: Preventing Government Discrimination Against Supporters of Natural Marriage – Travis Weber, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty, FRC
The Government Nondiscrimination Act is focused on preventing government discrimination at the state level. Like the First Amendment Defense Act at the federal level, states need to pass legislation now to protect individuals and entities from state discrimination on the basis of their beliefs in natural marriage.
- Millennials: Hard to Pin Down, Yet Ripe for Conversion – Jonathan Monroe, Patrick Henry College (FRC Intern, Summer 2015)
As Millennials become more prominent in the workforce, companies are spending small fortunes researching their interests, from specific jobs to new products. Social science studies reveal that the Millennial generation is drifting away from traditional family values towards acceptance of all views as equally valuable. Even so, the strong sense of justice that most Millennials possess provides a glimmer of hope.
- The Inequalities of the “Equality Act” – FRC Government Affairs
The purpose of the “Inequality Act” is to give special privileges to people based on homosexual behavior or based on gender identity dysphoria by adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” into a number of federal laws. These changes affect “any” provider of goods, services, and programs. This is sweeping legislation that does not provide any protections based on religion, even stripping individuals of a Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (“RFRA”) claim.
