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American society has been characterized as post-Christian, post-modern, post-conservative, post-racial, and post-gender. We are said to be a culture of narcissism (Christopher Lasch), a culture of death (Ramesh Ponnuru), a culture of war (Anthony J. Marsella), a culture of fear (Barry Glassner), and even a culture of wimps (John Strausbaugh).
There is some truth in just about all of these (although “post-genderism” is a term only the academy could love, given its intrinsic detachment from biological reality). But one things is sure: The culture of secularism – “the belief that religion should not be involved with the ordinary social and political activities of a country” – is growing.
While Evangelical Christianity is growing or at least holding its own, other Christian traditions and religion generally are diminishing. As the latest Pew Research poll on religious faith in our country demonstrates, “the number of U.S. adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing.”
This presents Christians with a tremendous opportunity to minister the grace and truth of Christ in all spheres of endeavor and in both personal and professional relationships. And also to share the good news of the salvation Jesus offers to a broken and breaking world.
Paul the Apostle says believers should be “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), echoing Moses’ prayer that God would “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). All for His glory.
Given the crises of our secular era, there can be no more bracing or encouraging counsel than that.
Sincerely,
Rob Schwarzwalder
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council
P.S. Why did the explosive riots in Baltimore happen? Read Dr. Pat Fagan’s study of the causes of inner city turbulence not only for a close analysis but practical counsel on how we can transform the urban family.
Education
- The Real Cost of College – The Atlantic
- Education Reform that Works – City Journal
- A New Age of Campus Censorship –Minding the Campus
- How student debt is perpetuating racial inequality – Marketwatch.com
- Anti-Semitism on American college campuses is rising –Mosaic Magazine
Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life
Abortion
- 48-hour abortion waiting period signed into Tennessee law - The Tennessean
- On Making Incremental Progress in Battle for Life – Townhall.com
- Britain: Babies Who Survive Late-Term Abortions Left to Die Alone – Christian Concern
- Abortion’s ease and a father’s apathy – The Cripplegate
- Dear ‘Pregnant at Harvard’ – ERLC
Adoption
- Dear Moms of Adopted Children – KathrynLynnHarris.com
- U.S. Sen. K. Gillibrand (D-NY) Offers Bill to Make Adoption Easier for “LGBT” Parents – Albany Times-Union
- Faith-Based community talks importance of adopting in Michigan – WLNS News
- How to Offend All Mothers Touched by Adoption on Mother’s Day – Adoption.com
Assisted Suicide
- California’s Assisted-Suicide Measure Would Mean Falsified Death Certificates – National Review
- Assisted Suicide Means The End Of Medicine – The Federalist
- Assisted Suicide: How One Woman Chose to Die, Then Survived – Daily Signal
Bioethics
- Statement of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations on “Human Enhancement” Technologies - CMDA.org
- Hungarian court strongly rules against black market of aborted babies, Alliance Defending Freedom
- A Blueprint for a Better Human Body – The Atlantic
Human Trafficking
- Congress sends Senate human trafficking bill to White House – Dallas Morning News
- The link between porn addiction and human trafficking – KIMT.com
- Officials increase human trafficking outreach in advance of Detroit Grand Prix – WXYZ.com (ABC)
Marriage & Family
Divorce Reform
- Are Conservatives to Blame for Rise in “No Fault” Divorce? – Christian Post
- The Seed of Divorce – Christianity.com
- Daughters of Divorce – Divorcereform.us
Economy and the family
- Can Changing Your Address Change Your Fortune? – Heritage.org
- Why Does Income Inequality Exist? – Institute for Faith, Work and Economics
- Obama’s Latest Redistributionist Ploy An Insult to Taxpayers’ Intelligence –National Review
- “What Is the Case for Paid Maternity Leave?” Institute for the Study of Labor
Fatherhood and Motherhood
- 10 Unforgettable Lessons on Fatherhood – Desiring God
- Pope Francis to parents: Come out of 'exile' and educate your children – Catholic News Agency
- Fostering, Adoption, Motherhood: A Joyous Case-Study – Arkansas Online
Marriage
- Anthony Kennedy and the “Millennia” of Marriage - FRC
- What is Marriage to Evangelical Millennials – First Things
- Don’t Hold A Funeral For Marriage Yet – The Federalist
- If Gender Matters in Jury Selection, Why Not in Parenting? - Alliance Defending Freedom
- ‘A Diamond is Forever’ and Other Fairy Tales: The Relationship between Wedding Expenses and Marriage Duration -Emory University - Department of Economics
- A 'magic moment' for unwed parents: Best time in child's life for unwed parents to marry” Science Daily
- “How Your Hometown Affects Your Chances of Marriage” The New York Times
- What’s Next for Marriage? - National Review
- This Divorce Arrangement Stresses Kids out Most - Time
Human Sexuality
Homosexuality and Gender Issues
- The King v. Burwell Bogeyman – City Journal
- Transgender Surgery Isn't the Solution – Wall Street Journal
- Impact of a King v. Burwell Win – Galen.org
- Responding to King v. Burwell: Congress' First Step Should be to Remove Costly Mandates Driving Up Premiums - Heritage.org
Pornography
- Federal Court Upholds Federal Pornography Regulations - The Legal Intelligencer
- Josh McDowell: Web Porn Worse Threat than Gay Marriage - CBN
Religious Liberty and Persecution
Domestic
- Is Religious Freedom Desirable?, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Modest Conscience Protections in Louisiana Elicit Hysteria, Public Discourse
- Religious Liberty at Risk as Supreme Court Approaches Gay Marriage Decision –Christian News Headlines
- The Eclipse of Religious Liberty and the Threat of a New Dark Age – Christian News Headlines
- Obama’s Casual Slander of American Christians – Weekly Standard
International
- A Year of Humanitarian Crises: US Commission on International Religious Freedom - Berkley Cornerstone
- Freedom’s Foes, The Economist
- Why Religion Will Dominate the 21st Century - Ethics and Public Policy Center
Religion in Public Life
Christian faith and public policy
- The Left's Radical Consistency on RFRA [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] – The Federalist
- On conservative religious activism, the numbers speak for themselves –Washington Post
- Sanctifying Compromise – The Ezra Institute
Other Stories of Note
- The Sadness of Baltimore and the Empty Stadium – The Federalist
- The myth of judicial supremacy – “Volokh Conspiracy,” Washington Post
- Responding to King v. Burwell: Congress' First Step Should be to Remove Costly Mandates Driving Up Premiums – Heritage.org
- Everything You Need to Know About Constitutional Law - Public Interest
- Rise Up for Free Speech – Spectator.org
- Too Big To Succeed: A Review of Why Government Fails So Often—And How It Can Do Better – Claremont Review of Books
