Many skeptics, secularists and relativists state with uncanny certainty that the idea of a God in heaven speaking to His children is preposterous and out of touch with people living in a modern society. One man disagrees. Russell M. Nelson, president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addresses the idea with a poignant question as he speaks to members of his faith as well as many other individuals around the world: “Does God really want... Read more
Editor’s note: The following is a transcript of the episode. It’s been edited for clarity. Boyd Matheson: We live in a society that celebrates freedom and a selfie culture where self-interest and looking out for No. 1 is all that matters. America has taken rugged individualism to the extreme and in the process, the social fabric of the country has been rent. Hatred, fragmentation and disconnection in our society is not just a political problem. It stems from some moral... Read more
If a World War I memorial is shaped like a cross, does that make it a religious symbol? Even faith groups don’t agree on the answer to that question, which is before the Supreme Court this week. The American Legion, et al. v. American Humanist Association centers on a 40-foot-tall, cross-shaped monument in Bladensburg, Maryland, which is maintained with government funds. By the end of June, justices must decide if this arrangement violates the Constitution’s establishment clause, which bans the... Read more
Earlier this week, Ally Henny was startled when a familiar song suddenly blared from her cellphone. Although the tune was one of her favorites, she immediately shut off the music. The song was “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson. Like many Americans, Henny, a seminarian and mother of two in Springfield, Missouri, finds herself confronted with a moral dilemma: whether she should continue to enjoy the work of an entertainer she’s loved since childhood in light of renewed allegations of sexual... Read more
Jussie Smollett, Dianne Feinstein and Nick Sandmann aren’t teachers, but in recent weeks, they’ve given Americans a lesson in the danger of jumping to conclusions — particularly if you’re prone to spreading your conclusions on the internet. The actor, the congresswoman and the Covington Catholic High School student made news for vastly different reasons. Smollett has been charged with faking a hate crime, Feinstein had feisty exchange with visiting students, and Sandmann was part of a videotaped protest that went... Read more
A boisterous, upbeat crowd of LGBTQ advocates and Democratic leaders launched their campaign Wednesday to add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to federal nondiscrimination laws. In an atmosphere akin to a pep rally before the big game, supporters of the Equality Act from the House and Senate said the country is a patchwork of conflicting state laws where gay or transgender residents are either protected or legally discriminated against. “In most states in this country, a gay couple can... Read more
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