I have always thought that advocates of theocracy--whether the dominionism of the Reformed, the Seven Mountains Mandate of the Pentecostalists, or the Integralism of the Catholics--were mainly engaged in a theoretical exercise. How would that be possible in our highly secular society? But the integralist Adrian Vermeule has some strategies for imposing Catholic rule.
The very candidates who oppose America's involvement in Ukraine and our history of getting involved in unwinnable foreign wars, are all gung ho about sending troops and bombers into Mexico, in an attempt to take out the drug lords! Is that wise?
In discussing "dechurching," Lyman Stone looks at the data and comes to a startling conclusion: It is primarily CHILDREN, in early adolescence and before, who lose interest in religion, an attitude they retain when they grow into adulthood. (A free post) Read more
Over the last few decades, church attendance and affiliation have dropped dramatically. Over those same decades, evangelical congregations have changed dramatically. It's time to consider whether or not those changes have contributed to the decline. (A free post) Read more
Zondervan has just released what promises to be an important book, "The Great Dechurching." In his review, Daniel Darling discusses a major cohort: believing evangelicals who have just stopped going to church. And their reasons are neither political nor theological.
This is Labor Day, that secular holiday that we are Christianizing by making it be all about vocation. Meditate on these words from Martin Luther about loving our neighbor in our everyday labors in the world.
The inerrancy of Donald Trump, efforts to bring back COVID masks, and the Bud Light syndrome in politics.
Churches used to help hold society together, a place for people of different social classes and political beliefs to get to know each other. But it isn't that way so much any more, to the detriment of our democracy and our national unity. So says social scientist Ryan Burge, who urges churches to recover their role in social cohesion.
The Republican presidential candidates had their first debate, so the field is shaping up. What's your thinking at this point?
David Upham refers to two models of marriage: "companionate" marriage, oriented to companionship, and "matrimonial marriage," oriented to having children. "Matrimony" derives from the Latin word for "mother."
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