Harvard economist Martin Feldstein cites research showing that when the cost of giving goes up, donors reduce their giving by the same amount. He concludes that the Obama administration’s plan to limit the deductibility of charitable gifts from 35% to 28% for couples making over
Today is the holy-day set aside to commemorate when the Second Person of the Trinity was conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary. Go here for some fine celebratory material, including YouTubes of Bach performances in which the composer pours out his creativity
Michael Spencer, in The Coming Evangelical Collapse, remains hopeful: Despite all of these challenges, it is impossible not to be hopeful. As one commenter has already said, “Christianity loves a crumbling empire.” We can rejoice that in the ruins, new forms of Christian vitality and
Atheist groups are looking for ways to undo their baptisms. Some are calling on the Church of England to devise a way to take their names off baptismal rolls. Some are printing out “debaptism certificates” to display that renounce the Christian faith. See BBC NEWS
Al Mohler reports that when the President makes a public appearance, the prayers delivered by local clergymen all have to be vetted and approved before they are allowed. From This Prayer Approved by the White House?: Is the Obama White House vetting prayers? Dan Gilgoff
More questions from Michael Spencer in The Coming Evangelical Collapse: Will the coming collapse get Evangelicals past the pragmatism and shallowness that has brought about the loss of substance and power? Probably not. The purveyors of the evangelical circus will be in fine form, selling
MTV News reports that “more than half of this year’s crop of finalists — including Danny Gokey, Michael Sarver, Kris Allen, Scott MacIntyre, Matt Giraud and Lil Rounds — either have a strong affiliation with the church or are worship leaders in their communities.” The
From The Washington Post: The Obama administration is considering asking Congress to give the Treasury secretary unprecedented powers to initiate the seizure of non-bank financial companies, such as large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds, whose collapse would damage the broader economy, according to an
More ideas from Minnesota. Secular Bible Study casts wide net: As if it’s not unusual enough that Trinity United Methodist Church and the Minnesota Atheists have joined forces to promote a project, wait till you hear what the project is: a Bible study class. Granted,
Michael Spencer, in The Coming Evangelical Collapse, asks, “Is all of this [evangelical collapse] a bad thing?” Evangelicalism doesn’t need a bailout. Much of it needs a funeral. But what about what remains? Is it a good thing that denominations are going to become largely
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In