A new book argues that Israel could have made peace after the Six-Day War; but three unfounded assumptions undermine the author’s claim. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303768104577460271000990482.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Read more

Christians today are riding the tiger, and, if the present cultural trajectory goes unchecked, I fully expect to be prosecuted in the courts in the coming years. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/06/5751?utm_source=RTA+Tartaglia+Religious+Liberty&utm_campaign=email&utm_medium=email Read more

Recalling the history of Americans’ and their British ancestors’ dedication to religious freedom offers lessons for our own struggles that lie ahead. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/06/5754?utm_source=RTA+Duncan+Religious+Liberty&utm_campaign=email&utm_medium=email Read more

Sociologist Peter Berger famously remarked that the United States is a society of (South Asian) Indians — a dominantly religious people — run by Swedes — dominantly secular liberals. That clever portrayal is even more accurate now, since the elite (the secular Swedes) are even less religious than they were when Berger first wrote his gem. http://articles.philly.com/2012-06-18/news/32282992_1_religious-people-swedes-private-schools Read more

AROUND the corner from Nazareth’s Old City market, in the shadow of 200-year-old Ottoman mansions, there’s a cobblestone street so narrow you can almost touch the houses on either side. An arrow pointing up some stairs is painted on one rough wall, along with the words “Jesus Trail.” It’s the de facto trailhead for a 40-mile hike through the Galilee region of Israel in the footsteps, more or less, of the man who made Galilee famous. http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/travel/hiking-through-biblical-backcountry.html?pagewanted=all&utm_source=Jesus+Trail+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3e115fd64f-Jesus_Trail_Newsletter_June_20126_25_2012&utm_medium=email Read more

[Friends, this is disturbing and revealing.  A  brave thinker was viciously attacked and now wants to retreat from the front lines.  I understand his retreat, but cannot applaud it. Maggie Gallagher’s commentary below is poignant and important.] “We’ve been fighting about gay marriage for what, 15-20 years now. Is there any evidence that fighting gay marriage is contributing to a greater appreciation among the broad society of the marital institution? Is there any evidence that the re-institutionalization of marriage is... Read more

Travelling in America last week, I found American Jews shaking their heads in amazement at what they considered to be the supine attitude of the British Jewish leadership towards Israel demonisation and the inroads made by Islamic radicalism. http://melaniephillips.com/fatal-failure-to-fight-for-right Read more

The American Catholic bishops’ “Fortnight for Freedom,” which began yesterday, continues a long tradition of defending religious freedom that began with Sir Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/06/5713?utm_source=RTA+Franck+Simon+Fortnight&utm_campaign=email&utm_medium=email Read more

David Cameron should halt his ‘arrogant’ and deeply unpopular push to redefine marriage as it is unnecessary, a gay national newspaper columnist has said. Andrew Pierce believes civil partnerships are sufficient and says none of his homosexual friends “want gay marriage to be written into law”. http://www.christian.org.uk/news/gay-columnist-wants-pm-to-ditch-plans-for-homosexual-marriage/?e220612 Read more

Judges and justices who reasoned in favor of same-sex marriage based on social scientists’ “no differences” thesis must now contend with better research: Heterosexual married couples offer the best family structure for children, according to a new, rigorously researched sociological study. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/06/5634?utm_source=RTA+Franck+NFSS&utm_campaign=email&utm_medium=email Read more