Must Read Monday: Reading the Headlines through a Gospel Worldview 2-1-2021
February 3, 2021Okay, it’s not Monday. But yesterday was Groundhog day, so here we go:
Faith-based groups cheer, share hopes for Biden’s family reunification task force from Religion News Service. I’ll be discussing this at length with Matthew Soerens on Mornings with Carmen on Thursday, February 4 as we survey the changes to immigration policy and practice under the new Biden administration. We’ll also discuss anticipated impacts on Refugee resettlement and the hope of welcoming more of the world’s persecuted people’s to the United States. Conversations from the archives on this topic can be found here.
Appalachian snake handlers put their faith in God—and increasingly, doctors from National Geographic *
If you’re like me, this is something you’ve heard of but never witnessed. Interesting window into Pentecostal practices that run contrary to the law of the land. There’s a religious liberty thread to pull here, if anyone is interested.
Pope Francis tells Catholic journalists he has hope for ‘courageous’ U.S. church also at Religion News Service. Subhead: “The news media is plagued by four sins, the pope told reporters: disinformation, calumny, defamation and ‘coprophilia,’ by which he apparently meant love of scandal.” As you’re reading this consider what you expect from journalists, what journalism is currently delivering and consider listening to my conversation about it with Marvin Olasky.
Turning from the U.S. to the religious minority population of Uighurs in China, we read another first person testimony of horror.
‘Their goal is to destroy everyone’: Uighur camp detainees allege systematic rape – from BBC News. We cannot deny that we know what’s happening to these people at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. We must be more than horrified and grieved – we must act. The AP has been reporting on this for months. It’s been going on for years. More testimony first person testimony here.
Good round on What to expect from President Biden on international religious freedom from Deseret News is a good follow-on to their reporting on Why Biden’s approach to LGBTQ issues has already burned bridges with conservative Christians.
A few interesting perspective pieces:
Recalling my conversation with Carl Trueman about his book and the recommendation he offers in the concluding chapter about the restoration of our reliance upon natural law, I found this piece in The New Republic interesting: Originalism is dead. Long live Catholic natural law
There’s a LOT being posted right now about religion and politics. Differentiating Christian nationalism (bad) from Christian patriotism (not bad) is one theme-thread but so too is the subject things – literal things – we hold dear (Biden’s family Bible) without actually concerning ourselves with its contents or meaning. This is from Religion & Politics on The politics of nostalgia.
Three other storylines to keep your eye on:
- the media’s seeming appreciation for the faith of people like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg and their equal condemnation of the faith of people like Senator Marco Rubio and Mike Pence; and
- the characterization of people of convictional faith as religious extremists.
- the SBC and how they deal with internal challenges related to race as well as speaking truth to those in positions of political power.
Okay, that’s enough for today. More tomorrow. Grace.