One of the major themes of Issues in Perspective is the centrality of marriage as an institution. The health of this most basic of all institutions says much about the health of the larger culture. In this Perspective, I want to provide an update on the health of marriage in 2011.
Intellectuals often have a real struggle with the idea and existence of God. Atheism, or at best agnosticism, are frequently the standard worldview for the intellectual. Two recent examples highlight this sad pattern.
I recently read an op-ed essay by John Garvey of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. I was absolutely stunned by a statistic Garvey cited in his piece: More than 90% of college housing in the US is now co-ed!! Common sense tells me that this is not a good thing for our culture. What are we saying to our young people?the next generation of leaders?about values, about virtue and about sex?
One of the heroes of some Republican conservatives and of radio/TV hosts such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh is philosopher, novelist and fervent anti-communist Ayn Rand. She is often cited at Tea Party rallies and other such gatherings as well. Congressmen Paul Ryan and Ron Paul cite Rand as one of their personal heroes and a reason why they got involved in politics.
In 2008, as he was beginning his run for the presidency, Barack Obama said that ?the single most important factor in determining [student] achievement is not the color of [students?] skin or where they come from. It?s not who their parents are or how much money they have. It?s who their teacher is.? Few would disagree with that statement.
Over the last few years, a surge of tragic stories about unfaithful men has inundated the media. To one degree or another, each one of these men is being held accountable, some more severely than others. But what should be our response as Christians?
All of us were embarrassed by the failed prediction of Jesus? return on 21 May 2011. Far more important than the inane prophecies of Harold Camping is his theology of the church. I came across an important article published by the Christian Research Institute, written by James R. White, that focuses on Camping?s theology.
Dr. Jack Kevorkian died last week at the age of 83. He had assisted in about 130 suicides in the 1990s and thereby symbolized the right-to-die movement that gained strength during that decade. [Doctor-assisted suicide has gained legitimacy in Oregon, Washington and Montana, but in no other states of the union.] He was a Michigan pathologist who would hook up patients to his homemade suicide machine.
Oprah Winfrey is leaving her regular TV program and founding a new TV network, which will expand even further her influence on American culture in the early 21st century. She just finished 25 years of syndicated ?pastoral work? (a total of 4,561 shows) serving her own ?congregation? of true believers throughout America. Joanne Kaufman aptly summarizes this last program: ?Oprah?s final show made it difficult to avoid ecclesiastical comparisons.
On 10 May 2011, the Presbyterian Church (USA) joined other mainline churches in opening the door to gay ordination. The constitutional change, which has received the necessary votes in the denomination, removes language that had required clergy to live in ?fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.?
