Near the end of January 2012, an extraordinary development affecting the cause of religious liberty occurred and the media hardly reported on it. In my judgment, it is one of the most underreported stories in recent memory. For the first time in American history, the state is ordering religious institutions to provide insurance coverage for employees that must include contraceptives, including those that may induce abortion.
Since World War II, the federal government has been distributing more benefits to more people without mandating higher taxes. The result is a welfare state with ever-growing dependency on the government?at all levels. As public policy, this formula is now bankrupt?and will soon result in the bankruptcy of this nation.
One of my favorite writers is Andree Seu, who writes for the magazine World. In her most recent column, she writes of reading through a bird magazine she bought at a local PetSmart store. One article particularly in this magazine caused her to write of the author: ?. . . by the end of her remarks I felt just a little bit ashamed of being human??
The rather shocking outcome of the South Carolina primary is a metaphor for the state of the Republican Party. During the campaign in South Carolina and especially during the major debate right before the primary, the wealth and taxes of Mitt Romney seemed to be the primary issue.
Once again, the pernicious issue of gambling is raising its ugly head in the state of Nebraska, the state in which I live. It is important to refresh our collective memories on the nature of gambling and its indisputable effects on culture and society.
Jon Meacham, associated with Time magazine and an important American writer on religious issues, has written that Tim ?Tebow is perhaps the most significant Evangelical Christian in the country. Depending on your point of view, his rise is a thoroughly American story of honest conviction or of ostentatious piety, of faith and family or of aggressive sectarianism??
The mixing of political and religious ideas is central to understanding Judaism and the modern state of Israel. Thomas Friedman, in his book From Beirut to Jerusalem, argues that there are four distinct groups of Jews within modern Israel (and the world).
Basic to any understanding of physics is the concept of mass. Why do particles of nature have mass? This is obviously a fundamental question of physics but one that is inscrutably difficult to answer.
Over this past year, I have done several programs on the sociological phenomenon called emerging adulthood. One of the most significant aspects of this age-group is the absence of a commitment to institutions. One of those institutions is, of course, marriage.
Oil consumption in America remains an important issue for our economy and for our national security. Our nation, however, has become more efficient in its use of petroleum and has secured new energy sources, as shown recently by Daniel Yergin. How did this startling development occur?
