In “The Hate That Dares Not Speak Its Name,” Walter Russell Mead outlines “the five pillars of anti-Semitism”: The truth is that anti-Semitism is alive and well and not even particularly rare; it’s just that many of today’s anti-Semites like to think of themselves as enlightened, modern people and get all huffy and hissy if anyone accuses them of prejudice in any form.  Many who in past times would have been open and honest about their anti-Semitism, now try to hide the truth even from themselves. But anti-Semitism involves belief in any or all of the following ideas: Jews are … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Tuesday, July 19, 2011

“The Confessions of a Cage Fighter: Masculinity, Misogyny, and the Fear of Losing Control”: In which Matt Morin offers some Augustinian reflections on Mark Driscoll and churches who use Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in a misguided effort to reach out to men. I have tried to give an account of masculinity and mixed martial arts that doesn’t exclude the sport’s enthusiasts from dialogue, and that is because I think MMA has picked up on something good with its insistence on embodied masculinity, its description of intimate masculinity that borders on homoeroticism, and its exemplification of the fighter’s utter dependence on … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Monday, July 18, 2011

“Iranian Pastor Could Be Sentenced to Death if He Doesn’t Recant, Says Verdict”: Iran’s Supreme Court says an evangelical pastor charged with apostasy can be executed if he does not recant his faith, according to a copy of the verdict obtained by a religious rights activist group. Christian Solidarity World says Iranian-born Yousef Nadarkhani, who was arrested in 2009 and given the death sentence late last year, could have his sentence suspended on the grounds that he renounce his faith. Pray for Yousef Nadakhani. _____ In light of the danger faced by Christian leaders in Iran and several other Muslim-majority … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Friday, July 15, 2011

“Being Poor Is a Lot of Work”: Last week our friend Helen and I spent the better part of three days driving all over town tracking down birth certificates, proofs of custody, income statements, and police background checks, hoping to qualify her for a HUD-subsidized apartment near enough that her grandson David could stay at his school and that both of them could stay in our fellowship. Helen’s recently deceased mother had been paying the rent for all of them with her Social Security, but all they have now is the paycheck from Helen’s part-time home health care job and … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Thursday, July 14, 2011

“‘Sister Wives’ to challenge Utah anti-polygamy law”: One case that could figure as important in the case is the Lawrence v. Texas case in 2003, when the majority of the Supreme Court struck down laws banning consensual sex between same-sex couples. That case involved two consenting adults who didn’t seek recognition of their relationship, were not involved in any crimes and whose behavior was private, [attorney Jonathan ]Turley said. Turley said that in polygamy cases, other crimes come up, such as child sex abuse. In this case, he said, the Browns are a successful family who’ve committed no crimes and … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Wednesday, July 13, 2011

“Closing the Book on Open Marriage”: When it comes to marriage, one of the few bright spots to emerge over the last forty years is increasing public support for sexual fidelity—in both theory and practice. Indeed, social science tells us that married couples who remain faithful to one another enjoy higher-quality marriages, lower rates of divorce, and, yes, higher levels of emotional satisfaction with their sex life. Sexual fidelity also increases the odds that children are born into and reared in a stable, two-parent home. For all these reasons, and even though Savage is right to point out that fidelity … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Tuesday, July 12, 2011

“India’s Grassroots Revival”: “With its people turning to Christ in waves, India hosts more believers now than at any time in its 4,000-year history.” Interestingly, the wave seems to be driven by conversion among the Dalit and Tribal groups, both low caste and “untouchable” in India’s “spiritually constructed social system.” _____ “Syria’s Christians Back Assad”: Why would Christians back a dictator? Because in the Arab Muslim world, democracy often means fundamentalist Islam, which is none too friendly to Christianity. Middle East politics are complex, to say the least. In the central Syrian village of Qara, Mother Superior Agnès-Mariam of the … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Monday, July 11, 2011