July 13 an incensed parent notified SC authorities that Warren Perry, a registered sex offender, was working as a volunteer custodian at the Christian Academy of Pawley’s Island Community Church (PICC). On July 14, Perry was arrested on charges stemming from his 2023 conviction for the sexual exploitation of a child. Church leaders, particularly Pastor Don Williams, scrambled to limit the fallout, but it didn’t matter. Any effort to contain the situation unraveled as Williams,…
Does it matter what Christians believe about God? Researchers at Arizona Christian University surveyed 2,100 Americans and found that a majority of Christians “reject the basic Christian teaching of the Trinity.” Apparently, most Americans assume it is sufficient to believe Jesus existed to be considered a Christian. For instance, 59% of those surveyed believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, but only 29% believe in the Holy Spirit. But, worst of all, barely 2% of…
Last Fall St. Peter’s Chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland, installed a computer screen into a confessional booth. When people entered the confessional, they could interact with a digital avatar of Jesus Christ powered by AI. Yes, an AI Jesus. Meet AI Jesus Swiss IT expert Philipp Haslbauer of Lucerne University produced the AI Jesus. He partnered with the chapel theologian Marco Schmid. They called the experiment “Deus in Machina,” or God in the machine. They wanted…
After the 2024 election, Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a psychiatrist at Yale University, discussed the impact that the election of Donald Trump might have on family relationships. Talking to Joy Reid at MSNBC, in particular she offered advice for LGBTQ people faced with family members who voted for Trump. Since she’s a medical professional, and particularly in mental health, you might expect Calhoun to advocate for balance and compassion, or grace and tolerance. Or to offer…
On September 26 Hurricane Helene slammed into the Big Bend region of Florida, plowed through 800 miles of inland territory, and settled over Tennessee to end her destruction there. Western North Carolina, my state, continues to dig out from the destruction, caused mainly by winds and flooding. Death tolls exceed previous hurricanes, and many people remain missing or unaccounted for. Rebuilding may take years. Helene washed away bridges, roads, and even entire towns, like Chimney…
In early October, the Barna Research Group and Arizona Christian University published findings that show that an extraordinary number of professing Christians in America have no intention of voting in this election. They reported that around 104 million “people of faith” plan to sit out his election. Of those, 32 million are professing Christians. The main reason these Christians give for declining to vote is a “lack of interest.” Researchers found that “voter enthusiasm” is…
Sen. Raphael Warnock, who also serves as pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, is hardly known for his solid biblical theology. After all, in a post-Easter tweet this year he proclaimed that the resurrection was less about Jesus rising from the dead and more about us saving ourselves. So, it’s no big surprise that he recycled a common falsehood in a rousing sermon-like speech at the Democratic National Convention. The statement is a…
The Ten Commandments are getting a lot of press these days. Atheists bristled when they discovered in May that a newly constructed Minnesota jail includes a two-story display of the Commandments. Then, on June 19, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill requiring all public school classrooms to display a poster-sized copy of the Ten Commandments starting in 2025. This, he said, was for historical purposes. The Ten Commandments will be included among other documents…
In the autumn of 1777, George Washington’s forces suffered two major defeats against the British. In one of those battles, Philadelphia fell to British forces. So, Washington had moved his beleaguered troops to an encampment near Philadelphia, hoping to block any further British advance. But he knew that his Continental Army, worn and ragged, was not ready for another fight, and would not be any time soon. And as if that were not bad enough,…
LGBTQ activists have appropriated the animal kingdom for their cause. During the month of June, NBCUniversal’s streaming outlet Peacock TV is airing a documentary called “Queer Planet” to showcase “gay, lesbian, and transgender animals.” The “documentary” claims to focus on “LGBTQI+ tolerance” in the animal kingdom. According to the trailer, the program investigates the sexuality of “gay penguins, bisexual lions [and] sex-changing clown fish.” The “experts” on the promo gush that “this has always been…