Posts in North America
Can A Vote For Trump Be Morally Justified?

(OPINION) How do we reconcile a desire to elect people of good character with our support for Trump (and I write this as a two-time voter for Mr. Trump)? Does he, “although imperfect, demonstrate consistent honesty, moral purity and the highest character”? Hardly. How, then, can we justify our vote for him?

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How ‘The Crow’ Reboot Makes A Mess Of Afterlife Mythologies

(REVIEW) “The Crow” is the latest Hollywood remake brought to the screen. Based on the 1994 cult classic, the new film stars Bill Skarsgard as Eric Draven, who, after home invaders kill him and his girlfriend, makes a deal with an agent of the afterlife to come back as an indestructible assassin to exact revenge on the killers.

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Televangelist I.V. Hilliard’s ‘Parsonage’ Listed For Staggering $15 Million

The 24-acre Texas parsonage of televangelist I.V. Hilliard has been listed for a staggering $15 million. As reported in the Christian Post, the Spring, Texas, property owned by New Light Church in Houston is listed on realtor.com. The estate, with six houses and 22 garage spaces, was used “by Hilliard as a parsonage, meaning that he has not had to pay any property taxes on it,” the listing notes.

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‘Once Upon A Mattress’ — Which Started At A Jewish Summer Camp — Returns To Broadway

The show is a revival of the 1959 original, composed by Mary Rodgers and written by Marshall Barer, Jay Thompson and Dean Fuller. The new version, directed by Lear deBessonet, features an updated book by Amy Sherman-Palladino — perhaps best known in these pages for creating "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — that preserves the comedy and spunk of the original while updating the script to be more modern and gender-inclusive.

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Crossroads Podcast: Prayers At The GOP And Democratic Conventions

During one of the presidential elections during my decade teaching in Washington, D.C., there was more than the usual chatter about the importance of the so-called “Catholic vote” and its impact in swing states.

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If You Want Young Men To Leave Christianity, Have Them Watch ‘The Forge’

(REVIEW) While “The Forge” deserves credit for wanting to address the real problems of struggling men and boys, it fails to speak to the very people it says it wants to help. Christian parents of such boys would be better off passing on this movie and following other sources for their boys, and following the example of the movie’s Cynthia by praying for them instead.

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Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Urges Pastors To Mobilize Churches for Trump

With election day just three months away, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk pulled no punches in his keynote speech to pastors gathered for a recent political training conference in a Dallas suburb. His message: Pastors need to vote for former President Donald Trump, become activists and mobilize their congregations to do likewise.

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Christian Movies A Useful Tool When It Comes To Discipleship And Evangelism

Not only are churchgoers watching Christian movies, but some find them useful as an evangelistic and discipleship tool. A recent study asked churchgoers if they agree with the statement, “Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.” The study by Lifeway Research finds 68 percent of American Protestant churchgoers have watched a Christian movie in the last year. Around four in five say Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.

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On Religion: YouTuber Oliver Anthony Wrestles With ‘Dystopian AI Monster’

(ANALYSIS) It was a strange way for Oliver Anthony to mark the anniversary of the YouTube video that turned him into a country music roots phenomenon. “Rich Men North of Richmond” launched last Aug. 8, 2023. When that date rolled around a year later, Hurricane Debby was sweeping through Virginia. The creeks were rising as Anthony headed into the woods with his dogs and his smartphone to record another emotional mini-sermon.

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What About White Evangelicals Who Aren’t Conservative?

(ANALYSIS) Every once in a while I will get an email from someone who doesn’t really fit the mold. Let me be clear that the amount of communication I get from Bernie Sanders-supporting White evangelicals is not huge. The more common sentiment is a White evangelical who sees themselves as politically moderate or really pushed out by the modern MAGA Republican Party.

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The Name Kamala In India Associated With Deities And A Symbol Of Wisdom

(ANALYSIS) The pronunciation of “Kamala” is the least interesting thing about this lovely name, which is only one of many words in Sanskrit for the radiant, fragrant, large-petaled pink lotus, or Nelumbo nucifera , that is ubiquitous in the Indian subcontinent.

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Why I Could Not Possibly Vote For Kamala Harris

(OPINION) Another presidential election is drawing nearer. This time around, the Democratic Party has put forward an even more radical pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ+ activism candidate. In fact, Planned Parenthood is offering free vasectomies and abortions during the DNC in Chicago this week. Talk about sending a message.

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Amid Tense Election, Ministers Remind Christians Of Allegiance To God

During another divisive political season, preachers across the nation are expressing messages that put “politics in perspective.” While many permit or even encourage participation in the political process, they advise church members to measure their political beliefs against the Gospel.

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Why Gaza Remains A Big Challenge For Democrats This Election Season

As millions prepare to watch the Democratic National Convention this week, tens of thousands of protesters are converging on Chicago to rally against the ongoing war in Gaza. Inside the United Center arena, at least 30 party delegates are expected to voice their opposition to the administration’s policies on the conflict.

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Most Americans Believe God Played A Role In Human Origins

A majority of U.S. adults believe humans came about because of divine intervention, but there’s disagreement over what that involvement looked like. A Gallup survey finds 37% of Americans believe God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so.

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‘God Bless Bitcoin’ Makes A Sincere — But Mixed — Case In Cryptocurrency Belief

(REVIEW) Cryptocurrency is a really fascinating topic worth talking about. It’s gratifying to see it being talked about in the context of faith. If the documentary had only trusted the audience more to inform them rather than advertise to them, it would have added something even more valuable to the conversation.

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Judge Rules UCLA Discriminated Against Jews During Gaza War Protests

The University of California at Los Angeles blocked Jewish students from portions of campus when protests erupted in response to the Israel-Hamas War, a district judge has ruled, citing their faith as the sole factor.

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Crossroads Podcast: Newsweek’s ‘Incomplete’ On Christian College ‘Canceling’

Let’s say that you know a teacher at a Catholic school that, when accepting this job, this person signed a contract in which he agreed to defend the doctrines detailed in the Catholic Catechism or, at the very least, not to oppose them in public. After several years of work, this teacher decided that gender is a social construct and that she was a woman trapped in a man’s body and began to transition into life as a woman. The school then declined to renew the teacher’s contract. Was that teacher canceled?

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Arizona And Missouri Add Ballot Measures To Codify Abortion Rights

Arizona and Missouri are the latest states to add measures to the November ballot allowing voters to enshrine abortion rights in their respective state constitutions, joining at six other states with similar measures. In at least two states, Nebraska and Pennsylvania, ballot initiatives to protect life are pending.

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Columbia President Minouche Shafik Resigns Following Pro-Palestinian Protests

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned Wednesday, bowing to pressure from university faculty and students and public officials who widely criticized her handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests last school year.

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