One Nation - Two Masters: The Confusion that is Sacralist-Nationalist Evangelicalism

https://cne.news/article/4851-why-one-nation-can-never-serve-two-masters

We read in Matthew 6.24:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Not long ago I head Charlie Kirk twist this passage and use it to justify nationalism. You have to serve and love your country or not. You can't have divided loyalty. It was a complete distortion of the passage as it actually precludes the very nationalism Kirk was arguing for. Kirk was advocating a divided loyalty that contradicted the words of Christ.

Materialist Interpretations of the Modern Papacy

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/24/nx-s1-5307022/jesus-wept-author-chronicles-the-debates-roiling-the-catholic-church

I'm afraid this episode of Fresh Air typifies the increasing divide in American news coverage. No sober thinking person (let alone a Spirit-filled one) can possibly appreciate the manipulative and superficial quality of Right-wing media outlets such as FOX and Newsmax. And yet this episode of Fresh Air (which had every reason and opportunity to be interesting) proved tiresome and I became more fixated on the liberal materialist assumptions of the interviewer and guest than the actual issues being discussed.

A Pilgrimage to the Altar of Humanism

I picked up Timothy Egan's A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of Faith, because I have enjoyed such travel books in the past. Years ago I read many of HV Morton's travel works, particularly those in the 1930's and enjoyed the narrative, historical information, and the style of writing. Morton was not a Christian (that I could see) but was clearly interested in Christianity and its place in history.

The Materialist Default

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/20/nx-s1-5013626/scientists-are-looking-for-signs-of-resilience-in-the-gut

Right-wing media is unpalatable in its assumptions and its bias and yet the mainstream media is becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate as well. From all the talk of 'people of who have babies' and the like to the overwhelmingly materialist assumptions, I find myself having to look elsewhere. Motivated by its political agenda and the corruption of money, FOX consistently lies and manipulates the truth and even the nature of reality. But the mainstream increasingly just relies on false presuppositions and when it comes to health, science, and even sociology, the materialist assumptions dominate - often leading to absurdities.

The BBC, Russia, and Unreality

BBC coverage within Russia has taken a rather snarky tone for some time. They're not really reports as much as they are snide editorials. Secular Humanism is the religion of modern culture and the BBC advocates for this - even if they would deny it. Classical Liberalism is the default political theory, even though there's no real basis for assuming this within a secular worldview. They can't appeal to any authority and in a contest of empirical evidence the system is far from unassailable even though they seem to think so. One would think that an international news outlet would be a little more cynical regarding the history of democracy and liberalism in the West, but after all we are talking about a kind of faith - even if it's a vain and empty one.

French Evangelical Folly

https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/26664/french-evangelicals-welcome-new-law-to-combat-cults

There are plenty of occasions and opportunities in society for abuse and it could be argued this has been made worse by modern society and the various technological venues and vehicles available to abusers. But we should pause when considering granting the state power to make such determinations.

A Controversy over Missions among the Sioux

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/15/1117605626/a-reservation-in-south-dakota-bans-outside-missionaries

I caught this NPR story a few weeks ago while driving home and it made me groan inwardly – yet another compelling story, but one in which I find myself disagreeing with all involved.

Jordan Cooper, SSPX, and the Collapse of Civilisation

https://justandsinner.libsyn.com/a-response-to-an-sspx-priest-on-luther

In this podcast Cooper provides a capable defense of Luther and his legacy and offers some helpful critiques of Roman Catholicism and the Protestant Reformation's opposition to it.

Iconoclasm, Traditionalist Roman Catholicism and Trump

I occasionally listen to Taylor Marshall as well as some other Roman Catholic Traditionalists. For obvious reasons I don't agree with Marshall but I like some of the topics he covers and I've long been intrigued by Roman Catholic history – especially in the wake of the 19^th century. This was only amplified by the time I spent in Italy along with the multiple trips I took to Rome. It whets the appetite to be sure. I'm not speaking in terms of conversion but rather the intrigue and frankly, the evil.

How Should We Then Live Part 4: The Reformation

In some respects this was a simpler episode keeping to more basic but recurring and even redundant themes. Schaeffer assumes that his audience is already familiar with the basics of the Reformation narrative and spends hardly any time laying out its chronology. I was surprised however to hear how he postured his narrative. He argued the Reformation was the breaking away of the Reformers from the Roman Catholic Church. Additionally the movement represented a turning away from the humanistic elements of medieval Catholicism.

The Death and Burial of Kemalism

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Come-on-Children-Mosque-Project-marks-the-end-of-secular-Turkey-49050.html

With the West's open opposition to him (except when it comes to potential conflict with Russia vis-à-vis Syria) Erdogan has decided to dispense with the pretense of Kemalism. The secular Western-oriented ideology founded by Mustafa Kemal 'Ataturk' governed Turkey from its founding in the 1920's up until the early 2000's and the rise of the AK Party.

The Atlantic Article on Empty Church Buildings

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/what-should-america-do-its-empty-church-buildings/576592/

This article has been getting some attention as of late. While listening to 'Christian' radio the other day I heard an interview premised by it and they had a local pastor on the show to discuss the demise of the Church. It was yet again a case of blind leading the blind. The pastor had nothing to offer. He wasn't even able to offer the normal combative narrative that it's the liberal churches that are closing. In the end he said, it comes down to poor leadership.

The Threat of Enforced EU Values

http://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/3692/EU_proposes_to_close_mosques_that_do_not_adhere_to_EU_values

While it is to be somewhat expected and to a degree understandable that the EU would propose banning literature and organisations that promote anti-state violence it's a little troubling to read that they're contemplating closing mosques that 'do not adhere to EU values'.

Catholic Homeschooling

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/johnclark/homeschooling-and-the-future-of-the-church

This story does not contain anything profound but is noteworthy in that it suggests a shift on the part of Catholic conservatives. Historically Catholics would have been pretty dubious about homeschooling.

Sacralism and Secularism in Morocco

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-morocco-religion/christians-want-marriages-recognised-in-morocco-idUKKCN1J427Q

This article demonstrates the true evil of sacralist culture, Christian, Muslim or otherwise. It's evil because it's Bestial, seeking to control and delineate every aspect of life and demands all citizens and residents conform to the state's form of worship.

The Guardian and the Dalits of Nepal

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/aug/15/they-use-money-to-promote-christianity-nepal-battle-for-souls

In the Hindu sphere it is almost natural that the Dalits or Untouchables would be the most likely group to embrace Christianity with its message of universal salvation and its largely egalitarian ecclesiastical construct. I use the term egalitarian with hesitation because it is used by others in different ways and I don't want to be misunderstood. Biblical Egalitarianism does not mean the elimination of male and female roles both in the family and in the Church but it certainly does mean an elimination of class distinctions, something at the core of many Asian societies.

Controversies Surrounding Bergoglio (Francis)

For those interested in following the struggles and intrigues of the Vatican this article from The Guardian warrants a look.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/oct/27/the-war-against-pope-francis

It helps to explain some of the recent battles, actions and rhetoric taking place between the Papacy and groups like the Knights of Malta. These events have received what could be described as somewhat muddled coverage.

Polakow-Suransky Provides Background on Europe's Far Right

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/01/the-ruthlessly-effective-rebranding-of-europes-new-far-right

Polakow-Suransky offers a succinct but reasonably thorough narrative and analysis of the rise of the Far Right in Europe.

American Catholicism's Breaking Point and Biden's Sodomy

http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/4989/good_grief_if_even_protestants_think_the_time_has_come.aspx

The Sacralist model of the Church has never been much for Church Discipline... that is with regard to those who at least nominally hold to the paradigm.

Enlightenment, Feminism and the Burkini Breaking Point

One thing you can say about the European Right... it's definitely rooted in the Enlightenment. Well, that statement would not be applicable to every version of the European Right and yet it certainly applies to the mayor of Cannes.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/12/489777580/french-resort-city-bans-muslim-bathing-suit

The Burkini is deemed immoral. It must be banned.

Toplessness and public nudity are moral because they represent individualist Enlightenment culture.