Sunday, June 26, 2016

Barna Research in USA: "Majority of Millenials believe in Cohabitation"

Barna Research writes:

"Cohabitation is the new norm. Shifting gender roles and expectations, the delay of marriage, and a secularizing culture are leading more American adults to believe that moving in together before tying the knot is a good idea. A recent Barna study asked Americans their views on cohabitation: the pros, cons, motivations, and effects of living together prior to marriage. Though its acceptance is widespread in American culture, there are still large pockets of resistance to this changing ethic among religious communities and those who adhere to more traditional values and premarital expectations." Read it all.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Barna Research: Bible Engagement in the New World

Barna Research identified three trends that make Biblical engagement with our society increasingly difficult: 1. increasing skepticism; 2. self-fulfillment as the new 'moral good'; and 3. explosion of digital tools at the same time as a decline in relational discipleship.

Read it all.

Christian University in Canada in Court over its Moral Convictions regarding Marriage

The law societies of Ontario and British Columbia voted not to admit lawyers trained at Trinity Western University to its ranks because the university has a code of conduct that favors marriage between one man and one woman.

The CTV article reads, "At the core of the dispute is Trinity Western's "community covenant" or code of conduct, which the Evangelical Christian institution requires all students to agree to. It includes requiring students to abstain from gossip, obscene language, prejudice, harassment, lying, cheating, stealing, pornography, drunkenness and sexual intimacy "that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman."

The university notes, however, that it does not ban admission to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students or faculty, and said its community offers "an environment in which sexual minorities are supported, loved and respected."

Read it all.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Christianity - what if it disappears from Europe? What would be lost? - The Guardian

A telling editorial in The Guardian examines changes in Britain. More and more people classify themselves as "no religion". In England and Wales the number of Christians is dropping quickly. For every person who becomes either "Catholic" or "Anglican", ten people leave those churches.

This raises the question: If Christianity disappears from Europe, what will be lost?

(Note: Attentive readers will note that the editor of The Guardian shows no clue about the growth of the Christian faith in the countries of the "south", Central and South America, Africa and Asia.)

Read it all.

32 Trillion dollars in Off Shore (mostly tax free) accounts. What to say about this?

Two years ago, amazing details began to seep out about wealthy individuals and their "off shore accounts". Recently, the "Panama Papers" provided a treasury of information about the mostly "tax free" accounts.

For every $1.00 that the West sends in aid to poor countries, $10.00 is sent to these off-shore accounts. More than $32 trillion appears to be beyond the reach of tax authorities.

The Micah Statement on the Panama Papers has this quote ... and much more.

"Compare the $50 to $80 billion a year that flows as overseas development ‘aid’ to poor countries with the $500 billion to $800 billion that the World Bank estimates is being sent illegally out of these same poor countries. For every $1 given across the table, the West has been receiving $10 back under the table ... We call on world leaders to have the political courage, the moral integrity and a genuine concern for the poor to act and stop this theft! This will require the adoption of fair policies and transparent governance practices that can be scrutinised by all. The pledge by 6 countries to at the London Summit on Corruption (12th May 2016) to use a public register of beneficial ownership is a small step in the right direction. We call on our leaders, national, regional and local, our business leaders and our church leaders, to lead by example and ensure that all citizens are treated equally before the law, not allowing the tax burden to be transferred from the richest to the poorest."

Read it all.