Americans weigh-in on God and country

Americans weigh-in on God and country

VERBATIM:  The Public Religion Research Institute has been asking this question:  Has God granted the U.S. a special role in human history?  Amongst the general public, 44% say YES, God has given this country a special responsibility in the world — 52% say NO.  The survey also reveals that amongst people of faith, only White Evangelicals, Hispanic Protestants and Black Protestants believe in the special role.  In 2012 ALL faith groups believed it.  MH REPORTING

The Pew Research Center asks Americans about the 10 Commandments

The Pew Research Center asks Americans about the 10 Commandments

What do pastors need?

What do pastors need?

VERBATIM:  According to a new study from the Barna Group, clergymen facing burnout most want to find more time for personal spiritual practices.  The second most common cure that pastors long for is just some time off — a vacation or maybe a long weekend.  Others would like to see somebody else in the congregation lift a few responsibilities off their shoulders.  Barna finds a lot of American clergymen are worried about their mental and physical health.  MH REPORTING

The Pew Research Center takes a look at the Philippines

The Pew Research Center takes a look at the Philippines

VERBATIM:  There are few Christians in Asia.  Believers make up less than 10% of the population in that vast part of the world.  But the Philippines is a notable exception.  According to the Pew Research Center’s latest global survey of faith, 92% of Filipinos identify as Christian.  The poll also finds that 99% of adults say they believe in God and 80% report that they pray every day.  Amongst countries with the largest Christian populations on earth, the Philippines ranks 7th.  MH REPORTING

Britain’s outgoing prime minister makes an odd statement

Britain’s outgoing prime minister makes an odd statement

VERBATIM:  Keir Starmer, who will leave office later this month, gave a speech last week touting his accomplishments.  Amongst them Starmer, who represents the Labor Party, said he was proud to have worked with “the gayest Parliament ever.”  Addressing an LGBT gathering the PM added “I don’t think there’s any Parliament that is gayer than this Parliament and that is fantastic.”  Out of 650 members of the House of Commons, 76 identify as LGBT.  MH REPORTING

Fifty years has brought a lot of change to the country

Fifty years has brought a lot of change to the country

Americans weigh-in on prayer in school

Americans weigh-in on prayer in school

VERBATIM:  According to the latest from the Pew Research Center, 78% of adults believe the public schools should allow students to voluntarily pray in student-led groups.  57% think coaches should be allowed to lead their teams in prayer and 46% support teachers leading their classes in prayer.  However, strong majority of Americans who like the idea of coaches and teachers leading prayer, do NOT want any student to be forced to participate.  MH REPORTING

Canadian churches are promoting suicide

Canadian churches are promoting suicide

VERBATIM:  The United Church is the largest Protestant denomination in the country and one of its congregations in British Columbia is advertising a seminar on how to access physician-assisted suicide.  The Anglican Church of Canada is working on a liturgy for people who take their own life with a doctor’s help including “prayers to be read immediately before the fatal drugs are administered, as well as prayers after the patient’s death.”  MH REPORTING

Do people know you are a Christian?

Do people know you are a Christian?

VERBATIM:  LifeWay Research has been asking that question to Protestant church goers and only 53% of them say that MOST of the people they know are aware that they are followers of Christ.  30% say most people DON’T know.  But the survey also reveals that a strong majority of Christians are fully prepared to share their faith.  65% say they would have no hesitation letting a non-Christian person know that they are a believer.  MH REPORTING

Who’s going to church?

Who’s going to church?

A pro-life message will accompany 4th of July this year

A pro-life message will accompany 4th of July this year

VERBATIM:  The group Created Equal is organizing demonstrations in Washington D.C. from June 30th through Independence Day to remind Americans of the plight of unborn babies.  Created Equal spokesman Mark Harrington says “Our Founder’s vision is not complete. And it will remain incomplete until preborn children are protected and abortion is outlawed in America.”  Demonstrations will take place on Capitol Hill, at the Supreme Court and on the National Mall.  MH REPORTING

Americans are embracing chatbots

Americans are embracing chatbots

VERBATIM:  They are powered by artificial intelligence and can simulate interactions with an actual human being.  According to a new poll from the Pew Research Center, most people use chatbots to help them with work or school, or to search the web for information.  But finds a disturbing number of Americans — 10% — are using chatbots for emotional support and 4% admit they use them for companionship.  Young people are adopting the technology faster than older folks.  MH REPORTING

States are getting worried about gambling

States are getting worried about gambling

VERBATIM:  Clergymen and Evangelical leaders have been decrying America’s wholesale embrace of betting for at least a decade but now some lawmakers are listening.  Specifically, legislatures in a growing number of states are considering whether they should ban betting on elections, for fear such activity could actually affect the outcomes.  Trading markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let people make wagers on the vote and the midterms are just about four months away.  MH REPORTING

Doordash is making a change

Doordash is making a change

A new poll asks Americans what they believe about God

A new poll asks Americans what they believe about God

VERBATIM:  The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reports that only 50% of adults believe that God is best described as “the all-powerful, all knowing, perfect, and just Creator of the universe who rules that universe today.”  CRC Director Dr. George Barna says “The idea that the God of the Bible is the sole, omnipotent, Creator deity is no longer the dominant theological view of Americans, as it was until shortly after the start of the new millennium.”  MH REPORTING

The capital of Maryland issues an unusual alert

The capital of Maryland issues an unusual alert

VERBATIM:  The city of Annapolis has prompted some raised eyebrows and ridicule on social media by sending out an emergency preparedness guide specifically for the LGBT community.  The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management says disasters pose “unique challenges” for LGBT people.  Amongst the recommendations are that transgender individuals stockpile hormones to help them live as the opposite sex along with “chest binders and wigs”.  MH REPORTING

The Pew Research Center takes a closer look at abortion in the U.S.

(SRN NEWS)-VERBATIM:  And the first thing that Pew admits as it tries to crunch the numbers is that they don’t have all the data.  There were a little over 613,000 abortions in 2022 — the last year for which all the data is in.  However, four states do not report their abortion numbers and nobody knows how many women terminated a pregnancy that year using abortion pills they got through the mail without visiting a doctor.  It is feared that the real total is higher than the reported one.  MH REPORTING

A victory for religious freedom in Europe

A victory for religious freedom in Europe

VERBATIM:  Bulgaria has banned door-to-door evangelism while allowing canvassing for political reasons.  The European Court of Human Rights has struck down the law, saying it violates the European Convention on Human Rights.  Nicholas Bauer of the European Center for Law and Justices tells EWTN “The court ruling reaffirms a basic requirement of religious freedom for believers: the right to the same freedom of expression as everyone else.”  MH REPORTING

A new poll asks Americans about human life

A new poll asks Americans about human life

VERBATIM:  It comes from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University and it finds that 57% of the general population believes that humans are created in God’s image and likeness, are morally fallen and need redemption.  But only 27% of respondents think that human life is sacred while an equal amount says human life has no intrinsic value.  Just 44% of people who identify as born-again Christians believe life is sacred.  MH REPORTING

Some Major League Baseball players take a stand

Some Major League Baseball players take a stand

VERBATIM:  The San Francisco Giants celebrated Gay Pride at their stadium last week and gave all the players uniforms to wear with rainbow colors.  Three members of the team wrote Bible verses on the hats, including ones from the Book of Genesis explaining the REAL meaning of the rainbow.  Major League Baseball has issued a warning, telling the players that they are not allowed to alter Gay Pride uniforms in any way.  MH REPORTING

An Illinois man is going to jail for killing an unborn baby

An Illinois man is going to jail for killing an unborn baby

VERBATIM:  The state has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country, but it’s still not legal for a man to slip his girlfriend abortion pills to end a pregnancy against her will.  That’s what 32-year-old Emerson Evans was convicted of and he will now serve seven years in prison.  Since abortion drugs were made widely available under the Biden administration, a growing number of men have been arrested for using them to force women to have abortions.  MH REPORTING

A battle over abortion pills in Alaska

A battle over abortion pills in Alaska

VERBATIM:  Planned Parenthood is suing to overturn a state law that requires women to visit a doctor in person before receiving abortifacient drugs.  The regional affiliate, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, claims that it is too inconvenient for women in Alaska to see a doctor in person.  The state attorney general’s office says it will defend the law.  Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion business and a leading provider of abortion pills.  MH REPORTING

Anti-Christian hate is up in Europe

Anti-Christian hate is up in Europe

VERBATIM:  The number of incidents soared in May including the highest number of arson attacks on churches in any month this year so far.  According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe, 37 hate crimes were documented during targeting churches, Christian institutions, religious symbols and individual believers — a rate of more than one per day.  Thirteen of those incidents were arson.  MH REPORTING

The Pew Research Center offers a new look at American politics

The Pew Research Center offers a new look at American politics