Recent Scriptorium
on Politics

A Republic in Peril: the Death of Liberty

John Mark Reynolds | Culture, Politics | 02.03.2010

Nothing, not a plague of Biblical proportions or a President Jon Edwards, would harm the Republic more than allowing a handsome football quarterback and his mother to give a Super Bowl commercial celebrating life. The Super Bowl and the commercials that come with it have always been an event that celebrated taste and family values. This year while enjoying flatulent horses, objectified women picked for their silicon va... Read More...

Why Mao is one of the best things that ever happened for Christianity in China

Allen Yeh | Culture, Theology, Politics | 01.11.2010

Mao Zedong. The name is often placed alongside other horrible dictators like Hitler, Mussolini, Pol Pot, and Stalin. Deaths of millions can be attributed to him. But I want to argue that he was one of the best things that ever happened to Christianity in China. Right now I am in Taiwan (where my father’s side of the family is from; my mother’s side is from China) visiting my relatives, and I can’t help but not... Read More...

Archived Scriptorium on Politics

One Bad Argument in Favor of Torture

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 01.07.2010

Traditional Christians oppose torture based on their understanding of Divine Revelation and centuries of experience learning the corrosive effects torture has on the society that justifies its use. Traditional conservatives should oppose torture because giving the government power to torture is dangerous. War is a public act and can be judged by the public. There is some lev... Read More...

“Religion is the cause of all evils in this world”—really?

Allen Yeh | Theology, Politics | 01.06.2010

After 9/11, it became very fashionable for atheists to say, “Religion is the cause of all evils in this world; if we just got rid of religion, we would solve a lot of our problems.” (in fact, I had some guy say this to me at a wedding I attended recently—what a time to bring up religious controversy—at a wedding of all places!) I once heard someone respond thusly: ... Read More...

We Are All Interconnected

Allen Yeh | Culture, Theology, Politics | 12.24.2009

I just saw the movie Avatar and there are many things to say about the movie. One, of course, is the amazing visuals. It definitely set a new standard in special effects technology for movies, on par with what The Matrix did when it first came out. “Gorgeous” doesn’t even begin to describe it. Secondly, the plot was pretty good—a little predictable at times, but it ... Read More...

Jolly Mr. Nelson Celebrates Christmas

John Mark Reynolds | Culture, Politics | 12.20.2009

Mr. Ben Nelson is a jolly old United States Senator for Nebraska. He was fighting for principle in opposing abortion funding in the health care reform moving through Congress. Now he is backing health care reform without the language he originally demanded. It would be easy to caricature Senator Nelson's move unfairly. Some will say he is a Judas for betraying his ideals ... Read More...

A Memo Regarding The Christmas Crèche

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 12.11.2009

Office of the White House Czar for Celebration and Jollification Alcibiades Antinous, Director RE: The White House Christmas Crèche Someone must tell the President that his display of the Christmas crèche is inconsistent with our recent policies regarding holiday celebrations in the United States. The display of the crèche will self-evidently lead to an Iranian s... Read More...

Love Your Enemies

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 12.02.2009

The Lord Jesus said: "43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those wh... Read More...

Something that really should worry Europe

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 12.01.2009

Switzerland should not have banned minarets. It was both wrong and stupid, which is something even for government. Condemnations will be loud and are deserved. Meanwhile in November a Russian priest has been martyred in Moscow for the temerity of disagreeing with the Islamic religion or Putin’s oligarchy. Few will notice or care. It is sad commentary on the state of E... Read More...

The Sarah Palin Tests: How smart is smart enough?

John Mark Reynolds | Culture, Politics | 12.01.2009

The intellectual habits of a good leader for the United States are hard to describe. What are the similarities between successful chief executives such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Ronald Reagan? It is important to remember that the United States is not a business. The skills needed in a good chief executive officer are not al... Read More...

The Conclusion: Ten Things I Learned About Sarah Palin from “Going Rogue”

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 11.28.2009

This was a bad and unhelpful book. It was not bad because it was simple. Goldwater (or his ghost) used fewer pages in Conscience of a Conservative and said more. It was not bad because it was autobiographical. Though I don't like his politics, President Obama confessed more and said it better in Dreams from My Father. If you don't believe that this book is bad, then read (re... Read More...

Where I Read “Going Rogue” by Sarah Palin and Live Blog It

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 11.28.2009

Introduction to the Project: (This is a completed live blog. I have decided not to correct most typographical errors or "fix" it. Some was done as late as 3 AM as I finished the book, but I felt the authenticity of the moment generally better than a smoothed out version.) I have defended Sarah Palin on numerous occasions against critics. I thought some conservatives turne... Read More...

CAPS-LOCK Rhetoric

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 11.21.2009

The best way to get web hits is to say something loudly. Our discourse is often as subtle as a teenager with a stuck caps key. We don't just oppose the President's agenda, but WE STAND AT ARMAGEDDON AND WE BATTLE FOR THE LORD. While that last line got Teddy Roosevelt some cheers, and T.R. would have made a world-class blogger, it was part of a losing campaign. Extreme rhe... Read More...

Thank You Catholic Bishops

John Mark Reynolds | Politics | 11.20.2009

President Obama is just returning from China having gently mentioned to the butchers of Beijing that human rights are important. The witness for human dignity will continue in China, but it will not be the soft approach of kowtowing to dictators while speaking softly to them. How do we know? The Chinese Catholic bishops and other Christian leaders do not have the luxury o... Read More...

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