thestream--2020-05-08--Death by Starvation or Death by COVID-19

As horrible as death by COVID-19 must be , it is surely far worse to starve to death slowly over a period of many weeks and months .
Yet , in our desire to prevent millions of COVID-19 deaths , we may have sentenced tens of millions of people to starve to death .
Perhaps more than 100 million .
That is almost impossible to grasp .
What would those figures look like on a graph ?
Dennis Prager ’ s latest weekly article , posted May 5 , put forth this jarring proposition , “ The Worldwide Lockdown May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whether or not he is right , only time will tell .
World Starvation Excepted to Double This Year From Last Year But Prager could already cite these disturbing projections : “ The United Nations World Food Programme , or the WFP , states that by the end of the year , more than 260 million people will face starvation — double last year ’ s figures .
According to WFP director David Beasley on April 21 : ‘ We could be looking at famine in about three dozen countries .
… There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself ( italics added ) .
” He added , “ That would be enough to characterize the worldwide lockdown as a deathly error .
But there is much more .
If global GDP declines by 5 % , another 147 million people could be plunged into extreme poverty , according to the International Food Policy Research Institute.
” Why so little outcry ?
Why so little concern ?
It is true that headlines reported the WFP announcement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on The Hill : “ UN warns coronavirus could cause global famines of ‘ biblical proportions ’ .
The WFP warned the United Nations security council Tuesday of a possible ‘ hunger pandemic ’ due to COVID-19.
” Or like this , also on April 22 , on CNN : “ Coronavirus pandemic will cause global famines of ‘ biblical proportions , ’ UN warns.
” One week later , a local Fox affiliate ran a similar story , explaining , “ While the World Health Organization warns that stringent guidelines need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 , fellow United Nations agency World Food Program ( WFP ) believes that it will lead to an uptick in global poverty and starvation , and the response to the virus itself may end up killing more people by the end of 2020.
” But for the most part , these absolutely shocking predictions have gone in one ear and out the other .
Is it because the victims are almost all in impoverished nations , already out of sight and out of mind ?
Is it because we are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people who face starvation every year ?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
I ’ m not trying to lay a guilt trip on all of us who have plenty to eat .
Nor am I trying to go back to the days of my childhood , when my mother would urge me to finish my dinner , reminding me that there were children starving in India or Africa .
( And yes , I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finishing my meal would help these children , or offering the remaining food to them . )
I ’ m also not trying to be a Monday morning quarterback , criticizing the world response as lacking in foresight .
For me to do so would be as ignorant as it would be arrogant .
My purpose , instead , is twofold .
Let Us Remember The Poor Worldwide , Regardless of the Virus First , I want to bring this tragic situation into focus again , even without the added crisis of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mercy Corps article posted October 1 , 2018 , “ Around the world , 821 million people do not have enough of the food they need to live an active , healthy life .
One in every nine people goes to bed hungry each night , including 20 million people currently at risk of famine in South Sudan , Somalia , Yemen and Nigeria .
“ People suffering from chronic hunger are plagued with recurring illnesses , developmental disabilities and low productivity .
They are often forced to use all their limited physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the table ” ( emphasis in the original ) .
Whatever we can do to help make a difference in these lives , let us do so .
I support missionaries working in some very poor countries , and the stories they share of lives changed , simply through Christian love and a healthy meal , are wonderfully encouraging .
Let Us Remember The Poor Worldwide in Light of the Virus Second , as we consider the negative impact of the shutdown in America , where the cure could be worse than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the implications for the impoverished worldwide .
Naturally , we give more thought to our local economy and our own paychecks , which is perfectly understandable .
But we should not forget those affected negatively worldwide .
It is literally a matter of life or death .
Of course , there are no easy answers , and hindsight is 20/20 .
But I too read these shocking predictions on April 22 , only to file them away in my brain , only to forget them within 24 hours .
So , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as , hopefully , jarring your own thoughts as well .
At the least , we can pray that God will our leaders and the leaders of the world great wisdom .
And at the most , we can consider ways that we can help alleviate world hunger .
It is an ongoing tragedy that could become much more tragic .
If we each make a difference even for one life , that is not just a tragedy averted .
It is a precious life saved .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is When the World Stops : Words of Faith , Hope , and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis .
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

As horrible as death by COVID-19 must be, it is surely far worse to starve to death slowly over a period of many weeks and months. Yet, in our desire to prevent millions of COVID-19 deaths, we may have sentenced tens of millions of people to starve to death. Perhaps more than 100 million. That is almost impossible to grasp. What would those figures look like on a graph?
Dennis Prager’s latest weekly article, posted May 5, put forth this jarring proposition, “The Worldwide Lockdown May Be the Greatest Mistake in History.”
Whether or not he is right, only time will tell.
World Starvation Excepted to Double This Year From Last Year
But Prager could already cite these disturbing projections: “The United Nations World Food Programme, or the WFP, states that by the end of the year, more than 260 million people will face starvation — double last year’s figures. According to WFP director David Beasley on April 21: ‘We could be looking at famine in about three dozen countries. … There is also a real danger that more people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself (italics added).”
He added, “That would be enough to characterize the worldwide lockdown as a deathly error. But there is much more. If global GDP declines by 5%, another 147 million people could be plunged into extreme poverty, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute.”
Why so little outcry? Why so little concern?
We should not forget those affected negatively worldwide. It is literally a matter of life or death.
It is true that headlines reported the WFP announcement, with headlines like this on April 22 on The Hill: “UN warns coronavirus could cause global famines of ‘biblical proportions’. The WFP warned the United Nations security council Tuesday of a possible ‘hunger pandemic’ due to COVID-19.”
Or like this, also on April 22, on CNN: “Coronavirus pandemic will cause global famines of ‘biblical proportions,’ UN warns.”
One week later, a local Fox affiliate ran a similar story, explaining, “While the World Health Organization warns that stringent guidelines need to stay in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, fellow United Nations agency World Food Program (WFP) believes that it will lead to an uptick in global poverty and starvation, and the response to the virus itself may end up killing more people by the end of 2020.”
Do We Care?
But for the most part, these absolutely shocking predictions have gone in one ear and out the other.
Is it because the victims are almost all in impoverished nations, already out of sight and out of mind?
Is it because we are already indifferent to the fate of roughly 130 million people who face starvation every year?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I’m not trying to lay a guilt trip on all of us who have plenty to eat. Nor am I trying to go back to the days of my childhood, when my mother would urge me to finish my dinner, reminding me that there were children starving in India or Africa. (And yes, I had some snide response, probably asking how finishing my meal would help these children, or offering the remaining food to them.)
I’m also not trying to be a Monday morning quarterback, criticizing the world response as lacking in foresight. For me to do so would be as ignorant as it would be arrogant.
My purpose, instead, is twofold.
Let Us Remember The Poor Worldwide, Regardless of the Virus
First, I want to bring this tragic situation into focus again, even without the added crisis of the COVID-19 shutdown.
As explained in a Mercy Corps article posted October 1, 2018, “Around the world, 821 million people do not have enough of the food they need to live an active, healthy life. One in every nine people goes to bed hungry each night, including 20 million people currently at risk of famine in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria.
“People suffering from chronic hunger are plagued with recurring illnesses, developmental disabilities and low productivity. They are often forced to use all their limited physical and financial resources just to put food on the table” (emphasis in the original).
Whatever we can do to help make a difference in these lives, let us do so. I support missionaries working in some very poor countries, and the stories they share of lives changed, simply through Christian love and a healthy meal, are wonderfully encouraging.
Let Us Remember The Poor Worldwide in Light of the Virus
Second, as we consider the negative impact of the shutdown in America, where the cure could be worse than the disease, let us factor in the implications for the impoverished worldwide.
Naturally, we give more thought to our local economy and our own paychecks, which is perfectly understandable. But we should not forget those affected negatively worldwide. It is literally a matter of life or death.
Of course, there are no easy answers, and hindsight is 20/20. But I too read these shocking predictions on April 22, only to file them away in my brain, only to forget them within 24 hours.
So, I’m jogging my own memory as well as, hopefully, jarring your own thoughts as well.
At the least, we can pray that God will our leaders and the leaders of the world great wisdom. And at the most, we can consider ways that we can help alleviate world hunger.
It is an ongoing tragedy that could become much more tragic. If we each make a difference even for one life, that is not just a tragedy averted. It is a precious life saved.
Editor’s Note: You can help combat world hunger. Consider giving to Mission Feeding, a ministry of our parent organization, LIFE Outreach International.
LIFE’s Mission Feeding outreach has been a proven answer to the nutritional needs of starving and malnourished children. Each bowl of food contains vitamins and nutrients needed to stop the vicious cycle of malnutrition and death. That’s why we say, “There’s LIFE in every bowl, and hope for every LIFE!” Click here to see how you can help.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is When the World Stops: Words of Faith, Hope, and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-05-07--Does America Still Have a Prayer?

Does America Still Have a Prayer?

As of this writing , tens of thousands of Americans have reportedly died from the coronavirus .
Also , 33 million have abruptly lost work .
Scan the headlines these days , and the bad news because of the coronavirus seems to get worse and worse : • April ’ s unemployment is described by the Wall Street Journal as “ the largest one-month blow to the U.S. labor market on record.
” The worst job loss ever .
• Albion College senior Alex Tokie wrote for Campusreform.com that “ Universities across the country are being hit with lawsuits by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the refunds they ’ re being provided after being told to leave campus.
” • As one of six workers are suddenly out of a job , hunger is a growing problem .
The AP reports , “ Before the pandemic , food policy experts say , roughly one out of every eight or nine Americans struggled to stay fed .
Now as many as one out of every four are projected to join the ranks of the hungry.
” Amidst all the bad news , is there any hope ?
Does America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , May 7 , 2020 is the National Day of Prayer .
And , boy , do we need it .
America , it could be said , was born in prayer .
We can even see an example in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol , where there are eight large paintings dedicated to aspects of our history .
One of them shows the Pilgrims having a prayer meeting with a large open Geneva Bible .
The Pilgrims experienced one setback after another .
But they also experienced answers to prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally settled in the New World in 1621 , after a disastrous winter where half their number died , they planted their crops .
But then they experienced a great drought .
The parched conditions threatened their first crop of corn , and it looked like the year ’ s harvest of corn was all but dead .
But the Pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer .
By the end of the day , it was raining .
The rain saved the corn , which miraculously sprang to life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what they celebrated in the first Thanksgiving .
A couple of paintings in the Capitol rotunda have George Washington as the central character .
Although modern scholars like to discount the notion of Washington as a man of prayer , there were many contemporary witnesses who said otherwise .
In our book , George Washington ’ s Sacred Fire , Dr. Peter Lillback and I document that Washington was a dedicated Christian who read the Bible regularly and spent much time in prayer .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Washington often said that as a nation we should be grateful for God ’ s repeated help .
He once wrote in a letter to Thomas Nelson , in reference to God ’ s help during the War for Independence , “ The hand of Providence has been conspicuous in all this , that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith , and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.
” The Cholera Epidemic Tapered Off After President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susie Federer has written two books on miracles in American history , Miracles and Miracles II , based on the research of her husband , Bill .
He is a bestselling author and speaker .
Bill Federer describes a time — not unlike today — when there was a plague of sorts ravaging the land in the mid-19th century .
President Zachary Taylor declared a National Day of Fasting and Prayer , July 3 , 1849 , during a cholera epidemic : “ A fearful pestilence which is spreading itself throughout the land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose reliance has ever been in His protection should humble themselves before His throne … acknowledging past transgressions , ask a continuance of the Divine mercy .
It is earnestly recommended that the first Friday in August be observed throughout the United States as a Day of Fasting , Humiliation and Prayer.
” The Federers note that soon after that day of prayer , the cholera epidemic in America tapered off .
Many of our presidents throughout our history have called on God and have called on Americans to set aside a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , FDR , in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack , called for January 2 , 1942 , to be , “ a Day of Prayer , of asking forgiveness for our shortcomings of the past , of consecration to the tasks of the present , of asking God ’ s help in days to come.
” President Truman even systematized the day of prayer as an annual event .
Thus , the first Thursday of each May is the National Day of Prayer .
Truman declared in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ from the earliest days of our history our people have been accustomed to turn to Almighty God for help and guidance.
” If ever America needed God ’ s help and guidance , this would seem to be that time — as the coronavirus crisis devastates the land .
We need to pray and repent and seek His face .
May He provide a vaccine soon , and may He heal our land .
Jerry Newcombe , D.Min.
, is a senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 books , such as The Unstoppable Jesus Christ , American Amnesia : Is American Paying the Price for Forgetting God ?
, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born ?
( with D. James Kennedy ) and the bestseller , George Washington ’ s Sacred Fire ( with Peter Lillback ) .
Learn more at www.jerrynewcombe.com and follow him on Twitter @ newcombejerry .

As of this writing, tens of thousands of Americans have reportedly died from the coronavirus. Also, 33 million have abruptly lost work.
Scan the headlines these days, and the bad news because of the coronavirus seems to get worse and worse:
April’s unemployment is described by the Wall Street Journal as “the largest one-month blow to the U.S. labor market on record.” The worst job loss ever.
Albion College senior Alex Tokie wrote for Campusreform.com that “Universities across the country are being hit with lawsuits by students who aren’t satisfied with the refunds they’re being provided after being told to leave campus.”
As one of six workers are suddenly out of a job, hunger is a growing problem. The AP reports, “Before the pandemic, food policy experts say, roughly one out of every eight or nine Americans struggled to stay fed. Now as many as one out of every four are projected to join the ranks of the hungry.”
Amidst all the bad news, is there any hope? Does America still have a prayer?
Yes. Thursday, May 7, 2020 is the National Day of Prayer. And, boy, do we need it.
A Nation Born in Prayer
America, it could be said, was born in prayer. We can even see an example in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, where there are eight large paintings dedicated to aspects of our history.
One of them shows the Pilgrims having a prayer meeting with a large open Geneva Bible. The Pilgrims experienced one setback after another. But they also experienced answers to prayer.
For example, when they were finally settled in the New World in 1621, after a disastrous winter where half their number died, they planted their crops. But then they experienced a great drought.
Soon after that day of prayer, the cholera epidemic in America tapered off.
The parched conditions threatened their first crop of corn, and it looked like the year’s harvest of corn was all but dead. But the Pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer. By the end of the day, it was raining.
The rain saved the corn, which miraculously sprang to life. The harvesting of that corn was part of what they celebrated in the first Thanksgiving.
Washington: A Man of Prayer
A couple of paintings in the Capitol rotunda have George Washington as the central character. Although modern scholars like to discount the notion of Washington as a man of prayer, there were many contemporary witnesses who said otherwise. In our book, George Washington’s Sacred Fire, Dr. Peter Lillback and I document that Washington was a dedicated Christian who read the Bible regularly and spent much time in prayer.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Washington often said that as a nation we should be grateful for God’s repeated help. He once wrote in a letter to Thomas Nelson, in reference to God’s help during the War for Independence, “The hand of Providence has been conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”
The Cholera Epidemic Tapered Off After President Taylor Called a National Day of Prayer
Susie Federer has written two books on miracles in American history, Miracles and Miracles II, based on the research of her husband, Bill. He is a bestselling author and speaker.
Bill Federer describes a time — not unlike today — when there was a plague of sorts ravaging the land in the mid-19th century. President Zachary Taylor declared a National Day of Fasting and Prayer, July 3, 1849, during a cholera epidemic: “A fearful pestilence which is spreading itself throughout the land … it is fitting that a people whose reliance has ever been in His protection should humble themselves before His throne … acknowledging past transgressions, ask a continuance of the Divine mercy. It is earnestly recommended that the first Friday in August be observed throughout the United States as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer.”
The Federers note that soon after that day of prayer, the cholera epidemic in America tapered off.
May God Heal Our Land
Many of our presidents throughout our history have called on God and have called on Americans to set aside a time (usually a day) of prayer. For example, FDR, in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack, called for January 2, 1942, to be, “a Day of Prayer, of asking forgiveness for our shortcomings of the past, of consecration to the tasks of the present, of asking God’s help in days to come.”
If ever America needed God’s help and guidance, this would seem to be that time — as the coronavirus crisis devastates the land.
President Truman even systematized the day of prayer as an annual event. Thus, the first Thursday of each May is the National Day of Prayer. Truman declared in his proclamation on June 17, 1952,: “from the earliest days of our history our people have been accustomed to turn to Almighty God for help and guidance.”
If ever America needed God’s help and guidance, this would seem to be that time — as the coronavirus crisis devastates the land. We need to pray and repent and seek His face. May He provide a vaccine soon, and may He heal our land.
Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., is a senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy Ministries. He has written or co-written 32 books, such as The Unstoppable Jesus Christ, American Amnesia: Is American Paying the Price for Forgetting God?, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (with D. James Kennedy) and the bestseller, George Washington’s Sacred Fire (with Peter Lillback). Learn more at www.jerrynewcombe.com and follow him on Twitter @newcombejerry.


thestream--2020-05-07--Lt. Gen. Flynn Nightmare Over. Is Nightmare Beginning for Those Who Entrapped and Prosecuted the War

Lt. Gen. Flynn Nightmare Over. Is Nightmare Beginning for Those Who Entrapped and Prosecuted the War Hero?

He was framed and now the Comey FBI and Robert Mueller have been shamed .
Today , the Justice Department dropped the criminal case against former National Security Adviser Lt. General Michael Flynn .
US Attorney Jeff Jensen who had been assigned by Attorney General William Barr to review the Flynn case , released a statement : The Justice Department said Flynn ’ s interview by the FBI was “ untethered to , and unjustified by , the FBI ’ s counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn ” and that the interview on January 24 , 2017 was “ conducted without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t at the White House for justice , they weren ’ t there for information , and they weren ’ t there for peek at the Rose Garden .
As documents released last week demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt , Lt. Gen. Flynn was 1 ) set up from the get-go , and 2 ) Mueller ’ s prosecutors hid exculpatory evidence from his lawyers proving it .
How ’ d We Get to Today • Flynn was investigated as part of Crossfire Hurricane , the name for the ( bogus ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was called Crossfire Razor .
After finding nothing on Flynn , FBI investigators wanted to close the case on January 4 , 2017 .
• Trump hater Peter Strzok ordered the case be kept open , especially with “ the 7th floor ” involved .
That means then-FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe .
• Strzok next pulled out a 1799 law called the Logan Act , which prohibits private citizens from engaging in foreign policy .
You know many people have been convicted of the Logan Act in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For that matter , as an incoming National Security Adviser , Flynn didn ’ t even qualify as a private citizen when he spoke with the Russian ambassador .
Strzok , Comey and McCabe just wanted the excuse to set up the perjury trap .
The quote that broke the prosecution ’ s back ?
From Strzok ’ s boss Bill Priesap before the interview : “ What ’ s our goal ?
Truth/admission or to get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired ?
” • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn at the White House .
All procedure and protocol were broken to get at this military hero .
He was told he wouldn ’ t need a lawyer .
Just a friendly chat .
Strzok and Page worked out a way to slip in a warning about lying to agents .
When asked about his conversation with the Russian ambassador , they deliberately decided not to share the transcript to refresh his memory .
They did not arrange the meeting through White House counsel as was traditional .
Comey even smirks about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ” in the chaos of the early days of the Trump administration .
See the damning video here .
• Strzok and the agent report that Flynn did not appear to them to be lying .
Somehow their original 302 vanished , only to be worked on later by Strzok and his FBI lawyer honey-bun , Lisa Page .
• Mueller ’ s persecutors go after Flynn , claiming he lied to the agents .
They squeeze Flynn , costing him his savings , his home .
They threaten to prosecute after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Flynn agrees to plea guilty to lying to the agents and agrees to fully cooperate with the Mueller investigation .
• His original law firm , which happens to be connected to Obama Attorney General Eric Holder , pushes the deal .
( Flynn ’ s current lawyer Sidney Powell argues the old lawyers were covering up their own mistakes , and entered into a side deal with prosecutors that Flynn , nor the judge , didn ’ t know about . )
• Judge Emmitt Sullivan asks Flynn if he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night before this , Mueller announces charges against Flynn ’ s old business partner .
The signal is as clear as a horse ’ s head in his bed : Say anything , and we ’ ll go after you and your son on this instead .
Flynn tells the judge he stands by his plea .
• Enter Sidney Powell as Flynn ’ s new attorney .
She literally wrote the book on DOJ corruption , specifically that of Andrew Weissmann , the Clinton-loving resister who was running the Mueller investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for documents , pushing for the plea to be withdrawn , pushing for charges to get dismissed that brings us to today .
So why did the FBI open Crossfire Razor in the first place ?
As blogger Undercover Huber noted , the justification for opening a counter-intelligence operation against a 30-year military warrior and intel legend was anemic : • Unspecified “ ties ” to “ various ” “ state-affiliated ” entities of Russia .
( Note : Do an interview with Russia ’ s RT International , that counts .
Be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be , that counts too . )
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Curiously , The Clinton Foundation pocketing millions in Putin ’ s Uranium One deal didn ’ t warrant a counter-intelligence investigation .
Nor did Bill Clinton getting $ 500,000 from a Russian bank for one little speech .
But we digress .
Also today , the expanded “ scope ” memo for the Trump-Russia investigation was released .
Written in August 2017 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memo vastly expanded Mueller ’ s authority .
Mostly it relies on the already discredited Steele dossier for its bullet points against Carter Page and George Papadopoulos .
When it comes to Flynn , It covers four areas of investigation .
a ) Committed a crime or crimes by engaging in conversations with Russian government officials during the period of the Trump transition .
We now know the FBI concluded by January of 2017 that no crimes were committed .
The memo is from August 2017 .
Also , the Logan Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not even apply .
b ) Committed a crime or crimes by making false statements to the FBI when interviewed about his contacts with the Russian government .
We now know the FBI agents who interviewed Flynn thought he told the truth .
For that matter , as Margot Cleveland of The Federalist points out , for lying to the FBI to be a crime , the lie must be “ material ” to an investigation .
It wasn ’ t .
No underlying crime .
Not to mention , Strzok and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it look like he had lied .
c ) Committed a crime or crimes by failing to report foreign contacts and income on a Form SF-86 .
d ) Committed a crime or crimes by acting as an unregistered agent for the government of Turkey Either of those have anything to do with Russia collusion ?
No .
Besides , if everyone in DC who did work for a foreign government but didn ’ t register got prosecuted , The Swamp would look like a ghost town .
Also , Powell argues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who garbled his Form SF-86 .
Flynn told his old agency the DIA about the contacts .
I apologize if it feels I ’ ve gone into the weeds .
The point is to give you a taste of just how far officials at the FBI and DOJ went to get Flynn out of the way .
But why ?
Why Did They Really Target Flynn ?
Why did the Obama-led cabal want Flynn dispatched , in prison or at least out of the White House ?
Several reasons are at play .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the case that they needed Flynn out of the way to keep the hoax going .
As National Security Adviser and a veteran of Washington schemes , he would have been onto the seditious Russia Collusion black op before the paint was dry on his new office .
• Stream contributor Tim Furnish argues that Flynn vehemently opposed Obama ’ s position of downplaying the threat from Islamic terrorism .
And Obama and his loyalists didn ’ t want Flynn advising Trump to take a tougher stand .
• Flynn ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he was planning to completely overhaul the American Intelligence Community .
• Andrew McCabe had a personal vendetta against Flynn .
Flynn loudly defended a veteran FBI agent in a sexual harassment claim against McCabe .
• McCabe is also reported to have told underlings in a meeting “ First we F*** Flynn , then we F*** Trump.
” • Which gets to the main reason Flynn was targeted .
And Page .
And Papadopoulos .
And Roger Stone .
And Paul Manafort .
To say nothing of the Trump family .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Use whatever means to first spy on the campaign , and then sabotage Trump ’ s presidency .
But now , honest investigation and hearty diligence are revealing the guilty parties .
Their black op , their seditious conspiracy , is unraveling .
Today , Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn saw Justice after a three year nightmare .
The nightmare may just be starting for those behind his entrapment .
We leave the last word to the true target of this conspiracy , President Trump .
“ What the corrupt Obama-Biden administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it never should have happened .
… They ’ re dishonest crooked people .
They ’ re scum .
They ’ re human scum.
” Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

He was framed and now the Comey FBI and Robert Mueller have been shamed.
Today, the Justice Department dropped the criminal case against former National Security Adviser Lt. General Michael Flynn. US Attorney Jeff Jensen who had been assigned by Attorney General William Barr to review the Flynn case, released a statement:
Through the course of my review of General Flynn’s case, I concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case. I briefed Attorney General Barr on my findings, advised him on my conclusions, and he agreed.
The Justice Department said Flynn’s interview by the FBI was “untethered to, and unjustified by, the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn” and that the interview on January 24, 2017 was “conducted without any legitimate investigative basis.”
They weren’t at the White House for justice, they weren’t there for information, and they weren’t there for peek at the Rose Garden. As documents released last week demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt, Lt. Gen. Flynn was 1) set up from the get-go, and 2) Mueller’s prosecutors hid exculpatory evidence from his lawyers proving it.
How’d We Get to Today
Flynn was investigated as part of Crossfire Hurricane, the name for the (bogus) Trump-Russian Collusion investigation. His part of it was called Crossfire Razor. After finding nothing on Flynn, FBI investigators wanted to close the case on January 4, 2017. Trump hater Peter Strzok ordered the case be kept open, especially with “the 7th floor” involved. That means then-FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Strzok next pulled out a 1799 law called the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from engaging in foreign policy. You know many people have been convicted of the Logan Act in the past 220 years? Zero. For that matter, as an incoming National Security Adviser, Flynn didn’t even qualify as a private citizen when he spoke with the Russian ambassador. Strzok, Comey and McCabe just wanted the excuse to set up the perjury trap. The quote that broke the prosecution’s back? From Strzok’s boss Bill Priesap before the interview: “What’s our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?” Strzok and another agent went to interview Flynn at the White House. All procedure and protocol were broken to get at this military hero. He was told he wouldn’t need a lawyer. Just a friendly chat. Strzok and Page worked out a way to slip in a warning about lying to agents. When asked about his conversation with the Russian ambassador, they deliberately decided not to share the transcript to refresh his memory. They did not arrange the meeting through White House counsel as was traditional. Comey even smirks about figuring they could “get away with it” in the chaos of the early days of the Trump administration. See the damning video here. Strzok and the agent report that Flynn did not appear to them to be lying. Somehow their original 302 vanished, only to be worked on later by Strzok and his FBI lawyer honey-bun, Lisa Page. Mueller’s persecutors go after Flynn, claiming he lied to the agents. They squeeze Flynn, costing him his savings, his home. They threaten to prosecute after his son on a trumped up charge. Flynn agrees to plea guilty to lying to the agents and agrees to fully cooperate with the Mueller investigation. His original law firm, which happens to be connected to Obama Attorney General Eric Holder, pushes the deal. (Flynn’s current lawyer Sidney Powell argues the old lawyers were covering up their own mistakes, and entered into a side deal with prosecutors that Flynn, nor the judge, didn’t know about.) Judge Emmitt Sullivan asks Flynn if he had been coerced into a plea. The night before this, Mueller announces charges against Flynn’s old business partner. The signal is as clear as a horse’s head in his bed: Say anything, and we’ll go after you and your son on this instead. Flynn tells the judge he stands by his plea. Enter Sidney Powell as Flynn’s new attorney. She literally wrote the book on DOJ corruption, specifically that of Andrew Weissmann, the Clinton-loving resister who was running the Mueller investigation. It’s Powell’s pushing for documents, pushing for the plea to be withdrawn, pushing for charges to get dismissed that brings us to today.
The FBI’s Feeble Excuse for Investigating Flynn
So why did the FBI open Crossfire Razor in the first place? As blogger Undercover Huber noted, the justification for opening a counter-intelligence operation against a 30-year military warrior and intel legend was anemic:
Foreign policy advisor to Trump Unspecified “ties” to “various” “state-affiliated” entities of Russia. (Note: Do an interview with Russia’s RT International, that counts. Be invited to a dinner where Putin happens to be, that counts too.) Traveled to Russia
Here’s the 2 page “justification” for opening a full CI case against a 30 year combat veteran, general and former Director of an intelligence agency 1. Foreign policy advisor to Trump
2. Unspecified “ties” to “various” “state-affiliated” entities of Russia
3. Travelled to Russia pic.twitter.com/9hyqSfnqkL — Undercover Huber (@JohnWHuber) May 7, 2020
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Curiously, The Clinton Foundation pocketing millions in Putin’s Uranium One deal didn’t warrant a counter-intelligence investigation. Nor did Bill Clinton getting $500,000 from a Russian bank for one little speech. But we digress.
The Scope Memo
Also today, the expanded “scope” memo for the Trump-Russia investigation was released. Written in August 2017 by then-Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the memo vastly expanded Mueller’s authority. Mostly it relies on the already discredited Steele dossier for its bullet points against Carter Page and George Papadopoulos. When it comes to Flynn, It covers four areas of investigation.
a) Committed a crime or crimes by engaging in conversations with Russian government officials during the period of the Trump transition.
We now know the FBI concluded by January of 2017 that no crimes were committed. The memo is from August 2017. Also, the Logan Act, never successfully prosecuted in American history, did not even apply.
b) Committed a crime or crimes by making false statements to the FBI when interviewed about his contacts with the Russian government.
We now know the FBI agents who interviewed Flynn thought he told the truth. For that matter, as Margot Cleveland of The Federalist points out, for lying to the FBI to be a crime, the lie must be “material” to an investigation. It wasn’t. No underlying crime. Not to mention, Strzok and Page changed his interview answers to make it look like he had lied.
c) Committed a crime or crimes by failing to report foreign contacts and income on a Form SF-86.
d) Committed a crime or crimes by acting as an unregistered agent for the government of Turkey
Either of those have anything to do with Russia collusion? No. Besides, if everyone in DC who did work for a foreign government but didn’t register got prosecuted, The Swamp would look like a ghost town. Also, Powell argues that it was Flynn’s old lawyers who garbled his Form SF-86. Flynn told his old agency the DIA about the contacts.
I apologize if it feels I’ve gone into the weeds. The point is to give you a taste of just how far officials at the FBI and DOJ went to get Flynn out of the way. But why?
Why Did They Really Target Flynn?
Why did the Obama-led cabal want Flynn dispatched, in prison or at least out of the White House? Several reasons are at play.
Former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy lays out the case that they needed Flynn out of the way to keep the hoax going. As National Security Adviser and a veteran of Washington schemes, he would have been onto the seditious Russia Collusion black op before the paint was dry on his new office. Stream contributor Tim Furnish argues that Flynn vehemently opposed Obama’s position of downplaying the threat from Islamic terrorism. And Obama and his loyalists didn’t want Flynn advising Trump to take a tougher stand. Flynn’s lawyer Sidney Powell says Flynn was targeted because he was planning to completely overhaul the American Intelligence Community. Andrew McCabe had a personal vendetta against Flynn. Flynn loudly defended a veteran FBI agent in a sexual harassment claim against McCabe. McCabe is also reported to have told underlings in a meeting “First we F*** Flynn, then we F*** Trump.” Which gets to the main reason Flynn was targeted. And Page. And Papadopoulos. And Roger Stone. And Paul Manafort. To say nothing of the Trump family. The goal was to get Donald J. Trump. Use whatever means to first spy on the campaign, and then sabotage Trump’s presidency.
But now, honest investigation and hearty diligence are revealing the guilty parties. Their black op, their seditious conspiracy, is unraveling.
Today, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn saw Justice after a three year nightmare.
The nightmare may just be starting for those behind his entrapment.
We leave the last word to the true target of this conspiracy, President Trump. “What the corrupt Obama-Biden administration did to [Flynn] is unprecedented, it never should have happened. … They’re dishonest crooked people. They’re scum. They’re human scum.”
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-05-07--DOJ Drops Case Against Michael Flynn

DOJ Drops Case Against Michael Flynn

The Justice Department dropped its case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Thursday , the Associated Press reported .
Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 , 2017 to making false statements to the FBI during an interview on Jan. 24 , 2017 .
The decision comes after the Justice Department found FBI documents related to the Flynn investigation that Flynn ’ s lawyers say are evidence that investigators set a perjury trap for the retired lieutenant general .
Flynn broke his silence in his case on Jan. 29 , 2020 , saying in a court filing that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he “ regret [ s ] ” pleading guilty in his case .
He said he entered the plea deal because prosecutors had threatened to prosecute his son .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
The FBI turned over a Jan. 4 , 2017 memo which recommended closing a counterintelligence investigation into whether Flynn was working as a Russian agent .
Peter Strzok , the deputy chief of counterintelligence , intervened to keep the case open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers with a handwritten note from Jan. 24 , 2017 , in which Bill Priestap questioned whether the goal of a Flynn interview was to get him to lie to the FBI .
Brandon Van Grack , a lead prosecutor on the Flynn case , withdrew from the case earlier on Thursday .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

The Justice Department dropped its case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.
Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017 to making false statements to the FBI during an interview on Jan. 24, 2017.
The decision comes after the Justice Department found FBI documents related to the Flynn investigation that Flynn’s lawyers say are evidence that investigators set a perjury trap for the retired lieutenant general.
Flynn broke his silence in his case on Jan. 29, 2020, saying in a court filing that he did not lie to the FBI and that he “regret[s]” pleading guilty in his case. He said he entered the plea deal because prosecutors had threatened to prosecute his son.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The FBI turned over a Jan. 4, 2017 memo which recommended closing a counterintelligence investigation into whether Flynn was working as a Russian agent. Peter Strzok, the deputy chief of counterintelligence, intervened to keep the case open.
Prosecutors also provided Flynn’s lawyers with a handwritten note from Jan. 24, 2017, in which Bill Priestap questioned whether the goal of a Flynn interview was to get him to lie to the FBI.
Brandon Van Grack, a lead prosecutor on the Flynn case, withdrew from the case earlier on Thursday.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-05-07--Pitcher Blake Bivens Learned Family Was Dead on Social Media, Says God Understands ‘Every Tear’

Minor League pitcher Blake Bivens found out his family was murdered when he looked at Facebook .
Last August , Bivens ’ young wife and son , along with his mother-in-law , were killed .
Bivens ’ brother-in-law was charged with three counts of first degree homicide .
Bivens , 24 , was with his Double-A team in the Tampa Bay Rays organization in Chattanooga , Tennessee , when he got the call telling him to come home .
At the airport he looked at Facebook .
That ’ s when he realized his family was gone .
“ First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small child were gone , ” Bivens told ESPN .
“ I immediately knew that was them .
I found out my family was gone over a Facebook headline .
I just immediately began to scream in the middle of the airport.
” His brother-in-law , Matthew Thomas Bernard , 19 , was charged with the crimes .
The victims were Bernard ’ s mother Joan Bernard , and his sister Emily and nephew Cullen , just 14 months .
The hardest moment for Bivens was when he went into his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never going to see him again on this earth .
“ That was the worst moment of my life , ” he told his pastor at The River Church in Danville , Virginia .
“ But then again , I know we ’ ll see him again one day and it won ’ t be long.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Bivens turned to Scripture for comfort .
“ When I read , ‘ Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , ’ it completely flipped the switch in my heart .
And from that moment on , I knew that this was not going to beat me , this was not going to beat my family .
I was going to live in victory the rest of my life .
And I was going to use this as a testimony to show what he has done for me , he can also do for others.
” Bivens knew at that moment that God was with him .
“ And the only thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the enemy ’ s face because he had thought he had won but all he ’ s done is awoken a sleeping giant.
” He was raised in the church and believes his family laid a foundation of faith for him .
“ No matter what , we rely on God and his promises.
” He believes that his faith is a gift .
“ It ’ s not me , it ’ s Him.
” Bivens learned that God understands , even when we feel no one else does .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every tear , he understands every sleepless night.
” The athlete was depressed and didn ’ t understand why this had happened to him .
He didn ’ t think anyone understood his pain .
“ One day the Lord just kind of opened up my eyes and said , ‘ You know , I sent my only begotten son to the cross .
I had to turn my back on him as He was brutally murdered and beaten , as he hanged on the cross.
’ I said , ‘ Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , You do .
You really understand every pain I ’ m feeling . '
” People should understand that it doesn ’ t matter the pain that they feel .
It doesn ’ t matter the situation .
God understands .
He knows our heart .
“ And if you continue to seek after Him , He will reveal Himself to you in a way that you never imagined.
” Bivens wants others to know that it ’ s in the middle of our biggest pain when God is moving the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to use your trouble and your tragedy .
He ’ s going to use it and He ’ s going to bring new wine out of it .
He ’ s going to use it for His kingdom.
” People don ’ t need to understand everything that happens in this world .
One day it won ’ t matter .
“ When you step into eternity , anything and everything that has happened to you here on this earth , it ’ s going to disappear .
It won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you anymore .
All of our issues and all of our problems were solved on the cross.
” He added that if we put our problems in God ’ s hands , He will bring us out of our biggest storms , no matter what they are .
Bivens is looking to the future when he will see his family again .
“ I think the greatest comfort for me is been knowing without a shadow of a doubt where my family is .
I know they ’ re in the arms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to be there with them.
” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

Minor League pitcher Blake Bivens found out his family was murdered when he looked at Facebook. Last August, Bivens’ young wife and son, along with his mother-in-law, were killed. Bivens’ brother-in-law was charged with three counts of first degree homicide.
Bivens, 24, was with his Double-A team in the Tampa Bay Rays organization in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when he got the call telling him to come home. At the airport he looked at Facebook. That’s when he realized his family was gone. “First headline I see is two females and a small child were gone,” Bivens told ESPN. “I immediately knew that was them. I found out my family was gone over a Facebook headline. I just immediately began to scream in the middle of the airport.”
‘The Worst Moment’
His brother-in-law, Matthew Thomas Bernard, 19, was charged with the crimes. The victims were Bernard’s mother Joan Bernard, and his sister Emily and nephew Cullen, just 14 months.
The hardest moment for Bivens was when he went into his son’s room and realized he was never going to see him again on this earth. “That was the worst moment of my life,” he told his pastor at The River Church in Danville, Virginia. “But then again, I know we’ll see him again one day and it won’t be long.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Bivens turned to Scripture for comfort. “When I read, ‘Take heart, for I have overcome the world,’ it completely flipped the switch in my heart. And from that moment on, I knew that this was not going to beat me, this was not going to beat my family. I was going to live in victory the rest of my life. And I was going to use this as a testimony to show what he has done for me, he can also do for others.” Bivens knew at that moment that God was with him. “And the only thing I knew to do was just laugh in the enemy’s face because he had thought he had won but all he’s done is awoken a sleeping giant.”
He was raised in the church and believes his family laid a foundation of faith for him. “No matter what, we rely on God and his promises.” He believes that his faith is a gift. “It’s not me, it’s Him.”
Lessons Learned
Bivens learned that God understands, even when we feel no one else does. “He understands every bit. He understands every tear, he understands every sleepless night.” The athlete was depressed and didn’t understand why this had happened to him. He didn’t think anyone understood his pain. “One day the Lord just kind of opened up my eyes and said, ‘You know, I sent my only begotten son to the cross. I had to turn my back on him as He was brutally murdered and beaten, as he hanged on the cross.’ I said, ‘Well, if there’s someone who understands, You do. You really understand every pain I’m feeling.'”
People should understand that it doesn’t matter the pain that they feel. It doesn’t matter the situation. God understands. He knows our heart. “And if you continue to seek after Him, He will reveal Himself to you in a way that you never imagined.”
Advice to Others
Bivens wants others to know that it’s in the middle of our biggest pain when God is moving the most. “That’s when He’s going to use your trouble and your tragedy. He’s going to use it and He’s going to bring new wine out of it. He’s going to use it for His kingdom.”
People don’t need to understand everything that happens in this world. One day it won’t matter. “When you step into eternity, anything and everything that has happened to you here on this earth, it’s going to disappear. It won’t even be a problem to you anymore. All of our issues and all of our problems were solved on the cross.” He added that if we put our problems in God’s hands, He will bring us out of our biggest storms, no matter what they are.
Bivens is looking to the future when he will see his family again. “I think the greatest comfort for me is been knowing without a shadow of a doubt where my family is. I know they’re in the arms of Jesus and they’re waiting for me to be there with them.”
Watch Bivens’ Testimony:
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-05-07--A Prayer for Healing, Peace and Comfort on This National Day of Prayer

Join with me on this National Day of Prayer to ask our heavenly Father to bring comfort to the brokenhearted @ @ @ @ @ and peace beyond understanding .
He will abundantly supply for every need .

Join with me on this National Day of Prayer to ask our heavenly Father to bring comfort to the brokenhearted, healing to the sick and peace beyond understanding. He will abundantly supply for every need.
James Robison is The Stream’s founder and publisher. He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today. He’s the author of many books, including Indivisible (with Jay Richards) and Living Amazed.


thestream--2020-05-07--The Worldwide Lockdown May Be the Greatest Mistake in History

The idea that the worldwide lockdown of virtually every country other than Sweden may have been an enormous mistake strikes many — including world leaders ; most scientists , especially health officials , doctors and epidemiologists ; those who work in major news media ; opinion writers in those media ; and the hundreds of millions , if not billions , of people who put their faith in these people — as so preposterous as to be immoral .
Timothy Egan of The New York Times described Republicans who wish to enable their states to open up as “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way it is today on planet Earth , where deceit , cowardice and immaturity now dominate almost all societies because the elites are deceitful , cowardly and immature .
Why the Lockdown is a Mistake But for those open to reading thoughts they may differ with , here is the case for why the worldwide lockdown is not only a mistake but also , possibly , the worst mistake the world has ever made .
And for those intellectually challenged by the English language and/or logic , “ mistake ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown is a mistake ; the Holocaust , slavery , communism , fascism , etc.
, were evils .
Massive mistakes are made by arrogant fools ; massive evils are committed by evil people .
The forcible prevention of Americans from doing anything except what politicians deem “ essential ” has led to the worst economy in American history since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
It is panic and hysteria , not the coronavirus , that created this catastrophe .
And the consequences in much of the world will be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations World Food Programme , or the WFP , states that by the end of the year , more than 260 million people will face starvation — double last year ’ s figures .
According to WFP director David Beasley on April 21 : “ We could be looking at famine in about three dozen countries .
… There is also a real danger that more people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself.
” That would be enough to characterize the worldwide lockdown as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
If global GDP declines by 5 % , another 147 million people could be plunged into extreme poverty , according to the International Food Policy Research Institute .
Foreign Policy magazine reports that , according to the International Monetary Fund , the global economy will shrink by 3 % in 2020 , marking the biggest downturn since the Great Depression , and the U.S. , the eurozone and Japan will contract by 5.9 % , 7.5 % and 5.2 % , respectively .
Meanwhile , across South Asia , as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were already “ struggling to put food on the table.
” Again , all because of the lockdowns , not the virus .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
In one particularly incomprehensible act , the government of India , a poor country of 1.3 billion people , locked down its people .
As Quartz India reported on April 22 , “ Coronavirus has killed only around 700 Indians … a small number still compared to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every year.
” One of the thousands of unpaid garment workers protesting the lockdown in Bangladesh understands the situation better than almost any health official in the world : “ We are starving .
If we don ’ t have food in our stomach , what ’ s the use of observing this lockdown ?
” But concern for that Bangladeshi worker among the world ’ s elites seems nonexistent .
More Catastrophic Than the Virus The lockdown is “ possibly even more catastrophic ( than the virus ) in its outcome : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread human starvation ” ( italics added ) .
That was published in the left-wing The Nation , which , nevertheless , enthusiastically supports lockdowns .
But the American left cares as much about the millions of non-Americans reduced to hunger and starvation because of the lockdown as it does about the people of upstate New York who have no incomes , despite the minuscule number of coronavirus deaths there .
Or about the citizens of Oregon , whose governor has just announced the state will remain locked down until July 6 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 109 people have died of the coronavirus in Oregon .
An example of how disinterested the left is in worldwide suffering is made abundantly clear in a front-page “ prayer ” by a left-wing Christian in the current issue of The Nation : “ May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
” “ Merely inconvenienced ” is how the Rev .
Dr. William J. Barber II , a Protestant minister and president of the North Carolina NAACP , describes the tens of millions of Americans rendered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions around the world rendered not only penniless but hungry .
The truth is , like most of the elites , it is Barber who is “ merely inconvenienced.
” Indeed , the American battle today is between the merely inconvenienced and the rest of America .
Michael Levitt , professor of structural biology at Stanford Medical School and winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in chemistry , recently stated , “ There is no doubt in my mind that when we come to look back on this , the damage done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives by a huge factor.
” To the left , anyone who questions the lockdown is driven by preference for money over lives .
Typical of the left ’ s moral shallowness is this headline on Salon this week : “ It ’ s Time To Reject the Gods of Commerce : America Is a Society , Not an ‘ Economy , ' ” with the subhead reading , “ America Is About People , Not Profit Margins.
” And , of course , to smug editors and writers of The Atlantic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fault lies not with the lockdown but with President Donald Trump .
The most popular article in The Atlantic this week is titled “ The Rest of the World Is Laughing at Trump.
” The elites can afford to laugh at whatever they want .
Meanwhile , the less fortunate — that is , most people — are crying .
Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist .
His latest book , published by Regnery in May 2019 , is The Rational Bible , a commentary on the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No Safe Spaces , ” came to theaters fall 2019 .
He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com .

The idea that the worldwide lockdown of virtually every country other than Sweden may have been an enormous mistake strikes many — including world leaders; most scientists, especially health officials, doctors and epidemiologists; those who work in major news media; opinion writers in those media; and the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people who put their faith in these people — as so preposterous as to be immoral. Timothy Egan of The New York Times described Republicans who wish to enable their states to open up as “the party of death.”
That’s the way it is today on planet Earth, where deceit, cowardice and immaturity now dominate almost all societies because the elites are deceitful, cowardly and immature.
Why the Lockdown is a Mistake
But for those open to reading thoughts they may differ with, here is the case for why the worldwide lockdown is not only a mistake but also, possibly, the worst mistake the world has ever made. And for those intellectually challenged by the English language and/or logic, “mistake” and “evil” are not synonyms. The lockdown is a mistake; the Holocaust, slavery, communism, fascism, etc., were evils. Massive mistakes are made by arrogant fools; massive evils are committed by evil people.
The forcible prevention of Americans from doing anything except what politicians deem “essential” has led to the worst economy in American history since the Great Depression of the 1930s. It is panic and hysteria, not the coronavirus, that created this catastrophe. And the consequences in much of the world will be more horrible than in America.
A Deathly Error
The United Nations World Food Programme, or the WFP, states that by the end of the year, more than 260 million people will face starvation — double last year’s figures. According to WFP director David Beasley on April 21: “We could be looking at famine in about three dozen countries. … There is also a real danger that more people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself.”
That would be enough to characterize the worldwide lockdown as a deathly error. But there is much more. If global GDP declines by 5%, another 147 million people could be plunged into extreme poverty, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Foreign Policy magazine reports that, according to the International Monetary Fund, the global economy will shrink by 3% in 2020, marking the biggest downturn since the Great Depression, and the U.S., the eurozone and Japan will contract by 5.9%, 7.5% and 5.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, across South Asia, as of a month ago, tens of millions were already “struggling to put food on the table.” Again, all because of the lockdowns, not the virus.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In one particularly incomprehensible act, the government of India, a poor country of 1.3 billion people, locked down its people. As Quartz India reported on April 22, “Coronavirus has killed only around 700 Indians … a small number still compared to the 450,000 TB and 10,000-odd malaria deaths recorded every year.”
One of the thousands of unpaid garment workers protesting the lockdown in Bangladesh understands the situation better than almost any health official in the world: “We are starving. If we don’t have food in our stomach, what’s the use of observing this lockdown?” But concern for that Bangladeshi worker among the world’s elites seems nonexistent.
More Catastrophic Than the Virus
The lockdown is “possibly even more catastrophic (than the virus) in its outcome: the collapse of global food-supply systems and widespread human starvation” (italics added). That was published in the left-wing The Nation, which, nevertheless, enthusiastically supports lockdowns. But the American left cares as much about the millions of non-Americans reduced to hunger and starvation because of the lockdown as it does about the people of upstate New York who have no incomes, despite the minuscule number of coronavirus deaths there. Or about the citizens of Oregon, whose governor has just announced the state will remain locked down until July 6. As of this writing, a total of 109 people have died of the coronavirus in Oregon.
An example of how disinterested the left is in worldwide suffering is made abundantly clear in a front-page “prayer” by a left-wing Christian in the current issue of The Nation: “May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.”
“Merely inconvenienced” is how the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, a Protestant minister and president of the North Carolina NAACP, describes the tens of millions of Americans rendered destitute, not to mention the hundreds of millions around the world rendered not only penniless but hungry. The truth is, like most of the elites, it is Barber who is “merely inconvenienced.” Indeed, the American battle today is between the merely inconvenienced and the rest of America.
Michael Levitt, professor of structural biology at Stanford Medical School and winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in chemistry, recently stated, “There is no doubt in my mind that when we come to look back on this, the damage done by lockdown will exceed any saving of lives by a huge factor.”
The Left’s Moral Shallowness
To the left, anyone who questions the lockdown is driven by preference for money over lives. Typical of the left’s moral shallowness is this headline on Salon this week:
“It’s Time To Reject the Gods of Commerce: America Is a Society, Not an ‘Economy,'” with the subhead reading, “America Is About People, Not Profit Margins.”
And, of course, to smug editors and writers of The Atlantic, in article after repetitive article, the fault lies not with the lockdown but with President Donald Trump. The most popular article in The Atlantic this week is titled “The Rest of the World Is Laughing at Trump.” The elites can afford to laugh at whatever they want. Meanwhile, the less fortunate — that is, most people — are crying.
Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. His latest book, published by Regnery in May 2019, is The Rational Bible, a commentary on the book of Genesis. His film, “No Safe Spaces,” came to theaters fall 2019. He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-05-07--During Crisis, National Day of Prayer Seeks Divine Aid to ‘Heal Our Land’

“ This season is a hard reset for the church , ” said Rev .
Samuel Rodriguez , a prominent Hispanic evangelical pastor .
He continued the analogy , noting how a smartphone resets to its default setting .
“ Prayer resets the church , ” he said .
“ Our focus returns to the centrality of Christ , care for our neighbors , and Acts chapter two — where the Holy Spirit filled a house before he ever filled a megachurch.
” On Thursday , hundreds of thousands of believers across America will devote time to corporate prayer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , organizers of the National Day of Prayer have had to plan around the COVID-19 crisis .
Shelter-in-place orders remain in effect for much of the nation .
Even as fewer hands will be physically held , virtual prayer gatherings are expected to result in record participation .
“ We have had to pivot our plans several times , ” said Kathy Branzell , president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force .
Safety guidelines nixed the hope of having even a small group broadcast from the U.S. Capitol , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
“ Will Graham and I will be hosting from the Billy Graham Library in North Carolina , ” said Branzell .
“ How perfect is that ?
His grandfather Billy Graham was the one who went to President Truman in 1952 and said , ‘ We need a National Day of Prayer.
’ ” For the first time , the national event starting at 7 p.m. Central Time will be simulcast with leaders from coast to coast .
Ministers set to lead in prayer include California pastor Rick Warren , Dallas-area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evangelist Nick Hall in Minnesota .
“ With leaders praying from all over the country , this feels like a real , true national observance , ” added Branzell .
Grammy Award-winning songwriter Michael W. Smith will lead participants in worship live from Nashville .
Maryland minister Bishop Harry Jackson will speak from the U.S. Capitol on the event theme : Pray God ’ s Glory Across the Earth .
Leaders believe this refrain speaks to the current crisis .
This year marks the first for Branzell to lead the National Day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prominent evangelical women Shirley Dobson and the late Vonette Bright served as past NDP presidents , while Branzell has coordinated events behind-the-scenes .
“ God uses the weak and foolish , and I certainly have that résumé , ” said Branzell in an interview last year .
“ But what God has given me is the gift of relationship .
I love people deeply.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Longtime Florida intercessor Pam Olsen praises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with for two decades .
“ What Kathy wants to see , and what we all want to see , is for God to heal our land , ” said Olsen .
“ I ’ m 64 years old , and this is the worst political divide we ’ ve ever seen.
” Led by Olsen , Florida Prayer Network coordinated a prayer simulcast on Thursday at noon with Governor Ron DeSantis , Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott , and diverse faith leaders .
Hundreds of other local , regional , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ’ s national theme draws from Habakkuk 2:14 .
It states : For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea .
Branzell notes the theme has received some criticism .
“ I spent days fasting and praying over this theme verse , and God kept taking me back to Habakkuk , ” said Branzell .
“ When we announced it in October , people were saying , ‘ Where is America in this theme ?
’ ” With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest divine inspiration led to the wider focus .
“ God obviously knew that the whole world was going to need prayer , ” she said .
“ Countless people worldwide are praying during such a time as this.
” During an election year , many churches and leaders will be wary of introducing partisan politics into prayer times .
In the past , disparaging statements during public gatherings resulted in breaking of unity among diverse participants .
“ We don ’ t pray politically , ” said Branzell .
“ We don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will pray scripturally for the President , Congress , Governors , mayors , and every level of public official.
” On Thursday night , four elected officials will read from the Scriptures and lead in prayer .
They include Republican Senators James Lankford and Tim Scott , along with Democratic leaders Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Senator Chris Coons .
Such a bipartisan approach is intentional , said the NDP president .
“ These four gentlemen are helping to show America that we can pray together , ” she said .
“ We may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good starting point is for us to agree on God ’ s word together.
” Considering Bishop Jackson has long served as a faith advisor to President Trump , his message will be scrutinized by some observers .
He addressed critics .
“ I think they forget that , as gospel ministers , we pray with and for anyone , ” said Jackson .
“ That ’ s our job .
We are called to preach to those who are in power.
” A graduate of Harvard University , Jackson also commented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice for the voiceless , ” he said .
“ One of the reasons that criminal justice reform and this opportunity zones initiative were created and followed through has been the advocacy of the church.
” All leaders interviewed stated they have observed a greater emphasis on prayer this spring .
“ I have loved what I ’ ve been seeing of the praying church , ” said Olsen .
“ Intercessors have led more Zoom prayer calls than ever , with believers united on bended knee .
Here in Florida , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different churches coming together.
” In March , Pew Research reported that 55 percent of all Americans had prayed for an end to the spread of coronavirus .
Rodriguez notes this is not unexpected .
“ Times of war , pandemics , and natural catastrophes prompt people to get on their knees , ” he said .
“ Even some that never would have been inclined to pray have prayed over the past 40 days.
” The Hispanic minister has recently participated in a coronavirus recovery commission convened by The Heritage Foundation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of churches , at reduced capacity and with safety protocols in place .
Four hours prior to the NDP simulcast , the White House will host a brief prayer observance .
At 6 p.m. CT , Rodriguez will join leaders including Vice President Mike Pence for an additional hour of prayer .
Due to increased demand in recent months , Branzell noted the capacity of their video and audio conference services have had to expand .
Looking forward to the national simulcast , she and her friend Olsen anticipate this crisis has altered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s not go back to business as usual in our little four walls , ” said Olsen .
“ We are more united than we have ever been .
My hope and prayer is that , after this , we stay that way.
” Starting at 7 p.m. CT , the National Day of Prayer service will be broadcast live on GOD TV , Daystar , and Enlace networks and via Facebook .

“This season is a hard reset for the church,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, a prominent Hispanic evangelical pastor.
He continued the analogy, noting how a smartphone resets to its default setting. “Prayer resets the church,” he said. “Our focus returns to the centrality of Christ, care for our neighbors, and Acts chapter two — where the Holy Spirit filled a house before he ever filled a megachurch.”
On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of believers across America will devote time to corporate prayer. Continuing an annual observance inaugurated in 1952, organizers of the National Day of Prayer have had to plan around the COVID-19 crisis.
Shelter-in-place orders remain in effect for much of the nation. Even as fewer hands will be physically held, virtual prayer gatherings are expected to result in record participation.
“We have had to pivot our plans several times,” said Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.
Faith Leaders Coast to Coast Lead Simulcast
Safety guidelines nixed the hope of having even a small group broadcast from the U.S. Capitol, where the national event has been held in recent years.
“Will Graham and I will be hosting from the Billy Graham Library in North Carolina,” said Branzell.
“How perfect is that? His grandfather Billy Graham was the one who went to President Truman in 1952 and said, ‘We need a National Day of Prayer.’”
For the first time, the national event starting at 7 p.m. Central Time will be simulcast with leaders from coast to coast.
Ministers set to lead in prayer include California pastor Rick Warren, Dallas-area Bible teacher Robert Morris, and youth evangelist Nick Hall in Minnesota.
“With leaders praying from all over the country, this feels like a real, true national observance,” added Branzell. Grammy Award-winning songwriter Michael W. Smith will lead participants in worship live from Nashville.
Maryland minister Bishop Harry Jackson will speak from the U.S. Capitol on the event theme: Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth. Leaders believe this refrain speaks to the current crisis.
Global Theme Relevant to Worldwide Crisis
This year marks the first for Branzell to lead the National Day of Prayer Task Force (NDP). Prominent evangelical women Shirley Dobson and the late Vonette Bright served as past NDP presidents, while Branzell has coordinated events behind-the-scenes.
“God uses the weak and foolish, and I certainly have that résumé,” said Branzell in an interview last year. “But what God has given me is the gift of relationship. I love people deeply.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Longtime Florida intercessor Pam Olsen praises Branzell, whom she has been praying with for two decades. “What Kathy wants to see, and what we all want to see, is for God to heal our land,” said Olsen. “I’m 64 years old, and this is the worst political divide we’ve ever seen.”
Led by Olsen, Florida Prayer Network coordinated a prayer simulcast on Thursday at noon with Governor Ron DeSantis, Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and diverse faith leaders. Hundreds of other local, regional, and statewide gatherings are also planned.
“God obviously knew that the whole world was going to need prayer” – Kathy Branzell
This year’s national theme draws from Habakkuk 2:14. It states: For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Branzell notes the theme has received some criticism. “I spent days fasting and praying over this theme verse, and God kept taking me back to Habakkuk,” said Branzell. “When we announced it in October, people were saying, ‘Where is America in this theme?’”
With the novel coronavirus a global threat, leaders suggest divine inspiration led to the wider focus. “God obviously knew that the whole world was going to need prayer,” she said. “Countless people worldwide are praying during such a time as this.”
Prayers to Heal Political Divides
During an election year, many churches and leaders will be wary of introducing partisan politics into prayer times. In the past, disparaging statements during public gatherings resulted in breaking of unity among diverse participants.
“We don’t pray politically,” said Branzell. “We don’t pray critically, but we will pray scripturally for the President, Congress, Governors, mayors, and every level of public official.”
On Thursday night, four elected officials will read from the Scriptures and lead in prayer. They include Republican Senators James Lankford and Tim Scott, along with Democratic leaders Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Senator Chris Coons.
Such a bipartisan approach is intentional, said the NDP president.
“These four gentlemen are helping to show America that we can pray together,” she said. “We may not agree on every issue, but a good starting point is for us to agree on God’s word together.”
Considering Bishop Jackson has long served as a faith advisor to President Trump, his message will be scrutinized by some observers.
He addressed critics. “I think they forget that, as gospel ministers, we pray with and for anyone,” said Jackson. “That’s our job. We are called to preach to those who are in power.”
A graduate of Harvard University, Jackson also commented on policy. “We are a voice for the voiceless,” he said.
“One of the reasons that criminal justice reform and this opportunity zones initiative were created and followed through has been the advocacy of the church.”
Groundswell of Spiritual Hunger
All leaders interviewed stated they have observed a greater emphasis on prayer this spring.
“I have loved what I’ve been seeing of the praying church,” said Olsen. “Intercessors have led more Zoom prayer calls than ever, with believers united on bended knee. Here in Florida, we’ve also seen drive-in services with different churches coming together.”
In March, Pew Research reported that 55 percent of all Americans had prayed for an end to the spread of coronavirus. Rodriguez notes this is not unexpected.
“Times of war, pandemics, and natural catastrophes prompt people to get on their knees,” he said. “Even some that never would have been inclined to pray have prayed over the past 40 days.”
In March, Pew Research reported that 55 percent of all Americans had prayed for an end to the spread of coronavirus.
The Hispanic minister has recently participated in a coronavirus recovery commission convened by The Heritage Foundation. Rodriguez has called for a gradual reopening of churches, at reduced capacity and with safety protocols in place.
Four hours prior to the NDP simulcast, the White House will host a brief prayer observance. At 6 p.m. CT, Rodriguez will join leaders including Vice President Mike Pence for an additional hour of prayer.
Due to increased demand in recent months, Branzell noted the capacity of their video and audio conference services have had to expand. Looking forward to the national simulcast, she and her friend Olsen anticipate this crisis has altered the trajectory of faith communities.
“Let’s not go back to business as usual in our little four walls,” said Olsen. “We are more united than we have ever been. My hope and prayer is that, after this, we stay that way.”
Starting at 7 p.m. CT, the National Day of Prayer service will be broadcast live on GOD TV, Daystar, and Enlace networks and via Facebook.
/*


thestream--2020-05-07--FFRF Postscript: Irrationality & Hypocrisy on  Atheist ‘National Day of Reason’

Atheist groups nationwide are calling for today , the National Day of Prayer , to be a “ National Day of Reason ” instead .
A resolution supporting was introduced in the House .
Don ’ t fall for it .
This isn ’ t about reason as you and I know it .
When atheist activists use the word “ reason , ” they don ’ t mean using rational processes to reach a carefully considered conclusion .
They mean you have to agree with them .
I ’ ve been watching this for years , but I only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two columns on the Freedom From Religion Foundation to illustrate it .
The FFRF is a major backer of this “ Day of Reason.
” As such you ’ d think they would be shining examples of commitment to evidence-based , rational thinking processes .
What I ’ ve shown instead is that they cherry-pick their data to produce a seriously warped , biased , and prejudicial view of reality .
This is common among atheist activists .
I have debated dozens of atheists , mostly online .
Almost without exception they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence .
They commit one logical fallacy after another .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
I know I ’ m generalizing here .
I ’ ve known exceptions to that rule .
Two , actually — two atheists with reasonably solid reasoning skills .
They ’ re a pleasure to talk with .
One in particular has been a good friend , especially when we lived in the same city .
Maybe that number remains small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because where you see atheist activists like the FFRF , though , you can expect to see irrationality like that which I ’ ve recently demonstrated .
Yet they call themselves the reasonable ones .
How do they get there ?
Easy .
You ’ re reasonable if you agree with them .
If you don ’ t believe in a “ magical wish-granting sky-daddy , ” for example .
That ’ s an actual quote .
It ’ s as if they think that ’ s an actual attack on Christian belief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you agree “ you should never believe anything you can ’ t demonstrate scientifically.
” What happens , though , when you ask them whether we should believe that ’ s a good rule ?
Can they demonstrate it scientifically ?
Put it in a test tube ?
Measure its weight or its wavelength ?
It ’ s an irrational rule for rationality .
These are not cherry-picked examples .
They ’ re typical .
When an atheist activist says “ Reason , ” they mean believing in science rather than God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that nothing is real except nature , specifically , matter and energy interacting according to natural law .
And they think that ’ s rational .
It isn ’ t .
Just look at some of the conclusions that leads to .
Since there ’ s “ nothing but matter and energy , ” which lack what it takes to be conscious , atheist philosophers including Dan Dennett and Paul and Patricia Churchland will tell you there ’ s no such thing as being conscious .
It ’ s an illusion .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an illusion you ’ re conscious of .
Now what ?
Another atheist philosopher , Alex Rosenberg of Duke University , will tell you matter and energy can ’ t think , so therefore there is no such thing as thinking .
He honestly thinks that .
Atheists are so committed to “ reason , ” defined as “ believing only in science and nature , ” they ’ ll commit all kinds of irrationality holding on to it .
I ’ m all in favor of reason , but not that kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reason : Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism .
For me and the other authors of that book , ( and for all people of true reason ) , rationality isn ’ t defined by , “ You can ’ t believe in God.
” Rationality is defined by a commitment to good evidence and solid axioms , and a dogged determination to follow the evidence and inferences where they lead .
I ’ m convinced good reasoning leads to belief in God , revealed preeminently in Jesus Christ .
A National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Being bullied into disbelief by irrational activists with strange definitions of “ reason , ” though ?
Not so reasonable at all .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream , and the author of A Christian Mind : Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations : A Christian Parent ’ s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens , and the lead editor of True Reason : Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism .

Atheist groups nationwide are calling for today, the National Day of Prayer, to be a “National Day of Reason” instead. A resolution supporting was introduced in the House.
Don’t fall for it. This isn’t about reason as you and I know it. When atheist activists use the word “reason,” they don’t mean using rational processes to reach a carefully considered conclusion. They mean you have to agree with them.
I’ve been watching this for years, but I only need to go back to my last two columns on the Freedom From Religion Foundation to illustrate it. The FFRF is a major backer of this “Day of Reason.” As such you’d think they would be shining examples of commitment to evidence-based, rational thinking processes. What I’ve shown instead is that they cherry-pick their data to produce a seriously warped, biased, and prejudicial view of reality.
This is common among atheist activists. I have debated dozens of atheists, mostly online. Almost without exception they have been unskillful in reasoning. They ignore evidence. They commit one logical fallacy after another.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I know I’m generalizing here. I’ve known exceptions to that rule. Two, actually — two atheists with reasonably solid reasoning skills. They’re a pleasure to talk with. One in particular has been a good friend, especially when we lived in the same city.
Maybe that number remains small because I interact mostly with activists. Because where you see atheist activists like the FFRF, though, you can expect to see irrationality like that which I’ve recently demonstrated.
“Reason” Means Agreeing With Them
Yet they call themselves the reasonable ones. How do they get there? Easy. You’re reasonable if you agree with them. If you don’t believe in a “magical wish-granting sky-daddy,” for example. That’s an actual quote. It’s as if they think that’s an actual attack on Christian belief!
Or, you’re reasonable if you agree “you should never believe anything you can’t demonstrate scientifically.” What happens, though, when you ask them whether we should believe that’s a good rule? Can they demonstrate it scientifically? Put it in a test tube? Measure its weight or its wavelength? It’s an irrational rule for rationality.
These are not cherry-picked examples. They’re typical. When an atheist activist says “Reason,” they mean believing in science rather than God. Commonly that comes with the belief that nothing is real except nature, specifically, matter and energy interacting according to natural law. And they think that’s rational. It isn’t.
Irrational “Reason”
Just look at some of the conclusions that leads to.
Since there’s “nothing but matter and energy,” which lack what it takes to be conscious, atheist philosophers including Dan Dennett and Paul and Patricia Churchland will tell you there’s no such thing as being conscious. It’s an illusion. The hard part there: It’s an illusion you’re conscious of. Now what?
Another atheist philosopher, Alex Rosenberg of Duke University, will tell you matter and energy can’t think, so therefore there is no such thing as thinking. He honestly thinks that.
Atheists are so committed to “reason,” defined as “believing only in science and nature,” they’ll commit all kinds of irrationality holding on to it.
True Reason
I’m all in favor of reason, but not that kind. I led the editing of True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism. For me and the other authors of that book, (and for all people of true reason), rationality isn’t defined by, “You can’t believe in God.” Rationality is defined by a commitment to good evidence and solid axioms, and a dogged determination to follow the evidence and inferences where they lead.
I’m convinced good reasoning leads to belief in God, revealed preeminently in Jesus Christ. A National Day of Prayer is therefore entirely reasonable. Being bullied into disbelief by irrational activists with strange definitions of “reason,” though? Not so reasonable at all.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream, and the author of A Christian Mind: Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens, and the lead editor of True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism.