thestream--2020-05-01--Megachurch Pastor Reveals the Miracle That Brought His Family to Faith

Allen Jackson , lead pastor at World Outreach Church — a 15,000-member church located in Nashville , Tenn. — recently recalled how an incredible miracle transformed his family ’ s faith .
In a recent interview with “ The Pure Flix Podcast , ” Jackson , author of the new book Intentional Faith : Aligning Your Life with the Heart of God , recounted his upbringing and how his family found Christ many years ago through his mother ’ s cancer diagnosis .
As the family departed for testing at the Mayo Clinic one day , his mom made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained , “ She prayed a little prayer — ‘ Before I die , let me know the truth ’ … so she could tell her sons.
” And what happened next was absolutely incredible : the cancer disappeared and her family learned the truth .
“ When they got to Mayo Clinic for the examination , ” Jackson said , “ the doctors came in and said , ‘ We can ’ t find your cancer .
Go home and raise your babies.
’ ” Listen to more of Jackson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an act of reliance that changed everything .
And then his mom was washing dishes after her healing and she heard a voice that said , “ You asked to know the truth before you died.
” The voice continued : “ I am the way , the truth and the life.
” Jackson said his mother then went to the Bible and found that verse in John and learned what the gospel truly means .
That experience transformed Jackson ’ s life , though he said he was still distant from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and formal .
“ I didn ’ t like ministers , ” he recalled .
“ This was 40 years ago .
Pastors wore black robes and they looked like they ate green persimmons .
And I liked to laugh … and I thought , ‘ I can ’ t do that , ’ ” he recalled .
But it was in his junior year of college when his ticket to medical school was all but sealed that he felt a small nudge from God .
He cautiously listened and took steps toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Years later , the results blossomed into the 15,000-member congregation at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro , Tenn. “ Up until that point in my life , I wanted God to do my will .
I didn ’ t want to be blatantly immoral .
I just wanted God to be busy about fulfilling my dreams , ” he said .
“ And so what flipped was I began to very carefully , cautiously , say , ‘ God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ And I didn ’ t know what that meant .
Because it certainly felt like I was forfeiting a lot of control .
And it felt like I was stepping into the darkness .
But I began a journey.
” Jackson continued , “ And what I really learned through that was you can be as intentional following God as I had been intentional in building a medical diagnosis.
” And that has been his goal with his ministry , teachings and writings .
His solution is simple and he has led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their journey with Christ through the process .
His new book , Intentional Faith : Aligning Your Life with the Heart of God , outlines his 100-day plan to live more intentionally for God and reignite your faith no matter where a person is in his or her journey .
“ We all know the right thing — but want the simple path , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t think sitting in church on Sunday makes you a Christ follower .
… So what do we do with faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the things we talk about in the book , ” he asked .
“ Read your Bible .
Not randomly .
Not casually .
Systematically , intentionally , let ’ s read through it this year .
Fifteen minutes a day .
You can read through your Bible in a year if you read slowly.
” Billy Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade .
He is the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com , the former senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider .
Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows .
You can get a free trial here .

Allen Jackson, lead pastor at World Outreach Church — a 15,000-member church located in Nashville, Tenn. — recently recalled how an incredible miracle transformed his family’s faith.
In a recent interview with “The Pure Flix Podcast,” Jackson, author of the new book Intentional Faith: Aligning Your Life with the Heart of God, recounted his upbringing and how his family found Christ many years ago through his mother’s cancer diagnosis.
As the family departed for testing at the Mayo Clinic one day, his mom made the decision to turn to God. Jackson explained, “She prayed a little prayer — ‘Before I die, let me know the truth’ … so she could tell her sons.”
And what happened next was absolutely incredible: the cancer disappeared and her family learned the truth.
“When they got to Mayo Clinic for the examination,” Jackson said, “the doctors came in and said, ‘We can’t find your cancer. Go home and raise your babies.’”
Listen to more of Jackson’s incredible story:
It was that prayer and an act of reliance that changed everything. And then his mom was washing dishes after her healing and she heard a voice that said, “You asked to know the truth before you died.” The voice continued: “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
Jackson said his mother then went to the Bible and found that verse in John and learned what the gospel truly means. That experience transformed Jackson’s life, though he said he was still distant from church afterward because he found it stuffy and formal.
“I didn’t like ministers,” he recalled. “This was 40 years ago. Pastors wore black robes and they looked like they ate green persimmons. And I liked to laugh … and I thought, ‘I can’t do that,’” he recalled.
But it was in his junior year of college when his ticket to medical school was all but sealed that he felt a small nudge from God. He cautiously listened and took steps toward ministry.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Years later, the results blossomed into the 15,000-member congregation at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
“Up until that point in my life, I wanted God to do my will. I didn’t want to be blatantly immoral. I just wanted God to be busy about fulfilling my dreams,” he said. “And so what flipped was I began to very carefully, cautiously, say, ‘God, I’ll do Your will.’ And I didn’t know what that meant. Because it certainly felt like I was forfeiting a lot of control. And it felt like I was stepping into the darkness. But I began a journey.”
Jackson continued, “And what I really learned through that was you can be as intentional following God as I had been intentional in building a medical diagnosis.”
And that has been his goal with his ministry, teachings and writings. His solution is simple and he has led thousands of followers in all stages of their journey with Christ through the process.
His new book, Intentional Faith: Aligning Your Life with the Heart of God, outlines his 100-day plan to live more intentionally for God and reignite your faith no matter where a person is in his or her journey.
“We all know the right thing — but want the simple path,” he said. “I don’t think sitting in church on Sunday makes you a Christ follower. … So what do we do with faith? I’ll give you one of the things we talk about in the book,” he asked. “Read your Bible. Not randomly. Not casually. Systematically, intentionally, let’s read through it this year. Fifteen minutes a day. You can read through your Bible in a year if you read slowly.”
Billy Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade. He is the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com, the former senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze.
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.


thestream--2020-05-02--50 Questions: ‘How Could an Educated Person Believe This Religious Nonsense?’

Part of an extended series of answers to Guy P. Harrison ’ s book 50 Simple Questions for Every Christian .
Read the series intro here .
I ’ ve taken to re-asking some of Guy Harrison ’ s questions the way he really meant them .
The chapter I ’ m responding to here is titled “ Is It Smarter to Believe or Not Believe ?
” The way he works it out , though , it comes more like the headline above : “ How can educated people believe this nonsense ?
” It ’ s supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atheist Harrison just can ’ t help answering his question himself .
Some of us are “ silly , ” others under-educated .
Most of us have little awareness of the world around us , and the more intelligent a Christian is , the more likely he ’ s stuffing his beliefs blindly into a separate compartment of his brain .
Give Harrison credit for trying to come off as even-handed .
He admits that a lot of really smart people believe in Jesus .
Isaac Newton , for one , was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently unaware that Newton ’ s intense religion was unorthodox .
I wish we could claim him , mostly for the sake of his own eternal life , but we can ’ t .
Also to his credit , Harrison names a small portion of the long list of other scientists who have believed .
And he doesn ’ t think there ’ s a strong negative correlation between religion and intelligence .
Good for him .
Something Foolish Going On Here But it ’ s obvious Harrison thinks faith is foolish anyway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring that up .
I could turn that around and say exactly the same thing about atheism , and make a good case for it .
Most unbelievers today are materialist atheists ; that is , they take it that nothing exists but matter and energy interacting according to laws of nature .
That ’ s all there is : There ’ s mindless stuff , and it does what mindless stuff does .
It can ’ t do anything else ; stuff doesn ’ t have any power to do anything else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ) can ’ t either .
Faith in Stuff Is the Real Foolishness That ’ s a very strange view of reality .
It takes it on faith that stuff can create itself .
From nothing .
Absolute nothing , that is .
None of this nonsense some atheists peddle about stuff making itself up from quantum vacuums and the laws of physics .
That ’ s not nothing !
It would have had to create itself , in order to be there to create the other stuff .
Either that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eternity past .
And that ’ s a problem , too , because even though it ’ s been running forever — and we know stuff can ’ t run forever — somehow in all those eternal eons it hasn ’ t run down yet .
You know , the way the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics predicts it must ?
Not only that , but this view takes it that when stuff takes form in humans it can think , and that it has identity , consciousness , rationality , free will , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s that , or else human consciousness and free will are illusions , and I won ’ t even get into the problems raised by stuff having rationality or identity .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
This is a mainstream atheist philosophical position , mind you , this illusion theory ( for consciousness and free will , especially ) .
A lot of atheist thinkers say it must be true , since we ’ re just stuff , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make choices .
Now , if they were right about the stuff part , they ’ d be right about the rest .
But isn ’ t it more than a little strange of them to hold a view of reality that says our most universal data point — human consciousness , and the choices we make — has to be tossed out as so many trillions of instances of noise ?
This strange worldview has problems , too , explaining rationally how stuff can explain anything rationally .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems .
Harrison wonders how believers can accept “ unproven , extraordinary claims ” so unflinchingly .
I wonder how materialist atheists can accept their unproven , extraordinary claim that everything ( including their own minds ) is just stuff .
It is a strange worldview indeed .
But Harrison still wonders about religious believers .
We ’ ve got problems we ’ ve never faced , says he .
We ’ re too “ immersed ” in our “ just one religion out of many thousands , ” so we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gods the world has created .
( As if anyone could have failed to notice . )
“ That realization alone , ” says Harrison , can be “ jarring for some believers … who assume their religion is significantly different and special compared with all the others.
” But let ’ s see how jarring this realization really is , and to whom .
Is Christianity different ?
Is it special compared with the others ?
Oh , just let me count the ways !
No other world religion : • Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Depends for its truth on the identity of its founder ( not even Islam claims that ) .
• Is built on a person whose character is simultaneously perfectly powerful and perfectly other-oriented ( in fact , there ’ s no other character like that in any other story , much less any other religious founder story ) .
• Puts God ’ s grace and mercy at the center , rather than our own works .
• Tells us how our sins can be forgiven , as opposed to each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pit we ’ ve dug for ourselves with them .
• Focuses on God reaching down to us ( as it were ) to help us meet Him , rather than requiring us to reach up and find our own way to Him .
• Has thousands of years of history of leadership in compassion and care , including care for others outside its own group .
I could go on with the counting , but all I really wanted to do was to show that Christianity really does differ from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all religions are basically alike , he might find the reality jarring — if he hasn ’ t compartmentalized his brain too badly .
Christianity is Intelligent , But Thank God There ’ s No Intelligence Test I can tire quickly of these games , though .
Do smart people believe ?
Are atheists better educated than Christians ?
Questions like these miss the point , treating it as if rationality was the only issue .
It isn ’ t .
There ’ s also humility versus pride .
There ’ s willingness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And besides , there is no intelligence test for the Kingdom of God .
Heaven isn ’ t going to look like a university faculty lounge .
And even my Christian professor friends tell me they thank God for that !
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New Atheism .

Part of an extended series of answers to Guy P. Harrison’s book 50 Simple Questions for Every Christian. Read the series intro here.
I’ve taken to re-asking some of Guy Harrison’s questions the way he really meant them. The chapter I’m responding to here is titled “Is It Smarter to Believe or Not Believe?” The way he works it out, though, it comes more like the headline above: “How can educated people believe this nonsense?”
It’s supposed to be 50 questions for Christians, but atheist Harrison just can’t help answering his question himself. Some of us are “silly,” others under-educated. Most of us have little awareness of the world around us, and the more intelligent a Christian is, the more likely he’s stuffing his beliefs blindly into a separate compartment of his brain.
Give Harrison credit for trying to come off as even-handed. He admits that a lot of really smart people believe in Jesus. Isaac Newton, for one, was “intensely Christian,” he says, apparently unaware that Newton’s intense religion was unorthodox. I wish we could claim him, mostly for the sake of his own eternal life, but we can’t.
Also to his credit, Harrison names a small portion of the long list of other scientists who have believed. And he doesn’t think there’s a strong negative correlation between religion and intelligence. Good for him.
Something Foolish Going On Here
But it’s obvious Harrison thinks faith is foolish anyway:
Many nonbelievers struggle to understand how someone can be intellectually vibrant and accomplished while holding onto ideas that nonbelievers consider to be transparently wrong. I think the answer to much of this is probably compartmentalization — something many of us do to avoid the discomfort of cognitive dissonance. … I think this is why so many thoughtful and sensible religious people are able to hold onto and defend unproven, extraordinary claims without flinching.
It’s odd he would bring that up. I could turn that around and say exactly the same thing about atheism, and make a good case for it. Most unbelievers today are materialist atheists; that is, they take it that nothing exists but matter and energy interacting according to laws of nature. That’s all there is: There’s mindless stuff, and it does what mindless stuff does. It can’t do anything else; stuff doesn’t have any power to do anything else, and natural law (whatever that is) can’t either.
Faith in Stuff Is the Real Foolishness
That’s a very strange view of reality. It takes it on faith that stuff can create itself. From nothing. Absolute nothing, that is. None of this nonsense some atheists peddle about stuff making itself up from quantum vacuums and the laws of physics. That’s not nothing! It would have had to create itself, in order to be there to create the other stuff.
Either that, or else stuff has existed forever since eternity past. And that’s a problem, too, because even though it’s been running forever — and we know stuff can’t run forever — somehow in all those eternal eons it hasn’t run down yet. You know, the way the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics predicts it must?
Not only that, but this view takes it that when stuff takes form in humans it can think, and that it has identity, consciousness, rationality, free will, meaning, and purpose. It’s that, or else human consciousness and free will are illusions, and I won’t even get into the problems raised by stuff having rationality or identity.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
This is a mainstream atheist philosophical position, mind you, this illusion theory (for consciousness and free will, especially) . A lot of atheist thinkers say it must be true, since we’re just stuff, and stuff isn’t conscious and can’t make choices. Now, if they were right about the stuff part, they’d be right about the rest. But isn’t it more than a little strange of them to hold a view of reality that says our most universal data point — human consciousness, and the choices we make — has to be tossed out as so many trillions of instances of noise?
This strange worldview has problems, too, explaining rationally how stuff can explain anything rationally. And that’s just the start of its problems.
Harrison wonders how believers can accept “unproven, extraordinary claims” so unflinchingly. I wonder how materialist atheists can accept their unproven, extraordinary claim that everything (including their own minds) is just stuff. It is a strange worldview indeed.
Other Foolishness
But Harrison still wonders about religious believers. We’ve got problems we’ve never faced, says he. We’re too “immersed” in our “just one religion out of many thousands,” so we don’t even realize how many thousands of gods the world has created. (As if anyone could have failed to notice.) “That realization alone,” says Harrison, can be “jarring for some believers … who assume their religion is significantly different and special compared with all the others.”
But let’s see how jarring this realization really is, and to whom. Is Christianity different? Is it special compared with the others? Oh, just let me count the ways! No other world religion:
Is history as much as it is philosophy.
Depends for its truth on the identity of its founder (not even Islam claims that).
Is built on a person whose character is simultaneously perfectly powerful and perfectly other-oriented (in fact, there’s no other character like that in any other story, much less any other religious founder story).
Has historically testable core truth claims — especially Jesus’ resurrection.
Puts God’s grace and mercy at the center, rather than our own works.
Tells us how our sins can be forgiven, as opposed to each of us having to climb up out of the pit we’ve dug for ourselves with them.
Focuses on God reaching down to us (as it were) to help us meet Him, rather than requiring us to reach up and find our own way to Him.
Has thousands of years of history of leadership in compassion and care, including care for others outside its own group.
I could go on with the counting, but all I really wanted to do was to show that Christianity really does differ from the rest. If Harrison still thinks all religions are basically alike, he might find the reality jarring — if he hasn’t compartmentalized his brain too badly.
Christianity is Intelligent, But Thank God There’s No Intelligence Test
I can tire quickly of these games, though. Do smart people believe? Are atheists better educated than Christians? Questions like these miss the point, treating it as if rationality was the only issue. It isn’t. There’s also humility versus pride. There’s willingness to repent, and willingness to worship.
And besides, there is no intelligence test for the Kingdom of God. Heaven isn’t going to look like a university faculty lounge. And even my Christian professor friends tell me they thank God for that!
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.


thestream--2020-05-02--Will We Take Virus Vaccine Made from Unborn Babies?

The Stream ’ s John Zmirak interviewed Prof. R.J. Snell , Senior Fellow in Ethics at the Culture of Life Foundation .
He is a critic of plans to use the remains of aborted children in research on coronavirus vaccines .
The Stream : Why are people suddenly arguing about the use of cells derived from aborted babies for ccoronavirus research ?
What changed ?
Has the Trump administration done something , and is it under pressure to reverse it ?
Prof. Snell : People are afraid .
They want a vaccine .
And they want a vaccine now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfectly reasonable in itself .
But under conditions of fear or stress people often desire a reasonable thing — the vaccine — in an unreasonable way .
Or they ’ re willing to use morally illicit means on the chance that it will result in the vaccine more quickly .
In 2019 , the Trump administration discontinued federal research using fetal tissue obtained by elective abortion .
It would fund non-federal research using such fetal tissue only after approval by an ethics panel .
That panel has not yet met .
In light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using human fetal tissue might result in a vaccine — by “ humanizing ” the lung tissue of mice , for instance — several Members of Congress , among other public voices—have asked Alex Azar , Secretary of Health and Human Services , to “ remove all barriers to lifesaving research , ” in the words of one such request .
Are there any avenues of research that would only be possible using such cells ?
Would keeping such research unfunded by the feds cut off any important options for doctors ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine is possible if and only if research is conducted utilizing human fetal tissue .
It ’ s certainly true that either prohibiting or not funding a research avenue could limit or preclude one possible avenue to a vaccine .
But it is not the case that such limits preclude or render impossible the development of a vaccine itself .
Several research groups have vaccine candidates developed without any use of human fetal tissue .
What are the ethical alternatives to using the remains of unborn babies ?
One corporation , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identical genetic match to the proteins on the surface of the novel coronavirus .
It ’ s hopeful that a vaccine will result .
The technology is the same one used in the company ’ s widely available , successful influenza vaccine .
No fetal tissue , in any way , was necessary for this research .
Other corporations are now in early phase testing with vaccine candidates developed without fetal tissue .
According to some news sources there are as many as 70 COVID-19 vaccines in various stages .
While it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is no reason to think that fetal tissue is essential for success .
Those advocating for the administration to “ remove all barriers ” ?
They do so with the sense that something , anything , everything should be done .
Not because there are compelling reasons to do so .
Has any lab explored using cells from children who naturally miscarried , donated by their parents ?
Is there some medical difference ?
This is a possibility , of course .
On the one hand , the intuition is very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miscarried is distinct from remains obtained through an elective abortion .
Certainly , we find no wrong done to the child .
We find no culpability in a direct killing , or even a hint at that .
At the same time , there is a risk , even a potential scandal , if we treat the remains of an unborn child differently from the remains of a deceased adult .
Or if use of the remains were interpreted as a tacit approval of abortion or of making a distinction between the remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an adult .
We safeguard human remains , requiring consent , ensuring the remains are treated with dignity , ensuring that no deceit was committed , and so on .
In the words of Dignitatis Personae , a statement of the Vatican ’ s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , “ any appearance of acceptance ” of abortion or illicit research on human remains “ would in fact contribute to the growing indifference to , if not the approval of ” morally wrong research , and that must be avoided .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if parents provide full consent , we may use fetal tissue obtained after a miscarriage , something analogous to organ donation .
Are We Being Too Scrupulous ?
Playing devil ’ s advocate : The children have already died .
We can ’ t change that .
Nobody ’ s aborting children today to use for research .
How is this different from using organs from someone killed ( criminally ) by a drunk driver ?
That wouldn ’ t implicate you in the drunk driver ’ s guilt .
Why is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a naturally occurring miscarriage , the analogy to organ donation holds .
However , in the event of an elective abortion , the analogy to organ donation falls apart .
We don ’ t harvest organs from deceased adults who did not consent to organ donation .
That ’ s precisely because we recognize that human remains deserve respect and dignity , as human remains rather than just tissue or organic stuff we may use as we wish .
Fetal remains are human remains , in no way less human than the remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think of the adult , “ well , they ’ re dead anyway , why not just use them , ” we shouldn ’ t think that of the unborn .
Furthermore , because the unborn child was directly and intentionally killed , a morally illicit action , it becomes all the more ghoulish and wrong to cooperate with that killing by using the body for tissue .
The child was unjustly killed , it would be unjust to give any indication that this was not a wrong and tragically wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmful consequences to the sanctity of life would flow from the feds funding such research ?
Humans are not products .
Humans are not simply instruments .
Each and every human , in any state of their development , remains a person and deserves treatment as such .
Any time we ignore this we cheapen life , train ourselves to view life wrongly , and habituate ourselves to view humans as tools or products .
In this case , we would be training ourselves to view humans as objects , and their bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is proper to conduct experiments without their informed consent .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Even if we do so to save lives , we commit ourselves to the proposition that it is fine to treat one person as nothing more than an instrument for the benefit of another .
It is wrong to treat people as mere tools , even if it benefits others .
Treating people this way is the source of much moral horror in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the use of cells from miscarried children , do you see something darker going on here ?
Is there some subconscious , superstitious feeling that using aborted children will guarantee success ?
Some post-modern echo of ancient child sacrifice ?
Many in our society proclaim their commitment to human dignity and human rights .
But insofar as they are willing to entertain — let alone actually embrace — the violation of one person ’ s dignity in service to the well-being of another , they reveal that they do not believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they believe , even if inchoately and implicitly , that some lives are worth more than others .
The weak serve the strong , the vulnerable serve the powerful , the defenseless serve the predator .
With their lips they insist that all are equal .
But their actions reveal that some , apparently , are more equal than others .
Moreover , when it comes to violating human remains , there ’ s something barbaric and regressive to this .
A decent society does not desecrate human remains .
People with properly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on harvesting unborn children .
That ’ s diabolical .
What If We Fail ?
Perhaps despite your efforts , an effective vaccine will arise first from this misuse of aborted children ’ s remains .
If so , would it be immoral for a parent to use it to protect his or her children ?
Or elderly parents ?
Isn ’ t that what theologians call “ remote ” and not “ direct ” participation in evil ?
Already several common vaccines , such as the vaccine widely used for rubella , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fetal tissue .
If alternatives are available , those alternatives must be used .
If alternatives are not available , those vaccines may be received to preserve life , particularly if required by law .
In that case , there is a very remote cooperation with the original evil action and thus a low level of subjective culpability on the part of the one who receives the vaccine .
This is quite different from the more direct and formal participation with evil of those who performed the abortion .
And of and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tissue obtained in that manner for research .
For them , the subjective culpability is quite high .
Researchers and politicians have a high level of responsibility to refuse to collaborate with elective abortion in the production of a vaccine .
But if , tragically and unnecessarily , such a vaccine is produced and forced on citizens or parents , their acceptance of the vaccine is undesirable but not , for them , likely to be a source of serious moral culpability .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

The Stream’s John Zmirak interviewed Prof. R.J. Snell, Senior Fellow in Ethics at the Culture of Life Foundation. He is a critic of plans to use the remains of aborted children in research on coronavirus vaccines.
The Stream: Why are people suddenly arguing about the use of cells derived from aborted babies for coronavirus research? What changed? Has the Trump administration done something, and is it under pressure to reverse it?
Prof. Snell: People are afraid. They want a vaccine. And they want a vaccine now. The desire for a vaccine may be perfectly reasonable in itself. But under conditions of fear or stress people often desire a reasonable thing — the vaccine — in an unreasonable way. Or they’re willing to use morally illicit means on the chance that it will result in the vaccine more quickly.
In 2019, the Trump administration discontinued federal research using fetal tissue obtained by elective abortion. It would fund non-federal research using such fetal tissue only after approval by an ethics panel. That panel has not yet met. In light of COVID-19 and the possibility that research using human fetal tissue might result in a vaccine — by “humanizing” the lung tissue of mice, for instance — several Members of Congress, among other public voices — have asked Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, to “remove all barriers to lifesaving research,” in the words of one such request.
Can We Avoid Human Sacrifice?
Are there any avenues of research that would only be possible using such cells? Would keeping such research unfunded by the feds cut off any important options for doctors?
It does not appear that the development of a vaccine is possible if and only if research is conducted utilizing human fetal tissue. It’s certainly true that either prohibiting or not funding a research avenue could limit or preclude one possible avenue to a vaccine. But it is not the case that such limits preclude or render impossible the development of a vaccine itself. Several research groups have vaccine candidates developed without any use of human fetal tissue.
What are the ethical alternatives to using the remains of unborn babies?
One corporation, for example, has produced a precise and identical genetic match to the proteins on the surface of the novel coronavirus. It’s hopeful that a vaccine will result. The technology is the same one used in the company’s widely available, successful influenza vaccine. No fetal tissue, in any way, was necessary for this research. Other corporations are now in early phase testing with vaccine candidates developed without fetal tissue.
According to some news sources there are as many as 70 COVID-19 vaccines in various stages. While it’s unlikely that all will be successful, there is no reason to think that fetal tissue is essential for success. Those advocating for the administration to “remove all barriers”? They do so with the sense that something, anything, everything should be done. Not because there are compelling reasons to do so.
What About Miscarried Children?
Has any lab explored using cells from children who naturally miscarried, donated by their parents? Is there some medical difference?
This is a possibility, of course. On the one hand, the intuition is very strong that remains of a child who miscarried is distinct from remains obtained through an elective abortion. Certainly, we find no wrong done to the child. We find no culpability in a direct killing, or even a hint at that. At the same time, there is a risk, even a potential scandal, if we treat the remains of an unborn child differently from the remains of a deceased adult. Or if use of the remains were interpreted as a tacit approval of abortion or of making a distinction between the remains of an unborn child and those of an adult. We safeguard human remains, requiring consent, ensuring the remains are treated with dignity, ensuring that no deceit was committed, and so on.
Violating human remains … there’s something barbaric and regressive to this. A decent society does not desecrate human remains.
In the words of Dignitatis Personae, a statement of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “any appearance of acceptance” of abortion or illicit research on human remains “would in fact contribute to the growing indifference to, if not the approval of” morally wrong research, and that must be avoided. However, with those safeguards and warnings, if parents provide full consent, we may use fetal tissue obtained after a miscarriage, something analogous to organ donation.
Are We Being Too Scrupulous?
Playing devil’s advocate: The children have already died. We can’t change that. Nobody’s aborting children today to use for research. How is this different from using organs from someone killed (criminally) by a drunk driver? That wouldn’t implicate you in the drunk driver’s guilt. Why is this different?
In the case of a naturally occurring miscarriage, the analogy to organ donation holds. However, in the event of an elective abortion, the analogy to organ donation falls apart. We don’t harvest organs from deceased adults who did not consent to organ donation. That’s precisely because we recognize that human remains deserve respect and dignity, as human remains rather than just tissue or organic stuff we may use as we wish.
Fetal remains are human remains, in no way less human than the remains of an adult. If we don’t think of the adult, “well, they’re dead anyway, why not just use them,” we shouldn’t think that of the unborn. Furthermore, because the unborn child was directly and intentionally killed, a morally illicit action, it becomes all the more ghoulish and wrong to cooperate with that killing by using the body for tissue. The child was unjustly killed, it would be unjust to give any indication that this was not a wrong and tragically wrong.
What Could Go Wrong?
What harmful consequences to the sanctity of life would flow from the feds funding such research?
Humans are not products. Humans are not simply instruments. Each and every human, in any state of their development, remains a person and deserves treatment as such. Any time we ignore this we cheapen life, train ourselves to view life wrongly, and habituate ourselves to view humans as tools or products. In this case, we would be training ourselves to view humans as objects, and their bodies just chunks of matter on which it is proper to conduct experiments without their informed consent.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Even if we do so to save lives, we commit ourselves to the proposition that it is fine to treat one person as nothing more than an instrument for the benefit of another. It is wrong to treat people as mere tools, even if it benefits others. Treating people this way is the source of much moral horror in our history.
Echoes of the Moloch Cult?
Given the many viable alternatives, including the use of cells from miscarried children, do you see something darker going on here? Is there some subconscious, superstitious feeling that using aborted children will guarantee success? Some post-modern echo of ancient child sacrifice?
Many in our society proclaim their commitment to human dignity and human rights. But insofar as they are willing to entertain — let alone actually embrace — the violation of one person’s dignity in service to the well-being of another, they reveal that they do not believe in equal dignity. They reveal that they believe, even if inchoately and implicitly, that some lives are worth more than others.
The weak serve the strong, the vulnerable serve the powerful, the defenseless serve the predator. With their lips they insist that all are equal. But their actions reveal that some, apparently, are more equal than others. Moreover, when it comes to violating human remains, there’s something barbaric and regressive to this. A decent society does not desecrate human remains. People with properly formed sentiments don’t eagerly insist on harvesting unborn children. That’s diabolical.
What If We Fail?
Perhaps despite your efforts, an effective vaccine will arise first from this misuse of aborted children’s remains. If so, would it be immoral for a parent to use it to protect his or her children? Or elderly parents? Isn’t that what theologians call “remote” and not “direct” participation in evil?
Already several common vaccines, such as the vaccine widely used for rubella, derive from descendant cells of aborted human fetal tissue. If alternatives are available, those alternatives must be used. If alternatives are not available, those vaccines may be received to preserve life, particularly if required by law. In that case, there is a very remote cooperation with the original evil action and thus a low level of subjective culpability on the part of the one who receives the vaccine.
This is quite different from the more direct and formal participation with evil of those who performed the abortion. And of and those who may have knowingly utilized human fetal tissue obtained in that manner for research. For them, the subjective culpability is quite high.
Researchers and politicians have a high level of responsibility to refuse to collaborate with elective abortion in the production of a vaccine. But if, tragically and unnecessarily, such a vaccine is produced and forced on citizens or parents, their acceptance of the vaccine is undesirable but not, for them, likely to be a source of serious moral culpability.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-05-02--Is Critical Theory Compatible With Christianity?

If you haven ’ t heard the terms “ intersectionality ” and “ critical theory , ” your children likely have , at least if they are in college or even high school .
What began as an academic theory decades ago is now a dominant way of seeing human relationships , at least for many : There are the oppressed , and there are the oppressors .
In our latest “ What Would You Say ?
” video , Joseph Backholm describes how critical theory reduces human beings to categories according to race , gender , sexual preference and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
Because some groups of people are more privileged than others , identifying one ’ s group ultimately determines one ’ s moral authority .
Intersectionality , as Joseph explains , is an attempt to solve the problem of belonging to more than one group by measuring out the level of oppression a person experiences due to their various identities .
Ultimately , critical theory seeks to address these perceived privileges and imbalances of power and oppression , and it has become a dominant theory in higher education and in other arenas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christian look at the critical theory and intersectionality ?
Are these concepts compatible with Christianity ?
Here ’ s part of Joseph Backholm ’ s response from the latest “ What Would You Say ?
” video : Critical theory and intersectionality are not consistent with Christianity , and here are three reasons why .
First , Critical Theory Offers a Different View of Humanity Than Christianity Critical theory claims that our identity as human beings is rooted in things like race and gender , features that differ from person to person .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings , and the value every human has , in the fact that we are created in God ’ s own image .
This is something every human being shares .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
While critical theory pits some groups of people against other groups based on their status as oppressors or oppressed , the Bible says we are all equal before God : created equal , equally valuable , equally guilty of sin , equally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find grace and mercy in Jesus .
Which leads to the second point .
Critical Theory Offers a Different View of Sin Than Christianity The Bible identifies sin as anything that violates God ’ s design for people , including unjust oppression of other people , but critical theory identifies sin only as oppression .
As a result , advocates of critical theory would see biblical practices such as discipleship , correction , leadership , and reproof as sinful assertions of power , if the speaker is among the oppressors , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jealousy , hatred , bitterness , unforgiveness , or envy among the oppressed .
The Bible says that we are all guilty before God , regardless of social status , race , or economic situation .
The Bible condemns oppression as one of the ways , but certainly not the only way , in which humans rebel against God .
Because critical theory gets the problem wrong , it also gets the solution wrong , which leads to the third point .
Critical Theory Offers a Different View of Salvation Than Christianity According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all equally guilty of sin , salvation can only be found in Jesus through repentance .
Our hope is found in being forgiven of sin .
Because critical theory teaches that oppressors are guilty and the oppressed are not , salvation for the oppressed is found not through repentance , but in social liberation here and now .
Their hope is only though activism .
In other words , critical theory has a completely different understanding of who we are , what the problem is , and how to fix it , than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full video or subscribe to the What Would You Say ?
channel on YouTube .
John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview .
He ’ s a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture , theology , worldview , education and apologetics .
Originally published on Breakpoint.org : BreakPoint Commentaries .
Republished with permission of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview .

If you haven’t heard the terms “intersectionality” and “critical theory,” your children likely have, at least if they are in college or even high school. What began as an academic theory decades ago is now a dominant way of seeing human relationships, at least for many: There are the oppressed, and there are the oppressors.
In our latest “What Would You Say?” video, Joseph Backholm describes how critical theory reduces human beings to categories according to race, gender, sexual preference and orientation, income, and on and on. Because some groups of people are more privileged than others, identifying one’s group ultimately determines one’s moral authority. Intersectionality, as Joseph explains, is an attempt to solve the problem of belonging to more than one group by measuring out the level of oppression a person experiences due to their various identities.
Ultimately, critical theory seeks to address these perceived privileges and imbalances of power and oppression, and it has become a dominant theory in higher education and in other arenas of culture.
So how should a Christian look at the critical theory and intersectionality? Are these concepts compatible with Christianity?
Here’s part of Joseph Backholm’s response from the latest “What Would You Say?” video:
Critical theory and intersectionality are not consistent with Christianity, and here are three reasons why.
First, Critical Theory Offers a Different View of Humanity Than Christianity
Critical theory claims that our identity as human beings is rooted in things like race and gender, features that differ from person to person. But the Bible grounds our identity as human beings, and the value every human has, in the fact that we are created in God’s own image. This is something every human being shares.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
While critical theory pits some groups of people against other groups based on their status as oppressors or oppressed, the Bible says we are all equal before God: created equal, equally valuable, equally guilty of sin, equally deserving of punishment, and equally able to find grace and mercy in Jesus.
Which leads to the second point.
Critical Theory Offers a Different View of Sin Than Christianity
The Bible identifies sin as anything that violates God’s design for people, including unjust oppression of other people, but critical theory identifies sin only as oppression. As a result, advocates of critical theory would see biblical practices such as discipleship, correction, leadership, and reproof as sinful assertions of power, if the speaker is among the oppressors, and would excuse sins such as anger, jealousy, hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, or envy among the oppressed.
The Bible says that we are all guilty before God, regardless of social status, race, or economic situation. The Bible condemns oppression as one of the ways, but certainly not the only way, in which humans rebel against God.
Because critical theory gets the problem wrong, it also gets the solution wrong, which leads to the third point.
Critical Theory Offers a Different View of Salvation Than Christianity
According to the Bible, because we are all equally guilty of sin, salvation can only be found in Jesus through repentance. Our hope is found in being forgiven of sin.
Because critical theory teaches that oppressors are guilty and the oppressed are not, salvation for the oppressed is found not through repentance, but in social liberation here and now. Their hope is only though activism.
In other words, critical theory has a completely different understanding of who we are, what the problem is, and how to fix it, than Christianity.
Come to WhatWouldYouSay.org for the full video or subscribe to the What Would You Say? channel on YouTube.
John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He’s a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics.
Originally published on Breakpoint.org: BreakPoint Commentaries. Republished with permission of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview.


Out Like Flynn

“ What ’ s our goal ?
Truth/Admission , or to get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired ?
” Brutus going after Julius Caesar ?
Nope .
Iago trying to bring down Othello ?
Try again .
Eliot Ness gunning for Al Capone ?
Wrong .
That ’ s Jim Comey ’ s FBI setting up former Lieutenant General Michael Flynn .
Almost all the examination of this sting operation has focused on how it went down .
And whether it was not just immoral , but illegal , entrapment .
See @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andy McCarthy , both on Tucker Carlson ’ s show ( 4.30.20 ) and in print .
McCarthy also dealt with this issue in his book .
Sean Davis and Rowan Scarborough have also each done yeoman ’ s work on the Flynn case .
Why Flynn Was Targeted — Not Just How What ’ s getting lost in the thicket of tactical analysis is the strategic question .
Why did President Obama and his administration loathe Flynn so much ?
McCarthy thinks that the FBI wanted Flynn out because , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had headed the Defense Intelligence Agency ) , he would be able to hinder their investigation of President Trump for the mythical “ Russia collusion.
” Other theories as to why Obama ’ s apparatchiks slipped a knife between General Flynn ’ s ribs abound .
They include to protect the Iran deal , alleged mismanagement and “ temperament issues , ” and his consulting for the Turkish government .
Flynn ’ s Views on Islam Were Simply Beyond the Pale for the Deep State All those were probably contributing factors .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , indeed ideological , reason that Obama chose to sic his minions on a three-star General , war veteran and Army Ranger .
Flynn spoke inconvenient , indeed intolerable , truths about Islam .
Cliff Kincaid came closest to spelling this out in 2017 .
He wrote that Flynn had “ evidence of a U.S. role under Barack Obama and his CIA director John Brennan in facilitating an increase of radical Islam [ sic ] in the Middle East.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s far more than that .
Flynn ’ s views ran counter to the prevailing , and intolerant , consensus among policy-makers .
Most American politicians , and the Establishment/ “ Deep State ” behind them , believe the same things about Islam .
It ’ s peaceful .
Terrorists claiming its mantle are “ extremists ” or “ radicals.
” And no clash of civilizations exists .
General Flynn was not on board with that program , to put it mildly .
Watch his public lecture at Ahavath Torah Congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well , as his lengthy interview by the argumentative Mehdi Hasan of Al Jazeera ( January 2016 ) .
( I am waiting to read Flynn ’ s 2016 book The Field of Fight : How We Can Win the Global War against Radical Islam and its Allies .
I ’ ve ordered it , but as of this writing I do not have it . )
Evidence From One of His Public Lectures In his synagogue talk ( which angered some members , as I found out later from the rabbi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the themes from his book .
There is “ a disease within the Islamic world that has metastasized.
” By this he meant , mainly , ISIS .
He reminded those there that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism .
( As it still is . )
But the former general went further .
“ There is no common sense in our government right now.
” “ There is a war declared against us , and our government does not allow us to talk about this enemy.
” If you attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re going to be called racist , you ’ re going to be called Islamophobic.
” This is a problem , because “ If you do not know the enemy , you can not defeat the enemy .
That ’ s Tactics 101.
” Flynn also roped in the domestic situation .
Referring to an attempted beheading in Roanoke just a few days earlier , he pointed out that “ these are not people yelling ‘ Jesus Christ.
’ They are yelling ‘ Allahu Akbar.
’ ” Flynn also said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although whether he meant by that it was not a religion was unclear .
His interview with Al Jazeera is even more revealing — or damning , depending on your point of view .
If you don ’ t mind suffering through the rebarbative interjections by Islamic apologist Mehdi Hasan , that is .
Right up front Flynn admits “ I ’ ve been at war with Islam , or a component of Islam , for the last decade.
” This of course infuriated Hassan .
So Flynn backed off a bit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold of this religion and they are using it in a very , very dangerous way.
” Then , “ we are at war with a radical component of Islam and the way I believe it is that Islam is a political ideology based on a religion.
” Again challenged by Hasan , Flynn backtracked to “ Islamism .
Probably better.
” But he still maintained that terrorists “ are serious , the serious leaders of these groups absolutely believe their version of Islam is the right , the correct version.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kill people , rather than combating the ideology of ISIS and al-Qaeda .
Drone strikes “ are a tactic ” while the U.S. needs “ big , strategic vision.
” Flynn finally settled on , “ this is a political ideology based on a religion and … we have to come to grips with that.
” And he condemned the ( then ) current administration for “ a lack of understanding of , not just Iran , but the entire region.
” Obama Didn ’ t Like It — It Rocked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tolerated in the Obama Administration .
And the 44th POTUS did not want the 45th being advised along such lines .
( Case in point : Trump ’ s next National Security Advisor was the Islam apologist General H.R .
McMaster . )
Obama was not a Muslim .
But his policies and public pronouncements were so pro-Islam that that he may as well have been .
Furthermore , it appears to be at least possible that his CIA director , John Brennan , may actually have converted to Islam .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his positions on Islam were , like his boss ’ s , also absurdly apologetic .
Don ’ t call self-proclaimed jihadists by that name , for example — they are “ murderers ” who have nothing to do with Islam .
The Same Thing Happened to Me , on a Non-Legal Scale I have my own first-hand experience with black-balling by the previous administration .
I used to lecture regularly at both the Joint Special Operations University and the DHS ’ s Federal Law Enforcement Training Center .
Both places axed me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who discussed the role of jihad in Islamic theology and history .
And I was a worker drone compared to General Flynn , who as NSA could have advised President Trump along realistic lines concerning the undeniable clash that we are having with Islamic civilization .
As it was , Trump lurched from the clueless ( about Islam ) McMaster to two lawyers with no real grasp of the major struggle of our time : John Bolton and , now , Robert O ’ Brien .
I hope it ’ s true that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back into his administration .
Hopefully as NSA .
Not only would that right the wrongs done to a good man .
It would give the President an excellent advisor on Middle Eastern affairs for , God willing , his second term .
Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic , World and African history .
He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and , later , civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command .
He ’ s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth ; a history professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , on Fox News Channel ’ s War Stories : Fighting ISIS ) .

“What’s our goal? Truth/Admission, or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?” Brutus going after Julius Caesar? Nope. Iago trying to bring down Othello? Try again. Eliot Ness gunning for Al Capone? Wrong. That’s Jim Comey’s FBI setting up former Lieutenant General Michael Flynn.
Almost all the examination of this sting operation has focused on how it went down. And whether it was not just immoral, but illegal, entrapment. See, most notably, former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy, both on Tucker Carlson’s show (4.30.20) and in print. McCarthy also dealt with this issue in his book. Sean Davis and Rowan Scarborough have also each done yeoman’s work on the Flynn case.
Why Flynn Was Targeted — Not Just How
What’s getting lost in the thicket of tactical analysis is the strategic question. Why did President Obama and his administration loathe Flynn so much?
McCarthy thinks that the FBI wanted Flynn out because, as a “seasoned intelligence officer” (Flynn had headed the Defense Intelligence Agency), he would be able to hinder their investigation of President Trump for the mythical “Russia collusion.” Other theories as to why Obama’s apparatchiks slipped a knife between General Flynn’s ribs abound. They include to protect the Iran deal, alleged mismanagement and “temperament issues,” and his consulting for the Turkish government.
Flynn’s Views on Islam Were Simply Beyond the Pale for the Deep State
All those were probably contributing factors. But I think there is a much deeper, indeed ideological, reason that Obama chose to sic his minions on a three-star General, war veteran and Army Ranger. Flynn spoke inconvenient, indeed intolerable, truths about Islam.
Cliff Kincaid came closest to spelling this out in 2017. He wrote that Flynn had “evidence of a U.S. role under Barack Obama and his CIA director John Brennan in facilitating an increase of radical Islam [sic] in the Middle East.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But it’s far more than that. Flynn’s views ran counter to the prevailing, and intolerant, consensus among policy-makers. Most American politicians, and the Establishment/“Deep State” behind them, believe the same things about Islam. It’s peaceful. Terrorists claiming its mantle are “extremists” or “radicals.” And no clash of civilizations exists.
General Flynn was not on board with that program, to put it mildly. Watch his public lecture at Ahavath Torah Congregation (August 2016). Read, as well, as his lengthy interview by the argumentative Mehdi Hasan of Al Jazeera (January 2016). (I am waiting to read Flynn’s 2016 book The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War against Radical Islam and its Allies. I’ve ordered it, but as of this writing I do not have it.)
Evidence From One of His Public Lectures
In his synagogue talk (which angered some members, as I found out later from the rabbi), Flynn spelled out many of the themes from his book. There is “a disease within the Islamic world that has metastasized.” By this he meant, mainly, ISIS. He reminded those there that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. (As it still is.) But the former general went further. “There is no common sense in our government right now.” “There is a war declared against us, and our government does not allow us to talk about this enemy.” If you attempt to identify the enemy as Islamic, “you’re going to be called racist, you’re going to be called Islamophobic.” This is a problem, because “If you do not know the enemy, you cannot defeat the enemy. That’s Tactics 101.”
Flynn also roped in the domestic situation. Referring to an attempted beheading in Roanoke just a few days earlier, he pointed out that “these are not people yelling ‘Jesus Christ.’ They are yelling ‘Allahu Akbar.’” Flynn also said that “Islam is a political ideology.” Although whether he meant by that it was not a religion was unclear.
Evidence From His Al Jazeera Interview
His interview with Al Jazeera is even more revealing — or damning, depending on your point of view. If you don’t mind suffering through the rebarbative interjections by Islamic apologist Mehdi Hasan, that is. Right up front Flynn admits “I’ve been at war with Islam, or a component of Islam, for the last decade.” This of course infuriated Hassan. So Flynn backed off a bit. “They [ISIS] have grabbed hold of this religion and they are using it in a very, very dangerous way.”
Then, “we are at war with a radical component of Islam and the way I believe it is that Islam is a political ideology based on a religion.” Again challenged by Hasan, Flynn backtracked to “Islamism. Probably better.” But he still maintained that terrorists “are serious, the serious leaders of these groups absolutely believe their version of Islam is the right, the correct version.”
Clearly, such views could not be tolerated in the Obama Administration. And the 44th POTUS did not want the 45th being advised along such lines.
He also criticized Obama for depending on drones to kill people, rather than combating the ideology of ISIS and al-Qaeda. Drone strikes “are a tactic” while the U.S. needs “big, strategic vision.” Flynn finally settled on, “this is a political ideology based on a religion and … we have to come to grips with that.” And he condemned the (then) current administration for “a lack of understanding of, not just Iran, but the entire region.”
Obama Didn’t Like It — It Rocked the Casbah
Clearly, such views could not be tolerated in the Obama Administration. And the 44th POTUS did not want the 45th being advised along such lines. (Case in point: Trump’s next National Security Advisor was the Islam apologist General H.R. McMaster.)
Obama was not a Muslim. But his policies and public pronouncements were so pro-Islam that that he may as well have been. Furthermore, it appears to be at least possible that his CIA director, John Brennan, may actually have converted to Islam. But even if he didn’t, his positions on Islam were, like his boss’s, also absurdly apologetic. Don’t call self-proclaimed jihadists by that name, for example — they are “murderers” who have nothing to do with Islam.
The Same Thing Happened to Me, on a Non-Legal Scale
I have my own first-hand experience with black-balling by the previous administration. I used to lecture regularly at both the Joint Special Operations University and the DHS’s Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Both places axed me after Obama’s subordinate banned lecturers who discussed the role of jihad in Islamic theology and history. And I was a worker drone compared to General Flynn, who as NSA could have advised President Trump along realistic lines concerning the undeniable clash that we are having with Islamic civilization. As it was, Trump lurched from the clueless (about Islam) McMaster to two lawyers with no real grasp of the major struggle of our time: John Bolton and, now, Robert O’Brien.
I hope it’s true that the President is considering bringing General Flynn back into his administration. Hopefully as NSA. Not only would that right the wrongs done to a good man. It would give the President an excellent advisor on Middle Eastern affairs for, God willing, his second term.
Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic, World and African history. He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and, later, civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command. He’s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth; a history professor; and sometime media opiner (as, for example, on Fox News Channel’s War Stories: Fighting ISIS).


thestream--2020-05-02--Is America a ‘Failed State’?

Is America a ‘Failed State’?

I went out to grab a copy of the Atlantic and read George Packer ’ s article , “ We Are Living in a Failed State.
” Unfortunately a howl of feral dogs sounded through the opening in the post office across the street where the front door used to swing during the Obama Administration .
So I took my least-rusty bucket and walked down to the Snoqualmie River , skirting children fighting over a spoiled winter salmon , upstream past the Raging River , now locally known as “ Cholera Creek.
” “ If only Western Washington still had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sighed to myself .
Having filled the bucket with what passes for clean water these days , I scurried home before street gangs arrived and start shooting the town up with their AK-47s , as they do on Tuesday afternoons .
Such is life in what Packer describes as “ decaying communities in revolt against the modern world ” in Donald Trump ’ s America .
I have to say he understates his case .
He says nothing about the “ no go ” radiation death zones that cover several American states after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t mention mutant cockroaches , or the fiery swamp dragons .
Aside from that serpent Donald Trump , and his scaly son-in-law , Jared Kushner , over whose wrong-doings Packer hoovers like a stalled hurricane for four paragraphs of purple prose .
According to Packer , Kushner is not only incompetent , he is the “ purest embodiment of political nihilism ” in the land .
But Packer also complains about six broader dysfunctions that he thinks bedevil the tortured remains of our nation : • America ’ s leaders ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt or stupid to head off mass suffering.
” • America faced this crisis with “ no national plan—no coherent instructions at all , ” then not enough equipment when it was needed .
• Our “ beggar nation in utter chaos ” has thus been reduced to taking charity from Russia , Taiwan , and the United Nations .
• The poor , especially “ black and brown people , ” suffer disproportionately .
• Yet Trump has still not stopped being combatative and rude .
• And to top it all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he makes his case well ) our nation is riven by “ mutual hatred and endless vituperation.
” Packer failed to mention those other apocalyptic “ failed states ” which have suffered even more severely than the United States in recent weeks : Belgium , Holland , Sweden , the Brits , the prosperous northern reaches of Italy , the most thriving cities of Spain .
In fact , to go by official figures , it would seem this pandemic has it in less for “ poor black and brown ” people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s most prosperous urban centers .
Personally , I don ’ t know why we should care how much light a person ’ s skin reflects when she runs a fever .
Most of us have had more important things to think about over the past month than those ridiculous old obsessions .
Our souls , for one thing .
But look at the pattern of the spread of COVID-19 : Northern Italy → Holland → London → New York .
Not only are the majority of known victims white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical development of capitalism .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
One common thread seems to be not the absence of a working state , but bureaucracy that winds , thick as ivy , around the stones of old prosperity .
( I suggest other factors here . )
Why did the CDC insist that everyone use their flawed testing kits ?
Hospitals and universities champed at the bit to produce their own .
Why did state and federal officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repurpose flu surveys , to see how far Covid-19 had spread in the early days ?
Why did the FDA refuse entry for safety materials approved in other countries ?
( An American friend in China finally managed to import 20,000 masks into the US , personally inspecting their manufacture .
He said it was like jumping a “ shark-infested volcano ” to get desperately-needed safety materials past bureaucrats in both countries ) .
Did Jared Kushner somehow sabatoge mid-level bureaucrats and retroactively write rules to keep them from acting ?
Did President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all roaring to go , only for the devil in the shape of the Presidential Son-in-Law to come along and yank its cord ?
We Can Learn From Trump Donald Trump did not act quickly as he should have , but then neither did hardly anyone .
Trump ’ s Energizer Bunny hyperactivity has now kicked in .
And he has gotten three things right which his critics still need to learn : • America ’ s relationship with China needs to be based on mutuality .
Enough of allowing China to steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our most vital goods .
We should seek peace with all nations , but beginning maybe with countries which China tries to bully .
• It is not the failed state but , rather , the state seeking to be omnipotent which messed up testing , prevented the movement of vital medical goods and knowledge , and perhaps also helped create this virus in the first place .
The habitual , one is tempted to say sadistic , glacial workings of career bureaucrats at the FDA may explain thousands of American deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially worthwhile in light of such failures .
His own biggest failure may be a failure to fire enough heartless paper-pushers .
• Most ordinary Americans are not the fools many in the ruling classes take them for .
Most of us can walk in the park and chew virus-free bubblegum .
We can go to the beach without giving a star fish a cold .
( Indeed , one Chinese study showed that only one of more than three hundred “ outbreaks ” of COVID-19 occurred out of doors . )
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects , even protest “ Big Bro ” when he forgets who is boss , while taking care for the health of those around us .
Of Course , We Do Have Our Problems America may not be the apocalyptic wasteland which some journalists see in their nightmares , but of course we do have our problems .
We face a nasty virus .
We are now some $ 26 trillion dollars in debt .
Our economy is in shambles .
We may also be edging towards a new Cold War with China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will find Packer ’ s editorial much to their liking . )
Some in our government are passionately in love with forms , and can not turn up from them long enough to save the lives of fellow Americans .
My town is not really an apocalyptic wasteland : adults jog , walk dogs , and enjoy this spring ’ s rich profusion of flowers .
Children do chalk art on the road and ride bicycles .
It is online that people go Mad Max .
Packer is right that the “ hatred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Maybe next time he can help detoxify the rhetorical atmosphere by refusing to demonize his opponents and blame them for everything that has gone wrong in the world .
Dr. David Marshall holds a B.A .
in “ the Russian and Chinese Languages and Marxism , ” an M.A .
in Chinese Religions , and a Ph.D. in Christian Thought and Chinese Tradition .
His most recent book is Jesus is No Myth : The Fingerprints of God on the Gospels .

I went out to grab a copy of the Atlantic and read George Packer’s article, “We Are Living in a Failed State.” Unfortunately a howl of feral dogs sounded through the opening in the post office across the street where the front door used to swing during the Obama Administration. So I took my least-rusty bucket and walked down to the Snoqualmie River, skirting children fighting over a spoiled winter salmon, upstream past the Raging River, now locally known as “Cholera Creek.” “If only Western Washington still had a working sewage system,” I sighed to myself. Having filled the bucket with what passes for clean water these days, I scurried home before street gangs arrived and start shooting the town up with their AK-47s, as they do on Tuesday afternoons.
Such is life in what Packer describes as “decaying communities in revolt against the modern world” in Donald Trump’s America.
America According to Packer
I have to say he understates his case. He says nothing about the “no go” radiation death zones that cover several American states after unregulated nuclear plants melted down. He doesn’t mention mutant cockroaches, or the fiery swamp dragons.
Aside from that serpent Donald Trump, and his scaly son-in-law, Jared Kushner, over whose wrong-doings Packer hoovers like a stalled hurricane for four paragraphs of purple prose. According to Packer, Kushner is not only incompetent, he is the “purest embodiment of political nihilism” in the land.
But Packer also complains about six broader dysfunctions that he thinks bedevil the tortured remains of our nation:
America’s leaders (at least Republicans) are “too corrupt or stupid to head off mass suffering.”
America faced this crisis with “no national plan—no coherent instructions at all,” then not enough equipment when it was needed.
Our “beggar nation in utter chaos” has thus been reduced to taking charity from Russia, Taiwan, and the United Nations.
The poor, especially “black and brown people,” suffer disproportionately.
Yet Trump has still not stopped being combatative and rude.
And to top it all, Packer warns (here I think he makes his case well) our nation is riven by “mutual hatred and endless vituperation.”
Some Things He Missed
Packer failed to mention those other apocalyptic “failed states” which have suffered even more severely than the United States in recent weeks: Belgium, Holland, Sweden, the Brits, the prosperous northern reaches of Italy, the most thriving cities of Spain.
In fact, to go by official figures, it would seem this pandemic has it in less for “poor black and brown” people, than for rich white folk living in the world’s most prosperous urban centers. Personally, I don’t know why we should care how much light a person’s skin reflects when she runs a fever. Most of us have had more important things to think about over the past month than those ridiculous old obsessions. Our souls, for one thing. But look at the pattern of the spread of COVID-19: Northern Italy → Holland → London → New York. Not only are the majority of known victims white, the disease has strangely followed the historical development of capitalism.
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One common thread seems to be not the absence of a working state, but bureaucracy that winds, thick as ivy, around the stones of old prosperity. (I suggest other factors here.) Why did the CDC insist that everyone use their flawed testing kits? Hospitals and universities champed at the bit to produce their own. Why did state and federal officials refuse requests by doctors in Seattle to repurpose flu surveys, to see how far Covid-19 had spread in the early days?
Why did the FDA refuse entry for safety materials approved in other countries? (An American friend in China finally managed to import 20,000 masks into the US, personally inspecting their manufacture. He said it was like jumping a “shark-infested volcano” to get desperately-needed safety materials past bureaucrats in both countries). Did Jared Kushner somehow sabatoge mid-level bureaucrats and retroactively write rules to keep them from acting? Did President Obama have some fine-tuned medical emergency machine all roaring to go, only for the devil in the shape of the Presidential Son-in-Law to come along and yank its cord?
We Can Learn From Trump
Donald Trump did not act quickly as he should have, but then neither did hardly anyone. Trump’s Energizer Bunny hyperactivity has now kicked in. And he has gotten three things right which his critics still need to learn:
America’s relationship with China needs to be based on mutuality. Enough of allowing China to steal our technology. Nor should we outsource our most vital goods. We should seek peace with all nations, but beginning maybe with countries which China tries to bully.
It is not the failed state but, rather, the state seeking to be omnipotent which messed up testing, prevented the movement of vital medical goods and knowledge, and perhaps also helped create this virus in the first place. The habitual, one is tempted to say sadistic, glacial workings of career bureaucrats at the FDA may explain thousands of American deaths. Trump’s attempts to deregulate seem especially worthwhile in light of such failures. His own biggest failure may be a failure to fire enough heartless paper-pushers.
Most ordinary Americans are not the fools many in the ruling classes take them for. Most of us can walk in the park and chew virus-free bubblegum. We can go to the beach without giving a star fish a cold. (Indeed, one Chinese study showed that only one of more than three hundred “outbreaks” of COVID-19 occurred out of doors.) We can garden, worship, do home projects, even protest “Big Bro” when he forgets who is boss, while taking care for the health of those around us.
Of Course, We Do Have Our Problems
America may not be the apocalyptic wasteland which some journalists see in their nightmares, but of course we do have our problems. We face a nasty virus. We are now some $26 trillion dollars in debt. Our economy is in shambles. We may also be edging towards a new Cold War with China. (I suspect the Chinese government will find Packer’s editorial much to their liking.) Some in our government are passionately in love with forms, and cannot turn up from them long enough to save the lives of fellow Americans.
My town is not really an apocalyptic wasteland: adults jog, walk dogs, and enjoy this spring’s rich profusion of flowers. Children do chalk art on the road and ride bicycles. It is online that people go Mad Max.
Packer is right that the “hatred and endless vituperation” is growing tiresome. Maybe next time he can help detoxify the rhetorical atmosphere by refusing to demonize his opponents and blame them for everything that has gone wrong in the world.
Dr. David Marshall holds a B.A. in “the Russian and Chinese Languages and Marxism,” an M.A. in Chinese Religions, and a Ph.D. in Christian Thought and Chinese Tradition. His most recent book is Jesus is No Myth: The Fingerprints of God on the Gospels.
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thestream--2020-05-02--Watchdog Highlights Persecuted Believers, Urges World Leaders to ‘Cherish the Faithful’

“ Last November , there was briefly a break in the action , ” said Nadine Maenza .
She serves as one of nine advocates elected to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) .
“ So I visited Tel Tamer in Syria , in a personal capacity , ” she continued , recounting the aftermath of Turkey ’ s invasion .
“ I spoke to doctors who had tried to save civilians , who were in the line of fire when Turkey rolled its tanks into the region .
That Christian village lost so many people.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ USCIRF released its latest annual report with dozens of specific recommendations to Congress and the White House .
While it may seem like another massive Capitol Hill tome , Maenza ’ s story shows how it is backed up by firsthand knowledge .
“ USCIRF has asked countries to make religious freedom a priority , because it does matter , ” said Maenza .
“ Countries are going to be more secure and stable when they have religious freedom.
” Reflecting the work of dozens of experts and sources , the narrative highlights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious freedom violators .
Notably , the list includes prominent US trade partners China , India , Indonesia , Malaysia , Russia , Saudi Arabia , and Vietnam .
“ [ This report ] focuses on the worst countries for religious freedom , but it also highlights positive developments over the past year , ” said USCIRF chair Tony Perkins .
“ Overall , we see international religious freedom on an upward trajectory.
” The nine volunteer USCIRF commissioners are remarkably bipartisan .
Vice Chair Gayle Manchin , wife of Senator Joe Manchin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the conference call with reporters .
“ We commend how the White House has appointed Sarah Makin-Acciani to an international religious freedom position on the National Security Council staff , ” she said .
“ USCIRF for years had urged successive administrations to fill this position .
We welcome this long-needed advocate.
” The COVID-19 crisis has brought religious freedom rights to the forefront .
“ In a health emergency , limiting rights for a temporary period is legally acceptable if it ’ s done equally across all religions , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be lifted when the pandemic ends.
” Even as Americans focus on their own religious freedom battles , advocates hope speaking up for the persecuted remains a priority .
“ The pandemic draws attention to the importance of faith and that these people have the right to practice their faith , ” said Maenza .
For decades USCIRF has tracked how the Chinese Communist Party keeps further restricting its citizens , particularly people of faith .
“ Now a majority of Americans are very concerned about China , because the pandemic revealed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ They were welding doors shut to keep people into their homes and apartments.
” The report notes China has currently imprisoned over 1.8 million Muslim citizens in concentration camps .
Advocacy group Open Doors reiterated these concerns in January with the release of its World Watch Report .
While that research centers on persecuted Christians , USCIRF tracks all religious minorities .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Religious freedom has real economic effects , as US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Investing in a country that doesn ’ t have religious freedom , over time firms are going to run into situations like we ’ ve seen in China , ” said Maenza .
“ India also has seen instability because of how it is tamping down on religious minorities.
” While USCIRF has reliable contacts in every nation , even their experts could not sort out current conflicting reports on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un .
“ It ’ s very hard to get any news out of North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said commissioner Tenzin Dorjee .
“ The situation of Kim Jong Un is very uncertain , and it ’ s unknown who would lead North Korea after him.
” His fellow commissioner Gary Bauer referenced how their report had two tiers of concern , but he would add a third one .
“ If there was a category even above countries of particular concern , I would put North Korea and communist China in that category , ” he said .
“ No other countries in the world reach their level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea currently detains approx .
120,000 prisoners of conscience , including more than 50,000 Christians .
“ North Korea is essentially a prison masquerading as a nation-state , ” said Bauer .
“ [ They don ’ t ] allow their people to have any loyalty higher than the loyalty to the state.
” Dorjee , who meets often with North Korean defectors , echoed those concerns .
“ Anybody who speaks out against the state is penalized , ” he said .
“ There are many labor camps where tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ We need to do everything we can to support the North Koreans and their freedom of belief , because we haven ’ t seen any signs of positive changes.
” To respond to global human rights challenges , USCIRF often stands in the role of educating Capitol Hill leaders on complex geopolitical events .
Recent violent conflicts in the Middle East present a dizzying number of players and factors .
Maenza sums up how the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) have helped further US interests .
“ The SDF have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The US armed and trained them , then they defeated ISIS .
The SDF lost 11,000 fighters in the war against ISIS , whereas the US lost about 70 troops .
While every life lost is terrible , clearly the SDF were the boots on the ground.
” Last fall , US policy shifts resulted in abandoning the SDF as an ally .
In their report , Open Doors revealed the most concerning global trends in persecution .
Among them : the disappearance of most Christians from Syria and Iraq .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Yazidis , and others to flee , ” said Maenza .
“ They ’ re mandating those left in Syria to speak Turkish in the schools , as part of a forced religious and cultural replacement.
” USCIRF experts cut through the noise to provide specific policy steps in their report .
Volunteer commissioners affirm the value of faith lived out in the public square , which they work to defend .
“ Once governments move away from authoritarian approaches to religion , they see the truth about people of faith , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should cherish the faithful , because normally they ’ re pretty terrific citizens .
“ In the most difficult times , being able to practice our faith is the most important thing.
” A graduate of the University of Colorado , Josh M. Shepherd covers culture , faith , and public policy issues for media outlets including The Stream and The Federalist .
Find him on Twitter and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

“Last November, there was briefly a break in the action,” said Nadine Maenza. She serves as one of nine advocates elected to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
“So I visited Tel Tamer in Syria, in a personal capacity,” she continued, recounting the aftermath of Turkey’s invasion. “I spoke to doctors who had tried to save civilians, who were in the line of fire when Turkey rolled its tanks into the region. That Christian village lost so many people.”
On Tuesday, independent watchdog group USCIRF released its latest annual report with dozens of specific recommendations to Congress and the White House. While it may seem like another massive Capitol Hill tome, Maenza’s story shows how it is backed up by firsthand knowledge.
“USCIRF has asked countries to make religious freedom a priority, because it does matter,” said Maenza. “Countries are going to be more secure and stable when they have religious freedom.”
Reflecting the work of dozens of experts and sources, the narrative highlights the world’s 29 most egregious religious freedom violators. Notably, the list includes prominent US trade partners China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam.
“[This report] focuses on the worst countries for religious freedom, but it also highlights positive developments over the past year,” said USCIRF chair Tony Perkins. “Overall, we see international religious freedom on an upward trajectory.”
The nine volunteer USCIRF commissioners are remarkably bipartisan. Vice Chair Gayle Manchin, wife of Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.V., praised the Trump administration in the conference call with reporters.
“We commend how the White House has appointed Sarah Makin-Acciani to an international religious freedom position on the National Security Council staff,” she said. “USCIRF for years had urged successive administrations to fill this position. We welcome this long-needed advocate.”
Faith During COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis has brought religious freedom rights to the forefront.
“In a health emergency, limiting rights for a temporary period is legally acceptable if it’s done equally across all religions,” said Maenza. “Obviously, restrictions must be lifted when the pandemic ends.”
Even as Americans focus on their own religious freedom battles, advocates hope speaking up for the persecuted remains a priority. “The pandemic draws attention to the importance of faith and that these people have the right to practice their faith,” said Maenza.
For decades USCIRF has tracked how the Chinese Communist Party keeps further restricting its citizens, particularly people of faith.
“Now a majority of Americans are very concerned about China, because the pandemic revealed the repression of their people,” she said. “They were welding doors shut to keep people into their homes and apartments.”
The report notes China has currently imprisoned over 1.8 million Muslim citizens in concentration camps. Advocacy group Open Doors reiterated these concerns in January with the release of its World Watch Report. While that research centers on persecuted Christians, USCIRF tracks all religious minorities.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Religious freedom has real economic effects, as US companies are now fleeing China in droves.
“Investing in a country that doesn’t have religious freedom, over time firms are going to run into situations like we’ve seen in China,” said Maenza. “India also has seen instability because of how it is tamping down on religious minorities.”
North Korea, China Ranked As Worst Violators
While USCIRF has reliable contacts in every nation, even their experts could not sort out current conflicting reports on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“It’s very hard to get any news out of North Korea, as international media have no access,” said commissioner Tenzin Dorjee. “The situation of Kim Jong Un is very uncertain, and it’s unknown who would lead North Korea after him.”
His fellow commissioner Gary Bauer referenced how their report had two tiers of concern, but he would add a third one.
“If there was a category even above countries of particular concern, I would put North Korea and communist China in that category,” he said. “No other countries in the world reach their level of persecution.”
The report estimates that North Korea currently detains approx. 120,000 prisoners of conscience, including more than 50,000 Christians. “North Korea is essentially a prison masquerading as a nation-state,” said Bauer. “[They don’t] allow their people to have any loyalty higher than the loyalty to the state.”
Dorjee, who meets often with North Korean defectors, echoed those concerns. “Anybody who speaks out against the state is penalized,” he said. “There are many labor camps where tens of thousands of Christians and Buddhists are imprisoned.”
“We need to do everything we can to support the North Koreans and their freedom of belief, because we haven’t seen any signs of positive changes.”
Will Persecuted Believers Be Forgotten?
To respond to global human rights challenges, USCIRF often stands in the role of educating Capitol Hill leaders on complex geopolitical events.
Recent violent conflicts in the Middle East present a dizzying number of players and factors. Maenza sums up how the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have helped further US interests.
“The SDF have been our partners,” she said. “The US armed and trained them, then they defeated ISIS. The SDF lost 11,000 fighters in the war against ISIS, whereas the US lost about 70 troops. While every life lost is terrible, clearly the SDF were the boots on the ground.” Last fall, US policy shifts resulted in abandoning the SDF as an ally.
In their report, Open Doors revealed the most concerning global trends in persecution. Among them: the disappearance of most Christians from Syria and Iraq. “Turkey has forced Kurds, Christians, Yazidis, and others to flee,” said Maenza. “They’re mandating those left in Syria to speak Turkish in the schools, as part of a forced religious and cultural replacement.”
USCIRF experts cut through the noise to provide specific policy steps in their report. Volunteer commissioners affirm the value of faith lived out in the public square, which they work to defend.
“Once governments move away from authoritarian approaches to religion, they see the truth about people of faith,” said Maenza. “World leaders should cherish the faithful, because normally they’re pretty terrific citizens.
“In the most difficult times, being able to practice our faith is the most important thing.”
A graduate of the University of Colorado, Josh M. Shepherd covers culture, faith, and public policy issues for media outlets including The Stream and The Federalist. Find him on Twitter and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.
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