A blast killed in Nigeria killed 32 people and wounded 80 Tuesday at a truck stop in northeastern Nigeria, an emergency official said.
CHR Comment: Yola is a regional capital and a community with many Christians since, for example, it is the location of Concordia College, a school founded by the Lutheran Church. This latest bombing, however, targeted a mosque since Boko Haram also attacks Muslims who do not support their movement.
An awkward, at times profane, exchange between comedy talk show host Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher reflects the conflation of Islam with terrorism – and the debate over how to respond to the terrorist attacks in Paris.
CHR Comment: Maher, a former Catholic, is openly hostile toward religion and blames religion for many of the troubles in the world today, such as terrorism. Colbert, on the other hand, is a sincere Catholic who called Maher to humble himself and return to the Lord during a live broadcast of his program, “The Late Show.”
Source: Awkward exchange: Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher on terrorism and religion – CSMonitor.com
BEIRUT, Lebanon — How many bombs would have to go off in Paris before the next one would get the same reaction as a bomb in Beirut? Is it the frequency of horrific events that makes us numb to them, or the . . .
CHR Comment: Since Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, Beirut neighborhoods have been divided based on religion. There are Christian, Shia Muslim, and Sunni Muslim areas according to Richard Hall writing for the GlobalPost, Nov. 18.
Source: After Beirut, how Lebanon responded to Paris attacks
The information was released in Dabiq, the Islamic State’s online magazine.
CHR Comment: When ISIS took responsibility for bombing a Russian Metrojet that crashed in Sinai, they referred to western states and Russia as “divided Crusaders of the East and West.” This shows how they view the secularized nations as if they were Christian nations.
Source: Islamic State claims to kill 2 hostages; reveals photo of Russian bomb
Marie Alhamoud’s mother was killed in a bombing in Homs as she was buying bread.
CHR Comment: Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio will settle 325 refugees in that state this year. According to Hannah Sparling writing for The Cincinnati Enquirer, most of the refugees will be from the Congo and from Syria. Her article describes the Alhamoud family pictured above.
On Sunday, with the city in a reflective mood, churches were packed, and many headed to the statue of Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic.
CHR Comment: As a modern, secularized nation, churches in France are normally nearly empty. According to Sara Miller Llana and Jason Walsh, churches were packed on Sunday with only standing room at the back. People were drawn to church, as well other public venues, in their search for meaning and comfort. One wonders whether the ideological clash between Islam and western freedom will lead to a renewal of church life, which teaches freedom through God’s forgiveness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Source: In churches, plazas, playgrounds, Parisians find strength in gathering – CSMonitor.com
CHR Comment: Abaaoud was apparently a student at a Roman Catholic school in Belgium, though he dropped out. This shows the importance of reaching each child that comes to a Christian school.
via Suspected Paris attack mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud linked to other attacks.
CHR Comment: The link below takes you to a photo essay, which illustrates the feelings of the French people following the recent terror attacks. (Remember going to church services after 9/11?) The photos likewise give an excellent view of the great Paris cathedral.
via Mass Held in Homage to Paris Terror Attack Victims – NBC News.
Distinguished scholars from Baylor University on Tuesday decried the myth that religion is on the decline in America and argued that it’s actually growing and stronger than ever.
CHR Comment: A panel discussion took a closer look at media coverage of the Pew Research Center report. Although larger denominations have declined, the panelists noted that there is a rise in new denominations, which more than makes up for that difference. Although fewer people declared a denominational affiliation, they panelists believed Christianity was not declining.
Source: Christianity Is Not Declining in America, Baylor University Professors Say
A private Christian university in Arizona has announced that it will now be extending employee benefits to lawfully married same-sex spouses of employees, but assured that it will continue to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
CHR Comment: The school was founded by the Southern Baptists. It intends to continue teaching that the biblical view of marriage is between one man and one woman.
Source: Christian University Grants Employee Benefits to Same-Sex Couples
church history review 