Beirut Neighborhoods Divided by Religion

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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

Islamic State Describes Western and Eastern Nations as “Crusaders”

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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

Catholic Charities Settling Refugees in Ohio

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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.

Source: Syrian family of 9 is grateful to escape violence

Crowded Churches in Paris

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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

Christianity Is Not Declining in America, Baylor University Professors Say

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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

Grand Canyon University Grants Employee Benefits to Same-Sex Couples

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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

First Arrest in Decades-Old Bloody Sunday Shooting

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British police on Tuesday said they had arrested a former soldier for the Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry in 1972, one of the worst atrocities in Northern Ireland’s three decades of unrest.

CHR Comment: There is apparently no statute of limitations on this case since the events took place 43 years ago. Given the math, the former soldier arrested was 23 years old when the shooting took place. One wonders why it has take so long to provide a substantive investigation of the event, which resulted in the deaths of 13 Catholic protesters.

Source: Ex-soldier is first arrest in N.Ireland Bloody Sunday probe

How Do Americans See Sacred Texts?

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Americans see the Christian Bible and the Muslim Quran in very different ways.

CHR Comment: The survey focuses on the Bible and the Quran and whether these texts are beneficial or harmful to American life. Not surprisingly, the Bible is much preferred, though the author proposes that there will be an increasingly negative view of the Bible in the future.

Source: How Do Americans See Sacred Texts? New Data From LifeWay Research | The Exchange | A Blog by Ed Stetzer