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May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
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Jewish World Review
Sept. 22, 2010
/ 14 Tishrei, 5771
Secularism grows, film at 11
By Marybeth Hicks
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
It says something — draw your own conclusions — when the president's attendance at church makes national headlines.
There was a time when the banner, "President and family attend Sunday services" would have been akin to "President eats jelly on toast." But as we know, this president doesn't go to church much.
The cynic in me would note on my trusty calendar that Labor Day has come and gone, and thus it's officially campaign season (kind of like Lent for politicians), which explains the president's renewed interest in all things religious.
The president claims that his security requirements create a circus atmosphere in church that isn't conducive to solemnity and prayer. But it's odd that he's never mentioned pursuing a regular, logistically friendly alternative, such as hosting a home church in his private quarters at the White House.
Instead, the Obamas seem to live the typical, secular lifestyle that increasingly marks our 21st century American culture, even among people who profess a strong religious belief.
Sundays are for sleeping in, reading a stack of newspapers, long walks with the dog, going out for brunch, playing a round of golf. It's all the stuff the Lord intends for a day of rest, without the fussy clothes and sitting still and long sermons.
What concerns me more than his lack of regular church attendance is the fact that, like too many parents, the Obamas don't seem to make it a priority to get their children to church each week. Consequently, their daughters are among the millions of American children who are growing up without a solid connection to a spiritual, moral and religious identity that traditionally has been found in church — a connection that becomes more important as they negotiate the rough waters of adolescence.
Without a foundation in faith, it's easy for our nation's children to absorb the secular values that permeate our media with respect to religion.
On TV, religious figures are either a joke (think "South Park" and "Family Guy," a show whose creator, Seth MacFarlane, believes the time for atheism has come), or else organized religion is depicted as outdated, bigoted or even evil. When religion is portrayed positively, it's in the form of a vague spirituality, especially one that comes from "believing in yourself."
In a 2007 study of teens and young adults, the Christian research firm the Barna Group found that 16- to 29-year-olds were "more skeptical of and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago." There's no question that aggressive atheism — the kind that weeds prayer out of graduation ceremonies and mandates "sexual education" curricula that fly in the face of religious traditions — are taking their toll on America's identity as a Godly people.
It is undeniable that without a firm foundation of faith, our culture will falter — is faltering. Despite billboard campaigns about the inherent goodness of atheists, the fact is that G0d is the true source of morality. Without G0d, we're left with an endless, pointless search for the values and virtues that lead us toward the truth.
Last week while on his historic visit to the United Kingdom, Pope Benedict XVI warned about the effects of secularism in a society. "As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the 20th century, let us never forget how the exclusion of G0d, religion and virtue from public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society," he said.
Something to chat about with the kids over Sunday brunch, yes?
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JWR contributor Marybeth Hicks, a wife of more than 20 years and mother of four children, lives in the Midwest. She uses her column to share her perspective on issues and experiences that shape families nationwide.
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© 2009, Marybeth Hicks
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