ISIS - 2/20

            ISIS is an ever-growing force of evil in our world today. They are an extremist terrorist group that was originally a sector of al Qaeda but then split off from al Qaeda when what is now known as ISIS had a falling out with the new leader of al Qaeda. As of last October, ISIS has been responsible for the deaths of at least 9300 civilians and 1500 Iraqi soldiers, and that number is certainly even greater today. To deny their existence and threat is seemingly impossible, but that’s just what some people in the western world are doing today.

            Two weeks ago, Barack Obama told a television interviewer that 99.9% of Muslims around the world are not at war with the West. However, the truth is that millions of Muslims, including ISIS, are ready to be at war with the West. When Obama says this, he is telling us that ISIS aren’t fighting for anything, and that we shouldn’t be worried, but that is not necessarily the case. The “true believers” of the Islam faith are at war with the West, at least mentally. Bernard Haykel is one of leading experts on the Islam today, and he says that the “99.9%” that Obama identified are neglecting “what their religion has historically and legally required.” Furthermore, ISIS really does believe in their faith. A spokesperson for ISIS said, “We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women. If we do not reach that time, then our children and grandchildren will reach it, and they will sell your sons as slaves at the slave market.” The United States, and other nations, has been denying this, and there’s no excuse! Since day one, ISIS has said what they’re going to do, but apparently words aren’t enough of a threat for the USA. Whoever said "The pen is mightier than the sword" clearly didn’t see ISIS coming.

Mawwiage 2 - 2/13

            Less and less people are getting married nowadays. The current marriage rate is at about 50%, as opposed to the 72 percent rate in the 1960’s. There are also more babies being born out of wedlock, divorce rates are higher, etc. Keen observers will also realize that the economy in general isn’t thriving as prosperously now as it was in the 1960’s, but correlation does not imply causation. Christians might tend to think “Well of course the economy is failing; society is failing to do what God instructs!” But, there is another way to look at this societally, and it’s simple: People are getting paid to have children out of marriage, get divorced, and just not get married at all.

            The American economy was never set up for all of these marriage problems. Now you might say “You’re crazy; divorce is expensive!”, but that’s exactly it! Lawyers get paid hefty sums to split up a couple. After divorce is through, one of the parents will have to pay child support, even worsening the hole in their wallet. Many people might look at marriage and think “Oh man, it’ll just end in divorce, what ever shall I do? Oh that’s right! I’ll just have a baby and the government will pay for it!” And thus, it begins. They’ll be out one day with their brand new baby and someone will ask where they got it for such a great deal. They’ll say “Oh the government got it for me! How kind! We aren’t even married and they’re already getting me gifts!” So, it seems that everyone except for traditionally married couples is getting some kind of win out of this situation. The average person sees that they can have a better financial life by not getting married, and that is not a good thing. 

Victims - 2/6

            Everybody has told a “little white lie” at one point or another. A little white lie is when you fudge the truth just a little bit, but it doesn’t hurt anyone… or does it? According to a series of recent studies published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, both conservatives and liberals found many immoral acts to have victims. The acts stretched from those little white lies to things as horrid as bestiality. Everyone has a different moral scale, of course. The people who found the smaller issues to be problematic had an escalated sense of unease at the more dastardly offenses and showed more physical signs of distress.

          The link between judgments of immorality and perceptions of harm is called “dyadic completion.” Some acts have a complete dyad, like murder or thievery. The complete dyad means that they are completely wrong, and it is easy to see why they are wrong. But some of the tests revealed incomplete dyads in some more controversial acts such as the use of drugs, prostitution, and homosexuality. The incomplete dyad means that it’s not easy to see the result or outcome on a victim from these wrongs, but that doesn’t necessarily make them right.

It seems from this that you can get away with some of these minor things without anyone knowing, but the question that is then brought up is as follows: Can you be a homosexual/druggie/whatever without hurting those around you? The first conclusion one might come to is “Sure, if you’re just doing it to you then why not? It’s your body, do what you want!” But, let’s consult the Bible. Matthew 5:28 says “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” From this, we can gather that even thinking about a sin is just as bad as committing the act of sin itself. So, no, there is no victimless act. It might just seem like a little thing at the time, but remember that there is a victim to everything, and sometimes, you’re that victim.