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might be known through the moral order Christian art scholar H.R. Rookmaaker Cover Story and through nature. said art itself can be a vehicle for carrying Should Christians Care out Christ’s commandment to love others. ifeWay Christian Store’s recent deci- about Aesthetics? “Love is to make things that are right and sion to pull the filmThe Blind Side Aesthetics is the study of how beauty fitting, to help our fellow-man, to make from its shelves because of profanity, both embodies and points the way to truth. this world more beautiful, more harmoni- Lviolence, and immoral behavior has ignited What we call art is the physical expression ous, more suitable for human living, more a debate in Christian circles about the role of of aesthetic principles. Most Christians are suitable for expressing that inner beauty and art and beauty, and Christians’ place in con- accustomed to truth being communicated love for which all men are searching — even suming and creating art. There seem to be propositionally (in a three-point sermon, if, in despair, mankind often breaks it down, two camps: those who believe that the value for example). But artistic truth should be even if, in sin, we often destroy beauty and of Christian movies is primarily their effec- taken seriously as well. Art is powerful in create ugliness,” Rookmaaker wrote. “Beau- tiveness as a tool for evangelism and those penetrating our minds and spirits. That’s ty, as it were, is a by-product of love, of life in who believe they are an art form, valuable for why it’s easier to recall the tune and lyrics to its full sense, of life in love and freedom.”1 their own sake, that can reveal God’s truth a theologically rich hymn than to remember Does Objective Beauty Exist? in profound ways. To answer this question the points of a sermon. Good art enables us The skeptical philosopher David Hume we must cultivate an understanding of the to appreciate true beauty. wrote, “Beauty in things exists merely in the biblical worldview of aesthetics — whether Such is the power of art and beauty that objective beauty actually exists and how it See aesthetic, page 3 from the president’s desk a word from dr. jeff myers

Ancient philosophers believed that the length of gaze). Somehow these newborns architecture through key to attaining wisdom was to compre- found the “beautiful” faces more interesting- aesthetically pleas- hend truth, goodness, and beauty. Today, without having studied symmetry, propor- ing as well as func- biblically-rooted Christians usually go tion, and harmony. It was just something tional and sustainable along with the truth and goodness part, they knew. structures. Christians but reject the beauty part outright. Asking There is wide agreement about should be at the forefront when it comes to “Does objective beauty exist?” is guaranteed 3 what is beautiful. For my wife’s bringing beauty from ashes. to start a rousing debate. Even spiritually birthday we enjoyed an evening gazing The rejection of God leads to mature Christians are reluctant to say “yes.” through high-powered telescopes at Venus, 5 an abandonment of loveliness. “Beauty,” most reply, “exists only in the eye Jupiter’s moons, the Orion Nebula and Compare the great cathedrals, designed of the be- the Andromeda in a time when a biblical worldview holder.” God has given us eyes to Galaxy, which is was assumed to be true, to the lifeless By insist- “ thought to contain architecture that characterizes “there is ing that there see and lots to look at. one trillion stars. no God” secular regimes. When people really is no such ” Not one of our truly contemplate the awesomeness of thing as objec- Jeff Myers dozens of com- our creator, they think, live, and design tive beauty, panions looked differently than when they buy into the believers are at the universe’s “function over form” utilitarian impulse. forfeiting one of the most important apolo- wonders and said, “Wow, that’s hideous.” In his Notes Towards a Definition of getics arguments for the existence of God. Human orientation toward beauty in nature Culture T.S. Eliot argued that a culture is It’s called the “aesthetic argument” after the is so pervasive that cranky atheists such as nothing more than a physical manifesta- branch of philosophy that deals with beauty Richard Dawkins are forced to acknowledge tion of a group’s religion. Most Americans and art, and it is highly compelling. Con- it in order to dispute it. In Blind Watchmaker claim to be at least nominally Christian, sider these observations: Dawkins defines biology as “the study of but the ugliness and shallowness of God has positioned human beings complicated things that give the appearance American culture belie that fact. We 1 to see beauty. Scientists tell us that of having been designed for a purpose.” must intensify our focus on aesthetics — the human eye is unique in creation for How is it that people all over the world and beauty, symmetry, and design — if we are its ability to vividly sense color, texture, across time seem to agree on what is beauti- to bring a true biblical worldview to bear contrast, and motion. And we’re perfectly ful in nature? on our society. This calling is especially positioned on a life-supporting planet in a We know ugliness when we see important in our visual age, when, as Ravi unique place in the universe ideally situated 4 it. When we observe suffering, see Zacharias phrases it, “People hear with for observing and marveling at the works people or communities failing to reach their eyes and think with their feelings.” of our creator (see Psalm 8:3 for how this their potential, or watch someone “acting Beauty will not, as Fyodor Dosto- causes us to humble ourselves and worship ugly” (as we used to say in the South), we evsky maintained, save the world. The God). God has given us eyes to see, and lots somehow sense that this is not as it should world is saved by the One whom Isaiah to look at. be. Is it possible that we have in our hearts described as possessing “no beauty that The orientation to beauty is innate. an understanding of what is “righteous,” by we should desire him.” And yet through 2 In graduate school we reviewed which we can know that what we’re observ- the terror of Christ’s suffering, God studies in which newly born infants viewed ing is “unrighteous?” Even non-believers get intercepted the human descent into ugli- pictures of adult faces that had been judged it. Lately I’ve been following the work of a ness and reconciled us to Himself, the by a panel of adults to be attractive or unat- group called Architects for Humanity — a One whose splendor covers the heavens tractive. The infants strongly preferred the secular network of architects, engineers, (Habakkuk 3:3). Focusing on that kind of attractive faces (as judged by the infants’ and designers — as they seek to redeem beauty will change how we live every day.

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mind which contemplates them.” But the richly textured. could use such beautiful language to com- idea that beauty is subjective — “in the To say that beauty is complicated is municate such a morally reprobate senti- eye of the beholder” — is a radical depar- not to say that it is unknowable, though. ment — led her to conclude that beauty ture from the classical view that beauty is In our pursuit of the grandest accessible, knowable, and nameable. of a biblical To say that beauty is sort must be mor- Jonathan Edwards attempted to worldview of “ ally as well as aes- deal with the “subjective vs. objective” aesthetics, we complicated is not to thetically skilled. question by explaining that there are two would present say it’s unknowable. “No matter how categories of beauty: beauties that are two criterion: is it ” beautiful Chopin’s “more palpable and explicable” and those moral and does it sentences and that are “hidden and secret.”2 The former tell the truth about the created order? paragraphs are, you can’t recommend category would include such beauties as Clue #1 to Understanding Beauty: it except to discerning readers,” Impson scenes of nature and musical chords, the Is It Moral? said. pleasing nature of which can be explained Dr. Beth Impson, a professor of Eng- To find moral beauty, Impson says mathematically or scientifically as a lish at Bryan College and a Summit Ten- we ought to look to what Scripture says product of order in the universe. “Hidden nessee instructor, has wrestled for years about the scarring effect that moral and secret” beauty, on the other hand, with how to define and teach beauty. “I depravity has on it. Impson points to revolves around rightly ordered relation- have always struggled,” she admits. “How Ezekiel 16:25 as an example (“At the head ships — such as a picture of a mother do we talk about what makes great art? Is of every street you built your lofty place caring for her young child. “These hidden it just an aesthetic skill? Where does the and made your beauty an abomination, beauties are commonly by far the great- idea of morality come in?” This tension offering yourself to any passerby and mul- est, because the more complex a beauty came to a head when Impson examined tiplying your whoring”). “Something is is, the more hidden is it,” Edwards wrote. the works of American author Kate Cho- morally beautiful if it tells us truths about “In this latter sort consists principally the pin, a talented writer who nevertheless human nature, truths about the created beauty of the world.”3 To Edwards, then, advocated radical feminist ideas such as world, truths about who God is,” says beauty is objective, but its objectivity is adultery as a way to strengthen marriage. Impson. “[Advocating adultery] is moral sometimes hard to explain because it is so Impson’s struggle — how Chopin ugliness.” That doesn’t mean that beautiful Further Reading on Art and Beauty art should obscure the often ugly effects of the fall. Rather, it’s how those effects • Art and Soul: Signposts for Chris- • State of the Arts: From Bezalel are treated that determine the moral tians in the Arts by Hillary Brand, to Mapplethorpe by George beauty of an artistic work. Works like the Adrienne Chaplin Edward Veith, Jr. filmSchindler’s List or stories by Flan- • Art for God’s Sake: A Call to Re- • Art & the Bible by Francis nery O’Connor exhibit moral truth by cover the Arts by Phillip Graham Schaeffer exposing the wretched effects of the fall Ryken on the human condition, and in doing • On Moral Fiction by John so cause us to yearn for that which is • Modern Art and the Death of a Gardner morally beautiful. Impson points out that Culture by H.R. Rookmaaker minor chords in a piece of music create • Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist dissonance but can actually contribute the Secular Assault on Minds, to the harmony of the piece by creating a Morals, and Meaning by Nancy longing for resolution. Pearcey See aesthetic, page 4

July 2012 Page 3 aesthetic continued from page 3

Clue #2 to Understanding Beauty: sort. Impson sometimes walks into a ourselves up to deception. “Art can reach Does It Tell the Truth classroom of students and writes two us in ways that nothing else can, for truth About the Created Order? sentences on the board. Whether or not or for falsehood,” Impson said. From a biblical worldview, what the sentences have anything to do with *** counts as aesthetic beauty isn’t some- one another, her students always try to In the end, making the debate about thing we make up ourselves — it’s found connect the two. They naturally strive to The Blind Side a question of proselytiza- in the created order. Francis Schaeffer apply some sort of order. “It’s the same tion sells the Christian worldview short. puts it this way in Art & the Bible: “The thing with art,” Impson said. “It’s embed- As Christians we ought to discipline our common symbolic vocabulary that ded within us.” aesthetic understanding — in movies, belongs to all men (the artists and the Why Does All This Matter? visual arts, music, and more — to more viewers) is the world around us, namely Discussions about aesthetics can be skillfully communicate truth, meaning, God’s world. That symbolic vocabulary esoteric and academic, but the recogni- and purpose in a world of squalor, hope- in the representational arts stands paral- tion of what is beautiful, true, and excel- lessness, and dejection. It’s not about lel to the normal grammar and normal lent is a discipline that can be cultivated us and our preferences — it’s about syntax in the literary arts. When, there- through practice. Whether we like it or whether the whole earth might worship fore, there is no attempt on the part of an not, we’re constantly bombarded with the Lord in the beauty of His holiness artist to use this symbolic vocabulary at something passing itself off as art: music (Psalm 96:9). all, then communication is impossible on the radio, television shows and films, Notes here too.”4 novels at the local bookstore, or pho- 1. H.R. Rookmaaker, Modern Art and the Death Romans 1:20 says that God has tos in a magazine. Living discerningly of a Culture (Wheaton, Illinois; InterVarsity Press, 1970) p. 243. made His truth known in creation. requires us to actively reflect on what is 2. Jonathan Edwards, “The Beauty of the World” Good art is compelling because its very true, what is good, and what is beauti- http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/ar- order tells the truth about God, human ful in each of these situations. If we do, ticle/the-beauty-of-the-world/. beings, and nature. Even in our fallen- we can appreciate God’s created order 3. See note 2. ness we are driven to see order of this in new ways. If we don’t, we’re opening 4. Francis Schaeffer,Art & the Bible (Downers Grove, Illinois: IntervArsity Press, 1973) p. 40.

The Waldo Canyon Fire Story: God’s Provision During a Natural Disaster As many of you know, the acres week of the session, and session 4 Colorado Springs area was ravaged • Destroyed 350 homes was moved to Colorado Christian in June by the worst wildfire in the • Killed 2 people University in Lakewood, Colorado state’s history, right in Summit’s Though Summit lost no prop- for its entirety. backyard. erty or lives, our students and Session 5 saw Summit back in As of press time, the Waldo staff’s lives were disrupted when Manitou, thankfully. Canyon Fire had just been de- we got evacuation orders in the We thank you all for your clared 100 percent contained, and wee hours of June 24. All 300 continued prayers for Summit it thankfully no longer threatens students, staff members, and our and Colorado Springs. We’re now Summit, local homes, or or any families had to pack up and leave, investigating the financial impact other structures. Yet we grieve for right in the middle of session 3. the fire had on us and finding ways the families who have already lost Thankfully, Mountain Springs to aid our community. so much. To date, the fire has: Church in east Colorado Springs We praise God for His provision • Burned more than 18,000 housed Summit for the remaining and pray His peace to the victims.

Page 4 July 2012 a look at our world news and commentary

Editor’s Note: Our President Emeri- Guevara’s anti-American blood-lust Leave it to a tus, Dr. David Noebel, helps us with could have been slaked only by nuking history depart- research by sending 20-30 pages the American patrons of this American ment chairman to of clippings of each month’s news. airport born before 1962. So he mostly recite the Castro- To see the complete list of Doc’s craved to nuke the parents and grand- concocted talking clippings, go to www.summit.org/ parents of the Americans who patronize, points on Che Guevara almost flawlessly. resources/the-journal/, open the run and fund Reno-Tahoe International For any University of Nevada PDF, and scroll to page 9, or call us at Airport. This obviously includes those students who read Townhall, here’s 866.786.6483. who awarded 1st place in the airport’s some talking points for any question and Art Employee Art contest to the Che Gue- answer sessions after your next lecture by vara iconography on prominent display professor Linda Curcio: A painting of Che Guevara subtitled for over three months. “In fact, professor Curcio, according “Revolucion!” by a Mexican–Ameri- Earlier this month an American of to the U.S. embassy, the total military can artist was on display for over three Cuban heritage who lives in Nevada was casualties on both sides of the anti-Ba- months at the International Airport in the first to complain about the painting, tista skirmishing in Cuba from 1956-59 Reno, Nevada, USA. On May 9 it was but as usual, to no avail. “Artistic freedom” actually ran to 152. New Orleans has taken down by airport officials as origi- trumped him to a pulp, as explained by an annual murder rate double that. The nally scheduled. Complaints by outraged airport officials, and further rationalized famous “Battle of Santa Clara” where Che airport patrons had nothing to do with by Linda Curcio, chairwoman of the Uni- Guevara earned his eternal martial fame this removal. versity of Nevada history department. claimed five casualties total on both sides. “The painting of Ernesto ‘Che’ Gue- “Linda Curcio said she was not “In fact, professor Curcio, those vara will remain on display through May surprised that a Cuban American such as ‘thousands of casualties’ at the hands of 9 with the other nearly 100 items in the Paz would be concerned about an image the Castro brothers and Che Guevara employee art exhibit,” was how airport of Guevara,” explained the AP story. were in no way related to military action. spokesman Brian Kulpin answered the “For him, (Guevara) means the Instead, utterly defenseless men, boys and complaints. Castro regime,” she said. (and even some women ) were bound Ernesto “Che” Guevara scorned “Guevara’s military tactics (italics and gagged and dragged in front of firing Mexicans as “a rabble of illiterate Indians,” mine) led to the deaths of thousands squads.” jailed artists at a higher rate than Stalin, during revolutions in Cuba, Bolivia “In fact, professor Curcio, since co-founded the terrorist movement that and other South American nations. But you’re fluent in Spanish, here’s an excerpt pulled off among the first and deadliest his beliefs on communism and Latin from Che Guevara’s very diaries: ‘My airplane hijackings in the Western Hemi- America’s stance in the world appealed nostrils dilate while savoring the acrid sphere, and craved to nuke the USA. to anti-establishment college students in odor of gunpowder and blood. Crazy In November 1958 Cubana Airlines the 1960s, and his iconic image has been with fury I will stain my rifle red while Flight 495 from Miami to Varadero was portrayed on posters, T-shirts and murals slaughtering any vencido that falls in my hijacked at gunpoint by terrorists belong- since his death,” Curcio said. hands!’ The Spanish wordvencido , as you ing to Castro and Che’s July 26 Move- “Radical college students may have know professor Curcio, translates into ment. The plane crashed in Cuba killing had posters in a dorm room or worn a be- ‘defeated’ or ‘surrendered.’ 14 passengers. Che’s glowing face greeted ret like (Guevara),” Curcio said. “He was “One day before his death in Bolivia, thousands of passengers boarding their connected to the idea of useful revolt and Che Guevara for the first time in his life flights at Reno-Tahoe Airport. How very revolution. For (the artist) it may not be finally faced something properly describ- thoughtful of airport officials! about Cuba. It may be about (Guevara) able as combat. He snuck away from the Actually, in the interest of histori- and student revolt in the U.S.” cal accuracy, I should clarify that Che continued on page 6

July 2012 Page 5 a look at our world news and commentary, continued from page 5

firefight and surrendered with a full clip ist enemy (Americans) must feel like a New annual debt from overspending this in his pistol, while whimpering to his cap- hunted animal wherever he moves. Thus year: $1,250,000,000,000 tors: ‘Don’t shoot! I’m Che! I’m worth we’ll destroy him! We must keep our National debt: $15,400,000,000,000 more to you alive than dead!’ In the inter- hatred (against the U.S.) alive and fan it Last year’s budget cut by Congress: est of quality education here at University to paroxysm! If the nuclear missiles had $38,500,000,000 of Nevada, Professor Curcio, we implore remained (in Cuba) we would have fired Now remove 8 zeros and pretend you to assign Humberto Fontova’s book them against the heart of the U.S. includ- it’s a household budget: as required reading for all history classes.” ing New York City. “ Annual family income: $23,400 At any rate, Reno-Tahoe airport Che’s hate-obsession was actually the Money the family spends annually: passengers must have been comforted U.S. Most of the Cubans he murdered, he $35,900 to know that an airport employee felt murdered because he thought they were New debt added to credit cards: $12,500 the same affection for the hemisphere’s affiliated with the U.S. (“U.S.-Backed” Outstanding balance on credit cards: Godfather of airplane hijackings that Batista, the CIA, etc.). In fact probably $154,000 Leonardo da Vinci felt for Mona Lisa and 99.5 percent of the men (and boys, and Total cuts to the family budget: $385 Andy Warhol for Marilyn Monroe. some women) his regime murdered had — WORLD Magazine And needless to add, if an American no affiliation with Batista whatsoever and May 19, 2012, p. 12 of African heritage had complained about the vast majority had fought the Batista a picture of, say, former KKK chieftan regime — but alas, as non-communists. Abortion David Duke (who killed nobody and But as usual, most of the people Che The Texas Women’s Health Program hijacked no planes) in the same place it Guevara craved to incinerate viewed this last year provided $41 million, much of would be ceremoniously taken down Reno Airport issue — as they viewed the it federal funds, for services such as birth and perhaps ceremoniously hurled in a Mercedes issue and the Ozzie Guillen control and breast- and cervical-cancer dumpster or burned. Artistic freedom be issue — as a quaint and silly obsession of screenings. Some $13 million of that double-damned. hyper-sensitive, loudmouthed and even went to 49 Planned Parenthood clinics Then whoever put it up would run ungrateful Cuban-Americans. that don’t provide abortions, the clin- the gauntlet of media inquisitions, grovel- Maybe former Brazilian President ics said. Clinics that provide abortions, ing apologies at every stop. And he’d still (and friend of Che Guevara) Janio Quad- including 14 Planned Parenthood ones, probably lose his job. ros was on to something when in 1961 have long been barred from the program. But then African-Americans vote he snickered to a confidant that “those Texas adopted new rules, effective Democratic at roughly the same rate as Americans are much like women. They Tuesday, that cut off funding to all clinics Cuban-Americans vote Republican. So have a masochistic streak. The more you “affiliated” with abortion providers — a none of the usual liberal bugaboos and slap them around, the more you get out move that excludes all Planned Parent- shibboleths enforcing “sensitivity” in of them.” hood clinics. speech and writing apply to this latter mi- — Humberto Fontova Because of the new restriction, the nority, for they disparage the Democratic Townhall.com Obama administration said it no longer Plantation in word and deed and are thus May 14, 2012 would fund the Texas program, but Gov. lepers in MSM eyes. Rick Perry has said the state could pay for “The U.S. is the great enemy of Economics the program itself. mankind!” raved the terrorist who The U.S. federal budget in num- — Nathan Koppel prominently garnished the wall in the bers we can understand: Wall Street Journal airport of Reno, Nevada, USA. “Against U.S. tax revenue: $2,340,000,000,000 May 2, 2012, p. A4 those hyenas (Americans) there is no Federal annual spending budget: option but extermination! The imperial- $3,590,000,000,000

Page 6 July 2012 summit spotlight a look into the lives of summit alumni Summit Alum Makes a Living Capturing Beauty For Summit grad Rowan Gillson, photography]. I can trace things I see in every day is an opportunity to encounter everyday life back to the ideas.” God’s design and mentor others in how IPS, which uses Summit’s Mani- to communicate it through the medium tou Springs facilities for several classes of photography. Just 30 years of age, throughout the year, is a program that Gillson’s accomplishment as a photog- focuses on the technical aspects of the rapher and entrepreneur have enabled craft: lighting, composition, and color. him to travel the world instructing others But Gillson and his staff also talk with through the Institute of Photographic students about what makes a particular Studies (IPS) and equip a rising genera- photograph meaningful — what the tion of culture leaders through a nonprof- photograph is communicating and how it ministry called World Changers. its purpose can be communicated better. Photography is perhaps the most “We don’t take it from an approach of try- popular and broadly accessible medium ing to define or describe beauty,” Gillson today through which people encounter recently explained. “The way it comes out aesthetic truth. It’s also a trade Gillson is when we’re looking at images. We often thinks rich with opportunities to relate use words like ‘stronger,’ ‘more successful,’ to others, discuss ideas, and live out the or ‘better.’ We’re describing the image’s biblical worldview. “I’ve discovered the impact on a viewer.” Rowan Gillson with his wife, Jocellyn camera is either a very effective bridge or So in Gillson’s estimation, a particu- a very effective barricade,” Gillson said. lar photo’s aesthetic quality comes not created order. The idea has its roots in a “As soon as you pull out a camera, people only from the use of the technical photo- philosophical and mathematical no- are really interested in who you are and graphic aspects, but also its teleological tion known as the Golden Mean. So the what you’re doing. The camera becomes fidelity — its purpose. For a standard idea aesthetical standard isn’t arbitrary; it’s a an opportunity for you to connect with of what general beauty is, Gillson looks to product of purposeful design. people.” the created order for perspective. “I think That’s why Gillson emphasizes at Gillson’s own ideas about beauty — it goes back to the nature or character of IPS that photographers — and art- and what he tries to instill in his photog- our designer,” he said. “We appreciate, ists in general — have a design to their raphy students during seminars with IPS we recognize — even when we don’t photos, besides static self-expression. — were profoundly shaped by his years necessarily know why — loose things “It’s the worldview behind the photog- at Summit. Gillson came as a student we might call God’s fingerprints. I think raphy that says, ‘Yes, there are objective in the summer of 2005, stuck around visually we’re designed for this world in a truths. There’s reality. There’s a meaning that summer as a staffer, and continued way that allows us to recognize common to things. The pictures that I take have volunteering with Summit though 2010 things as beautiful.” meaning.’” as time permitted. “Summit helped me Gillson explained that the commonly And it’s for that and its relational understand that if who I am and what known “Rule of Thirds” — the idea that potential that Gillson sees photogra- I do have meaning, then I can make a visual artifacts are more appealing when phy as an increasingly valuable craft for difference in the world I live in,” he con- the subject of the image is placed where Christians to take up. “Photography is a fessed. “Summit’s tagline — ‘Ideas have imaginary lines dividing the image into legitimate trade,” he said. “If we can use consequences’ — comes up regularly [in thirds intersect — is a product of God’s it to impact people’s lives, that’s a really powerful way to impact the Kingdom.”

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INSIDE: Is beauty in the eye of the Address Service Requested beholder? The conclusion isn’t as foregone as you think.

Is It Too Late for This Generation?

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PO Box 207, Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829 | Phone: 866.786.6483 | URL: www.summit.org | E-mail: [email protected] a look at our world from the desk of dr. david noebel

Origins rect. ... The theory of evolution is as strongly enormous quantities of electricity Facebook Emory University should have had supported as the theory of gravity and the and other data-intensive technology compa- bragging rights for this commencement theory that infectious diseases are caused nies require. Those requirements expose a season: Internationally renowned neurosur- by microorganisms. Dismissing evolution fundamental mismatch between the high- geon and humanitarian Ben Carson deliv- disregards the importance of science and power-density world of Big Data and the ered the keynote address at the university’s critical thinking to society.” low-density electricity production inherent 167th commencement on May 14. Carson has made enormous advances in most renewable energy projects. Carson (see “Second opinion,” April in medicine, and his disbelief in evolution In documents filed with the Securi- 21) has directed pediatric neurosurgery at has not hampered him. If he had a simi- ties and Exchange Commission on Feb. the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for lar disbelief in gravity or germ theory, it’s 1, Facebook said that it stores more than more than 25 years. He overcame a hard doubtful that he could have been such an 100 petabytes of information. (That’s 100 childhood in inner-city Detroit and has innovator, since I suspect it’s hard to operate million gigabytes.) Facebook spreads that become particularly famous for his work in when both doctors and patients are floating gargantuan quantity of data among a hand- separating twins with conjoined heads. In gravity-less—and I suspect patients don’t ful of warehouse-size data centers filled with 2008 he received the Presidential Medal of survive if their surgeons don’t scrub. servers located in Virginia, California and Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the Carson’s problem is not a refusal to en- Oregon. The company’s new data center is United States. His fifth book, America the gage in critical thinking. His thought crime a 300,000 square-foot facility in Prineville, Beautiful, is now out. is critically thinking about an academic Ore., that draws 28 megawatts, enough In announcing the honorary degree orthodoxy. The professors particularly power for about 28,000 homes. and keynote speech that Carson would complained about the connections Carson That’s not unusual. The power needed receive and give, Emory President Jim makes between evolutionary theory and by data centers has been a hot topic for Wagner said, “Few men or women have ethics: If we’re merely the result of evolution, more than a decade as local electricity grids demonstrated to so inspiring a degree the he has said, “You don’t have to abide by a set have been forced to adapt to huge new transformational effect of liberal learning of moral codes, you determine your own loads. Google alone reports that it operates and the humanities. Dr. Carson has trans- conscience based on your own desires.” 11 data centers in six states and five foreign formed lives both inside the operating room But the history of the past century, and the countries that require some 260 megawatts and beyond.” lifestyle of many campuses, shows that he’s of power, enough for 260,000 homes. But campus bragging about com- right. Because of the new restriction, the As more computing moves into the mencement stopped early in May once Obama administration said it no longer “cloud”—the network of data centers that many faculty members and students would fund the deliver information and software to our mo- learned that Carson has faith in Christ and — Marvin Olaskey bile devices and computers—electricity use disdain for evolution. Four Emory biology WORLD Magazine is soaring. Data centers now consume about professors complained to the school news- June 2, 2012, p. A11 1.3% of all global electricity. That amount paper: “Carson argues that ... there are no Environmentalism of energy, about 277 terawatt-hours per transitional fossils that provide evidence for Before Facebook’s recent initial public year, exceeds the electricity use of dozens of the evolution of humans from a common offering, the media obsessed over superla- countries, including Australia and Mexico. ancestor with other apes ... and that life is too tives. It was the largest-ever IPO for a U.S. And that quantity of energy will con- complex to have originated by the natural technology company. It was the third-largest tinue to grow. Intel expects the number of process of evolution.” in U.S. history. And now the obsession is devices connected to the Internet—ranging He’s right on both counts, but the over the company’s lackluster revenue pros- from smartphones to GPS-enabled locaters professors—joined by 160 other faculty pects and possible misconduct by invest- on shipping containers—to grow to 15 bil- members as well as many researchers and ment bankers involved in the offering. lion by 2015 from 2.5 billion today. students—stated flatly that Carson is “incor- Missing here is any awareness of the Last month, Greenpeace issued a

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report called “How Clean is Your Cloud?” energy darlings of the moment are obvious. penciled in individual rights at one end The environmental group graded a series of U.S. data centers are now consuming about of the field (my American specialty), and technology companies, including Facebook, 86 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, community good at the other (his Cuban Apple, Dell, Amazon and others, on the per- or about 43 times as much electricity as is specialty). But I worried that this was an centage of what it calls “dirty energy” used produced by all the solar-energy projects in overly simplistic view of things. So I empha- by their data centers. Greenpeace—which, America. sized to him, pointing to the American end of course, has a Facebook page—gave the “Clean energy” is a great friend for of the field: “Don’t assume that we’re playing social-media company a “D” for what it calls Facebook, Apple and every other energy anywhere near this goal line. Most of what “energy transparency.” It is also claiming to consumer in America—as long as those goes on in the U.S.,” I stressed, “happens have convinced Facebook to “unfriend” consumers don’t use much energy at all. out around the 40 or 50-yard line. The lives coal-fired electricity. — Robert Bryce individual Americans live take place much Never mind that 40% of all global elec- Wall Street Journal closer to midfield than to what you see as tricity production comes from coal. Let’s May 29, 2012, p. A11 the American goal line.” consider what the “clean energy” footprint Economics All of which brings us back to the claim of one of these big data centers might look When a friend reminded me this past that there’s not a nation anywhere on earth like. week that there is not a single nation, on the serving as an unambiguous picture of the Apple has touted its plan to use solar whole face of the globe, that operates with free market at work. Have you thought of energy to help run its massive new data cen- a genuinely free market economy, I did a one yet? ter in Maiden, N.C. But in a recent blog post double take. Can’t be, I thought. To the extent that Americans see (perspectives.mvdirona.com) titled “I Love But he pressed me, offering a free lunch themselves as practitioners and beneficiaries Solar Power But,” James Hamilton, a vice if I could name such a country. Maybe you of the so-called “market economy,” both president and engineer on Amazon’s Web can help me—but so far, I haven’t claimed honesty and modesty remind us to admit services team, calculated that the 500,000 the free lunch. that the society in which we live has been square-foot facility would need about 6.5 The exchange took me back 20 years to incredibly shaped by a collectivist mentality. square miles of solar panels. a discussion I had in a city park near down- Everywhere we turn, through almost every He noted that setting aside that kind of town Havana, Cuba. An elderly and slightly hour of every day, our lives are regulated and space in densely populated regions, where scruffy gentleman had introduced himself as shaped by every level of government—and many data centers are built, is “ridiculous” a retired economics professor, unapologetic all supposedly for the common good. From and would be particularly difficult because to call himself a committed Marxist, and this morning’s stop at the gas station, to the the land couldn’t have any trees or structures eager to practice his English. labeling on what we picked up at the grocery that could cast shadows on the panels. Indeed, my new friend’s English was store, to the interest rate announced by the Wind? An average wind-energy project good enough to draw a sharp picture of his neighborhood bank, to the words that got has an electricity-generating capacity of analysis: “You people think mostly about bleeped out of this evening’s newscast—in about two watts per square meter. Even the individual person, and you put a great all these and many other situations, some- assuming that a wind project produces emphasis on such a person’s freedom. We one wasn’t content just to let market forces electricity 100% of the time (it won’t), Face- think mostly about the common good, do their thing. Someone was always jump- book’s data center in Prineville would need and our emphasis tends to be more on the ing in to say: “Let’s give those market forces a wind project covering about 14 million benefits to society as a whole.” a little extra help.” square meters, nearly 5.5 square miles, or Then, because he also wanted to learn Implicit in all those governmental about four times the size of New York City’s a little more about the differences between efforts to “help” market forces do their Central Park. soccer and American football, I remember thing is the sense—maybe we could even The mismatch between the power our sketching together a football field to call it the hubris—that government has demands of Big Data and the renewable- illustrate what he had just described. We enough intelligence and brainpower to do it

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better than the market would by itself. And May 21, 2012, p. 30 ing to suppress emblems of the Christian maybe that’s why we’re not left with a single faith that helped shape the nation since the notable example of a free market model that Secularism arrival of earliest colonists. we can all sit back and view and then say: A Texas judge has ruled that “impreca- — Michael Medved “So that’s what such an animal looks like!” tory” prayers, or prayers for another person’s USA Today Everywhere we go, we always spoil things by harm, are legal so long as they don’t result May 14, 2012, p. 7A jumping in and upsetting the process. in direct threats or personal damage. Mikey In the United States we haven’t been Weinstein, a Jewish agnostic and founder God Almighty needs an editor, accord- close—for several generations—to creating of the Military Religious Freedom Founda- ing to a federal judge in Virginia. At least, He a test case for a so-called market economy. tion, sued Gordon Klingenschmitt, a former does when the Ten Commandments are on It’s at best a blend, and more and more, in Navy chaplain, whose website allegedly government property. recent years, it’s been a blend tilting toward called on supporters to claim Psalm 109 in The American Civil Liberties Union collectivism rather than freedom. prayers for Weinstein’s demise. (ACLU) had sued the Giles County school All of which puts a sharp focus on this A prayer posted on Klingenschmitt’s district for posting the Ten Command- year’s elections. At one end of the playing website (prayinjesusname.org) and on You- ments in its public schools, and U.S. District field, Coach Obama persistently calls us to Tube that cites Weinstein and anti-Christian Judge Michael F. Urbanski sent the case to apply the collectivist playbook to more and activist Barry Lynn reads in part, “We bless mediation on Monday, suggesting a com- more aspects of life. We’re getting a pretty them but they curse us. ... Let their days be promise: deleting the four commandments vivid example of that experiment. few.” District Court Judge Martin Hoffman that mention God. But for better or for worse, the other dismissed Weinstein’s lawsuit, but Wein- An Obama appointee, Judge Urbanski model simply isn’t there for inspection and stein, a former Air Force lawyer who served also issued a preliminary injunction on review—not in Havana, not in the United in the Reagan White House, said that “a behalf of the ACLU in February prohibiting States, and apparently nowhere else in the very aggressive appeal” of the decision was the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervi- whole wide world. “highly likely.” In 2005 Weinstein sued the sors from “invoking the name of a specific — Joe Belz Air Force Academy for allowing Christian deity associated with any one specific faith WORLD Magazine “proselytization,” and in 2007 charged the or belief in prayers given at Board meetings.” May 29, 2012, p. 3 Pentagon for allowing lunchtime Bible stud- No word yet on how much this ticked off ies to take place on its premises (see “One- the local Hittites and voodoo priests. Most politicians prefer platitudes and man offensive,” Aug. 25, 2007)—with little It’s all part of the campaign for “religious happy talk. Think “The fundamentals of the result. equality,” in which atheism and tree worship economy are strong,” “Prosperity is around — Thomas Kidd are considered equal (or superior) to the the corner,” and President Obama’s ill-fated WORLD Magazine nation’s founding faith. The only surprise “recovery summer.” Sen. Tom Coburn, a May 19, 2012, p. 68 Monday was that the ACLU didn’t immedi- Republican from Oklahoma, is different. ately object to leaving intact the command- “America is already bankrupt,” he Beneath all the hypocrisy over consti- ment against adultery. declares bluntly early on in his new book. tutional restraints and traditional walls of Among the items displayed alongside “Our payments on our obligations — our separation, secular activists and self-styled the Ten Commandments at Narrows High unfunded liabilities — exceed our income defenders of “civil liberties” seek to trans- School are the Declaration of Indepen- as far as the eye can see,” Mr. Coburn contin- form American society in a way that our dence, the Mayflower Compact, the Magna ues. “No amount of obtainable growth or Founders and most subsequent generations Carta, the words to the Star-Spangled Ban- tax revenue will be enough.” would never recognize. They seem eager to ner and the Statute of Virginia for Religious — W. James Antle III defend flag-burning, obscenity and every Freedom. The Washington Times other form of radical expression, while seek- Because none of the other 10 docu-

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ments is being challenged, it’s obvious created. more than OK. So what if it was a sham? that the Ten Commandments are of- “We intend to show that the school C.S. Lewis observed that the agenda fensive solely because they are religious in board cannot simply shroud its religious of the left is to make religion private and origination and remind people of America’s purpose for posting the Ten Command- pornography public. In Virginia, the ACLU, dominant faiths, Christianity and Judaism. ments by surrounding it with historical otherwise known as the devil’s law firm, In a brief filed on behalf of the Freedom documents,” said ACLU of Virginia Legal is still doing its best to live down to that From Religion Foundation, the ACLU says Director Rebecca Glenberg. demonic goal. the presence of the Decalogue violates the The ACLU’s press release notes, “The — Robert Knight establishment clause of the First Amend- Ten Commandments are posted on a main The Washington Times ment. hallway at the high school, near the trophy May 10, 2012 For 10 years, the Ten Commandments case and on the way to the cafeteria, where it Homosexuality had been posted in a frame in each of the is seen by students every day.” Now that President Obama has public schools of Giles County. They were If that’s not enough for a sensitive, easily “evolved” on the matter of same-sex mar- gifts to the schools from a local pastor, who offended student to lose his or her lunch, riage to the position favored by “enlight- thought they would be a good addition in what is? ened” Americans, this would seem to be a the wake of the Columbine High School According to Liberty Counsel, which good time for some rhetorical hygiene. massacre in Colorado in 1999. is representing the school district, “The There are modest and civil proponents The displays were not a problem until Virginia Standards of Learning requires of same-sex marriage. But the tone of many Dec. 8, 2010, when the Freedom From students to know about the foundational advocates has been shrill to the point of Religion Foundation sent a letter to the principles of civilizations, including the frothing. The Southern Poverty Law Cen- superintendent demanding that the displays Hebrews, and the foundations of law and ter, for example, put the National Organiza- be removed after a single complaint by a government. Secular textbooks published tion for Marriage and the Family Research student and the student’s parent. by Prentice Hall and McGraw-Hill trace the Council on its 2010 list of “hate groups” The schools tried a variety of solutions, roots of democracy and law and specifically because of their opposition to gay marriage. including replacing the Ten Command- refer to the Ten Commandments and many A religion professor at a Midwest state ments with a copy of the Declaration of of the documents posted as part of the university explained Catholic opposition Independence. This didn’t sit well with Foundations Display.” to same-sex marriage and found himself many in the community. On Jan. 11, 2011, To the ACLU, the other documents are denounced for “hate speech” and fired from a meeting was held with about 200 people, fig leaves: his teaching position (he was later rein- including clergy, and a short time later, the “Given the history of the School stated). The Hastings Law School denied school board voted to reinstall the displays. Board’s Ten Commandments displays, funding and recognition to a chapter of the The commandments were reposted any alleged secular purpose for the current Christian Legal Society because it required and then taken down again upon the advice displays are [sic], and will be perceived as, its members to conform their sexual behav- of counsel. A local lawyer proposed a display a sham. The displays were erected with the ior to traditional Christian teachings. that would include the Decalogue in a primary aim of advancing religion.” Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., called the historic exhibit about Western foundational It’s a warped reversal of the ACLU’s Defense of Marriage Act “a stain on our law and government. logic back when it argued that fig leaves democracy.” It’s unclear whether the ACLU will like Hugh Hefner’s hedonistic “Playboy To be sure, there is overheated language accept the judge’s offered compromise Philosophy” essays turned his skin maga- among some opponents of gay marriage because the six remaining commandments zines into constitutionally protected works as well, though not among the leadership. came from the God Who is not supposed of literary merit. Mr. Hefner’s primary aim, The vitriol on the left arises from one simple to be mentioned on government property, of course, was to advance pornography (and source -- the misappropriation of the race even though it’s part of the universe that He his wallet) but in the ACLU’s world, that’s analogy. Once you convince yourself that

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same-sex marriage is the great civil rights sensitive subjects without descending into until yesterday. It wasn’t bigotry then, and it cause of our time, it then follows logically name-calling. isn’t now that opponents are the moral equivalents of My personal resistance to same-sex — Mona Charen racists. That’s what gay activist Dan Savage marriage arises not from any dislike of The Washington Times said explicitly: gays and lesbians but from the belief that May 21, 2012, p. 31 “We need a cultural reckoning around traditional marriage is too important to be gay and lesbian issues. There was once two toyed with. When gays say, “marriage isn’t Currently, men who have had sex with sides to the race debate ... you could ... argue doing well among heterosexuals,” they have men even once since 1977 are indefinitely for segregation. You could argue against a point. Heterosexuals are making a mess of deferred from donating blood because of interracial marriage, against the Civil Rights marriage. But that’s all the more reason to be the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and Act, against extending voting rights to Afri- cautious about adding another blow. Hepatitis B in such populations. The ban can Americans, and that used to be treated Traditional marriage is recognized does not cover lesbians. as one side . . . of a pressing national debate, and to some degree privileged by society The ban is now being questioned be- and it isn’t anymore. And we really need to because it performs the most essential task cause of dramatic improvements in testing reach that point with gay and lesbian issues. of any civilization -- providing the optimal blood and because, gay groups say, such a There are no ‘two sides’ to the issues about environment for raising children. Men and policy is “unduly stigmatizing” of MSM. gay and lesbian rights.” women bring different and complemen- — Cheryl Wetzstein Here’s a question for Rep. Lewis and tary qualities to parenthood. The genetic The Washington Times Dan Savage and the SPLC and the rest: tie, which both heterosexual parents have May 21, 2012, p. 18 Does your intolerance for disagreement to their children, while not essential (I extend to pre-May 10 Barack Obama? Be- speak as an adoptive mother), is helpful If Amendment One is defeated in fore Obama evolved back (he had been pro in maintaining loyalty and support for the North Carolina, much of the credit will have same-sex marriage before he was against it), long haul. Having parents of opposite sexes to go to Todd Stiefel. was he spewing “hate”? When he said, at the gives children male and female role models. Stiefel and his wife Diana gave a Saddleback Church in 2008, “I believe that And the sexes differ in a thousand little ways $100,000 matching grant to Protect North marriage is the union between a man and that, when blended, tend to redound to Carolina Families, the group fighting the a woman. Now, for me as a Christian ... it is kids’ welfare. Just to name a few: mothers proposed state constitutional amendment also a sacred union. God’s in the mix.” Was are more protective, fathers more challeng- to protect legal marriage “as between one that a “stain on our democracy”? ing; mothers are more comforting, fathers woman and one man.” No? Then how about a modicum of more stimulating; mothers are more related, The grant “was fully matched, and then respect for those who continue to hold fathers more disciplinary. some,” Stiefel told me, and came at a critical the views that Obama abandoned only Permitting people of the same sex to time, helping to pay for highly effective— yesterday? marry changes the nature of the institu- and some say highly misleading—TV ads. Six states and the District of Columbia tion. Rather than the optimal vehicle for The Stiefels gave two $10,000 grants to have legalized same-sex marriage. Thirty- raising children, it becomes just the social Equality NC and the ACLU to aid email, two states prohibit it -- some by statute and ratification of the relationship between two social media, and other activities designed others by state constitutions. The nation is adults -- a seal of approval. Having your to defeat Amendment One. doing what both Obama and Romney say love validated by the larger society may Stiefel, 37, made his money the old- they prefer, dealing with the question state seem important if you are gay. But marriage, fashioned way: He inherited it. His great- by state. rightly understood, is not really about love. great-grandfather started a candle and soap Romney’s description of the issue as It includes love. But it’s really about stability company in 1847 in Germany that became “tender and sensitive” was apt. But it should and raising children. Stiefel Laboratories, which the Stiefel fam- be possible for mature adults to discuss even That’s what Obama said he believed, ily sold to GlaxoSmithKline in 2009 for a

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reported $2.9 billion. his father and mother and be joined to his That’s not to say Stiefel isn’t a hard It is one thing to talk about “fairness” wife. The two shall become one flesh.” Jesus, worker and a strategic thinker. Raised nomi- when it comes to allowing gays and lesbians Whom President Obama likes to selectively nally Roman Catholic, he graduated from to marry; it is quite another to claim biblical quote when it suits his earthly political Duke University, where he says he lost his authority for such relationships. agenda, honored traditional marriage at a faith, then worked in the family business for President Obama cited the “Golden wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1). He also a dozen years. With his share of the wind- Rule” about treating others as you would reaffirmed the Genesis passage in Matthew fall, Stiefel became a “freethought activist,” like to be treated, but in doing so he ignored 19:5. serving on the board of—and in 2010 the totality of Scripture and the Lord Paul, the Apostle of Jesus, wrote in giving $500,000 to—the Secular Coalition Himself, who alone gets to set the rules for Ephesians 5 about husbands and wives, for America, a lobbying group that Stiefel human behavior. male and female. told me is committed to “ending religious The president says he is a “practicing Scripture teaches that the marriage privilege.” Christian.” It is difficult to be one while union between a man and woman is an Stiefel has also given major grants to simultaneously holding a low view of the illustration of how Christ and the church are American Atheists ($100,000) and the Bible, which his position on several social one (Ephesians 5:32). It also teaches that Secular Student Alliance ($50,000). In issues might suggest. since God made us, conceived of marriage 2010 he gave $20,000 to the ACLU of The same Book that informs him and created sex to be enjoyed within the Mississippi, which used the money to host about the Person he told Pastor Rick War- marital bond, He gets to set the rules and a high school prom after a school district ren in 2008 is his “Savior,” also speaks to the establish the boundaries for human behav- canceled its prom when a lesbian tried to beginning of human life (he has done noth- ior, not because He is a curmudgeon who bring her girlfriend as a date. ing to limit abortions), fornication between wants to deny us pleasure, but because He Whether he wins or loses the Amend- adults of the opposite sex (no word yet knows what is best for us. ment One battle, Stiefel’s money and his on his position on that subject), marriage, Liberal theologians have tried to mod- affable style—”Ask me anything; I’m an and adultery, which the Seventh Com- ify, or even change, what is contained in the open book,” he said—are winning him mandment and New Testament passages Bible and there are those in our time who access and influence. In 2010 he and other condemn. are following their example with the issue of leaders of the Secular Coalition for America I recently wrote that it is becoming same-sex marriage. People are free to accept had a meeting with White House officials to increasingly difficult for people who believe or reject what Scripture says. What they are try to “get the government out of faith-based the Bible is God’s Word to impose their not free to do is to claim it says something activities.” beliefs on those who disagree with them. it does not. In modern times that’s called Stiefel’s donations to defeat Amend- But it is something altogether different “spin.” In an earlier time it was called heresy. ment One are a fraction of the $3 million for those who disagree to claim the Bible The Apostle John warns in Revelation opponents hope to raise, but his money doesn’t say what it says, in effect calling God 22:18-19 about the punishment awaiting primed the pump—attracting donations a liar. President Obama apparently hopes anyone who adds to, or subtracts from from around the nation and moving public there are sufficient numbers of biblical Scripture. Deuteronomy 4:1-2 has a similar opinion. Six months ago, 61 percent of illiterates -- and he could be right about this warning. The consequences aren’t pretty. North Carolina voters favored Amendment -- that either won’t notice his sleight of hand, There are also warnings not to preach “an- One. Today, that number has dropped to 54 or don’t care. other Gospel” (Galatians 1:8, 2 Corinthians percent. “This campaign is winnable,” Stiefel Thousands of years of human history 11:4, among others). said. “And we hope to win.” have sustained marriage between one man As he seeks to justify his position on — Warren Cole Smith and one woman. Even human biology testi- same-sex marriage and other issues that are WORLD Magazine fies to a natural order. either questionable at best, or deny Scrip- May 19, 2012, p. 42 Genesis 2:24 says “...a man shall leave ture at worst, President Obama might be

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said to be preaching another gospel. This “My religious faith dictates marriage is cating, since it would mean that his clear could possibly lead to a fissure in his solid between a man and a woman, gay marriage and unambiguous statements are subject support among African Americans, costing is not a civil right.” to change at any time and that his religious the president votes in November. It will In 2008, in the presidential debate convictions are as malleable as a piece of also likely galvanize the culture warriors. hosted by Rick Warren, he stated, “I believe clay. Minorities mostly vote for Democrats, but marriage is the union between a man and Let’s link together his most salient state- they don’t like their faith denied. That could a woman. As a Christian it’s also a sacred ments in one long quote: “I favor legalizing cause some of them to stay home on Elec- union.” That same year, in a letter to San same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts tion Day, or even vote for Mitt Romney. Francisco’s Alice B. Toklas Lesbian Gay to prohibit such marriages. . . . My religious The negative reaction the president re- Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club, faith dictates marriage is between a man and ceived from some of the African-American Obama wrote that he opposed “the divisive a woman, gay marriage is not a civil right. . ministers he called last week after declaring and discriminatory efforts to amend the . . I believe marriage is the union between a his support for same-sex marriage should California constitution” with regard to mar- man and a woman. As a Christian it’s also serve as a prophetic warning. riage – quite an odd position for someone a sacred union. . . . At a certain point, I’ve —Cal Thomas who could state that “marriage is the union just concluded that for me personally it is Townhall.com between a man and a woman.” Why, then, important for me to go ahead and affirm May 18, 2012 would it be “divisive and discriminatory” to that I think same-sex couples should be able amend a state constitution to protect that to get married. . . . The thing at root that we We know the story well: Barack sacred union? think about is, not only Christ sacrificing Obama was for same-sex “marriage” (1996) Since 2008, Obama has aggressively himself on our behalf, but it’s also the golden before he was against it (2004) before he supported the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t rule — you know, treat others the way you was for it (2012), although in 2008, he was Tell, decided to stop defending DOMA, would want to be treated.” apparently for it and against it (although appointed men like gay educational activist Remember that these are the words of mainly against it). Based, however, on his Kevin Jennings as his Safe School Czar, the man who today is the most influential strong support for gay activism during his and appeared at fundraisers for the Human political leader in the world, and yet his “against” years, it seems clear that he was Rights Campaign (HRC), even stating at waffling on the marriage issue is painful to equivocating in his public opposition to their dinner in October, 2011 that progress behold. And these are the words of a leader same-sex “marriage.” comes when “a father realizes he doesn’t just who makes frequent reference to his pro- But let’s say his views really were love his daughter, but also her wife.” Yet it is fessed Christian faith, first to oppose same- evolving, as he claims. Either way, whether only now that he can tell us that he endorses sex “marriage” (“my religious faith dictates”; equivocating or evolving, he has proven same-sex “marriage”? No wonder that Joe “as a Christian”), then to endorse it (with himself to be untrustworthy in this very Solmonese, outgoing president of the HRC, reference to “Christ sacrificing himself” important matter. said earlier this week that there was “no and “the golden rule”). How deep could Let’s first consider what appears obvi- doubt in my mind that the president shares this “religious faith” be? And where was this ous to many, namely that Mr. Obama has these values.” In other words, the president “religious faith” in 1996 when he unequivo- been anything but straightforward when has not been forthcoming in his true posi- cally supported redefining marriage? expressing his views on same-sex “marriage.” tion. I understand, of course, that all of us are It is now common knowledge that he But what if Obama’s views really have on a journey and that, over time, our views responded to questions posed by the Out- been evolving and he was telling the truth can change, sometimes radically. But for a line newspaper in 1996 by stating plainly when he said in 2010, “My feelings about national leader (and President of the United that, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, this are constantly evolving. I struggle with States) to make such extreme shifts, from and would fight efforts to prohibit such mar- this”? In my opinion, this would be even dogmatically “for” to dogmatically “against” riages.” Flip-flopping in 2004, he explained, more disconcerting than if he were equivo- to dogmatically “for,” often in patently self-

July 2012 Page 15 a look at our world from the desk of dr. david noebel, continued from page 1315 contradictory ways, is to be untrustworthy “Politicized wrongness today,” he writes “is liberals are more able to handle conflicting and as a leader. And to refer to one’s faith as an clustered among Republicans, conservatives unexpected information.” The Los Angeles important part of the flip-flopping decision and especially Tea Partiers.” Times announced in an editorial that the making process is to be spiritually double- A liberal partisan study “suggests that liberals are more adapt- minded, which is why I say that whether That’s an entirely understandable view able than conservatives” and “might be better equivocating or evolving, President Obama for Mooney to hold. He’s a soaked-to-the- judges of the facts.” is wrong either way. bone liberal partisan. But he crosses the line Huh? The test didn’t measure “informa- —Michael Brown into pseudoscientific hogwash by trying tional complexity.” It measured informational Townhall.com to explain every political disagreement as a simplicity. As Slate’s science columnist Wil- May 14, 2012 symptom of bad brains. For instance, Mooney liam Saletan notes, the study actually excludes claims Republicans have trouble processing complexity and ambiguity. It measured “They do that because they were born reality because Republicans think “Obam- response times to a rudimentary visual acuity that way.” aCare” will raise the deficit. No really, stop test. Almost by definition, conscious thought If you say that about homosexuals, you laughing. isn’t part of the equation. My hunch is that are tolerant and realistic. If you say it about Of course, Mooney believes he’s simply Socrates would do very poorly hunting and blacks, you are racist (unless you’re black going where the science leads. Consider that pecking for Ms and Ws on a screen, too. yourself). If you say it about women, you one of the more famous studies was con- Now it’s probably true that, on average, may or may not be sexist, depending on who ducted by liberal researchers at University of there are subtle differences between conserva- is manning (er, womanning) the feminist California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and New tives and liberals when it comes to cognition. battle stations. If you say it about men, you just York University and published in Nature But you don’t have to be “anti-science” to see might be a writer for Esquire. But if you say it Neuroscience. Subjects were asked to spot the how the scientists are wildly overreaching about conservatives, you’re a scientist. letters M or W on a screen for a fraction of a from the data. Indeed, there’s a huge defini- Over the past decade, a new fad has taken second. It turns out that self-described liberals tional problem. Conservatives resist growth hold among academics and liberal journalists: did somewhat better on the test than the of the state, but that’s not the same thing as call it the new science of conservative phre- conservatives. resisting change. After all, capitalism is among nology. No, it doesn’t actually involve using What does that mean? Well, according the most powerful agents of change in hu- calipers to determine intelligence based on the to the researchers, it means: “Liberals are man history, and conservatives are the ones size and shape of people’s heads. The mea- more responsive to informational complex- defending it. Meanwhile, liberals are down- suring devices are better — MRIs and gene ity, ambiguity and novelty.” Liberals are also right reactionary about preserving the Great sequencers — but the conclusions are worse. “more likely than are conservatives to respond Society and New Deal. The gist is this: Conservatives and liberals to cues signaling the need to change habitual A famous study asserts that commu- don’t just have different world views or ideas, responses,” NYU says. nist revolutionaries Joseph Stalin and Fidel they have different brains; the right and left are Translation: Conservatives literally Castro were political conservatives because just hard-wired to think differently. aren’t smart enough to be spell-checkers at an they resisted change once in power. If your Author Chris Mooney compiles M&M factory because they won’t be able to algorithmic whirligig spits out the finding that much of this research for his new book The understand quickly enough that the occa- Stalin, the global leader of communism for Republican Brain, which purports to show sional W is just an upside down M. two decades, and Castro, the global dashboard that conservatives are, literally by nature, Absurd conclusions saint of recrudescent left-wing asininity, are more closed-minded and resistant to change The data might be correct, but as with “politically conservative” it’s time to take the and facts. His evidence includes the fact that Mooney, the conclusions are beyond absurd. gadget out to a field and smash it with baseball conservatives are less likely to buy into global London’s Guardian newspaper responded to bats like the printer in the movie Office Space. warming, allegedly proving they are not only the study by declaring, “Scientists have found Mooney, who recently explained in a “anti-science” but innately anti-fact, as well. that the brains of people calling themselves speech that he has given up on the Enlight-

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enment view that we’re all open to reason, when Nimrod, aptly named, decided he shoulder acknowledgment to the very first doesn’t seem to realize where he’s heading was wiser than God and set out to bring the radical from all our legends, mythology, and with this nonsense. Never mind that this whole world together in one place in defiance history (and who is to know where mythol- approach is inherently undemocratic and of the wishes of the Almighty. Ultimately, isn’t ogy leaves off and history begins – or which opens the door to “genetic” explanations that what the “leftist” philosophy is all about is which), the first radical known to man who for everybody’s political views — blacks, at its core? Wasn’t that what the spirit of the rebelled against the establishment and did women, gays, etc. — it is also self-serving French Revolution and those who followed it so effectively that he at least won his own bigotry that allows liberals to justify their in its footsteps all about? kingdom – Lucifer.” own closed-mindedness on the grounds that Yet, the more I think about it, the more I That is indeed what most lefties are after Republicans aren’t even worth listening to. am persuaded the first lefty came well before – at the end of the day. They want their own After all, they’re just born that way. the story of Genesis 10. kingdom. They don’t want any part of God’s — Jonah Goldberg I think it goes back to an earlier event Kingdom. They seek to devise their own and USA Today described in Isaiah 14. There was an angel rule over it. That’s the essence of what being May 1, 2012, 7A named Lucifer. He was the most beautiful a lefty is all about – whether they admit it or Politics and glorious creation of God. But he was not. Rush Limbaugh asked a question last proud. And he wasn’t satisfied with his station Alinsky at least admitted it. week – and it got me to thinking? in life. I don’t agree with Alinsky about much, “Who was the first leftist?” So he declared in his heart, much like but about this he is right. Rush suggested we ought to find him Nimrod and his followers, “I will ascend into Lucifer was the first radical, the first rebel, and string him up, but it’s probably far too late heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars the first opponent of God’s order. And even a for that – or it it? of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the pedigreed lefty like Alinsky agreed they were So who was the first leftist? congregation, in the sides of the north: I will kindred spirits. We could look at the question strictly ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will What’s the definition of the term historically and come up with answers: be like the most High.” “sinister”? The dictionary tells us it means When was the term “left” as a political posi- If there is one thing lefties have in com- “threatening or portending evil, harm, tion even invented? mon it is their belief that they don’t need or trouble – something bad, evil, base or If we start there, we begin in 1789, at the God. They don’t believe in His rules. They wicked.” An alternative definition, however time of the French Revolution. Members of have a common desire to overthrow His in every dictionary you check defines it this the National Assembly divided themselves, reign. way: “of or on the left side.” according to their political loyalties to the left Indeed, I’m hardly the first person to It may be too late to string up Alinsky. It and right of the president. suggest that Lucifer, or Satan, as he became may be too late to string up the agitators of One deputy, the Baron de Gauville known after being cast down to earth out of the French Revolution. It may be too late to explained how it happened: “We began to heaven, was the first lefty. string up Karl Marx or Josef Stalin or Adolf recognize each other: those who were loyal In fact, one of the best-known lefties of Hitler (another lefty, by the way) or V.I. Lenin to religion and the king took up positions to the 20th century, one whose ideas may be or Mao. the right of the chair so as to avoid the shouts, reaching the pinnacle of their effectiveness But Satan has been defeated. His days oaths and indecencies that enjoyed free rein today, said as much way back in 1972. are numbered. His fate is sealed. in the opposing camp.” That would be the infamous Saul Alin- So keep that in mind when you get de- But that’s simple semantics. sky. In the 1972 Vintage Books paperback pressed by the politics and cultural madness Perhaps that was the first time the actual edition of “Rules for Radicals,” the inspira- you see all around you. ideological labels were used, but the world- tion of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton — Joseph Farah view behind them began long before. and many others in power today, wrote the The Washington Times It may have begun at the Tower of Babel, following: “Lest we forget at least an over-the- May 14, 2012, p. 36

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