“Passover and Easter are the only Jewish and Christian holidays that move in sync, like the ice skating pairs we saw during the Winter Olympics.”
Marvin Olasky
Tag Archives: Christianity
Happy Easter 2026
Creepy Easter Photos 2025
Once again, the Easter bunny – like politicians and rap singers – are proving to be as scary, if not scarier than anything from Halloween. I still can’t figure out who in their right mind would accept a job in a mall dressed as a gigantic rabbit. Then again, I guess they’re not in their right mind in the first place – like politicians and rap singers – and therein lies the conundrum. And would someone please try to explain how Jesus Christ correlates to a chocolate herbivore that can lay eggs!
Top image: “Notebook” by Eugenia Rodgers
Filed under Curiosities
Words
Several years ago actress turned animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot found herself in legal trouble with French authorities. The former screen siren openly condemned the Islamic practice of animal slaughter during the Aid al-Kabir holiday. She’d been in such a predicament before – several times. French law doesn’t actually forbid disparaging religious ideology, but it looks down sharply upon it, as it can be considered slander or worse, a conduit to hate-obsessed violence.
It’s surprising, considering France fought hard against Nazi occupation during World War II. One tenet of Nazism is that anyone who speaks out against the government is deemed a traitor. But, short of slander or threats of violence, criticism of governing bodies and religion is free speech. Imprisoning anyone, or even threatening to levy a monetary penalty for such views, runs counter to that.
All of it strikes hard for me – and other writers and artists – here in the U.S., as we witness ongoing assaults on various forms of free speech. Book bans remain a primary source of concern. And with Republicans in charge of the White House and both houses of Congress, the attacks continue. Social extremists have always been opposed to any viewpoint that doesn’t conform to their standards – whether it’s coming from the left or the right. The voices of moderates seem to get lost in the chaos.
Recently the U.S. government – under pressure from the Trump administration – compiled and presented a list of words that are forbidden on federal web sites and other documentation. They include such terms as “biologically male”, “clean energy”, “inequality”, and “woman”. This is real! I have a tendency towards creating outrageous stories, but I’m not intoxicated or deranged. Well…not yet.
Regardless, the list definitely isn’t a manifestation of liberal outrage at the most right-wing president in decades. It’s a result of years of conservative ideology designed to put people and institutions in categories and re-enshrine bigotry and hatred into the American conscience. The leftward shift in culture and politics in the U.S. beginning in the late 1950s eventually met the hostility of Reaganesque antipathy towards anything viewed as different or the other. The Trump era is the culmination of it all.
Those in formerly marginalized groups who also voted for Trump and his ilk shouldn’t be surprised – but they are. For example, Cuban-Americans voted overwhelmingly for Trump, as they often have for the Republican Party. As Cuba has been under communist rule since 1959, those fleeing the country have been given special protection from American law. The same luxury hasn’t been granted to people fleeing war and violence in other Latin American nations, such as El Salvador and Guatemala. However, the Trump Administration’s efforts to reform immigration law have started to impact thousands of Cuban immigrants. Now, Cuban-Americans have the audacity to be horrified at the betrayal. Remember the adage: be careful what you wish for; you might just get it.
We also need to recall the words of Martin Niemöller:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Trump and his cronies appear to be going after anyone who doesn’t fit the narrow definition of who he is. His hypocrisy is glaring. He never outwardly espoused any religious fervor until he first ran for president, but now says Christian ideology should be taught in schools. If he believes in true biblical content, then consider the Christian Bible’s 7th commandment: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14.
There are others.
“I am a stranger and an alien residing among you; give me property among you for a burying place, so that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” Genesis 23:4
“The sinless one among you, go first. Throw the stone.” John 8:6-11
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
I’m sure this would be too much for him to handle. It’s too much even for some devout Christians to handle!
Whatever words someone wants to use, they shouldn’t be frightened into compliance. Russia, Iran and North Korea do that. No truly democratic society wants to echo such autocratic leadership.
Filed under Essays
Oh, Hell No!
“It’s way beyond ironic that a place called the Holy Land is the location of the fiercest, most deeply felt hatred in the world.”
The Middle East – once again – is in turmoil. Then again, the sky is blue, so tell me something I DON’T know. Early on October 7, Hamas terrorists unexpectedly decided to attack a music festival in southern Israel. The calamity resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, in what Israeli officials dub “Israel’s 9/11”. It was the latest salvo in the millennia old conflict between Arabs and Jews in the region. And the perpetually high tensions are only intensifying.
Israel severed utility services to the Gaza Strip where over two million Palestinians are crammed into a tiny area in apartheid-like conditions. Meanwhile, Hamas is holding several Jewish hostages. It’s a nasty stalemate with no viable end.
As usual, though, the United States has gotten involved by showing unmitigated support for Israel. But President Joe Biden has gone even further and ordered two Navy aircraft carrier groups into the eastern Mediterranean to assist Israel with intelligence and reconnaissance. Now comes word that Biden may actually send U.S. ground troops into the region to provide further backing in the form of advice and medical assistance. That’s how our involvement in Vietnam got started more than six decades ago. And to that I say hell no!
U.S. military involvement in the Israeli – Hamas imbroglio will only result in more animosity towards the U.S. from the Arab world. In case anyone forgot, our most recent entanglement in the Middle East resulted in the deaths of millions of people. Coming out of the tragedy of 9/11, we had a cowboy president who was aching to run out and bomb places. That conflict – the Iraq War – was launched purely to gain access to the country’s valuable natural resources. It was blood for oil.
If the U.S. sends ground troops into Israel, it will just be lots of blood. And it won’t stop the relentless animosity that plagues the region. Something else will erupt between the warring sides in the future. That particular part of the globe has been a super-volcano of human interaction and for one primary reason – religion. The Middle East is the birth place of the world’s three largest theologies – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In other words, it’s a crime scene.
Hamas is definitely a terrorist group – and a cowardly one at that. They hide among the innocent civilians of the Palestinian populace; people they swear to support but who are also captives. But Israel isn’t exactly innocent. Like the United States, Israel was established primarily by White Europeans seeking religious freedom who displaced many of the indigenous residents.
Ironically, though, because that area is the cradle of Judaism and Islam, people of both faiths can genuinely claim it as their homeland. Supposedly Israel has proposed a two-state solution for decades, which Palestinians have allegedly rejected.
I have to highlight that Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. They maintain the highest standard of living and the lowest infant mortality in the region. I mean, Israeli women can drive and vote and don’t have to dress up like beekeepers when they leave home!
Regardless, I don’t know why level heads won’t prevail amidst the anxiety and honestly I really don’t care. The hate between both groups is like space – it’s infinite and never-ending. I truly wish, though, they would stop fighting and start talking. But because the bitterness has simmered for centuries and because religion is at the crux of it all, I just don’t see that happening within our lifetime.
Either way I just don’t want the U.S. to get militarily involved. That will solve nothing! It never has.
Filed under Essays
Happy Easter 2023
“The real reason Easter is on a different day each year is because sometimes it’s difficult to remember which lie you told.”
Filed under News
Worst Quotes of the Week – July 30, 2022
“Those who play with fire will perish by it.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping, to President Joe Biden, regarding Taiwan’s independence
The comment comes after news that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi plans to visit Taiwan soon.
“This is why we have always fought: We are willing to mix with one another, but we do not want to become peoples of mixed race.”
Hungarian President Viktor Orbán, who is scheduled to speak in Dallas next week at the Conservative Political Action Conference, urging his fellow Europeans not to marry non-White immigrants
Orbán also appeared to make light of the Nazi Holocaust while discussing plans to reduce natural-gas demand in Europe: “I do not see how it will be enforced – although, as I understand it, the past shows us German know-how on that.”
“You degenerate pagans and atheists and non-believers went way too far with the COVID nonsense, with shutting down our churches and forcing our kids to be masked, and forcing us to get vaccinated with some mystery goop in order to keep our jobs and provide for our families. You pushed us too far, and now we’re going to take dominion of this country, of our culture, of news, of entertainment, of technology, of education, of everything for the glory of Jesus Christ, our king. It’s just that simple.”
Andrew Torba, a far-right Christian nationalist preacher, in a speech supporting fellow right-wing nationalist Doug Mastriano
“Nobody has gotten to the bottom of 09/11 unfortunately, and they should have.”
Former President Donald Trump, as his country club prepare to host several officials from Saudi Arabia for a golf tournament
Trump’s Bedminster Club is just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. Several families of 9/11 victims have expressed outrage over the event. Of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers, 15 were from Saudi Arabia.
Filed under News
Best Quotes of the Week – July 23, 2022
“There’s nothing more dangerous than professed Christians who have no real interest in Jesus. They’re rather easy to spot if you’re paying attention. They’re usually the ones most loudly claiming things like religious liberty while methodically swallowing up the personal freedoms and elemental rights of other people. They incessantly broadcast their devotion of God on their bumpers and bellies, while living antithetically to the compassionate heart of Jesus actually found in the Scriptures.”
John Pavlovitz, “Actual Followers of Jesus Don’t Want Conservatives’ Compulsory Christianity”
“It is clear that their attempts to roll back the clock on contraception is again another plank on their extreme agenda for American women.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, after the House of Representatives passed the Right to Contraception Act
The bill codifies the right to birth control amid concerns the U.S. Supreme Court may repeal the right to contraception following the Dobbs decision that reversed the right to abortion.
It’s worth noting 195 Republican members of the House voted against the act.
Filed under News
Most Historically Inaccurate Quote of the Week – July 9, 2022
“What is happening now is traditional American values are being trashed as extreme, as outrageous. “Look, this is a country founded on Judeo-Christian, ok? This is in my courtroom and most courtrooms in this country. They say ‘In God We Trust.’ It’s even on our money. And the truth is they are pushing us away from religion and she is a traditionalist in terms of her beliefs.”
Jeanine Pirro, a former judge and prosecutor, about the ‘In God We Trust’ markings on U.S. currency
The ‘In God We Trust’ law was enacted in 1956.
Filed under News
Best Quotes of the Week – July 9, 2022
“There’s two battles that are happening in our country and in our city right now. You have the far right that states give everyone a gun no matter what. You have the far left that states everyone that uses a gun should not be held accountable. These two groups are not the majority of Americans. And they have actually held our country and our city hostage. These two groups don’t realize they’re co-conspirators to the public safety crises that we’re facing in our city and country.”
Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, about the rise in crime in his city
“Use of the Bible in the abortion debate often focuses on quoting individual verses out of context to prove something about the value of prenatal life. But there are no direct teachings about abortion in the Bible. And not all Christians engage with Scripture in this way, nor is it how all think about what shapes and defines Christian values.”
Rebecca Todd Peters, in an editorial about the reversal of Roe vs. Wade
Filed under News
Chief Writing Wolf 