PODCASTS

Tag: #politics
“Doing Church” in the Aftermath of an Assassination Attempt – 7/25/24

“Doing Church” in the Aftermath of an Assassination Attempt – 7/25/24

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“Doing Church” — “Being Church” — in the Aftermath of an Assassination Attempt

A Family Life Interview

For much of the nation, so much has happened in a two-week period, that the news-cycle has moved on from the assassination attempt in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

However, for the people of that immediate region an hour north of Pittsburgh, the trauma and the questions that started a mere two Saturdays ago will continue for quite some time.

Local churches there are responding — and will, into the long term.

Our Greg Gillispie talked with regional pastor Tom Harmon, asking about Christians’ local response, to an internationally-famous incident. Theirs is among many local congregations of multiple traditions and denominations reaching out in faithful responses in the aftermath of this shooting.

 

The Rev. Dr. Tom Harmon is executive presbyter for Beaver-Butler Presbytery, a network of 60 congregations in western Pennsylvania.

The organization to which Dr. Harmon refers is “Search for Common Ground”. The USA component of this worldwide movement released a public statement regarding the shooting of Donald Trump and three attendees at the Butler rally. The organization’s website is www.SFCG.org

Family Life News seeks to bring a Christian Worldview to what’s happening in New York, Pennsylvania, across the country, and around the world with 12 daily newscasts, special features, podcasts, and extended interviews like this one.
A Family Life Interview – Local analysis of the Biden-Harris campaign swap

A Family Life Interview – Local analysis of the Biden-Harris campaign swap

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A Family Life Interview – Local analysis of Democrats’ next steps, post-Biden

In these early days since President Biden released a statement that he was stepping away from his reelection campaign, attention has centered around Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

We get local analysis on these fast-changing political and governmental developments, with a Family Life Interview with Professor Jeff Bloodworth of Gannon University in Erie.  Bloodworth gives his initial reactions to Biden’s withdrawal from the race, historical perspectives on this year’s political machinations, and his observations about steps Democrats should take next to strengthen their electoral prospects.

Among those considerations, recruiting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to be the vice-presidential nominee — or perhaps even the new presidential candidate.

Dr. Jeff Bloodworth is one of our commentators for Family Life News on politics and history. He teaches both of those subjects at Gannon University.
The Attack on Trump — Political & Christian perspectives from Michael Geer – 7/18/24

The Attack on Trump — Political & Christian perspectives from Michael Geer – 7/18/24

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The Attack on Trump — Political & Christian perspectives from Michael Geer – 7/18/2024

As part of the Family Life News continuing coverage of the attempt on Donald Trump’s life on July 13,  we continue to seek out reactions and perspectives from the Family Life listening area.

Michael Geer is the founding president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute. (He had been a resident of that area north of the Pittsburgh metro area.) Family Life news producer Greg Gillispie asked Geer to comment on the likely political fallout in Pennsylvania. Winning a majority of Keystone State voters is seen by both major political parties as a key to who will win the presidency this fall. Geer says the assassination attempt, plus the former president’s actions in the immediate aftermath, are likely to influence a number of uncommitted and independent voters.

Geer also offers a faith-based perspective on how, moving forward, this near-death experience is likely to affect the 45th president — and many people for whom this event can be a significant turning point.
The Attack on Trump — Political & Christian perspectives from Jason McGuire – 7/16/24

The Attack on Trump — Political & Christian perspectives from Jason McGuire – 7/16/24

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The Attack on Trump — Political & Christian perspectives from Jason McGuire – 7/16/2024

As part of the Family Life News continuing coverage of Saturday’s shooting attack which hit Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and three other people, anchor of our Noon Report Bob Price talks with a Christian pastor and political commentator.

Jason McGuire is executive director of the New York Families Foundation.
Family Life Noon Report – July 4, 2024

Family Life Noon Report – July 4, 2024

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Family Life Noon Report – July 4, 2024

“Freedom & Faith”

On this special edition of the Family Life Noon Report:

  • Actor Gary Sinise tells his story of how portraying Lieutenant Dan changed his life, and how he and his movie character has changed the lives of those in military service, their families, veterans, and — especially — disabled veterans.

[Spoiler alert: Forrest Gump’s commanding officer became a paraplegic because of his military service in Vietnam.] 

The award-winning, generational-touchstone movie Forrest Gump entered America’s consciousness — and our national conscience — when it debuted 30 years ago this weekend.

  • Christian professor Caleb Verbois gives us insight into how the Christian faith shaped America’s founding generation and their documents. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution are rooted in Biblical tradition and Christian priorities.
  • Political History professor Jeff Bloodworth talks about the extreme personal risks taken by Colonists who chose to rebel against the British king. He also told us that modern-day political turmoil and divisiveness is nothing new. Debate, derision and name-calling are a quintessial aspect of being a democracy — and has been throughout two and a half centuries of U.S. history.
  • The “free exercise” and “establishment” clauses are the parallel protections of religious freedom in the First Amendment. But, as we hear from Biblical scholar Paul Kemeny, the United States might have come close to having one official religion for at least some colonies in the new nation, but it was stopped by protests in the decade between the Declaration and the Constitution. Without that early advocacy for full religious liberty without government entanglements, freedom of religion would have been shaped very differently.

 

Our guests for this Faith & Freedom-themed holiday special:

       

Dr. Caleb Verbois is Professor of Political Science at Grove City College (Erie, Pennsylvania)

Dr. Jeff Bloodworth is Professor of History and Director of the Public Service and Global Studies Program at Gannon

Dean Paul Kemeny leads the School of Arts and Letters, as well as teaching Bible and Religious studies at Grove City College

Academy-award-winning actor Gary Sinise portrayed Forrest Gump’s commanding officer (and First Mate on Gump’s shrimp boat) in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. His Gary Sinise Foundation is active in supporting current and previous American service personnel.

    • The American Veterans Center conducted the Gary Sinise interview. You can listen to or watch his longer conversation about Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, his full acting and directing career, and how disabled veterans have given him spiritual renewal and a meaningful life purpose.

 

Family Life’s News Producer Greg Gillispie hosts this July 4 half-hour special.
Inside Out: What do people mean when they say “Christian Nationalism”? – 6/26/24

Inside Out: What do people mean when they say “Christian Nationalism”? – 6/26/24

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What do people mean when they say “Christian Nationalism”?

 

Christian nationalism is in the news, but what is it?

Nationalism is different from feeling patriotic or making sure to vote every November. Part of what defines nationalism in general is its goal to reserve privileges for only one group in a country that has many groups. Christian nationalism, to be specific, aims for the government to privilege Christians.

Dr. Paul D. Miller believes Christian nationalism is a danger to the Church. That’s because it makes a Christian’s citizenship in a country a higher priority than a Christian’s citizenship in God’s Kingdom.

“If we start to orient our hearts towards America as if it were an ultimate thing, well, that’s actually idolatry, and we misunderstand the entire Gospel, as if the Gospel is all about making America great. And that’s just not why Jesus came,” Miller says. “He said very clearly, ‘My Kingdom is not of this world.’ I’m grateful for America, but it’s really important that I don’t confuse America for Jesus’ Kingdom.”

He believes that Christian nationalism not only threatens the Church, but also our democracy.

“It is a danger, I think, in a more mild sense of being in tension with the principles of liberty and equality for all citizens, Christian and non-Christian alike.”

And while not all Christian nationalists are violent, some are. Those waving Christian symbols and calling on God as they broke into the nation’s capitol on January 6, 2021 are an example of the movement’s violent minority. “That kind of mixing of religious rhetoric with a violent assault on the citadel of democracy is, I think, clearly dangerous for American democracy,” Miller says. “Again, that’s a small minority, but it is there, let’s not ignore it.”

 Miller wants the Church to be aware of the danger of Christian nationalism, even as he points out that it’s not the only threat.

 “This is part of a much bigger conversation. While we’ve talked about the dangers on the Right, there’s dangers on the Left as well.”

– – –

Dr. Paul D. Miller is Martha’s guest for this Inside Out discussion on Christian nationalism. Dr. Miller is a former member of the National Security Council staff who has served as an intelligence analyst for the CIA and as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. Currently Dr. Miller is a professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University. Read a more detailed biography of Dr. Paul D. Miller discover more about his book The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism.

SCOTUS ruling on FDA “Mail-Order Mifepristone” – 6/24/24

SCOTUS ruling on FDA “Mail-Order Mifepristone” – 6/24/24

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:39 — 11.9MB)

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A Special Family Life Interview

The U.S. Supreme Court, at least temporarily, has allowed continued mail-order distribution of abortion-inducing pills. A group of pro-life physicians had sued to stop the practice, after FDA regulations were revised to eliminate a requirement to meet with a doctor before starting the process to end the pregnancy. The latest FDA rules say even a video visit with a prescriber is no longer needed.

Opponents of widespread use of the two-pill “cocktail” of Mifepristone and Misoprostal quote the FDA’s own statistics that 1 of every 25 women who take these drugs end up in an emergency department with complications. Other physical and emotional-health consequences are likely more numerous.

Attorney Katie Daniel of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America gave Family Life News her reaction to the SCOTUS decision, predictions on where the case goes next, and why these pills can be so harmful to women, especially with no required followup with a medical professional.

 

For further information:

  • More from Katie Daniel: In-depth polling, conducted by CRC Research for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, reveals that 75% of Americans believe the FDA should have performed studies focused on girls under the age of 18 before approving these pills for minors.
  • Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America: That organizations official website
  • SBA on WPLG: Women’s safety, in light of sexual trafficking and domestic abusers
  • Click the picture of the Court building to read the full June 13 decision.
Faith Under Fire – NY’s AG v Pregnancy Resource Centers – 6/20/24

Faith Under Fire – NY’s AG v Pregnancy Resource Centers – 6/20/24

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:17 — 11.4MB)

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“Faith Under Fire” – New York’s Attorney General v Pregnancy Resource Centers – 6/20/24

Pregnancy Care Centers are suing State Attorney General Tish James, to prevent the AG from suing the pro-life centers who want to share medical information about the dangers of two abortion-triggering pills.

Gabriella McIntyre of the Alliance Defending Freedom joins Sarah Harnisch to discuss the issues underlying these current and proposed legal battles, plus what the courts will be asked to consider about Freedom of Speech, government regulations, and the public’s access to appropriate medical information.

 

 

“Faith Under Fire” is our weekly interview feature which listens to the voices at the center of today’s religious battlegrounds. Hear these conversations each Thursday during our Noon Report and 5 O’Clock Report — and anytime from FamilyLife.org, on the Family Life Now app, or by searching “Family Life News” on your favorite podcast feed.

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