The Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex ‘Marriage’

The Eclectic Web, June 28, 2013

Leading off the Eclectic Web today is an excellent piece by Al Mohler of Southern Seminary in Louisville:

“Waiting for the Other Shoe” — The Supreme Court Rules on Same-Sex Marriage

The Christian church does not ask the U. S. Supreme Court, or any other human court, what marriage is. Marriage is a pre-political institution defined by our Creator — for His glory and for human flourishing. Today’s decisions will create serious religious liberty challenges for all churches, Christian institutions, and Christian citizens in this nation. But the greatest impact of these decisions is the further marginalization and subversion of marriage. The destruction of marriage did not start recently, and it did not start with same-sex marriage, but its effects will be devastating.

Other topics covered below:

Transgender Six Year Old?
An indictment of radical feminism
Age of creation (more Mohler)
Politics: the NY Times editorializes against the president
Health:  the hidden costs of smoking to the economy
Lighter side:
Victorian Brits smarter than us?
Sounds like we need more coffee!

Rights Unit Finds Bias Against Transgender Student

A Colorado school district discriminated against a transgender first grader when it refused to let her use the girl’s bathroom, the state’s civil rights division has determined, a decision gay and transgender advocates say will have an indelible impact on how such cases are handled in the future.

Feminism: How my mother’s fanatical views tore us apart

She’s revered as a trail-blazing feminist and author Alice Walker touched the lives of a generation of women. A champion of women’s rights, she has always argued that motherhood is a form of servitude. But one woman didn’t buy in to Alice’s beliefs  –  her daughter, Rebecca, 38.

Creation: Why Does the Universe Look So Old? (Albert Mohler)

This piece is a transcript of a message given at the 2010 Ligonier Ministries National Conference. The message defends the literal 24 hour day view of the days of Creation.

At the end of the day, if I’m asked the question “why does the universe look so old?” I’m simply left with the reality that the universe is telling the story of the glory of God. Why does it look so old? Well that, in terms of any more elaborate answer, is known only to the Ancient of Days. And that is where we are left.

Politics: President Obama’s Dragnet – NYTimes.com

Those reassurances have never been persuasive — whether on secret warrants to scoop up a news agency’s phone records or secret orders to kill an American suspected of terrorism — especially coming from a president who once promised transparency and accountability.

The administration has now lost all credibility on this issue. Mr. Obama is proving the truism that the executive branch will use any power it is given and very likely abuse it.

Health: Your Cigarette-Smoking Coworker Costs $5,800 Extra Each Year

According to a new study from Micah Berman at Ohio State, the average smoking private sector employee costs companies $5,800 more per year than one who has never smoked.

Lighter Side:

Victorian Era Brits Were Smarter Than Us : Discovery News

The average intelligence level of Victorian Era individuals was higher than that of people today, according to a new study.

This Is Your Brain on Coffee

But men who reported drinking two or three cups of coffee a day were 10 percent less likely to have died than those who didn’t drink coffee, while women drinking the same amount had 13 percent less risk of dying during the study. It’s not clear exactly what coffee had to do with their longevity, but the correlation is striking.

But wait, there’s more:

Participants with little or no caffeine circulating in their bloodstreams were far more likely to have progressed to full-blown Alzheimer’s than those whose blood indicated they’d had about three cups’ worth of caffeine.

(File this one in the category of “I only believe research that confirms the good in my bad habits.”)


Publication of links in The Eclectic Web feature does not imply endorsement of the viewpoint or contents of any of the websites linked. The links are provided as a matter of interest to Christians.