Labor Day 2008 came with a bang as Hurricane Gustav plowed into the Gulf Coast and as the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain revealed that the daughter of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is five months pregnant, and yet unmarried.  The word spread quickly, even as Americans celebrated their end-of-summer holiday with an unusual attentiveness to the news. Read Full Blog...

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[This article was originally posted on May 6, 2008.  In it, I offer the remark that Gov. Sarah Palin "is often mentioned as a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain."  What seemed merely a possibility in May has become reality in August, and the world saw Trig Paxson Van Palin in his eldest sister's arms as his mother was announced as Sen. McCain's choice for the vice presidential nomination of the Republican Party.  Thus, the event became a great testimony for the sanctity of all human life.  The article is reprinted due to requests and interest.] Read Full Blog...

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The concept of adoption is nearly universal.  In the classic sense it is the formal and legally recognized act of willingly receiving someone else's child as your own.  In contrast to temporary guardianship or foster arrangements, adoption is permanent.  Legally, adoption establishes a new identity for the child.  In many cases around the world, adoption can mean the difference between life and death. Read Full Blog...

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Should physicians and other healthcare professionals be required to perform procedures that violate their conscience?  Most states have adopted so-called "conscience clauses" that shield doctors and others from being required to perform abortions, euthanasia, and other procedures when these would violate the doctor's own moral commitments. Read Full Blog...

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Joseph Bottum remembers a time when America was painted in bold Protestant hues.  "America was Methodist, once upon a time--Methodist, or Baptist, or Presbyterian, or Congregationalist, or Episcopalian," he explains.  But, that was then, and this is now. Read Full Blog...

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What kind of god would be plausible in this postmodern age?  Taken by itself, that question represents the great divide between those who believe in the God of the Bible and those who see the need to reinvent a deity more acceptable to the modern mind. Read Full Blog...

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The greeting card features two male torsos in tuxedos.  The message is clear -- Hallmark is ready to join the celebration of same-sex marriage. Read Full Blog...

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The subversion of moral responsibility is one of the most significant developments of recent decades.  Though this subversion was originally philosophical, more recent efforts have been based in biology and psychology.  Various theorists have argued that our decisions and actions are determined by genetics, environmental factors, or other forces.  Now, Scientific American is out with a report on a study linking determinism and moral responsibility. Read Full Blog...

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Is belief in hell disappearing?  "Absolutely," says Barnard College professor Alan Segal, author of Life After Death: A History of the Afterlife in Western Religion.  Segal's remark is found within a news story released by Religion News Service.  In "Belief in Hell Dips, But Some Say They've Already Been There," Charles Honey traces the transformation of hell in contemporary America. Read Full Blog...

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