Summer of 2015 Proves Difficult for Evangelicals

This Summer proved difficult for Western Evangelicals--and I don't mean because of the American Supreme Court which refined legal marriage. I am referring to two men who are largely known in the Evangelical world and who are now getting another, more skeptical look.

The first to fall was Tullian Tchividjian, the grandson of Billy Graham, he was caught committing adultery against his wife in   . About three months later he was the one to file for divorce. Christians have held that divorce was only permissible in cases of  martial unfaithfulness since the first century. It's a teaching that goes all the way back to Jesus. 

The second is Josh Duggar who for more than five years appeared on 19 Kids and Countings with his family--the best known Evangelical family in America. The leaking of Ashley Madison documents revealed that he was committing adultery against his wife when she was pregnant. This comes after the revelation that he had molested his sisters when he was barely a teenager. 

There's key difference between the two: Josh was an Evangelical celebrity who spoke at various events but Tullian was a pastor in Florida and as such is held to higher standard. 

Tullian claims that he only committed adultery after he found his wife was doing the same to him. This raises questions of how long Billy Graham's family will be remembered as an Evangelical dynasty. 

Man Stands Up Against Calgary Pride Bus

The Canadian city of Calgary has decided to openly promote homosexuality by covering one of its city buses in a rainbow, pro-homosexuality slogans and in it's electronic sign the words "Happy Pride"; needless to say it was largely unwanted by those who oppose the lifestyle. However, not like it would be in other parts of Canada: a small scale survey found that less than a quarter of Albertans considered homosexual acts to be morally wrong.

One man, who identified as a Christian wouldn't go along with the plan: Driver Jesse Rau had been working for Calgary Transit for about a year but says that if the City forced him to drive the bus he would quit.

Calgary transit says the only reason they would tolerant someone refusing to drive a bus is safety issues--not because of a Charter Right.

Doug Morgan, Calgary Transit's Director stands by the bus idea, saying "Our doors are open to all Calgarians regardless of their background so really that is celebrate that diversity in Calgary."

Apparently that "diversity" doesn't include the city's devout Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims and others who have always been opposed to the promotion of anything they regard as sinful.

This has been taken as another example of intolerance towards religious minorities who don't accept the majority's viewpoints. But there's good news for those who oppose Calgary's efforts to promote the life style with their tax dollars--it only lasts two weeks.

The city of Calgary wasn't the only one to fund the bus although it did give out two thousands dollars and Mr. Morgan did say he would hear what his employee had to say.

One Third of Canadians Say Cannibalism is Not Necessarily Morally Wrong

A small scale survey of about one hundred Canadians shows that about one-third of Canadians believe that cannibalism isn't morally wrong in certain circumstances.

When asked "Do you consider cannibalism to be morally wrong?" 67.01% said yes,  27.84% said yes, except in certain circumstances and 5.15% said no.

For more information see the table below:

Do you consider cannibalism to be morally wrong?	Canadian average	British Columbia	Prairie Provinces	Ontario	Quebec	Atlantic Provinces (Not including New Brunswick)
Yes	67.01%	64.70%	66.66%	75%	83.33%	80%
Yes, except in certain circumstances	27.84%	35.39%	33.33%	22.72%	16.66%	20%
No	5.15%	0%	9.52%	6.81%	0%	0%

17 people reported they resided in British Colombia
21 people were from the Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) 
44 people were from Ontario 
Only 6 were from Quebec
5 were from Atlantic Canada (Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.)
4 resided outside of Canada but were Canadian citizens.  

The statistics from Quebecers and those from Atlantic Provinces are especially unreliable. 

A similar survey is being conducted for Americans (linked to here) and a larger scale survey for Canadians is being considered.

The Islamic State Destroys Palmyra Temple

ISIS militants have decided to destroy a temple that was dedicated to Baal more than 1500 years ago.
ISIS took over the ancient site of Palmyra in late May the city is located between Damascus and the Euphrates River. ISIS had for a long time refrained from causing major damage to the site but this month changed their plan by murdering the Head of Antiquities of the site along with more than twenty others.

That was within a week before they had destroyed buildings that had remained through the Byzantium era and the Arab conquest as well as the Crusades.

In Christian Fundamentalism pagan temples do not need to be destroyed by human efforts* (especially when no one is worshiping a pagan god there.) However, many Islamic fundamentalists see thing differently: They view any image of a creature as something that should be destroyed--it doesn't have to be worshiped by anyone.

Palmyra (Image from BBC)

Like in Christianity and Judaism the worship of physical idols has always been condemned. In Islam one example can be found in Surah 29:17:

"You worship only idols instead of God, and thus you invent a mere falsehood. Surely those that you worship instead of God do not have power to provide for you; so seek all your provision from God, and worship Him and be thankful to Him. To Him you are being brought back. "

*: To be clear Christian Fundamentalism insists that Pagan practice to wiped out but necessarily not the physical building or all the images in it--so long as they're not worshiped. 

Canadian Immorality Table

This graph Shows the percentages of those who indicated that they considered the item morally wrong.

Moral Issue	Canadian average	British Columbia	Prairie Provinces	Ontario	Quebec*	Atlantic Provinces
Adultery	73.96%	76.47%	48.57%	70.45%	83.33%	80%
Abortion	36.46%	41.17%	28.57%	34.09%	50%	20%
Using Jesus’s Name disrespectfully	35.05%	23.52%	25.71%	40.90%	50%	40%
Getting Drunk	30.21%	23.52%	14.28%	29.54%	66.66%	60%
Homosexual sexual relations	26.80%	23.52%	17.14%	27.27%	50%	20%
Fornication	26.32%	17.64%	14.28%	29.54%	33.33%	40%

      

*Quebec in particular was lacking in surveys completed; only six Quebecers completed the survey. 

Canadians on what they consider most to least immoral

Currently incomplete.

In the month of August a survey was conducted with Canadians to find out what they consider morally wrong. Lists (will be) were composed to show a list of what Canadians consider the most immoral to the least immoral.

I) Canada as a whole
II) British Columbia
III) The Prairie Provinces
IV) Ontario
V) Quebec
VI) Atlantic Provinces


Canada as a whole:

Adultery (73.96% said they considered it immoral)

Abortion (36.46%)

Using Jesus's Name disrespectfully (35.05%)

Getting drunk (30.21%)

Homosexual sexual relations (26.80%)

Fornication (26.32%)

British Colombia:

Adultery (76.47%)

Abortion (41.17%)

Homosexual sexual relations, using Jesus's Name disrespectfully and getting drunk (23.52%)

Fornication (17.64%)

Prairie Provinces:

Adultery (48.57%)

Abortion (28.57%)

Using Jesus's Name in a disrespectful manner (25.71%)

Homosexual relations (17.14%)

Fornication and getting drunk (14.28%)

Ontario

Adultery (70.45%)

Using Jesus's Name in a disrespectful manner (40.90%)

Abortion (34.09%)

Fornication and getting drunk (29.54%)

Homosexual acts (27.27%)



Quebec (Respondents Severally lacking):

Adultery (83.33%)

Drunkenness (66.66%)

Homosexual relations, Abortion and using Jesus's Name disrespectfully (50%)

Fornication (33.33%)


Atlantic Provinces 

Adultery (80%)

Getting drunk (60%)

Fornication and using Jesus's Name in a disrespect manner (40%)

Homosexual relations and Abortion (20%)

Report: Canadians Surveyed on What They Consider Morally Wrong

A survey was conducted this August asking Canadians a total of ten questions largely dealing with what they considered to be morally wrong.

Table of Context

I) Where this survey is lacking
II) What Canadians consider immoral


I) Before giving out the data it is important that we are open about where this survey is lacking. This survey was completed by about one hundred Canadians: 4.12% lived outside Canada, 15.46% lived in Alberta, 17.53% lived in British Columbia, 3.09% lived in Manitoba, 3.09 lived in Saskatchewan. The majority of those surveyed were from Ontario (45.36%). Only 6.19% resided in Quebec. 1.03% came from Newfoundland, 3.09% came from Nova Scotia and 1.03% came from Prince Edward Island. No one resided in the Nothern Territories or New Brunswick. This survey is lacking mostly in Quebecers.

59.38% of those surveyed were male, only 40.63% were female.

They were asked what age group they fell under, of those who answered:

7.29% were children (aged twelve or under)
18.75% were teenagers.
37.50% were young adults (18-30)
36.46% were older adults (older than 30)

As most Canadians are over thirty this is an area where the survey is lacking.

II)

Do you consider fornication (having pre-martial sexual intercourse) to be morally wrong?

26.32% said yes.

73.68% said no.

Do you consider sexual relations between people of the same gender to be morally wrong?

26.80% said yes.

73.20% said no.

Do you consider adultery to be morally wrong?

73.96% said yes.

26.04% said no.

Do you consider abortion to be morally wrong in all or the majority of situations.

36.46% said yes.

63.54% said no.

Do you consider using the Name "Jesus" in a dis-respectful manner to be morally wrong?

35.05% said yes.

64.95% said no.

Do consider getting drunk (in most or all situations) to be morally wrong?

30.21% said yes.

69.79% said no.

Do you consider cannibalism to be morally wrong?

67.01% said yes.

27.84% said yes, except in certain circumstances.

5.15% said no.