Democratic socialism, evangelical racism, and dirty dogs: This past week saw a lot of action. Here are some of the top stories that crossed our desk:
Lots this week about the connections of racism and evangelicalism.
1.) An interview with Jemar Tisby at R&P:
every time that the white community—especially Christians—failed to confront racism in its everyday, mundane forms, they created a context of compromise that allowed for an extreme act of racial terror like planting dynamite at a church. That’s the idea of complicity. It’s not that every Christian was a foaming-at-the-mouth racist hurling racial slurs and burning crosses on peoples’ lawns.
2.) The dangers of racism for the future of evangelical religion, at CT:
a warning sign for those concerned about the possible waning of evangelicalism in the United States. While current survey data says that white evangelicals have not experienced statistically significant population declines in the last decade, this will likely not continue into the future.
Art to choke hearts.
Wow. Trumpy artist sues to get his painting displayed at the Smithsonian, at TI. HT: TWOILH.
- I say, put it up. Here’s why, at ILYBYGTH.
High school doesn’t have to be boring, at NYT. HT: LC.
Harvard University: Creationist factory? Interview with creationist Harvard PhD at WORLD.
What do today’s teens worry about? Not what you might think, at The Economist.
SOCIALISM 2020
- Are Dems embracing Milwaukee’s “sewer socialist” history? They should, says John Nichols.
- Who still cares about the “socialist threat?” This guy, at TP.
- Hold me to it: I predicted Trump will triumph if he can make 2020 about socialism.
Preaching Christianity to Christians, at RNS:
Christianity as merely a family tradition only requires maintaining the tradition. . . . Sadly, many people in the Bible Belt are haunted by the idea of Christ, while not understanding His love for them.
Queen Betsy threatens the budget for Special Olympics, but the budget goes up. Turns out this happens a lot, from MS.
Country dog? City dog? An argument for letting dogs be dogs at FPR:
while city dogs enjoy ever more doggy parks, doggy play dates and dog-friendly shops and stores, their elevated status burdens them with human-dominated constraints.
Can conservatives find a way to love Trump? At RCP:
Many [conservatives] are repulsed by [Trump’s] crudity, thin-skinned nature, and vitriolic personal attacks. . . . But—and this is crucial—conservatives and many independents recognize Trump’s biggest achievement, beyond strengthening the economy and rebuilding the military, is his persistent effort to roll back the administrative state, with its endless regulations and executive orders.
I Love You but You're Going to Hell 