When Shrugging is Not an Option
- May/June 2025
- April 30, 2025
Illustrations by John MacDonald Three Angels Broadcasting Network is the realized dream of Danny Shelton and his wife, Linda. Today 3ABN, as it is known, is a 24-hour Christian television/satellite and radio network that began in 1984 when Danny was impressed to build a religious television station that would reach the world. From Thompsonville, Illinois,
READ MOREI guess I live in a protected environment. It's called middle-class America. It's a good place to live—I'm not complaining! But little from the outside world touches us here. We express our opinions, we work, we live our lives, and we watch the rest of the world on television while eating dinner. We hardly ever
READ MOREWay back in the wobbly days before the operation to free Iraq from Saddam Hussein I read a rather confident essay by a nationally syndicated columnist: a man who has written for Liberty on more than one occasion. Agreeing with his characterization of the Iraqi regime but a little taken aback at the readiness to
READ MOREIllustrations by Laura Stutzman Last fall the House of Representatives defeated a bill that would have allowed religious institutions and their clergy to endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status. Proponents, though, vowed to resurrect the bill during the 108th Congress, which convened in January this year. Representative Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) proclaimed in
READ MOREIllustrations by Ralph Butler Today James Madison gets most of the credit for ratification of the First Amendment. His role was undoubtedly pivotal, but his involvement represents only part of the story. Thousands of others also worked for ratification, many of them members of the fastest-growing denomination in America during the late 1700s, the Baptists.
READ MOREIllustrations by Ricardo Stamatori First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" . . . and President Bush's plans to fund "faith-based" social programs. Has it all been said? Probably. But I haven't heard this reality set forth: Once religion is established, it will likely never be disestablished. Why be concerned?
READ MOREIllustrations by Paul Vismara Many Canadian parents believe that the worldview permeating the country's public education system conflicts with their religious, personal, and moral convictions. So when the Ontario government introduced controversial legislation in mid-2001–legislation that called for private school tax credits–supporters of independent schools applauded the move. But critics decried the decision and argued,
READ MOREIllustrations by David Klein In the Northeast, where I live, we have a saying: "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." The same holds true in an interesting case involving the Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its legal briefs have more twists and turns than a Grisham thriller. The issues
READ MORETo paraphrase folk singer Pete Seeger, "Where have all the Baptists gone?" That's a fair question for those watching today's battles over church-state separation, for those who might be surprised to find people identified as Baptist contending for government sponsorship and funding of religion. After all, Baptists helped forge the American experiment in religious liberty
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