4 ways the 9/11 attacks changed life in America
A recent poll of registered voters conducted by USA Today/Suffolk University finds that 60% of Americans say 9/11 changed their lives forever. While there are innumerable ways the terror attacks affected individuals, here are four ways 9/11 changed life for almost all Americans.
This Week in Washington, D.C.
As the United States departed from Afghanistan, there remains an urgent humanitarian crisis in the country, both for our Afghan allies and those fearing persecution from the Taliban.
Chelsea Sobolik welcomed Matthew Soerens, the U.S. Director of Church Mobilization for World Relief, to discuss how and why Christians can serve Afghan refugees who qualified for the Special Immigrant Visa Program and the Refugee Resettlement Program.
During the conversation, Soerens highlighted the partnership between Send Relief and World Relief, and shared ways Southern Baptists are involved in providing care and support for those who fled Afghanistan.
From The Public Square
Texas' abortion ban is being copied for other states, says pro-life group
The Week
Texas' new, incredibly restrictive abortion law, which the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block in a 5-4 decision, has already piqued the interest of other states looking to enact an abortion ban of their own, Time reports.
Satanic Temple Seeks RFRA Exemption From Texas Abortion Restrictions
Religion Clause
The Satanic Temple announced that it has sent a letter to the FDA arguing that its members should have unrestricted access to the medical abortion-inducing drug Mifepristone. The move is an attempt to counter new abortion restrictions in Texas.
Should Christians Claim Religious Exemption from Mask Mandates?
Public Discourse
Religious freedom is not a get-out-of-jail-free card that lets us evade whatever laws we dislike. Nowhere does the Bible hint that we have the individual authority to examine all laws, determine which are good and which are not, and select, à la carte, which are binding and which are not.
Abortion becomes a ‘huge motivator’ in governor races
POLITICO
Democrats in California and Virginia seized on a restrictive new law in Texas to motivate the party’s base voters in elections this fall.
What You Need to Read
Matthew and Ashli Arbo with How should Christians think about religious exemptions for vaccination?
As an ethicist and attorney practicing religious liberty law, we have engaged in dozens of conversations over the past few weeks regarding vaccination mandates, as well as religious exemptions. Many Christians are considering the ethics and wisdom of these situations for the first time, fielding advice and anecdotes from a variety of sources. We would like to bring to the reader’s attention our perspective and experience on these important issues as they navigate these difficult questions.
Andrew T. Walker with Does justice or profit drive abortion? What the Texas Heartbeat Act will reveal about the abortion industry
By now, the controversy in Texas over the Supreme Court allowing its near total ban on abortion to take effect has become part of the public ether. For some, the current moment offers a foretaste of what a post-Roe world could look like. For others, it is a dystopic descent into a religious theocracy. But in this intervening period where the Texas Heartbeat Act is in effect, it is worth wondering if the threat of financial ruin brought on by the prospect of the law will lead to the continuation or a decrease in abortion.
Jill Waggoner with 3 SBC leaders reflect on 9/11: 20 years later, our call to love others, uphold religious liberty, and share the gospel remains
As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, three Southern Baptists leaders who held significant leadership roles on Sept. 11, 2001, help us to remember that infamous day in American history and consider its impact on the convention and our world. At that time, Dr. Richard Land was the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Dr. James Merritt was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention; and Dr. Jerry Rankin was the president of the International Mission Board.
This Week at the ERLC
- Brent Leatherwood welcomed a Supreme Court order postponing the execution of a Texas inmate who brought suit to have a Southern Baptist pastor lay hands on and pray for him when he receives a lethal injection.
Featured Podcasts
On Capitol Conversations, ERLC’s acting director of public policy Chelsea Sobolik shares the top three stories from Washington, D.C., that you need to know about, shares how Christians ought to think about these issues, and ways Christians can get involved.
On this episode of WeeklyTech, Jason Thacker is joined by Dr. David Koyzis, a Global Scholar for Global Scholars Canada and author of Political Visions and Illusions: A Survey and Christian Critique of Contemporary Ideologies.
