The Easter Quantum :
This week we look at the Pope in Sudan ; the Notre Dame fire; elections in Indonesia; Abortion in South Korea and Bejings massive new airport.
A big theme in this week’s Quantum is the intolerance and hypocrisy of today’s ‘liberal’ culture. We start with the weird world of Rugby Australia:
On this side of the ocean we have the even more bizarre case of a rugby player being attacked because he like Israel Folau’s tweet. Billy Vunipola. Our friend Peter Lynas has an excellent commentary on this in the Belfast Telegraph. And this article from the law and religion in Australia blog is really helpful. Brian Houston weighed in with this article in the Sydney Morning Herald
Perhaps the most interesting and balanced comment was from the atheist Matthew Parris who argued for Folau’s freedom to say what he believes.
The intolerance exists in comedy – as Barry Humphries is now banned in the festival he founded – the Melbourne comedy festival.
Intolerance and irrationality is also seen in science as this article in Scientific American demonstrates. And in education – did you know that libraries are symbols of white oppression?
Or that some University lecturers now think its ok to advocate violence as a means of protest?
I would also highly recommend the Quillete podcast interview with Roger Scruton.
There is a new film out about a concert done by Aretha Franklin in Los Angeles in 1972….
Finally, I leave you with this wonderful quote from Michael Green about Easter. Have a great weekend.
“The resurrection is the place to begin if you are looking for a satisfying faith on which to base your life. Do not waste a lot of time investigating every religion under the sun….examine the evidence for Jesus instead. If he is risen you need look no further”.
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Madness! A world away from the 90s when BH played Fagin in Oliver. At the casts farewell for the lady retiring as chaperone of the days in the cast, BH joked he was now free to molest the boys!
Thanks David , A very illuminating and sound assessments from Quantum today !
Yes ! Yes! Yes! He died on the cross for our sin , and He is at the Father’s side to intercede for us . Such is the power of the cross !
I would have to respectfully disagree with your opinion on the money being spent to rebuild Notre Dame. I think to give money, so that a church built for the glory and worship of God can be restored is a very noble thing to do. For centuries, Notre Dame has lifted man’s hearts and minds upward. We could use more structures that shift our perspective from the profane to the sacred (specifically the Trinity)
In a world filled with ugliness, why should church buildings conform to this? I understand some churches do not have large funds, and so I’m not advocating for all churches to be Notre Dame. However, I’d argue our world needs more Notre Dames, not less. I don’t understand why a lot of “new” churches want to be built like a local warehouse, so that nobody can tell the difference. Is it because they want to look “oh so humble.” Beauty is a wonderful apologetic for the existence of God and we should aspire to build our churches to reflect this. Even simple churches can be built beautifully.
Since Notre Dame was stolen and is now owned by the French state (since 1905), who knows how it will be rebuilt. If it is built “for the times,” then yes, it is a complete waste. But if it is rebuilt in the gothic style, with Christian symbolism, then we all benefit. Rich and poor, Christian and non-Christian, black and white, etc…Why? Because it is a witness to God’s glory, and the story told within its walls is about the redemptive sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. Not to mention, we get to enjoy its grandeur. It’s not an elitist building, only for certain members. Literally, anyone can come in. During a service or for tours.
Also, to assume these billionaires haven’t given large sums of money to other causes, or that we could give to better ones isn’t good either. If they wish to give money to this cause, let them do it and applaud them for actually giving. That’s a lot money to give away, regardless of how much they still have.
Let us not forget who it was that chided the woman for pouring expensive ointment on our Saviors feet because it could’ve been sold, and the money given to the pour. Social programs will not save this world, the gospel will and the cathedral of Notre Dame has been a witness to this for centuries. It would be a shame if future generations did not get to partake in this.
Another good podcast, just one thing I’d disagree with. Hopefully, that didn’t come across too critical.
It’s fine. Always good to have constructive disagreement!
“At its core this is an issue of the responsibilities an employee owes to their employer in the commitments they make to their employer to abide by the employer’s policy and procedures and adhere to their values.”
That is an incredibly amazing statement. An employer can insist on an employee abiding by the employer’s values? Okay. Now there is a firm in the USA called Chick-fil-A. On the internet is this statement.
“Many of the company’s values are influenced by the religious beliefs of its late founder, S. Truett Cathy, a devout Southern Baptist. Most notably, all Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed for business on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
According to Raelene Castle, if a Chick-fi-A employee wrote somewhere on social media that they disagreed with the policy of businesses not opening on Sundays, Chick-fil-A would have every right to dismiss them. But further than that, as Chick-fil-A’s values are Christian, any employee posting comments in social media which were critical of Christianity could be dismissed by Chick-fil-A.
But there’s more.
“In January 2011, the media reported that Chick-fil-A was co-sponsoring a marriage conference with the Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI), an organization that has opposed same-sex marriage legislation. Chick-fil-A clarified that ‘one of our independent Restaurant Operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars’. The WinShape Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Truett and his wife, also stated that it would not allow same-sex couples to participate in its marriage retreats.” (Wikipedia)
There was, of course, a huge rumpus. Part of the rumpus was a boycott of Chick-fil-A by same-sex “marriage” supporters. But according to Ms Castle, businesses have the right to determine the values that their employees follow. So, according to Ms Castle, Chick-fil-A would have every right to dismiss any employee who put anything on social media which supported same-sex “marriage”.
And obviously, had Ms Castle lived at a much earlier time she would have thoroughly approved the policy of Harland and Wolff in Belfast not to employ any Catholics.