1| GOP Platform Contemplates Anti-Porn Provision, Embrace of ‘Conversion Therapy’ |TIME
“Pornography, with his harmful effects, especially on children, has become a public health crisis that is destroying the life of millions. We encourage states to continue to fight this public menace and pledge our commitment to children’s safety and wellbeing,” the amendment stated.
An amendment offered by the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins in the subcommittee on health care, education and crime offered support for the controversial practice of “conversion therapy” for children who identify as LGBT.
“We support the right of parents to determine the proper treatment or therapy, for their minor children,” the amendment said. Mr. Perkins originally drafted a more explicit embrace of the practice but amended the text after consultations with top RNC officials. Mr. Perkins’ amendment, which passed the subcommittee and, subsequently, the full committee, also calls for legislation to require parental consent for minor women to cross state lines for the purposes of obtaining an abortion.
2| Rather than St. Benedict, the Church should try a “David Option” |Crux
While the Benedict Option is a legitimate possibility for believers, is it the Church’s best option right now? Is the Church’s mission in the contemporary world assisted in any way by the imagery of a “remnant”?
The great thing about options is that there should be several of them. So, in addition to the Benedict Option, a “David Option” could also be considered.
The “David Option” would be inspired by the shepherd-king who fought the giant Goliath. In the Old Testament narrative, Goliath was overwhelming, violent, offensive and an imminent threat to the Israelites.
The young King David did not succumb to fear and did not seclude himself in the Israelite camp. He engaged the Philistine. David was dressed simply, without armor or regular weaponry. He was empowered by a sense of righteousness and justice, and artfully struck the head of Goliath with simple stones from the earth, claiming victory over the giant.
David’s actions, ennobled by his innocence and goodness, merited him a moral authority not only in Israel but among the nations.
3| New Dig Shows the Philistines Weren’t Such Philistines |The Smithsonian
What the researchers discovered was a group of people who took great care in burying their dead, the press release reveals. Many of the bodies were buried with a bottle of perfume by the face, and in two cases were pointing into the nostril so the deceased could smell the fragrance throughout eternity, reports Philippe Bohstrom at Haaretz. Near their legs were jars that likely held wine, food or oil. Many were buried with weapons or jewelry like necklaces, earrings, bracelets and toe rings.
“This is how Philistines treated their dead, and it’s the code book to decoding everything,” Adam Aja, assistant director of the dig, says.
Researchers hope that DNA from the bodies will help them figure out the origins of the Philistines, who many researchers believe migrated to Palestine from an area in the Aegean Sea. There is also speculation that the Philistines are part of or related to the “Sea Peoples” of antiquity, a group of raiders that attacked Egypt and other parts of the Mediterranean, Kristin Romey at National Geographic reports.
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