It’s Wednesday, August 9th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
British authorities decide to prosecute pro-lifer for praying silently
Back on July 18th, a British city council dropped charges against Adam Smith-Connor for praying silently outside an abortion mill.
But now, they’ve changed their minds.
That’s right. Officials in the United Kingdom are filing criminal charges against this local father who prayed silently outside an abortion mill. They decided to go back on their word. His first hearing is scheduled for today.
It all stems from his decision, on November 24th, 2022, to pray. The officers tasked with patrolling the abortion mill area repeatedly questioned Smith-Connor regarding the content of his internal thoughts. The army veteran and father explained that he was “praying for [his] son, who is deceased” who had died by abortion 22 years ago. Plus, he was praying for the women, men, and children still being impacted by abortion today.
As a health care professional and church volunteer, the pro-lifer said, “It troubles me greatly to see our freedoms eroded to the extent that thought crimes are now being prosecuted in the UK.”
This is the third high-profile case where British citizens have faced charges for praying within censorship zones outside abortion mills.
You can support Adam Smith-Connor, and others like him, through a link in our transcript today at theworldview.com.
Daniel 6:10 describes what the prophet did when commanded not to pray. “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
Canadian Prime Minister separating from his wife
Last week, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, announced they are separating after 18 years of marriage.
Trudeau came to office in 2015 as the son of the iconic Canadian prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Interestingly, Trudeau’s father was notably the first Canadian prime minister to become a single parent after separating from his wife in the 1970s.
Justin Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire, is a former model and television host. Together they have three children.
Millennials and Gen Zers have little respect for marriage
In the United States, marriage is also losing support, especially from the younger generations.
The Thriving Center of Psychology surveyed Millennials and Gen Zers who are in a relationship but not married. Forty-one percent of men and 52% of women said marriage is an outdated tradition. Eighty-five percent believe marriage is not necessary to have a fulfilled relationship.
By contrast, Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage should be honored by all.”
In fact, a new report from Sam Peltzman of the University of Chicago found a link between marriage and happiness. The report also associated a decline in people’s happiness since 2000 with the decline in the marriage rate.
Peltzman noted, “Marital status is and has been a very important marker for happiness. … No subsequent population categorization will yield so large a difference in happiness across so many people.”
The report also found conservatives were 9 points happier than liberals and 7 points happier than moderates.
Louisiana schools required to display “In God We Trust”
A Louisiana law called House Bill 8 went into effect on the first of this month.
The legislation requires public schools to display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” in every single classroom.
The motto must be displayed on a poster that is at least 11 by 14 inches and printed in a large, easily readable font.
The state’s Democrat Governor, John Bel Edwards, signed the bill in June.
Other states have passed similar legislation, including Florida, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Texas.
Gen Xers are abandoning church
The Wall Street Journal featured research from Christian pollster George Barna last week. Notably, Gen Xers are leaving the church more than other generations.
Twenty-eight percent of those aged 39-57 attend church weekly, down from 41% in 2020. Gen X attendance rates are now on par with Millennials.
Josh Packard, a sociologist of religion, noted that parents often attend church to bring their children through certain milestones. After that, he said attendance “starts to wane more every year. … It’s not like they are walking away, saying, ‘I’m now an atheist,’ … but [they] are done with the institutional church.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.”
Nuclear reactor up and running in Georgia
And finally, America’s latest nuclear reactor went online in Georgia last Monday. It’s the first reactor built from scratch in the United States in decades.
At full output, the nuclear unit can support half a million homes and businesses. This is the third nuclear reactor for Georgia Power Company which is working on a fourth unit.
The U.S. has 93 nuclear power reactors, accounting for nearly 20% of America’s energy generation. That’s up from about 10% in 1980.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, August 9th in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.