Wednesday, March 23rd, in the year of our Lord, 2016.
By Mark Robinette
Yesterday, ISIS took credit for the bombings at an airport and metro station during rush hour in Brussels, Belgium, killing 34 and injuring nearly 200. Two explosions took place at the airport. The first occurred next to the American Airlines check-in counter, and the other exploded outside a nearby Starbucks where people ran after the first explosion. Water pipes burst, causing the ground to run with blood in the ensuing pandemonium. Nails packed in what some think was a suitcase bomb caused the widespread injuries. The World View spoke to Rev. Patrick Power of St. Anthony’s Parish in Belgium: “The statement that has been made is really about the numbers who have died, not the numbers who were wounded. The prime minister has said this is the darkest day, a very dark day in the history of Belgium. That’s as far as we know, but I think they’re all in shock at the moment from what’s happened.”
An American serviceman and his family, as well as three Mormon missionaries from Utah, were among the wounded. American Airlines said none of its personnel were hurt. Gunfire and yelling in Arabic were heard shortly after the explosions, and a machine gun and an undetonated suicide belt were found. The assailants, who were photographed by the airport, are still at large. The attacks came just four days after the main suspect in the Paris terror attack was captured.
Facebook activated a new feature called “Safety Check” so people in Brussels could show friends that they were safe.
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz were quick to make comments after the attack. Trump said that the attack bolsters his argument to limit people from the Middle East who want to travel to America, while Cruz took the opportunity to take a jab at Trump for saying on Monday that the U.S. should withdraw from NATO. Obama spoke from Cuba, still refusing to call the attacks “Islamic extremism,” but saying that the U.S. would continue its fight with ISIL.
For the second time in three days, ISIS attacked U.S. Firebase Bell in Iraq. Two ISIS fighters were killed Monday, but their first attack killed one U.S. Marine and wounded eight on Saturday. Three of the wounded were medevaced to Germany.
Fear not—powers of darkness are still fighting, but the Prince of Peace has come. Isaiah 9:5-7 tells us, “For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”
According to a new study in the journal Sage Open, the percentage of Americans who claim they never pray reached an all-time high in 2014, up fivefold since the 1980s, and the belief in God and interest in spirituality appears to have similarly declined. Interestingly though, the same report said that more Americans believe in heaven or some other kind of afterlife than in previous years. Author Jean Twenge told The World View that she thinks this will ultimately damage American culture: “In my book, Generation Me, about the Millennials, I discussed both the upsides and the downsides of what’s probably behind a lot of these trends, which is the increase in individualism in American culture—so more focus on the self, less on community and social rules.”
According to an annual study done by the Norwegian Monitor, for the first time ever, more Norwegians do not believe in God than those who do.
Going into Tuesday’s presidential primaries in Arizona, Idaho, and Utah, both frontrunners had more negative feelings from their parties than positive. Trump’s -33 and Clinton’s -21 were the worst numbers since 1984.
A bill sponsored by Idaho State Senator Sheryl Nuxoll that allows the Bible back in public schools has passed the legislature. It must be signed by Gov. C. L. Otter if it is to become law. The World View spoke to Senator Nuxoll about the importance of the bill: “It’s very important because teachers and students and parents need to know that they are backed up by the state if they wish to use the Bible for reference purposes in the schools.”
Utah is now the 19th state to include the national motto “In God We Trust” on standard-option license plates. No extra charge.
And that’s the World View in Five Minutes.