FIRST, OUR VIEWS:
FROM CHRISTENDOM TO NIHILISM
This photo and the PDF file "From Christendom to Nihilism" linked to it are from secular sources, but they accurately describe the devolution of Western society over the past 1,500 years. The Renaissance with its turn to a more human-centered outlook provided the soil for the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment which followed shortly after.
The eight steps shown here going down from Christendom to Nihilism and the 21st Century Institutional Decay and Existential Crisis are expanded in greater detail in the 2-page PDF so that you can understand how we got from there to here, the present state of relativism, materialism, and skepticism.
Other excellent resources on this topic are the over 100 "Paradise and Utopia" podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio that cover the same 1,500 years from the establishing of Christendom to the present. If you click the "Oldest" button there, you'll be able to start lisening to each podcast from the very first to the latest.
But by clicking the "Newest" buttion you'll find the "Communist World Building III: The Great Terror" podcast, a description of the horrific results of abandoning Paradise in search of an earthly Utiopia, resulting in nihilism: Stalin murdered tens of millions of his own people during his "Great Terror" of the 1930s. Click the "Download audio" button to listen to each podcast so you can stop it when you need to and restart it later. or click on the 3 dots to download a podcast.
The podcast speaker, Fr. John Strickland, is an Orthodox priest and university professor in southern California. He's also the author of five books on these themes that go into much greater depth and detail. These books cover much more ground than all of his podcasts.
Get the full article on our ARC-News blog. And create your own blog or website for less than $2 per month!
A Personal Note: My wife Cheryl is continuing to make slow but sure progress in her recovery from a second spinal fusion surgery on May 10. In the last two weeks we've begun water therapy to strengthen her legs and arms without impacting her spine. Thanks for your continued prayers for her full recovery!
Here's our next free online course: (click →) Intro: "Ministry to Handicapped and Poor" - deadline to enroll: 31 Aug. 2025 (← click). So enroll today, before you forget!
NEXT, THE NEWS:
2. PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S LARGEST FACILITY TO CLOSE AS MORE CENTERS GO VIRTUAL
from: LiveAction
SYNOPSIS: Planned Parenthood's largest facility, Prevention Park in Houston, is closing, alongside another Houston location, as part of a restructuring that prioritizes online services. The four remaining Houston facilities will be acquired by Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, marking a shift in the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast affiliate's operations. Planned Parenthood is increasingly relying on telehealth options, such as the Greater Texas Virtual Health Center and the PP Direct app, to offer services like birth control, emergency contraception, and abortion pills (where legal).
The closure is attributed to the attempted defunding of Planned Parenthood by the reconciliation bill, even though it was blocked by a district judge. Prevention Park was a center of controversy and scandal, including undercover investigations by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) highlighting alleged illegal practices regarding abortion procedures and the possible sale of fetal remains. These controversies led to the defunding of Planned Parenthood from Texas' Medicaid program, a process that was eventually upheld by a court. The closure of physical facilities and the shift to virtual services by Planned Parenthood follow a pattern in other states.
Pray that the district judge's ruling will be overturned so that Planned Barrenhood will be stripped of federal support that millions of pro-life taxpayers are forced to pay for.
3. "YOU HAVE OUR WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT": CHRISTIAN LEADERS FROM THE U.S. ARRIVE IN KYIV
from: RISU
SYNOPSIS: A delegation of U.S. Christian leaders visited Kyiv to express support for Ukraine and highlight the importance of faith in the face of Russian aggression. The delegation, organized by the U.S. administration, aims to foster spiritual diplomacy and demonstrate collaboration between government and religious leaders. Leaders within the delegation, such as Dr. Jim Garlow, advocate for a more active U.S. role in opposing Russian aggression and sharing experiences with American officials.
The visit includes meetings with government representatives, religious organizations, and community leaders, along with a visit to the combat zone and cities like Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel. The group plans to discuss the "Principles of Interaction between the State and the Church" and participate in a joint prayer for peace. Gary Marx, a recurring visitor to Ukraine, focuses on raising awareness about Russian crimes in Ukraine through his podcast, emphasizing the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
Continue interceding with God for Ukraine's deliverance from the constant killings and bombardment by the Russian aggressors, and for the return of all military prisoners and abducted children.
SYNOPSIS: The article argues that the definition of death, particularly brain death, is being misused to facilitate organ harvesting from patients who may still be alive. Professor Robert Spaemann and others note that modern science's understanding of death contradicts common sense perception, potentially leading to the premature killing of patients for organs. Dr. Joseph Eble highlights the potential for patients labeled as brain-dead to still be alive during organ harvesting, emphasizing the need for anesthesia to prevent pain. A current government investigation found that some hospitals initiated the organ procurement process while patients showed signs of life, prompting a call for reform and accountability of organ procurement organizations.
The article criticizes the practice, citing Christian teachings on the sanctity of human life and the principle of totality, highlighting that taking organs from a living person is ethically problematic. Dr. Heidi Klessig and Christopher Bogosh's work further exposes the problematic nature of organ donation from brain-dead individuals and the potential for patients to be conscious during the process. The article concludes that the argument that a brain-dead patient is truly dead is false and morally reprehensible, given that organs are only needed once the patient's heart stops functioning.
Ask the Lord for people to understand that all people are endowed by their Creator with the right to life, not to be treated as a mere animal to be "put to sleep" and used for spare parts.
5. PEDIATRICIANS URGED TO PROMOTE WIDER USE OF ASSISTIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES
from: Disability Scoop
SYNOPSIS: Pediatricians are urged to play a more active role in promoting the wider use of assistive communication devices (AAC) for children with communication impairments, ranging from low-tech to high-tech options. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening children for communication problems and referring them for assessments, prescribing devices, and working with schools and therapists to ensure access to AAC. AAC use is supported by research, and early intervention is crucial.
Augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC) do not decrease natural speech and may increase verbal expression. A community organized a car parade to celebrate a boy with autism. The Education Department is highlighting states failing to meet special education requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). There's a concern that many families of minimally verbal children, especially racial and ethnic minority families, don't have access to and/or don't know about assistive communication devices (AAC).
Thank the Lord for the invention of assistive communication devices and pray that they will be made available for those people with disabilities who need them.
6. REVERSING ALZHEIMER'S DAMAGE: TWO CANCER DRUGS DEMONSTRATE SURPRISING POWER
from: Science Daily
SYNOPSIS: A study by UC San Francisco and Gladstone Institutes identified a combination of two cancer drugs (letrozole and irinotecan) that may reverse Alzheimer's disease symptoms. Researchers analyzed gene expression changes in brain cells affected by Alzheimer's and compared them to effects of over 1,300 FDA-approved drugs, finding these two cancer drugs that reversed the gene expression signature. Clinical records analysis showed patients taking these specific cancer drugs had a reduced likelihood of developing Alzheimer's.
Tests on a mouse model of Alzheimer's demonstrated that the drug combination reduced brain degeneration and restored memory. Marina Sirota and Yadong Huang, co-senior authors of the study, emphasized the computational approach's potential in tackling the complexity of Alzheimer's. The study, published in Cell, suggests a potential new therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's using existing, FDA-approved medications.
Praise God for this discovery that certain available cancer drugs can also reverse some Alzheimer's disease symptoms.
7. TRAVEL HAS BECOME A THERAPEUTIC TOOL FOR THE DISABLED
from: Disabled World
SYNOPSIS: Pavel Kuljuk's article argues that travel is a vital therapeutic tool for disabled Americans, particularly those with low incomes and high social isolation, using it to combat loneliness and improve mental health. The study reveals that disabled Americans with lower incomes ($17,204 median) travel more than wealthier ones, highlighting travel as a necessity rather than a luxury. Rural disabled Americans, facing higher poverty rates and limited transportation, have a greater need for travel-based mental health support but encounter significant accessibility barriers.
Despite disabled Americans spending over $50 billion annually on domestic tourism, there's a lack of government support for travel initiatives. The article suggests that increasing accessibility for disabled Americans in the travel sector could significantly benefit both the disabled community and the hospitality industry, citing high accessibility rates in US hotels (77%). The article proposes potential solutions, such as government funding to support travel for disabled Americans similar to programs for refugees.
Thank the Lord that people with disabilities are able to combat their loneliness and mental health by traveling to places that can accomodate them.
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"Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up" (Romans 15:1-2). Are you reasonably strong and healthy? If so, what do you think about those who aren't? Or do you not even bother to think about them? St. Paul tells us that we "ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."
How can we do that? How can we build up our infirm or disabled or elderly neighbor? We shouldn't just live to "please ourselves" – we can run errands for home-bound persons who have no relatives nearby to care for them. We can take them grocery shopping, to doctor's appointments, to church, and especially to pleasant places like the park, the botanical gardens or the zoo in the summer: show them that they are important and loved! Again, the Apostle Paul wrote -
"The eye can't say to the hand, 'I have no need for you,' or again the head to the feet, 'I have no need for you.' No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually" (1 Corinthians 12:21-27).
We really do need each other! Not only do dependent little children need their parents' love; but also, disabled adults and lonely elderly people need love... and we who are reasonably strong and healthy also need them. Why? To learn how to love with a pure heart, not thinking of material gain or our own pleasure. As St. Paul wrote, "...not to please ourselves." You probably have heard the term "4G" meaning "fourth generation internet." The internet started out in the 1990s as a means for the free exchange of ideas, but has degenerated today into what I call the 4G's - "Greed, Gluttony, Gossip & Grumbling." All four of these are focused on self rather than others: satisfying my desires for material things (online shopping!), indulging my desires for food and other bodily pleasures, watching videos or reading the latest rumors about politicians and celebrities, and grumbling about how bad things are today because they aren't like they used to be.
What can we do about it? Once more, the Apostle Paul wrote - "Therefore, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2). Lose weight! Are you focused on food? "Lay aside every weight!" Focus on Jesus: He will help you overcome that overweight! St. Paul wasn't just speaking in metaphors, he was telling us how our physical condition affects our spiritual health. In verses 12-13 he wrote - "Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. That means exercising to bring healing: see this Exercise Plan for Seniors!
In Galatians 5:16-26, the Apostle Paul wrote about how to "walk" (or "live" - another analogy of our physical life) in the Spirit vs. fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. The disciplined spiritual life of discipleship is a struggle....
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