Bruni-Sarkozy and the Unbearable Lightness of Nudity

By Rick Pearcey

France's First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy seems to have second thoughts about having "posed for too many nude photos."

Good for her, and yet: How is this possible?

Is she no longer "proud of my body"? What? She wants something special, private, reserved, unknown to others, with her husband?

As if human love between husband and wife is more than the publicly accessible physics and chemistry of firing neurons.

Here's what may be bubbling to the surface: Despite the pronouncements of Darwinian and atheistic theory, human beings in fact are more than flesh, skin surfaces, and matter.

For all the MTV and artsy hype, the reduction of ethics and meaning to the raw power of individual choice diminishes the human being as a person.

Beauty may be skin deep, but privacy isn't. It goes to the heart of the living soul as a personal being who acts out into the external world.

Like an alienated man on a bridge in the dark of night, humanity screams out against the unbearable lightness of materialism and its inhumane orthodoxies, no matter how pleasing they may be to the skin trade or cash register.

Privacy is good. If it survives, we survive as free, humane beings. To be naked in love one must sometimes cover up.

See also
Rolled Model: Tennis Pro Harkleroad "Proud of My Body"

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Rick Warren Mesmermized

By Rick Pearcey

The not mesmerized David Bass over at the John Locke Foundation maintains a critical distance vis-a-vis Barack Obama.

Obama's attempted coup of the evangelical right is hardly a universal success. He continues to tick off conservative mainstays like James Dobson, who can see past the senator's rock star persona and occasional biblical references to his liberal core. But others are not so wise. Rick Warren, for example.

Not allowing one's mind and church to be taken over by alien thoughtforms is a good thing. "Sales resistance" in all things, including religion and politics, is helpful in this regard -- and it's profoundly humane and biblical.

While thinking through Bass's point above, free-thinkers and disciples of Jesus (who as human beings ought to be free-thinkers) may also want to consider the following 4 points:

First, be an old grizzled shepherd, not a smiley-faced “believer.” The shepherds of Luke 2 do not put God in a closet and say you can know him but only if you go in there and submit to some kind of privatized epistemological baptism that happens to “people of faith.” Yes, the Bible knows about “believers,” but that’s to emphasize the commitment of the whole person to truth-claims that are accepted on the basis of reasoning and information that make rational and evidential sense in the real world. Shepherds, grizzled or otherwise, do get to smile, but first they see the baby.

Second, develop sales resistance. Christmas is about individuals willing to evaluate things for themselves. There is no need to check your brains at the pasture gate just because of bright lights in the sky, fancy advertising, or manipulated symbols on CNN or in form letters from ghostwriters employed by respected bigshots, religious and otherwise. Question authority, think freely, foil the manipulators, eyeball the materialists, refuse the hypocrites, and take responsibility for your life as a choosing, thinking being made in the image of God.

Third, affirm the whole person. Reject the despair of a splintered secular existence where hope sinks like a lead balloon but we’ll pretend it floats because pleasing feelings attend a current holiday. Christmas is about fact and meaning together because the Savior of the world is a real baby in a real manger who lives a Gospel that touches the same ground we walk on every day. Celebrate the humane unity of life as a complete person liberated from brokenness and bad philosophy. Act coherently and authentically at work, in government, on campus, in church, before the easel, in the lab, and with your family. Embrace humanity in community with our true Creator and then watch love and truth burst out of the secular straight-jacket.

Finally, celebrate the individual. An individual named Jesus came to Bethlehem to live and die for people, not for useful cogs in a cosmic machine that burped a mass of humanity into being by accident. He chose a path leading from Bethlehem manger to Roman cross because, despite our choices to walk away from truth and love, flawed human beings remain magnificent creatures of great worth and significance, having been made in the image of God. The Nativity is about regular people, what Francis Schaeffer called “little people” in “little places,” who join with the Creator to rage against the machine, death, sin, and decay. The love of a parent for a child, of a living God for human creatures with particular names and life stories that matter, is not a cruel joke foisted off on us by our genes. Nor is this love of God and man to be disrespected or steamrolled to the ground by the demands of big government, big business, or big ministry. With God we revolt against any who would deify themselves or their groups to transfigure creatures of such great worth into enablers, minions, pawns, and alter egos for the rich, powerful, and hard-chargers of this world.

More . . .

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Setting the Schaeffer Record Straight

By Rick Pearcey

A reviewer writes:

As an admirer of Francis Schaeffer, one of the saddest things I have witnessed during the last few years is the attempts by both his own son and by other detractors to impugn his integrity or, at least, to redefine him as something he was not. Reading son Frank Schaeffer’s memoir, both father and mother are portrayed negatively, Francis as a reclusive, depressed, sometimes suicidal man and Edith as a perfectionist nut. Well, perhaps the title says it all -- Crazy for God. This book by biographer Colin Duriez, Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life, should set the record straight.

More . . .

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

More on Benny Hinn's "Offshore Miracle"

By Rick Pearcey

A thinking pastor questions Benny Hinn.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Another Alternative to Girl Scouts

By Rick Pearcey

A reader recommends High Adventure Treks (HATS) for Dads and Daughters as another alternative to the Girl Scouts.

Here's a May 13, 2008, story from "Neighbors Go" of the Dallas Morning News.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

"Culture War Is Lost Unless . . ."

By Rick Pearcey

Seth Elliott of IHS has a word for delusional culture warriors lacking credibility:

The culture war is lost unless people begin to trust Christians more than secularists, atheists, communists, and radical liberals. To gain this social trust, I propose that Christians everywhere submit themselves to the Christian Credibility Creed.

Read the specifics of Mr. Elliott's Credibility Creed here. Do you agree with him -- in general, in particular?

Related articles:
* Dembski Questions Famed Healing Ministry
* What Is a Plagiarist?
* O'Reilly, Letterman, and the Culture War
* Francis Schaeffer: A Student's Appreciation of a Distinct Approach
* I'll Take Sartre

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

AC Milan: Official Ronaldinho Announcement

By Rick Pearcey

Italian soccer giant AC Milan has signed Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho to a 3-year contract. Here's the official announcement from the AC Milan website:

RONALDINHO: AC MILAN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

7/15/2008 -- AC Milan and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Ronaldinho to the Rossoneri's club. Tomorrow the player will be in Milan for the medical and to sign the contract which will tie him to Milan until June 30th 2011.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Billions and Billions Insulted: Press Conference to Question McDonald's

By Rick Pearcey

As the press release below indicates, announcing an event to occur tomorrow morning, the movement to question McDonald’s and its embrace of the homosexual agenda continues to build.

Press Release

July 15, 2008

Liberty Counsel to Hold Joint Press Conference

to Address McDonald’s Anti-Christian Attacks

Chicago, Illinois – On Wednesday, July 16, at 10:00 a.m., Liberty Counsel will participate in a joint press conference with the American Family Association (AFA), Americans for Truth and the Illinois Family Institute in front of the McDonald's restaurant across from McDonald's' corporate headquarters in Oakbrook, IL. Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs with Liberty Counsel, will address the media.

Recently, the McDonald's Corporation contributed thousands of dollars and joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, a radical homosexual activist organization that pushes the homosexual agenda, including calling for legalization of so-called "same-sex marriage." In so doing, McDonald's has publicly sided in the ongoing culture war against the majority of Americans who hold traditional family values. For this reason, AFA called for the boycott against McDonald's.

"Unfortunately, McDonald's has chosen to side with militant homosexual activists over people with traditional values," said Matt Barber. "The company has further escalated the controversy by lodging a personal attack against the tens of millions of Americans who support traditional sexual morality and legitimate marriage. While referring to Christians and other people with traditional values, McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman arrogantly told the Washington Post that, 'Hatred has no place in our culture,' thereby suggesting that people who support the historical definition of marriage are simply motivated by 'hate.' This insult is highly offensive, and anyone who supports traditional marriage should boycott McDonald's and tell the company why they’re doing so."

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented, "McDonald's should focus on food quality and safety issues instead of attacking the values held by the majority of people worldwide. Marriage between a man and a woman is the norm throughout the world. McDonald's' personal attack against those who support the traditional definition of marriage, while siding with a narrow group that promotes a radical redefinition, shows that company executives are out to lunch. McDonald's might as well change their signs to read 'billions and billions insulted.'"

For more information, contact Liberty Counsel public relations at 1-800-671-1776.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Unholy Matrimony -- Massachusetts Leads the Way, the Wrong Way

By Rick Pearcey

Coffee With Curt percolates with excitement over how Massachusetts continues to lead the way in advancing regressive, monosexed "unholy matrimony," to quote an email from one of our favorite Revs.

"This is nothing new," says Pastor Curt. "Massachusetts has been trying to lead the way in liberal, anti-family legislation for years. Even the (very, very few) Republican legislators have tended to go along with this trend. After all, they wouldn't want to bruise anybody's ego, or infringe upon anybody's 'rights' -- unless those anybodies happen to be Christians."

But don't blame this retrograde "leadership" only on the politicians, cautions the Coffeeman. "The church is supposed to provide a moral compass for the society. Yet, the church's position of moral leadership has been compromised by liberalism, Biblical illiteracy, scandal after scandal, and timidity (read that 'fear'). Many churches today have no moral compass themselves."

More here for a needed change in direction.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Dembski Questions Famed Healing Ministry

By Rick Pearcey

William A. Dembski of Intelligent Design fame questions the healing ministry of Todd Bentley down in Lakeland, Fla.

Such questioning is legitimate, Biblical, humane, and necessary. Humaness, worldview, and discipleship are cut from the single cloth of truth.

We await a reply to Dembski's question: "Faith and Healing -- Where's the Evidence?"

Meanwhile, one way to test the validity of an organization is to examine its methods. Not just the PR methods evidenced on websites with glossy pictures, wondrous bios, and a Herculean list of accomplishments and books, columns, etc., "by" the latest version of "renegade-turned-modern-day-St. Paul."

No, sadly, not the methods on display for public view, but the ones kept "in the basement," as it were. That's where, so often, in the dark, the real work is done.

In this regard, and in liberating contrast, the Lord's work is meant to be done the Lord's way, across the board, and with application to the nuts and bolts of organizations put forward as "Christian ministries."

This was a central concern of Francis Schaeffer, as seen in chapter 13 of the beloved True Spirituality. It is also the concern of chapter 13 of Nancy Pearcey's book Total Truth. The Lord's work is meant to be done in the light.

To follow truth is to embrace beauty. To fake it, "nuance" it, and spin it for "the sake of the Gospel" (i.e., fundraising, etc.) is to demean people and take the Lord's name in vain.

Dances with deception set forth in the service of Celebriantity and its hard-charging gods are a disaster, no matter how much noise is made about "worldview" or "reforming manners," no matter how much access to Big Media or the White House is gained, and so on.

You know the song and dance. It's underlined in hundreds of thousands of "Dear Friend" appeal letters strategically underlined in blue and signed by machines. One might be tempted to conclude that some evangelical marketers think Christians are idiots waiting to be led around by their noses.

"Test everything," says the real Apostle Paul (1 Thess. 5:21). "Testing everything" is key to embracing love and avoiding the cruelty and ugliness of a truncated Christianity and inhumane "ministry."

One more thing: If this isn't fixed, it matters little who wins the election. Politics follows culture. Methods matter. It's a warning and a promise.

* Update: See discussion at Dembski's site, here. "Dembski Questions Famed Healing Ministry" is referenced at response No. 44.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Question McDonald's

By Rick Pearcey

Question McDonald's.

That's what free-thinking Americans might want to do.

WND reports that McDonald's is now saying "Christian Boycotters 'Hate' Homosexuals."

First, McDonald's attacks family. Now, it attacks Christians. Big Mac is selling Big Bigotry in allowing itself to be coopted by an anti-family, anti-Christian agenda.

And if you question the wisdom of this corporate empire's new scheme, why, you're a hater. In fact, how dare you question the establishment, the worldwide Pink System!

This is yet another reason a free-thinking people may decide to spend their petro-dollars driving to a friendlier restaurant.

Perhaps a restaurant not at war with family or with the founding worldview of U.S. society.

Perhaps a restaurant where it's safe to question, to think, and demand reasonable answers -- without being slammed by a corporate giant as some kind of "hater." Please.

Another reason not to waste an ounce of gas driving to McDonald's.

Pro-homosexual fanatics may think everything is going according to plan, but something tells me McDonald's might regret its new line of attack. McDonald's may regret adding attacks on Christianity to its attack on family.

What's especially amazing is that McDonald's likes to hype itself as "socially responsible." Well, a thousand plaques on the wall are meaningless if you deny family, deny freedom of thought, deny the Creator's norms for life, and seek to cloak your denial in so-called "diversity."

If it's still OK at question authority, test everything, and think freely (as is our birthright as human beings created in the image of God) consider: Are these attacks really "socially responsible" -- or are they just good old secular fanaticism draped in focus-group-tested marketing language?

Is McDonald's really being "socially responsible"? Or are we witnessing pink fanaticism fueled by pink Kool-aid?

Something to think about.

But not at McDonald's.

It's hard to think when a "socially responsible" someone is yelling at you for not drinking their Kool-aid.

See also:
* No McDonald's Today
* WND's Farah Blasts Pro-Homosexual McDonald's, Joins Call for Boycott
* Reader Responds to "No McDonald's Today"
* National Radio: Rick Pearcey Discusses McDonald's Homosexual Alliance
* "Faggot" Easy to Defend: Surprising Help From Secular America
* Rosie O'Donnell's Oppressive Coat
* O'Reilly, Letterman, and the Culture War

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Aborcentration Camp: If You Build It, They Will Die

By Rick Pearcey

No humane-thinking human being wants a Planned Parenthood aborcentration camp (aka "clinic") in his or her neighborhood.

Thus protesters have alerted the City of Portland, etc., with salutary results thus far.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Honor Killing in Ga. Reveals Weakness of Political Correctness

By Rick Pearcey

There's been an honor killing in Clayton County, Ga., just south of Atlanta. A Pakistani immigrant strangled his daughter to death. She, according to police, was planning to divorce the husband imposed upon her by an arranged marriage.

Rather than examine the link between Islam and parents killing daughters who question arranged marriages, "learned analysts search for clues in South Asian cultural habits and the practices of European royalty," writes Robert Spencer.

"The price of this politically correct refusal to confront the ugly realities of the Islamic link to honor killing will be, quite simply, more honor killings," Spencer warns.

But not in South Asia, in the south of Atlanta.

In university, from Hollywood, on newscasts, and in corporate cultures, Americans are instructed and goaded to embrace secularism, cultural relativism, and "diversity is our strength."

The upshot is not just wasted money, foolish schooling, dumbed-down adults, rootlessness, and social apathy in the face of evil.

People are dying. "These young women are the ulitmate victims of political correctness," Spencer concludes.

Honor killings help reveal the inhumanity and weakness of political correctness.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

WND's Farah Blasts Pro-Homosexual McDonald's, Joins Call for Boycott

By Rick Pearcey

Joseph Farah of WND has joined the call to boycott pro-homosexual McDonald's, formerly known as a family restaurant.

The American Family Association announced its boycott of Big Macs last week (July 3).

Judging by their reaction, many homosexual activists flipped into berserk mode in response to "No McDonald's Today," which announced our concerns and was published at Pro-Existence a few months ago (April 4, 2008).

For more on the homosexual reaction to "No McDonald's Today," see Andrew Sullivan, including his links.

See also:
* Reader Responds to "No McDonald's Today"
* National Radio: Rick Pearcey Discusses McDonald's Homosexual Alliance
* Court Watch: Does McDonald's Support This Lesbian Attack on Family?
* "Faggot" Easy to Defend: Surprising Help From Secular America
* Rosie O'Donnell's Oppressive Coat
* O'Reilly, Letterman, and the Culture War

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

Where Is Nancy Pearcey?

By Rick Pearcey

Julia Duin over at the Washington Times looks at the "world of religion" and wonders "What Happened to the Women?"

"In much of the church," she writes, "there is a whole gender missing."

Among the missing is noted professor, editor, scholar, thinker, musician, best-selling author, wife, and mother Nancy Pearcey.

Thus alerted, I conducted a bit of research and found her, here.

Needless to say, an impressive woman.

You can read more by Julia Duin here.

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).

McDonald's, Rush, and the Mediterranean

By Rick Pearcey

In addition to the rescue of hostages down in Colombia, here are 3 other reports of good news to consider:

1) The American Family Association is calling for a boycott of pro-homosexual McDonald's, formerly known as a family restaurant. Maybe the AFA and others can help save the fast-food joint, formerly known as a family restaurant, from its politically correct, inhumane, and regressive concept of "social responsibility."

2) Rush Limbaugh is to get $38 million a year for the next 8 years, plus a 9-figure signing bonus, according to AP. Rush deserves it, and America needs his voice. PC diversity is a weakness, but true diversity of information that respects the individual's need for critical distance is a strength. Meanwhile, Rush, why only $38 million per year?

3) "Miracle Diet From the Med" tells us about the cancer-fighting benefits of a Mediterranean diet. Yet another alternative that beats McDonald's, bigtime. We at the Pearcey villa have recently enjoyed recipes and insights based on The Mediterranean Diet and The Mediterranean Prescription. Bon appetit!

_______________
Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (articles).