I was chatting with a group of students the other day when one of them looked me in the eye and commented, “You’re very tough on journalists.” I had to plead guilty. Of course I’m tough on journalists. Maybe even as tough on them as they are on politicians. Our representative democracy depends on journalists doing their jobs. Why? Because it’s essential that citizens get the … [Read more...]
Devil’s Advocate…Be Here Now
Earlier this May, I watched helplessly as part of the community I have been a part of for more than a decade was incinerated by molten rock in Leilani, Hawaii. It happened both very quickly and slowly. Agonizingly slowly. Cracks under homes and streets opened up and lava erupted out, flooding Leilani in molten rock over days. To lose a home in a tornado, hurricane, or flood … [Read more...]
Letter about No proof needed…
To the Editor, I’ve read both of Mr. Herb Panko’s commentaries from March 26 and May 7. His first presupposition in the March 26 commentary sets the tone for everything. I am sure many of the readers caught this sleight of phrase: “Since there are frequent articles in the FCJ on religion, specifically on Christianity and by writers who claim the authenticity of their own … [Read more...]
Letter about Response to anti-gun letters published…
To the Editor, First off, AR-15 style firearms are more appropriately termed “modern sporting rifles” used by hunters. Next, modern sporting rifles are not assault weapons. An assault weapon is an automatic military arm used in battle. Automatic firearms have been severely restricted since 1934. Next, MSRs function like other semi-automatic sporting firearms by firing … [Read more...]
The process of selectivity
By Donna Buckbee Rushford, MN First of all, I wish to thank Pastor Bobbie Horning for taking a stand against violence against gays and lesbians. I’m grateful, too, for similar assurances from my Christian friends. Non-violence is one of the many things I respect and love about the Biblical Jesus. There were other Biblical teachings embedded in my letter of December 2017, … [Read more...]
The faith of the atheist faithful
Why do certain atheists continually proselytize their faith? One would think that they would be more timid about expounding on their beliefs and would be cautious in insisting that there is no Creator, no God. Some seem really angry and full of hate for God and his followers. Why do atheists use their faith to try destroy mine? With their contempt and vitriol, what are … [Read more...]
Christianity 101…no misconceptions here
By Flip Huggenvik Big Spring, MN Herb Panko’s comments on my rebuttal to his original commentary piece are interesting. And he does make some good points on contradictions and the literal interpretation of the Bible. I am a Gentile...a non-Jew. The Bible was basically written by the Jews, about the Jews, and for the Jews. (With the exception of Paul’s letters to some of the … [Read more...]
The dangers of debt
Politicians and commentators these days like to point to an array of threats to our constitutional system. There’s one, though, that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it should: our national debt. We may not yet be in imminent danger of fiscal collapse, but we’re moving into uncharted waters. We are among the most indebted nations in the world, and it’s only getting … [Read more...]
Consequences of reading the Bible as literal history
In a reader’s response to my article several weeks ago entitled “New Testament misconceptions and fallacies,” he makes the mistake that is typical of those who read the Bible literally. Without a substantial knowledge of Christian history and scholarship, one becomes trapped in a literal box filled with the many scriptural contradictions, mistranslations, misinterpretations, … [Read more...]
Good old fashioned morals and common sense
By Pastor Bobbie Horning Ostrander, MN I am writing to oppose, in love, of course, a commentary written last year titled “Give me that old time secularism.” (Fillmore County Journal, December 4, 2017) The article bashed God, Christians and the Bible. How awful and sad and untrue the things that were stated. First of all, the really real Christians are never violent towards … [Read more...]