According to Reuters , the deadly, brain-damaging Nipah virus has “found a way to leap from bats to humans.” Pragya Yadav, the lead scientist on Nipah at India’s National Institute of Virology, warns: “Nobody is safe. . . . It will take no time for a disease outbreak to reach anywhere in the world because of international travel and trade.” As we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, whose origins are still being studied , what happens to any of us can affect all of us. This is true for our bodies...
May 18, 2023•8 min
A now-viral video captures a huge shark attacking a Hawaiian angler’s kayak as he fished off Oahu last Friday. The fisherman spotted an injured seal shortly before the shark attacked his kayak and theorized that the shark mistook the kayak for the seal. The fisherman was understandably frightened but otherwise unhurt. You may go your entire life at the beach never encountering a shark, but your next time in the ocean could be one time too many. Since it’s human nature to fear what we cannot pred...
May 17, 2023•8 min
In the midst of an ongoing mental health crisis that is especially affecting children and youth, I found this headline interesting: “Conservative teenagers are generally happier than their liberal peers, study finds.” And conservative teens “are more likely to be religious.” Reading such reports is obviously encouraging for those of us who are religious enough to get up early to write and read articles like this one. It’s also tempting to feel sorry for “non-religious individuals” who are missin...
May 16, 2023•8 min
I am writing today’s Daily Article from Jerusalem in the aftermath of a five-day conflict between Israel and terrorists in Gaza. I have led more than thirty study tours to Israel over the years, but this is my first time being here during one of its conflicts with its territorial enemies. Today I’ll offer a concise survey of the issues underlying the present strife, then offer a reflection on courageous faith. Author: Jim Denison Narrator: Chris Elkins Dr. Jim Denison's book, Radical Islam , exp...
May 15, 2023•9 min
While it is hardly unique for political scandal to dominate the headlines, this week has seen three such public figures vie for the collective attention and derision of the American people. And though they’ve been notable for different reasons, George Santos, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump each demonstrate the importance of building a legacy—for better or worse—one day and one decision at a time. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read ...
May 12, 2023•9 min
Have you noticed that Brussels sprouts are more popular than ever? I used to hate them; now I order them in restaurants whenever I can. Here’s what happened: in 1998, a Dutch scientist named Hans van Doorn identified sinigrin and progoitrin as chemicals that made the vegetable taste bitter. Dutch seed companies then bred these chemicals out. By the 2010s, Brussels sprouts didn’t taste bitter and became popular with culinary celebrities and then with the general public. Now consider a second scie...
May 11, 2023•8 min
I found this headline in a recent Time article jarring: “If someone you love has an abortion, give them a gift.” The author writes: “Abortion can be a powerful act of love.” This is the first time I’ve seen abortion called an “act of love” for the unborn baby whose life it ends. Read how America has turned performative claims into constative claims. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.or...
May 10, 2023•9 min
Warren Buffet recently discussed how to live without mistakes: “You should write your obituary and then try to figure out how to live up to it. It’s not that complicated.” I respectfully disagree. We can “write our obituary” without God’s help and, depending on what we choose to write, “figure out how to live up to it.” Or we can seek God’s best for our lives, knowing that we must then have his power if we are to fulfill his purpose. There is an eternally significant chasm between these two opti...
May 09, 2023•9 min
A gunman opened fire at the Allen Premium Outlets Saturday afternoon, killing six people at the mall and injuring at least nine others. Of the nine who were hospitalized, two later died. Three others are in critical condition at this writing. I have been to this mall several times and know people who live in Allen. There is something about the proximity of tragedy that makes it feel more real. How, then, should we respond when he allows horrific tragedy? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris ...
May 08, 2023•7 min
In what its authors hope will become an example to other states, a bill that would require every public school classroom in Texas to display a copy of the Ten Commandments took its next step toward becoming law this week. As one might expect, it’s been met with a good deal of controversy. Should Christians support the idea? Would it make a difference? Let’s take a closer look. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article...
May 05, 2023•6 min
Saturday’s coronation of King Charles III will cost British taxpayers a high amount during a cost-of-living crisis that has fueled multiple strikes. Should they have to pay? The event also provides an illustration of the true cost of coronating Jesus as our King, something Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about extensively and the Bible speaks to specifically. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforu...
May 04, 2023•8 min
According to a new report from the US Surgeon General’s office, lacking social connections “can increase the risk of premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily.” Technology is making this problem worse: people who use social media for two hours or more daily are more than twice as likely to report feeling isolated than those who are on such apps for less than thirty minutes a day. So let’s consider this antidote to our loneliness: let’s spend some time each day thinking less about our...
May 03, 2023•7 min
A Michigan seventh grader recently took control of his school bus after the driver lost consciousness. He told his parents later that he knew what to do because he watched the driver do it every day. Being kind to others is instinctual for most humans since, according to social scientists, kindness clearly raises personal happiness. Living with meaningful purpose in the world is similarly linked to positive mental health and well-being. As Christians, are we living with meaningful purpose today?...
May 02, 2023•8 min
In a recent Pew Research Center report, two-thirds of American respondents claimed that “it’s not necessary to believe in God to be moral. They can make this claim because our secularized culture has convinced them that morality is personal and subjective. However, the mass shooting in Texas, the deadliest Russian attack on Ukraine in months, the first US mass evacuation effort from Sudan, and widespread discouragement about the future are windows into how well our subjective morality is working...
May 01, 2023•7 min
Famed—and infamous—talk show host Jerry Springer died yesterday at the age of seventy-nine after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. But while those who knew him well recall a man committed to his Jewish heritage and his community, most are likely to remember him as the host of one of television’s most outlandish and shocking shows. What that says about us and our culture, however, is more important than what it says about him. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http:...
Apr 28, 2023•7 min
In an encouraging video, the Austin Fire Department helped a 95-year-old man mow his yard, which led Dr. Jim Denison to reflect on our culture’s deep valuing of “workism,” how Christians ought to find their identity not in work but in Christ, and how making a difference in our culture means looking for ways to serve others. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/firefighte...
Apr 27, 2023•7 min
President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday, April 25, that he’s running for reelection, leading some to question whether he and former president Donald Trump should both run again. As election season warms up, we must consider what faith our country has in its governance and, more personally, whether we’re placing our faith in the right place. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-...
Apr 26, 2023•8 min
On Monday, Fox News announced that they are "parting ways" with Tucker Carlson—the highest-rated host in cable news. Roughly an hour later, news broke that CNN’s Don Lemon was out of a job as well. Both offer an important reminder that none of us are immune from the consequences of our choices. Praise God that’s the case. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Denison Forum has previously covered claims of election fraud in “ How fair ar...
Apr 25, 2023•9 min
The author of an article extolling the benefits of living in San Francisco speaks for millions in our culture who likewise believe that “you have to find your truth and live your truth,” yet the percentage of Americans who say they are “not too happy” has doubled. The disconnect involves our pluralistic society’s belief that all religions are just “different roads up the same mountain.” By contrast, Psalm 18 models transforming faith in the one true God. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris ...
Apr 24, 2023•8 min
Article Description: Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act" along party lines. The bill would change the Title IX legislation to specify that, when it comes to athletics, "sex shall be recognized based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth." But what makes this position so contentious? The answer is important for more than just women’s athletics. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://...
Apr 21, 2023•8 min
The Supreme Court extended a pause yesterday afternoon on a lower-court ruling that sought to limit access to mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill. Why is the Supreme Court ruling on a “right” Congress has never established in law? This question is obviously relevant to millions of unborn babies whose lives hang in the balance. But it is also a symptom of a deeper narrative that explains why America allows elective abortion at all. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe...
Apr 20, 2023•8 min
Disneyland’s first official Pride Nite will be this June, featuring a parade with Mickey Mouse and other characters “dressed in special attire,” dance parties, and special dining and merchandise. Participants are encouraged to “proudly display your true colors and be your unique and fabulous self.” Every day’s news brings more examples of our society’s rejection of biblical morality. But like a river that erodes the shoreline we can see and the underwater banks we cannot, the cultural currents o...
Apr 19, 2023•8 min
J. P. and Paul Norden each lost a leg in the bombings and now utilize a prosthetic leg. As a result, their family started a foundation, A Leg Forever, which so far has helped sixty people who’ve lost limbs pay for prosthetics, wheelchairs, and bedside care. Speaking of the bombing, J. P. says, “In a lot of ways, it changed me for the better.” The Norden brothers typify this fact: most things, events, and experiences can be used for bad or for good. As New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman poi...
Apr 18, 2023•9 min
Four people were killed an dozens more were injured as a mass shooting during a Sweet 16 birthday party Saturday night in Alabama. Because mass shootings occur far too frequently in the US, many tend to gloss over the tragedy. The same could be said of our country's reaction to abortion, and a recent surprise appearance of Vice President Kamala Harris at a pro-abortion rally speaks to this fact. What can Christians do today to "stand up and fight" for the victims of abortion? Author: Jim Denison...
Apr 17, 2023•8 min
A Virginia high school teacher has been instructed by school officials that she must remove a Bible verse from the signature of her work email messages. The school district’s position is entirely consistent with the cultural narrative of our day in which religion, to the degree it is tolerated at all, is to be privatized. Despite victory after victory for religious liberty in the courts, it remains the cultural consensus that religious speech must be treated differently than any other kind and m...
Apr 14, 2023•8 min
President Biden will not attend the May 6 coronation of King Charles III, though First Lady Jill Biden will. The news story leads Dr. Jim Denison to consider how the true king of the universe is often faulted for evil and suffering attributable to our free will. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Dr. George kept all his medical records and has made them available on his website for the world to see. Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www...
Apr 13, 2023•8 min
Millions of lives could be saved by a groundbreaking set of new vaccines for cancer and a range of other conditions according to Dr. Paul Burton, chief medical officer of Moderna. In contrast, the Washington Post reports that “research with exotic viruses risks a deadly outbreak” due to the proliferation of biocontainment testing facilities across the globe. When so much seems out of our control, what can we specifically do as Christians to help our world? Article Description: New vaccines could...
Apr 12, 2023•8 min
Five people have died and eight were wounded in a mass shooting at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. What is a biblical response to such tragedy? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Mark Legg’s article, “ What does the Bible say about gun control? ”). Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/louisville-bank-shooting/...
Apr 11, 2023•8 min
Amateur golfer Sam Bennett sports an unusual tattoo in memory of his late father who died of Alzheimer’s in 2021. A doctor recently donated her kidney to a woman she’d never met. Opposing rulings on mifepristone were released. What do these stories have in common? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/sam-bennett-2023-masters-unusual-tattoo/...
Apr 10, 2023•8 min
A “staggering” church abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Baltimore has come to light involving more than 150 Catholic priests and over 600 children over 80 years, with decades of coverups. How can religious people do such terrible things? On this Good Friday, let’s consider why, then let’s take three practical, biblical steps in response. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-ar...
Apr 07, 2023•8 min
