by Bret Capranica | Aug 10, 2005 | Uncategorized
The public debate on euthanasia tends to focus its attention upon the extremes, while ignoring the normal. We normally hear of the need to nix a life when that life is in extreme physical pain and death by natural causes is near or to go on living would simply be minute by minute agony. Opponents of euthanasia often suggest that euthanasia, if legally allowed, would bring a host of people to the death doctor for less than extreme cases. Usually such opponents are belittled for a lack of sensitivity to the tough cases among the terminally ill. The Netherlands, the liberal testing grounds for all things unethical, has just exposed the true colors of euthanasia. According to a report from the Archives of Internal Medicine, revealed that 20% of the doctors in The Netherlands had received euthanasia requests and 44% of the requests resulted in doctor assisted suicide, including taking the life of terminally ill infants. Note, from the article, why people in the Netherlands are seeking death rather than life: Project leader Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen said she was surprised that “the most important reasons for doing the request are not strictly medical.” The survey asked physicians the reasons that patients in their most recent euthanasia case sought help in ending their own lives, with the most frequent being pointless suffering, loss of dignity and weakness. In cases in which doctors denied the requests, the most common reasons were not wanting to be a burden on their family, tired of living and depression. The 13 percent of patients who decided ultimately not to pursue euthanasia demonstrates “it is really very...
by Bret Capranica | Aug 9, 2005 | Uncategorized
Rick Santorum has been hailed as a possible 2008 presidential candidate and a frequent standard bearer for conservative Christians. He was recently highlighted on the cover of World Maganize and noted for championing conservative Christian values. But according to the referenced Reuters report, he does not hold to a conservative Christian viewpoint on creation. Recognizing that even those within the Intelligent Design community do not all see eye-to-eye on whether the creation of the earth was accomplished in the six days the Bible speaks of or the millions of years proposed by evolutionists, they do all nonetheless acknowledge that the world is not a product of coincidental chance from some uncreated and unprovoked cosmic explosion. Like Senator Frist’s latest capitulation, Mr. Santorum’s dislike of the creationist position no doubt has much to do with his personal positioning for the next presidential contest, but is another reason why we Christians should stop placing our hope for a livable society in the hands of conservative politicians. Such politicians are more ready to drop the conservative before they do the politician element of their...
by Bret Capranica | Aug 8, 2005 | Bookreviews, Uncategorized
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is urging denominational divestment from a number of US companies because, as the Prebyterians assert, they are helping Israel in the occupation of Palestinian territory. The New York Times story linked above notes that only one company was targeted for divestment on the Palestinian side of the struggle due to their alleged funneling of money to families of suicide bombers. What is the rationale behind this move? Is the rationale theological? Minimally. Some within the Presbyterian Church of American (a somewhat more conservative branch of Presbyterians), issues an open letter through Knox Theological Seminary some time ago, urging Christians not to support Israel based on their eschatological stance. Based on their Covenant Theological grid of viewing the world and the Scriptures, they assert that the current secular nation of Israel has no biblical right to the land (the church has replaced a political Israel) and therefore should not be supported by evangelicals. No doubt this Covenant kind of theology is a foundational aspect for the more liberal brand of Presbyterians in the PCUSA. I agree that the current secular state of Israel is not the one mentioned by the prophets as those who should inherit the land, but not because of a skewed view that the Church has somehow spiritualized all of the Old Testament promises to Israel. Jeremiah 31:31-34 suggests that Israel and Judah will inherit the land when their heart is changed and the nation once again obeys the Lord. However, the PC USA no doubt is more influenced by their social liberal leanings, of which the NY Times report draws attention. Rather...
by Bret Capranica | Aug 6, 2005 | Uncategorized
The religion of the objectivity of science is taking a more offensive posture these days as creationists have become more public. As evidence, consider yesterday’s Op-Ed from the New York Times, entitled “Design for Confusion.” [linked above]. The author, Paul Krugman, does not wish to give any dignity to any brainless boob who holds to any form of an Intelligent Design proposition. Instead he “Clintonizes” the debate by suggesting his own “right-wing conspiracy” attack. Rather than engage in the debate and discuss the scientific, philosophical, theological and exegetical issues, he suggests that creationists are actually in a struggle not to posit probable evidence, but pursue mere political effectiveness through maligning evolution and her purely objective proponents. He suggests: “Creationists failed when they pretended to be engaged in science, not religious indoctrination: “creation science” was too crude to fool anyone. But intelligent design, which spreads doubt about evolution without being too overtly religious, may succeed where creation science failed. “The important thing to remember is that like supply-side economics or global-warming skepticism, intelligent design doesn’t have to attract significant support from actual researchers to be effective. All it has to do is create confusion, to make it seem as if there really is a controversy about the validity of evolutionary theory. That, together with the political muscle of the religious right, may be enough to start a process that ends with banishing Darwin from the classroom.” So, Mr. Krugman suggests that creationists simply demean “the hard sciences” and politically posit and position themselves with deflated and baseless arguments in an attempt to create public disdain for evolutionary proponents. Hmm. A...
by Bret Capranica | Aug 5, 2005 | Uncategorized
Not only is “Capranica” an ancient medieval village, it is about to become a beautiful Tuscan-style villa in Hemet, CA!! As reported earlier, the Capranica home will soon be moving. In a burst of Friday frivolity, I will begin posting a few before and after shots. I must admit up front – we are in fact “trailer people.” Alas, we currently live in Southern California and reside in a trailer (I prefer ‘Mobile Home’ or better yet, ‘Manufactured Home.’). So that you can see my present plight, here is a picture of the humble office I am writing from at this very moment (please, don’t feel too sorry for us). We happened upon a piece of property in our area (we rent a space currently) that had an old “trailer” on it. Without going into the details, the piece is perfect for the new “manufactured home” we wanted to purchase. However, as you can see, the property needed a bit of tender loving care. No one had resided in the place for several years. The price was right, we would not have to have new utilities installed and our new home would fit snuggly, so we have bought the land, ordered the home and begun the work. “Work” is an understatement. Some of the weeds were around six feet tall. None were shorter than two feet, throughout the 7,000 square foot lot. Inside sets of large cabinets outside the trailer were about a thousand (not an exaggeration) jars of canned fruit. The latest date on the labels was somewhere in the early 90’s. So, here are the beginning stages...
by Bret Capranica | Aug 5, 2005 | Uncategorized
Baptist Press reports today that Thom S. Rainer is the nominee to replace Jimmy Draper as President of LifeWay. Personally, I am very encouraged by the choice. A number of Dr. Rainer’s books have been very influential and encouraging in my ministry, particularly, High Expectations, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and BreakOut Churches. My wife Kelly and I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Dr. and Mrs. Rainer during our Association’s Equipped for Excellence conference two years ago. We were his transportation for the weekend and enjoyed the encouragement of he and his wife. He is a man passionate for the salvation for the lost, a faithful husband and father and solid in his theological convictions. We look forward to the benefits his theological bearings and ministry convictions bring to our denomination’s chief publishing and resource distribution...
