How times change. I once read that in the 1950s a professor at a major state university was fired when an interview in the student newspaper quoted him as saying that it would be a good idea for students to … Continue reading
Joseph J. Horton
What is Truth? Compromising for the Culture
Who better than the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to report on a conference of Anglican bishops? The BBC is satisfied that the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has brokered a compromise on one of the most controversial issues of the … Continue reading
Be of Good Cheer: Life is Still Winning
“In the world you will have tribulation,” states John 16:33. “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Those who take heart in Christ are promised trouble but are also promised the ultimate victory. How do we maintain the proper … Continue reading
Virtual Victories
I appreciate the disappointment of those who were looking forward to the 2021 March for Life. Per the statement released last week by the March for Life organizers, “this year’s March for Life will look different. The annual rally will … Continue reading
False Positive Contact Tracing
Suppose that suddenly a new disease X appears to be spreading rapidly and killing people. The symptoms of X are very similar to those of Y and Z, but X may have a far higher fatality rate than Y and … Continue reading
Warm Hearted Thinking
I do not hate my mom. Many in the media and some friends on social media seem to believe I do hate my mom, as well as other older people with compromised immune systems. For more than a decade my … Continue reading
The Methodist Church is Coming Apart
The initial reports read to me a bit like the losers won, but the church of my upbringing is on the verge of coming apart after decades of internal turmoil. The details of the deal will be important, but leaders … Continue reading
Polyamory: Limitless or Limiting?
The Gottman Institute is one of the premiere organizations promoting evidence-based approaches to couple/marital relationships. The institute notes that it has“developed an approach that not only supports and repairs troubled marriages and committed relationships but strengthens happy ones.” The approach … Continue reading
Beware of Bills in Sheep’s Clothing
There is a bipartisan tradition of naming bills such that no reasonable person would oppose them. For instance, changes to our tax system came with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Who’s against jobs? And how could … Continue reading
When Everybody Plays, We All Win!
The most joy-filled people I saw during the Super Bowl were in a Microsoft commercial titled When Everybody Plays We All Win. We were introduced to six kids who love to play video games with their friends. Each of these beautiful … Continue reading
Please, Don’t Counsel Them
If you are a football fan, and perhaps even if you are not, you have read the allegation that current Ohio State head football coach, Urban Meyer, and athletic director, Gene Smith, knowingly employed an assistant coach, Zach Smith, who … Continue reading
The State’s Gambling Gambit: Losing Your Way to Fiscal Health
While Illinois, Connecticut, and New Jersey have been making national headlines for their respective budget fiascos, Pennsylvania has been under the radar with its own problems. The legislature has passed a budget. Governor Tom Wolf has not announced his intentions … Continue reading
Life is Worth Fighting For
The story of Charlie Gard is sparking outrage throughout the world. As the Wall Street Journal put it, the doctors who are caring for 11-month-old Charlie Gard “have won judges’ permission to discontinue life support despite his parents’ objections, saying … Continue reading
Boy Scouts: Kind No More
The Boy Scouts have announced that children who are biologically female but identify as male may now be scouts. By so doing they have joined a movement whose understanding of gender would make perfect sense to a typical 3-year-old, but … Continue reading
The Inside Story: What Really Happened with Roe v. Wade?
Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, courts have struck down many attempts by state governments to regulate the abortion industry. Just this past summer a Texas law requiring abortion-providing facilities to meet the same health and safety standards as outpatient … Continue reading
Born That Way? A False Hypothesis
Literature reviews are a common thing in the world of academic research. They often involve esoteric topics confined to a narrow universe of scholarly interest. Few literature reviews, however, have generated as much controversy as the recently published paper “Sexuality … Continue reading
Which Bathroom Did Klinger Use?
In M*A*S*H, one of America’s longest-running TV shows, the beloved character Max Klinger dressed as a woman. Klinger hoped to get a so-called “Section 8,” which is a mental-health discharge in the military. Everyone who watched the show when it … Continue reading
Conservative Solutions for Just Wages
There is much talk and action right now on the issue of a minimum or “just” wage. Typically, those who favor raising the minimum wage tend to the liberal camp. However, some of those who want to raise the minimum … Continue reading
Control What You Can Control and Enjoy the Benefits
I expect that I confuse a lot of people at the gym where I work out. I have been asked more than once why I breathe so hard. The short answer is that I do high-intensity interval workouts where I … Continue reading
Tears for Gosnell’s House of Horrors
I recently saw the documentary “3801 Lancaster: An American Tragedy.” I went home and cried. I don’t mean tears of joy. No, I cried. The last time I cried was when my dad died. The last time before that I can … Continue reading