The WorldView in 5 Minutes

It’s Tuesday, May 21st, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Dept. of Justice targets pro-life protestors Peaceful civil disobedience in the United States has long been tolerated by the media and government officials -- until now. Last week, two pro-life activists were sentenced to years in prison, for chaining themselves to furniture inside of the Washington D.C. Surgi-Clinic where abortions are performed. The protest occurred on October 22, 2020. As The Worldview reported on May 16th, 30-year-old Laruen Handy received a sentence of 4 years and 9 months. And 69-year-old John Hinshaw was sentenced to 1 year and 9 months. Steve Crampton, the Thomas More Society Senior Counsel who is representing the pro-lifers in this case, talked to Fox News Digital. He said, “This is not the America I know. …The contrast here with the Pro-Palestine folks shutting down the colleges and even preventing graduation ceremonies, and blocking entire highways and interstates, in addition to the ongoing attacks, yet there are virtually no ongoing investigations. I think there's kind of a palpable sense of selective prosecution elements that can't be ignored here.” The Thomas More Society is appealing the case. Amos 3:6 asks, “If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?” Iranian president killed in helicopter crash Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister, along with seven other officials, were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. The crash occurred in northwestern Iran near the border of Turkey. Raisi was elected as President in 2021. He represented the more hardline Islamic Clergy Association. During Raisi’s administration, Iran continued to build its nuclear weapons capacity and support Hamas militants in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The devastated Iranian economy Iran’s Gross Domestic Product per capita has suffered about the worst drop of any nation in the world — falling from $8,300 to $2,700 between 2012 and 2020. The country has only recovered slightly since then. Bidenomics is squeezing Americans The assessment is in. Since the 2020 elections, Americans have slipped in their economic position. The Wall Street Journal reports that household net worth in the U.S. has flatlined since Biden took office. That means no appreciable increase for the average household. That compares to a 16% rise in household net worth over the 4-year Trump administration, adjusted for inflation. U.S. household income dropped by 5% Also, the U.S. median household income continues to fall from $78,250 back in 2019 to $74,580 today. That’s about a 5% cut in pay over five years. Argentinian president’s great economic strides Forbes reports that Argentina’s President Javier Milei is making giant strides with his economic policies in his first year in office. First quarter 2024 government finances revealed a budget surplus -- the first since 2008. Remarkably, Milei eliminated 70,000 government jobs in Argentina and suspended new public works contracts. Plus, the inflation rate is moving in a good direction — 8.8% last month, down from a whopping 25% in December. Where do most sexual perverts live? An international survey, published by Statistica, finds the highest percentage of people who associate with a sexually perverted lifestyle commonly referred to as LGBTQ are the United States, Israel, the Philippines, Thailand, Canada, Sweden, Brazil, and Australia. By contrast, South Korea and Romania claim the lowest percentage. Millennials vs. Baby Boomers on Electric Vehicles 22% of Millennials own an electric or hybrid car compared to only 4% of Baby Boomers, reports ZeroHedge.com. Electric Vehicle sales only make up a fraction of total car sales -- 1.4 million electric cars compared to roughly 14 million gas-powered light trucks and passenger...

It’s Monday, May 20th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Where is Chinese Christian blogger Zhang Zhan? Zhang Zhan, a 40-year-old Chinese Christian blogger, journalist, activist, and former human rights lawyer, was scheduled to be released on May 13 after four years in Shanghai’s Women Prison, reports The Associated Press. She was imprisoned in May 2020 after getting convicted of reporting on the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. The Free Zhang Zhan campaign issued a press release on May 13 stating that there was no confirmation of her release from prison. Plus, Zhang’s family had been under immense pressure from Chinese officials not to give any media interviews about her case. The press release added, “We are left wondering where she is, how she is doing physically and mentally, what’s happened to her family, and what the future holds for her. … It is totally unacceptable that the Chinese government subject many human rights defenders and their families to this kind of cruelty. Even after their release from prison, they are still deprived of their basic rights.” Zhang’s case highlights the Chinese government’s arbitrary arrests of Christians, journalists, and human rights lawyers who challenge the Communist government’s control and policies. By contrast, Psalm 82:3 describes the Biblical obligation of the civil magistrates. “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Please write a polite email or letter to Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to America, asking for information on Zhang Zhan’s whereabouts. Send it to 3505 International Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008. Trump demands drug test of Biden before debate Appearing at the Minnesota Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner last Friday, former President Donald Trump said he wants President Joe Biden to be drug-tested before their first debate on Thursday, June 27th, reports The Hill.com. TRUMP: “I’m gonna demand a drug test too, by the way. (cheers) I don’t want him coming in like the State of the Union. He was high as a kite. (laughter) I said, ‘Is that Joe up there?’ (laughter) And by the end of the evening, he was exhausted, right? No, we’re going to demand a drug test.” Giuliani served legal notice of Arizona indictment at 80th birthday Former New York City mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani got more than cake and presents for his 80th birthday bash in Palm Beach, Florida. He was also served a legal notice of his Arizona indictment for allegedly being involved in a plot to overturn the 2020 election in favor of ex-President Donald Trump, reports the New York Post. Around 11:00pm, after most of the 200 birthday guests -- including Trump advisors Roger Stone and Steve Bannon -- were gone, two officials from Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office delivered the papers. Some of the party stragglers began screaming – including one woman who cried as Giuliani was handed the papers. Giuliani was the last of the 18 pro-Trump defendants to be served in the indictment returned by a grand jury last month. They’re accused of partaking in a failed bid to award Arizona’s 11 presidential electoral votes to Trump. Woman prayed while dangling from bridge in semi truck And finally, newly released dashcam footage of an accident that left a massive semitruck dangling from a bridge earlier this year is going viral. The shocking footage of the Kentucky four-vehicle crash, which unfolded Friday, March 1 on the Clark Memorial Bridge in Louisville, Kentucky, is absolutely terrifying, reports FaithWire.com. Trevor Branham, age 33, lost control of his vehicle, crossed into the wrong lanes, hit another car, then struck the semitruck in question. Sydney Thomas, age 26, was driving that semitruck, which was sent off the bridge and dangling 100 feet above the Ohio River. She described what happened to...

It’s Friday, May 17th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims kill 11 Christians in Congo, Africa At about 8 p.m. on Monday, May 13, members of the Allied Democratic Forces carried out a brutal attack in the Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Islamic extremist group killed 11 Christians, kidnapped several others, and set houses on fire, reports International Christian Concern. A survivor said, “This horrific attack has left a trail of devastation and despair, with the loss of life and destruction of property reaching catastrophic proportions.” German church holds blasphemous Taylor Swift-themed service An historic German church in Heidelberg held a blasphemous Taylor Swift-themed worship service on Sunday, reports Christian Headlines. According to the news website Deutsche Welle, The Church of the Holy Spirit, a well-known church in Heidelberg that meets in a 600-year-old building, put on a service titled "Anti-Hero — Taylor Swift Church Service" in an effort to draw young people into the church. More than 1,200 were in attendance, most of them young women, for the service. Pastor Christof Ellsiepen said, "The Church of the Holy Spirit has always been a place of encounter and exchange. That's why a pop-music religious service fits so perfectly. With it, we are giving space to the questions and issues that occupy the younger generation." The Christian Post reports that the pastor also said that the service focused on the seemingly Christian themes in Swift’s music to address contested topics including women's rights, racism, and gender equality. However, Evangelical leaders have rightly expressed profound concern about Swift’s latest album, entitled The Tortured Poets Department, that mocks God and Christians alike. Sadly, Pastor Vincenzo Petracca was tone deaf, claiming "Theologically speaking, [Taylor Swift] points to the justness of God.” A pro-homosexual rainbow banner behind the church’s musicians stated that the church welcomes "all sizes, all [colors], all cultures, all sexes, all beliefs, all religions, all ages, all types, all people." Last time I checked, there were only two sexes. Indeed, in Mark 10:6, Jesus said, "From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female." Title IX rules threaten women’s safety and fairness The Biden administration would have Americans believe that feelings trump biological reality by prioritizing someone’s self-ascribed “gender identity” over their sex, explains Alliance Defending Freedom. But denying the truth that God made us male and female—different, yet equal—has harmful consequences. Adaleia is a 15-year-old athlete from West Virginia, and she knows this all too well. Because she was forced to compete against a male student who identifies as a female, she lost her spot to compete in a conference championship meet, reports Fox News. But that’s not all. She had to change in the girls’ locker room in the presence of the male athlete while she endured the vulgar, sexual harassment that the student directed toward her. Adaleia was made to suffer humiliation and indignity that no one should have to endure. But, according to the Biden administration’s recent attempt to rewrite Title IX, women and girls must surrender their rights to safety, privacy, and fairness in places of education. And faculty and students must embrace lies by treating children as the opposite sex—boys as girls, and girls as boys. Anti-Israel Duke protestors walk out of Seinfeld’s graduation speech Dozens of students walked out of Duke University’s commencement ceremony this past Sunday because of their objection to the guest speaker, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, a Jew who has been supportive of Israel, reports The Guardian. Figures in robes and caps, some waving Palestinian flags, filed out of crowds of graduates assembled on the grass in the North Carolina...

It’s Thursday, May 16th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Rising persecution of Latin America Christians International Christian Concern reports that churches in Latin America are facing increasing levels of persecution. Thousands of Christians face attacks for their faith in countries like Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, and Nicaragua. These attacks often come from communist regimes, drug cartels, and violent gangs. For example, Cuba passed a law last year, putting restrictions on religious expression that criticizes the government. Pastors who speak out for religious freedom in Nicaragua face arrest. And Christians in Mexico and Haiti are facing more oppression with the rise of the drug cartels as well as gang violence. British pro-lifers march against birthday abortions Yesterday, hundreds of pro-lifers rallied outside Parliament in London. Lawmakers are considering two pro-life amendments as well as two pro-abortion amendments. The latter two would allow abortion up to birth. Lynda Rose, head of Voice for Justice UK, said, “A nation that indiscriminately and without cause seeks to kill its unborn up to birth is destroying itself. … With our callous disregard of the right to life, the United Kingdom is rapidly becoming a kingdom of death. For the future wellbeing of all, these evil amendments must be defeated.” Pro-life protestors are imprisoned In the United States, judges are handing out prison sentences for pro-lifers targeted by the Biden administration. On Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced Lauren Handy to nearly five years in prison for peacefully blocking access to an abortion mill. Yesterday, the judge sentenced Jonathan Darnel to nearly three years in prison for his participation. A total of five activists have faced trial for the 2020 blockade in Washington, D.C. The pro-lifers’ defendants are fighting back. Steve Crampton with the Thomas More Society said, “We eagerly look forward to appealing for [their] freedom, so that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act can never again be weaponized by the Department of Justice against its ideological opponents.” Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.” George teachers banned students from sharing Bible verses Public school teachers in Georgia banned students from sharing Bible verses. Two nine-year-old students were planning on sharing Easter eggs that contained the verses earlier this year. In response to the ban, the American Center for Law and Justice stepped in to defend the students. The Christian legal group reports they have now achieved victory for the students. They said, “The school has agreed to recognize our clients’ constitutional rights to distribute religious materials, such as Easter eggs, candy canes, and anything else – even Bible verses.” Trump and Biden to debate on Thursday, June 27th President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to debate each other ahead of the presidential election this year. Both agreed to a debate invitation from CNN for Thursday, June 27. They also agreed to an invitation from ABC for September 10th. If Biden and Trump follow through on this debate in June, it will be the earliest debate between general election candidates on record. Inflation down slightly Inflation cooled down slightly last month. Consumer prices rose 0.3% percent from March to April, down from 0.4% the previous month. Year-over-year, inflation fell from 3.5% to 3.4% last month, the first decline this year. Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said, “The fight against inflation is not yet over, but the worsening trend observed in the first quarter of 2024 may have ended.” Drug overdose deaths dropped 3% Preliminary data suggests that drug overdose deaths in the U.S. fell for the first time in five years in 2023. The...

It’s Wednesday, May 15th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark New Zealand churches might lose tax-exempt status Churches have enjoyed tax-exempt status in New Zealand for hundreds of years. However, the country’s government is considering a plan to revoke the tax exempt status of churches. Not surprisingly, churches provide many forms of social and spiritual support to their communities for free. Removing their tax-exempt status would result in fewer people receiving help. International Christian Concern is circulating a petition to keep the church in New Zealand tax free. You can sign it through a link in our transcript today at TheWorldview.com. 76 million displaced people The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center reports more and more people are facing displacement in their own country. Conflicts and natural disasters led to 76 million internally displaced people last year. Violence caused 90% of the displacements, and over half of them were in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of internally displaced people increased by 50% over the last five years. And, over the last 10 years, the number has roughly doubled. Brazilian flooding kills 143 people Speaking of displacement, flooding in Brazil has triggered landslides and flash floods, displacing over half a million people and killing 143 people. Electricity has been cut off to more than 1.4 million Brazilians. The flooding came after torrential rains at the end of last month in the country’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Churches across Brazil are providing shelter and care for those affected by the flooding. U.S.-based aid groups are also stepping in to help. On Sunday morning, May 12th, a DC-8 aircraft, funded by Samaritan’s Purse, departed the Greensboro Airlift Response Center in North Carolina bound for Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil in a second airlift transporting relief to the flood-ravaged region. The flight carried shelter tarp and other relief supplies. Also on board were relief staff deploying to the area. Onboard the May 11th Samaritan’s Purse flight were personal water filtration systems, hygiene kits, blankets, and solar lights. They also supplied ten community water filtration systems, each capable of supplying clean drinking water for up to 10,000 people per day. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse said, “Please continue praying for all those whose lives have been devastated by this flooding as even more heavy rains are on the way.” You can make an on-line donation through Samaritan’s Purse to help the people in flood-ravaged Brazil through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. California school district agrees to pay FCA $6 million A California school district agreed to a nearly $6 million settlement with a Christian high school student group recently. A Fellowship of Christian Athletes student group had been operating at Pioneer High School in San Jose. The group required leaders to agree with its statement of faith which included saying that marriage is between one man and one woman. The high school stripped the FCA group of its official status. Now, after years of litigation, Christian students are free to operate the group according to their beliefs. Biden puts pro-abortion spin on Pregnant Workers Act Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act back in 2022. Now, the Biden administration is trying to make the law pro-abortion. Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced a new rule that would require employers to make accommodations for abortion. Multiple attorneys general from states across America are already challenging the rule. Louisiana’s Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill said, “This new action ... is another example of bureaucrats rewriting acts of Congress to their own liking, and it’s unconstitutional. We will continue to challenge this...

It’s Tuesday, May 14th, A.D. 2024,. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Myanmar military’s martial law forbids church The Myanmar military junta has placed seven townships in the Chin State under martial law, forbidding church gatherings in this Christian-majority area of the country. Military authorities are also requiring pastors to submit lists of church congregants. Pray for persecuted believers in Myanmar. Pakistani court annulled forced marriage of Christian girl to Muslim man Good news! A Pakistani court has annulled a forced marriage of a Christian girl who was abducted on her way home from school in 2019. Reeha Saleem was forced into a marriage by her Muslim abductor. She has forthrightly denied conversion to the Islamic faith, and still holds to the Christian faith, according to Alliance Defending Freedom International, which supported her case. U.K.’s growing Chinese Christian community The Chinese Christian community is the fastest-growing church in the United Kingdom, according to a report published by the Bible Society. The community has grown by 25,000, or 28%, over the last three years, largely driven by immigration from Hong Kong into the United Kingdom. The report stated that these believers have a much higher view of the Bible than other groups. Church of England’s plummeting attendance Church of England attendance has fallen to 654,000 as of last year. By these numbers, the Chinese church-attending population makes up a full 15% of the total attendees of the Church of England services. Another survey found that people of color constitute 14% of the United Kingdom’s population, and yet they make up 25% of the practicing Christians there. In the words of Psalm 22:27, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. affirms abortion on demand Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the independent candidate for President of the United States, affirmed his stand for abortion. He opposed the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and supported the federal legalization of abortion up to full term. He stated his position last Wednesday on the Sage Steele podcast. Steele asked Kennedy if he preferred leaving abortion “up to the states.” STEELE: “Keeping it as is, with Roe v. Wade having been overturned, and leaving it up to the states to determine if and when a woman can have an abortion?” KENNEDY: “No, I wouldn’t leave it to the states.” STEELE: “You wouldn’t? Right.” KENNEDY: “We should leave it to the woman. We shouldn’t have government involved.” STEELE: “Even if it’s full-term?” KENNEDY: “Even if it’s full-term.” STEELE: “I know there is no simple answer. As a Catholic, it would be okay to allow a woman to do that.” (inaudible) KENNEDY: “I don’t think it’s ever okay.” STEELE: “It would be allowed. It would be allowed.” KENNEDY: “I think we have to leave it to the woman, rather than the state.” Subsequently, Kennedy tweeted that he learned that “Sometimes, women abort healthy, viable late-term fetuses. These cases of purely ‘elective’ late-term abortion are very upsetting. Once the baby is viable outside the womb, it should have rights and it deserves society’s protection. … “I support the emerging consensus that abortion should be unrestricted up until a certain point. I believe that point should be when the baby is viable outside the womb. Therefore, I would allow appropriate restrictions on abortion in the final months of pregnancy.” In recent polls for the 2024 presidential election, Kennedy is holding anywhere from 8-11% of the vote. America’s low-level commitment to unborn babies The American electorate’s commitment to the pro-life vote is still low. Only 10% of Americans call themselves pro-life AND would avoid voting for a pro-abortion candidate. On the other hand, there are 17% of Americans who call themselves...

It’s Monday, May 13th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Imprisoned Chinese leaders face serious illnesses Since two leaders of the Ganquan Church in Hefei, Anhui Province in China were arrested last fall, their wives and members of their church family have pleaded for their release. Those pleas have grown more urgent after the two leaders developed serious health problems while in prison, reports International Christian Concern. In November 2023, Communist authorities detained Pastor Zhou Songlin, Elder Ding Zhongfu, and 14 other members of the house church. Pastor Zhou and Elder Ding are the only church members who remain in prison. Pastor Zhou is suffering from an unspecified “serious illness” that his doctors say cannot be properly treated while he is incarcerated. And Elder Ding is experiencing high blood pressure, chest pain, dizziness, and insomnia. The Ganquan Church is an underground church that refuses to come under the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement which is China’s only legal church. As a result, Ganquan is considered illegal and cannot purchase property. That’s why Pastor Zhou and Elder Ding used church funds to purchase two properties in their own names to secure property for worship and other church activities. Biden gets pushback over claim “We leave no one behind.” President Joe Biden faced a wave of pushback from GOP lawmakers in response to a post on the @POTUS X account that said, "On my watch, when we make promises, we keep them. And we leave no one behind." Blaze.com reports that multiple Republicans challenged the president's claim. Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan tweeted, "Afghanistan. Israel. Haiti. All Joe Biden does is leave Americans behind," And Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin tweeted, "This would be hilarious if it was not tragic. Biden has abandoned Americans around the world and wants you to forget about them. I never will. Remember in November." Stephanie Clifford took stand in Trump’s “hush money” trial Last Tuesday, Stormy Daniels, a disreputable actress whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, took the stand in the so-called “hush money” trial of former President Donald Trump, reports The Epoch Times. She claimed that she had a tryst with Trump in 2006 at which time he had been married to his third wife, Melania, since January 22, 2005. NBC News noted that Clifford, who was 27 at the time, boosted her credibility by describing the flooring of the hotel suite. Trump has categorically denied the encounter ever took place. Prosecutors say that President Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to Clifford during the 2016 campaign in a bid to buy her silence about the alleged affair. At issue is the nature of the payments. They have argued that the payments should have been marked as campaign-related expenses since her silence helped assure his election. The former president has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the case. He has argued that the trial is merely an attempt to keep him off the 2024 campaign trail. In Clifford’s testimony, she recalled that the former president told her in the hotel room that she “should go on his television show,” referring to the “Celebrity Apprentice” program that he hosted and starred in. She claimed she asked him. “What if I lose on the first episode?” She also made claims about visiting Trump to break the Seventh Commandment at his hotel in Lake Tahoe, California, during a golf tournament. Exodus 20:17 says, “You shall not commit adultery.” Top 10 most dangerous states While the violent crime rate in America fell for two years in a row after an increase in 2020, property crime – which covers infractions such as vehicle theft and burglary – appeared to increase in 2022 for the first time in two decades. Here is a list of the top 10 most dangerous states, reports U.S. News & World...

It’s Friday, May 10th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims attacked praying Catholic students On Sunday, May 5th, two young women were slightly wounded when a mob of Muslims assaulted a group of 15 Catholic students who were praying at a rented house in Banten Province, on the Indonesian island of Java, reports Morning Star News. Enraged at the Catholic group praying in a home rather than in a church building, the local neighborhood head incited area Muslims to break up the meeting and injure the two female students in a suburb of Jakarta at about 7:30 p.m. Some of the assailants were reportedly armed with long machetes, sickles, knives, and blocks. One of the young women suffered a slight wound near her nose while another sustained a minor wound in the stomach, in spite of efforts by some local Muslims to protect them. The conflict began when the leader, identified as Diding, peeped into the house where the students were praying, and then intruded in, confronting the students for prayer, and ultimately dispersing them. Chicago Teachers Union demanding abortion coverage, gender-neutral bathrooms The Chicago Teachers Union is demanding $50 billion in its contract negotiations to pay for a 9% wage increase, abortions, illegal immigrant services and "gender-neutral bathrooms" for every school district, according to leaked documents, reports The Christian Post. Earlier this year, local news outlet WLS reported that Chicago teachers requested $2,000 for each of the 5,000 illegal immigrant students recently enrolled in the district, including more bilingual teachers and full tuition coverage for teachers to obtain a bilingual certificate. The list of demands also included a series of sexual perversion provisions, with the Chicago Teachers Union calling for every school in the district to have at least one "gender-neutral restroom" and annual homosexual/transgender training for educators. No wonder the number of homeschooled children continues to skyrocket. Student newspaper: "Hitler's got some good ideas." The student newspaper at McClatchy High School in Sacramento, California is facing a big time controversy. The Prospector student newspaper published an anonymous quote in the most recent edition praising Adolf Hitler. A student said, “Hitler’s got some good ideas.” It was part of a story about “weird things” overheard in the school’s hallways, reports CBS News. The student staff later posted a statement saying the quote did not reflect their ideals or beliefs. But they were glad it sparked a conversation on how students choose their words. The principal fired off a message to families saying the newspaper’s actions were “deeply offensive.” And the newspaper’s faculty adviser has been placed on paid leave, which angered journalists across the state. Steve O’Donoghue, director of the California Scholastic Journalism Initiative, said, “They have the right to print it. They’re not advocating for it, they’re just quoting what a student said.” Christian talk show host Todd Starnes wrote, “It’s worth noting that a recent survey showed that 63 percent of Millennials and Generation Z did not know that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. That’s what happens when public schools whitewash history. The kids are ignorant of great atrocities in world history and the next thing you know – the McClatchy High School student newspaper is singing Hitler’s praises.” Ultra-processed food leads to weight gain, heart issues, & depression Research published in The British Medical Journal shows that eating a lot of ultra-processed foods such as sugary cereals, frozen meals, and sodas has been linked to poor mental health and a greater risk of dying from heart issues, reports The Telegraph. Ultra-processed foods are usually higher in fat, sugar and salt and contain chemicals, colorings, sweeteners and preservatives that...

It’s Thursday, May 9th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Algerian pastor faces prison for “unauthorized worship” A pastor in Algeria, Africa is facing a year in prison. Authorities charged Pastor Youssef Ourahmane with practicing “unauthorized worship.” A court upheld his conviction last Thursday. He is known for his work with several churches and Bible schools as well as the Evangelical Protestant Association of Algeria. He came to Christ out of Islam and has ministered for over three decades. Christianity has existed in the country for centuries where Protestants are the fastest-growing group. However, harassment against Christians is common in the North African country. Open Doors ranks Algeria, Africa as the 15th most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. United Kingdom might require separate male and female toilets The United Kingdom is considering legislation that will require new buildings to have separate male and female toilets. The measure is aimed at stemming the tide of gender-neutral bathrooms. A government consultation has noted how women, the elderly, and people with disabilities have faced unfair disadvantages because of the gender-neutral toilets. Transgender groups are defending gender-neutral bathrooms. But Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch said, “These regulations will guide organizations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of so-called gender-neutral mixed sex toilet spaces, which deny privacy and dignity to both men and women.” In Matthew 19:4, Jesus asked, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” U.S. in top 8 most pro-abortion countries The Charlotte Lozier Institute released a report last week, comparing abortion laws in the U.S. with other countries. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the infamous pro-abortion ruling of Roe v. Wade in 2022, America is relatively permissive of abortion. The report noted, “Of 193 [United Nations] countries, the United States is one of eight countries that allows, at the federal level, abortion on demand without any gestational limits along with Australia, Canada, China, Guinea-Bissau, Mexico, South Korea, and Vietnam. … With no federal gestational limit on abortion and abortion on demand past 15 weeks in 29 states, U.S. abortion law is far more permissive than that of most countries in the world.” GOP Congressman objects to FBI’s “woke” agenda A Republican Congressman launched an inquiry into the diversity, equity, and inclusion practices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio is the chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. He sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Monday. Jordan wrote, “The FBI's hyper-fixation on hitting Biden administration-imposed DEI initiatives, rather than qualifications that make the best federal law enforcement candidates and officers, has created a climate within the FBI that puts the American public and American civil liberties at risk.” M.I.T. wakes up from “wokeness” Speaking of the “woke” program of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has woken up from “the wokeness.” It will no longer require faculty hires to write diversity statements. The elite private university is the first to drop the requirement which has become common in higher education. Sally Kornbluth, the president of MIT, said, “We can build an inclusive environment in many ways, but compelled statements impinge on freedom of expression, and they don’t work.” Majority of renters think buying a home would be difficult The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released a housing survey this week. The results found 75% of renters believe buying their own home would be somewhat or very difficult, up 8.5% from 2023. Currently, only 13.4% of renters see themselves...

It’s Wednesday, May 8th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Religious Freedom Commission warns State Dept about 17 countries The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report last Wednesday. The commission makes recommendations to the U.S. State Department about which nations should be designated as Countries of Particular Concern. Such countries are considered the worst violators of religious freedom. The latest report recommends 17 countries for the designation, including China, India, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). The Religious Freedom Commission lamented that the State Department has still not designated India as a Country of Particular Concern. Christians faced at least 687 incidents of violence last year in India. Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Thousands of Columbians march for life Over the weekend, thousands of people joined the 18th National March for Life across over 100 cities and towns in Colombia. In 2022, the Constitutional Court of the South American country ruled in favor of killing unborn babies up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. This follows a trend of South and Central American countries caving to international pressure by decriminalizing abortion. Jesús Magaña with United for Life attended the recent march. He said, “We are unwilling to remain silent and stand by in the face of the largest massacre in the country.” 15 GOP-led states oppose Biden’s sexually perverted agenda In the U.S., more and more states are opposing the Biden administration’s support for sexually perverted lifestyles. New regulations from the Education Department protect students on the basis of their so-called gender identity and sexual orientation. At least 15 Republican-led states challenged the regulations in court. And at least seven say they will not follow the new rules. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote in an executive order, “The Biden administration’s facially absurd redefinition of sex in Title IX turns back the clock on women’s opportunities, erodes student privacy, threatens women’s sports, and erases women.” Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” Southern Baptist membership dropped by 241,000 The Southern Baptist Convention released its Annual Church Profile this month. Membership in the largest U.S. Protestant denomination fell by 241,000 people last year. Membership is now below 13 million for the first time since the 1970s. It’s also the 17th year of decline in a row. However, weekly service attendance increased to 4 million last year. And baptisms were up 26%. California witnessed a 248% increase in baptisms over the previous year. Boy Scouts changes name to “Scouting America” The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time since its founding in 1914. The organization is rebranding to Scouting America after facing bankruptcy and abuse scandals. The Boy Scouts allowed girls to join in 2019. This followed allowing homosexual youth and scout leaders. The organization has dropped to just over one million members, down from over two million in 2018. 2,000 anti-Israel college students arrested Police have arrested over 2,000 protesters in recent weeks at universities across America. Demonstrators are supporting Palestinians and opposing Israel’s response to the October 7th attack by Hamas, the Muslim terrorist group. Protestors formed tent encampments at colleges and even took over parts of school buildings. One of the schools was Columbia University in New York City. Thirteen federal judges accused the school of becoming an incubator of bigotry, antisemitism, and violence. The conservative judges said they would not be hiring law...

It’s Tuesday, May 7th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Pakistani Muslims attacked Christian family Last month, a Pakistani Christian, Ashraf Yousaf, and his two brothers and two sisters were attacked by Muslim neighbors in the Punjab District. The Muslim attackers confiscated their wheat crop. Thus far, the police have done nothing to help them. In fact, their attackers have filed charges against the Christian family. Ashraf told The Christian Post that “We have lost everything: our livelihood, our money, and most of all, the hope of getting justice.” Russian saber rattling More saber rattling from Russia this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the Russian Defense Ministry will conduct tactical nuclear weapons drills in the near future. This comes after what the Russians referred to as “provocative statements and threats against Russia [made by certain Western officials.]” The tests involve any or all deployments short of a nuclear explosion. England sends $4 billion to Ukraine Late last week, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron promised Ukraine $4 billion of annual support for the war, reports Reuters. He acknowledged the weapons could be used to strike targets inside of Russia. Warren Buffet addressed his mortality The sixth richest man in the world spoke to his own mortality at the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, reports CNBC. Warren Buffet, age 94, told the gathering that “I shouldn’t be taking on any four-year employment contracts, like several people are doing in this world, at an age when you can’t be quite that sure where you’re going to be in four years.” Buffet’s foundation: The largest single abortion funder Warren Buffet and his foundation, named after his late wife, constitutes the most powerful non-governmental, pro-abortion advocate in the world. Indeed, Forbes.com lists the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation as “the largest single donor supporting abortion rights in the U.S.” According to the World Health Organization’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation provides half a billion dollars per year to pro-abortion causes. That’s about equivalent to the entire U.S .government funding of Planned Parenthood. And 20 times the income of the five largest pro-life groups in America — 40 Days for Life, Americans United for Life, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, National Right to Life, and American Life League. Psalm 37:35-36 speaks of this. “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more. Indeed, I sought him, but he could not be found.” Survey: Disney should return to wholesome programming The Rasmussen Reports national survey discovered that 71% of American adults agree with the statement that, “Disney should return to wholesome programming and allow parents to decide when their children are taught about sexuality.” Only 22% disagree with the statement. Also, the survey found that only 33% of Republicans view Disney in a favorable light, and only 46% of Americans overall have a favorable view of Disney. Nonetheless, this seemingly impregnable entertainment giant’s annual revenues topped $89 billion in Fiscal Year 2023, up from $83 billion in FY 2022, and $67 billion in FY 2020. Saudi Arabian bank loans money to anti-“gay” Uganda First, the World Bank suspended loans for the nation of Uganda because of its stand against homosexuality. And now, Uganda’s government has announced obtaining a sizable loan of $295 million for infrastructure from Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Bank, reports Reuters. Indeed, over the last decade, Arabic countries have invested $100 billion into Africa. In addition, over the last two decades, China has invested $170 billion into Africa. Pro-homosexual “mainline” Protestant denominations are...

It’s Monday, May 6th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian Muslims murder pastor on way to church conference Armed Muslims shot and killed Reverend Manasseh Ibrahim on April 23 in Kaduna State, Nigeria as he traveled to a church conference, reports International Christian Concern. The reverend served under the Evangelical Church Winning All Kaduna Central District Church. Violence in Kaduna State, often directed toward Christians, has left thousands of believers in a state of fear. Yahaya Kinge, chairman of the local Christian Association of Nigeria, said, “Christians who are direct victims of banditry and insurgency in Kaduna state are fed up with the inability of the Nigerian government to find a lasting solution to the incessant killings of innocent Christians.” Terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province, and Islamic Fulani militants have caused countless atrocities throughout northern Nigeria in the last decade, causing the deaths and kidnappings of thousands. According to Open Doors, Nigeria is the sixth most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. Revelation 6:9-10 says, “When [Jesus] opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the Earth and avenge our blood?’” More Chinese illegals caught at border in 2 days than all of 2021 More Chinese-based illegal immigrants were encountered at the U.S. southern border in just two days than in all of fiscal year 2021, reports WorldNetDaily.com. According to what a Customs and Border Protection source told Fox News’ Bill Melugin, there were approximately 262 Chinese illegals caught by Border Patrol at the San Diego sector on May 1, as well as 223 on May 2. By contrast, only 323 Chinese nationals were apprehended by Border Patrol at the southern border throughout all of fiscal year 2021, according to Customs and Border Protection data. IRS about to roll out new audits The Internal Revenue Service says it is about to ramp up audits as it cracks down on tax cheats and seeks to deliver more revenue into the U.S. Treasury's coffers, reports Yahoo Finance. But not every group of taxpayers will face more scrutiny, according to IRS commissioner Danny Werfel. The IRS has been bolstered by $80 billion in new funding directed by the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in 2022 by President Joe Biden. The idea behind the new funding was to help revive an agency whose ranks have been depleted over the years, leading to customer service snarls, processing delays, and a falloff in audit rates. Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs repeals state’s near-total abortion ban Last Thursday, Arizona Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs signed into law a formal repeal of the state’s near-total abortion ban, undoing one of the strongest preborn protections in the country with the help of a handful of Republicans, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Last month, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled 4-2 that the law, which dates back to before Arizona gained statehood in 1912 and was codified in 1913, was legally enforceable after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The Arizona Supreme Court rejected claims that Arizona’s more recent 15-week abortion ban was intended to invalidate it. The decision meant that abortion was set to become illegal in the Grand Canyon State for any reason except when allegedly “necessary” to save the life of the mother. Direct abortion is always gravely immoral and never needed nor ethically justified to save a mother’s life. Hobbs and Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes vowed not to enforce any of the state’s abortion restrictions, while the ruling elicited national outrage from...

It’s Friday, May 3rd, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Open Doors ministers to Ethiopian woman who lost everything Desta Alemu knows what it’s like to be hated and cast out for her faith in Jesus. After all, she has the ashes of her burned home and business to prove it. She and her family were caught up in violence in their community in Ethiopia. She said, “When we left our home, it was very difficult. We couldn’t even find a way to get out; we hid in a neighbor’s house three houses down. I can’t explain the pain and worry I felt in the chaos. Our possessions were destroyed; we lost everything.” Thankfully, Open Doors was able to help her with both immediate needs—and long-term trauma care. Desta explained, “Because I came [to the trauma care seminar], countless things have changed in me. I’ve learned about humility, and how Jesus was also persecuted. … Jesus was also hated, and He was also cast out.” In John 15:18-19, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Open Doors lists Ethiopia as the 32nd most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. Chinese Bible distributor sentenced to 5 years in prison In April 2021, Chinese authorities arrested 10 Christians for selling and distributing Bibles in Hohhot, the capital city of Inner Mongolia — an autonomous region in northern China. Just last month, a judge sentenced one of these believers to prison. On April 15, 2024, Ban Yanhong was sentenced to five years in prison for “illegal business operations.” That’s how the Communist government describes the distribution of Bibles to Christians in Inner Mongolia. Originally, the 10 Hohhot Christians purchased the Bibles legally from a church in Nanjing associated with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. These churches are the only legal churches in China and are controlled by the Communist government. In Ban’s case, prosecutors argued that even though the Bibles were initially purchased legally in Nanjing, selling and distributing them in Inner Mongolia by unregistered house church members was illegal. Supreme Court agrees with Texas’ age requirement for porn Great news! The United States Supreme Court has rejected a request to block enforcement of a Texas law that requires porn sites to verify the age of its users. This will ensure that far fewer minors will have access to these ungodly images. In a one-sentence miscellaneous order released Tuesday that included no dissents, the Supreme Court declined to issue a stay in the case of Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton. This allows a ruling from a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that upheld the age verification law to remain in effect. Last June, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1181, which requires porn sites to verify a user's age. Any company found violating the requirement faces a fine of as much as $10,000 per day. Additionally, a porn company can be fined $250,000 if a minor sees explicit content because their age was not properly verified. Second Boeing whistleblower died unexpectedly A second Boeing whistleblower has died unexpectedly as the company faces scrutiny over safety failures on its passenger jets, reports Fox News. Joshua Dean, a quality inspector for the Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died this week after a surprise infection left him in critical condition for days. The cause was MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant staph infection, according to what his aunt Carol Parsons told the Seattle Times, which first reported the death. The 44-year-old lost his job in 2023 and filed a retaliation complaint with federal labor officials, alleging that he was only fired for speaking...

It’s Thursday, May 2nd, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark May 2, 2024 is National Day of Prayer Today is the National Day of Prayer as designated by the U.S. Congress. Global Christian Relief is calling on Christians to pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Hundreds of millions of believers still face attacks, arrests, and imprisonment for their faith. The Christian aid group is hosting a Facebook livestream prayer event today and sharing a free prayer guide. Both are linked in our transcript today at TheWorldview.com. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” 10 million babies killed in United Kingdom The U.K. Abortion Act went into effect on April 27, 1968. Since then, over ten million unborn babies have been killed through abortion in England, Scotland, and Wales. Abortions have risen in England and Wales, in particular, since the introduction of ‘DIY’ home abortions in 2020. Pro-life Kansas legislature overrides Democrat Governor’s vetoes In the United States, Kansas lawmakers overrode Democrat Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of multiple pro-life laws on Monday. The bills expand tax credits for adoption and pregnancy centers and continue $2 million in funding for pro-life centers. One of the bills makes it a felony to use physical or financial threats to coerce a woman into getting an abortion. However, state lawmakers failed to override the governor’s veto of a transgender-related bill. The measure would ban mutilating drugs and surgeries for minors. Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. House Speaker Mike Johnson U.S. House lawmakers are trying to oust the Speaker of the House again. Yesterday, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia announced she will force a vote to remove Republican Speaker Mike Johnson next week. Greene criticized Johnson for supporting Ukraine funding and U.S. surveillance programs. Only one other House Republican supports the ouster. And Democrats said they would not vote Johnson out presently. Anti-Israel college protests vs. Liberty University’s pursuit of God Last month, student protests broke out at campuses around the country in support of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war. Authorities have arrested protestors at over 20 colleges. New York police arrested nearly 300 people alone this week, including over 100 at Columbia University. The academic lawn of the largest Christian university in the U.S. made for a contrasting view last week. Students at Liberty University gathered to worship, sing, and hear the Word of God. Jonathan Falwell, the university’s chancellor, wrote, “While so many college campuses are erupting in anger, hatred and violence; it is refreshing to see Liberty University students worship King Jesus.” United Methodist Church affirms sexual perversion On Tuesday, the United Methodist Church voted in favor of sexually perverted lifestyles. The denomination no longer prohibits funding for groups that promote such lifestyles. They will also consider homosexuals for ministry and allow ministers to perform homosexual ceremonies. The United Methodist Church has faced division over these issues for years. Between 2019 and 2023, over 7,000 congregations left the denomination. Many joined theologically conservative denomination called the Global Methodist Church. 130 tornadoes hit Midwest Over 130 tornadoes tore across the Midwest last week, killing at least five people. Nebraska’s National Weather Service in Omaha issued 48 tornado warnings in one day alone. One Nebraska man, Nate Hutchison, survived an EF-3 tornado that tore through an industrial building in Lincoln. He told KLKN-TV he prayed to God as he and 70 others hunkered down. HUTCHISON: “There's nothing I can do right now, except literally pray to God...

It’s Wednesday, May 1st, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Swiss abandon Christ The population of Switzerland is moving away from Christianity, despite the country once being at the center of the Protestant Reformation, led by Ulrich Zwingli. Three quarters of the Swiss live in cities. Of those, nearly one in three say they do not belong to any religion. The mainline Protestant church makes up only 19% of the city population, down from 49% in 1970. Roman Catholicism makes up 31%, down from 45%. And Islam has remained stable at 6%. Texas teacher ordered not to pray International Christian Concern warns that persecution is cropping up in America and the West, not just in other parts of the world. Just one example is the case of Staci Barber. She is a Texas school teacher who has been silenced for her faith after praying with other teachers at a school flagpole. She has been ordered not to pray. Jeff King, President of International Christian Concern, told The Christian Post, “Basically, we are frogs in the kettle, and the bubbles keep coming up under us. ... People learn that you do not stick your head up, and you start being quiet because ‘the process’ is the punishment. ... We desperately need revival, and that all starts with us personally looking to the Lord.” Zechariah 1:3 says, “Return to Me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you.” 5 GOP states won’t comply with Biden’s transgender executive order Five Republican states are suing the Biden administration in a transgender case. The administration is trying to expand a federal civil rights law to include protection for students living sexually perverted lifestyles in public schools. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott told the Texas Education Agency to ignore the new federal rule. He wrote to President Joe Biden, “This ham-handed effort to impose a leftist belief onto Title IX exceeds your authority as president.” Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis also pushed back, saying, “Florida rejects Joe Biden’s attempt to rewrite Title IX. We will not comply, and we will fight back.” Florida’s Heartbeat Law protects unborn babies at 6 weeks Meanwhile, a new Heartbeat Law goes into effect in the Sunshine State today. The law bans the killing of unborn babies with detectable heartbeats but with some exceptions. The law goes into effect after the Florida Supreme Court upheld it last month. The court also upheld a 15-week abortion ban. Once a destination in the southeast for abortion, Florida may see thousands of fewer abortions due to the Heartbeat Law. FCC fines AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon for privacy breach The Federal Communications Commission is fining big wireless companies for sharing customer data without consent. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon face nearly $200 million in fines. Jessica Rosenworcel with the FCC said, “These carriers failed to protect the information entrusted to them. Here, we are talking about some of the most sensitive data in their possession: customers’ real-time location information, revealing where they go and who they are.” People concerned with crime despite drop in crime U.S. adults are becoming more concerned about crime. However, Pew Research reports crime rates are falling. Based on data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, violent crime fell 46% between 1993 and 2022. Property crime fell by 59%. The Bureau of Justice Statistics records even steeper declines with violent and property crime falling 71% over the same period. Meanwhile, 77% of Americans think crime is up nationally compared to 47% in 2000. And 55% think crime is up in their area compared to 34% in 2000. 10 perspectives that conflict with Biblical worldview Dr. George Barna released another survey on worldview in America. He identified 10 of the most common perspectives widely embraced by adults that conflict with a...

It’s Tuesday, April 30th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson TikTok bans around the globe TikTok bans are spreading. India banned the app in 2020. Nepal did so last November as well as Afghanistan and Iran among others. As of last week, the U.S. government moved to ban TikTok within a year unless the app is sold. America has the most TikTok users of any country in the world — estimated to be between 135 and 170 million users. Trump beating Biden in polls – especially with third party candidates CNN is reporting that Donald Trump is well ahead in the 2024 presidential race. The news agency’s recent poll puts the former president ahead 49%-43%. When third party candidates -- like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., People’s Party Cornel West, and Libertarian Dr. Jill Stein -- are put into the mix, Trump is ahead 42% to 33%. Kennedy is at 16%, West is at 4%, and Stein is at 3%. The same CNN poll found that only 39% of voters see the Biden presidency as a success, while 55% consider the previous Trump presidency a success. American taxpayers send billions to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan Another $61 billion has been assigned in the recent U.S. spending bill for the Ukrainian war against Russia. Thus far, the U.S. has underwritten $72 billion in Ukrainian aid. In addition, the European Union has spent about $107 billion on the war over the last two years. That accounts for about 30 times Ukraine’s annual military budget. Israel is also slated to receive $14 billion of the package — a sizable increase from the average of $4 billion per year given to Israel over the last 20 years. Israel’s military budget has averaged around $23 billion per year. The $95 billion foreign aid package, signed by President Biden last week, represents a sizable increase from the $45 billion of foreign aid handed out in 2020. The package is intended to support American allies of Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel against Russia, China, and Hamas. Taylor Swift’s new album: explicit, blasphemous, and anti-Christian In pop culture news, Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poet’s Department album made almost a billion album streams last week, breaking all previous records. That included almost two million vinyl, cassettes, and CD sales. Adele still holds the top spot for most records sold in one week. However, six out of the top fifteen album sales of all time belong to Taylor Swift. The Christian Post notes that 11 of the 31 songs contain an "E" under the album's description listing, which stands for "explicit." Shane Pruitt, the Southern Baptist Next Gen director, was upset that Swift mocks God and Christians. He asked, "As Christians, who are filled with the Spirit, should we be entertained by, sing with, and expose our kids to lyrics that aren't just different than what you believe, but are actually mocking what you believe?" Southern Baptist pastors more conservative than laity There is a major disconnect between Southern Baptist pastors and the laity. That’s the conclusion of a Lifeway survey conducted earlier this year. In fact, 62% of key leaders believe America has become a secular nation, but only 11% of the laity hold that position. In addition, 80% of the leaders surveyed consider themselves conservative, while only 56% of the church attendees would claim the label. And seven times the percentage of the laity would call themselves liberal, as compared to the Southern Baptist pastors. Catholic and Mainline Protestant pastors more liberal than laity By contrast, research has found that Catholics and mainline Protestant denominations show an opposite trend. For example, 49% of Catholic laity voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 elections, while only 24% of Catholic clergy voted for the Republican candidate. About the same ratios applied to mainline Protestants. Plummeting U.S. fertility rate America’s fertility rate fell once more in 2023. It’s now well below...

It’s Monday, April 29th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian Muslims kill 3 Christians in Benue State Fulani Muslim herdsmen killed three Christians last week in Benue State, Nigeria, reports Morning Star News. Alfred Omakwu, a local city councilman, said the herdsmen killed one Christian on April 20th in Otukpo County, after killing two other believers on April 18th in the Entepka District. Andrew Mamedu, country director of Action Aid, an international humanitarian organization, said that the incessant attacks on Christians in Benue State, Nigeria have displaced 1.4 million people. He said, “With what is happening in Benue state, people may not have villages to retire to when they grow old. If we fail to act now, I am afraid that by 2030 we would have lost a generation, and it may take 50 years to recover from it.” According to Open Doors, Nigeria is the sixth most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. Stabbed Orthodox bishop denounces Australian censorship Assyrian Orthodox Bishop Mar Emmanuel, who was stabbed whle preaching on April 15th in Sydney Australia by a 15-year-old Muslim young man who yelled “Allah Akbar,” has joined his voice with Elon Musk in demanding that the video of the attack be kept online, reports LifeSiteNews.com. On April 22, an Australian federal court ordered X, formerly Twitter, to remove all posts that contained the viral video of the Islamic attack on the Orthodox bishop, granting the request of Australia eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who had demanded that the video be taken down worldwide. On Wednesday, the injunction against showing the video was extended by Justice Geoffrey Kennett until May 10 when a final hearing will be held to determine whether the content can be prohibited permanently worldwide. Musk has taken issue with the injunction, although following it temporarily. According to the tech giant, the Australian regulator had demanded that X “globally withhold these posts or face a daily fine of $785,000.” On Tuesday, Musk addressed the overreach of the Australian government and claims that the video was somehow “misinformation.” He said, “The Australian people want the truth. X is the only one standing up for their rights. Our concern is that if ANY country is allowed to censor content for ALL countries, which is what the Australian ‘eSafety Commissar’ is demanding, then what is to stop any country from controlling the entire internet? We have already censored the content in question for Australia, pending legal appeal, and it is stored only on servers in the USA.” Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski said he “stands united” with Musk and X in the fight against the Australian censorship of the video. Biden poked fun at Trump Appearing at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, President Joe Biden addressed his age and made Donald Trump, his Republican presidential opponent, the target of a number of his jokes, reports CNN. BIDEN: “The 2024 election is in full swing. And yes, age is an issue. I'm a grown man running against the six-year-old. “I really feel great. I'm campaigning all over the country, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina. I've always done well in the original 13 colonies. “Age is the only thing we have in common. My Vice President actually endorses me.” (cheers) Saturday Night Live comedian roasted Biden and media Colin Jost, the co-host of “Weekend Update” on NBC’s Saturday Night Live and the headliner for the event, took aim at President Biden in a couple of his jokes. JOST: “I was excited to be up here on stage with President Biden tonight, mostly to see if I could figure out where Obama was pulling the strings from. (laughter) “I have to admit it's not easy following President Biden. I mean, it's not always easy following what he's saying, like. (laughter) “My Weekend Update...

It’s Friday, April 26th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims set fire to Christians’ homes in Egypt On Tuesday, April 23rd at 11:00 p.m., Islamic extremists set fire to several homes and shops owned by Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt’s Minya Governorate, reports International Christian Concern. Shockingly, as the flames grew, the Muslims attempted to prevent the Christians from leaving their burning homes. Extremists later shared a video on social media showing Coptic homes on fire as a song, praising the attack, played in the background. The attack occurred after word spread that residents of the village, which is home to 3,000 Christian families, had obtained a permit to construct a church building. Some associated with the church received threats after the building permit was issued. Despite promises of safety from security forces, the cries of help from the archbishop and the local Coptic community went unanswered as the attack unfolded. Security forces arrived only after the attack, leaving a yet unknown number of Christians to perish in their burning homes. According to Open Doors, Egypt is the 38th most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. America to militarily withdraw from Niger, Africa Niger, Africa has demanded that the United States militarily withdraw from the country, reports CNN. In response, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine on Friday to put those plans in motion. The major drawdown will significantly impact the U.S. troop presence on the continent of Africa. The move comes amid serious U.S. concerns about the country’s deepening relationships with Russia and Iran. Haitian Prime Minister resigns Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned on Thursday as a new council was sworn in to lead the country gripped by deadly gang violence, reports the BBC. He agreed to step down last month after armed groups blocked his return to Haiti. Gangs now control most of Port-au-Prince, the capital. Teen suspended for “Only Two Genders” t-shirt A Catholic teenager has been suspended from his Ontario public high school for wearing a sweatshirt that said, “There are only two genders,” reports LifeSiteNews.com. Malachy O’Kane, age 16, was suspended on April 18, the second day he decided to wear his gender critical shirt to the Granite Ridge Education Centre in Sharbot Lake, a village near Kingston, Ontario. He was excluded from school for six days, beginning Friday, April 19. O’Kane was first told to remove his shirt by the school’s vice-principal, Wojtek Czermak, after the teenager was called out of his classroom about 30 minutes after the school day began. When the student asked what the problem was, a school counselor said, “It’s considered hate speech.” In Genesis 1:27, the Bible says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction is overturned Yesterday, New York’s highest court threw out Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction because the trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against Weinstein based on allegations that were not part of the case, reports The Associated Press. The ruling shocked and disappointed women who celebrated historic gains during the #MeToo era and left those who testified in the case bracing for a retrial against the ex-movie mogul. Weinstein, age 72, will remain in prison because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape. But the New York ruling reopens a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures — an era that began in 2017 with a flood of allegations against Weinstein. Youth need (1) the truth and (2) connection to intergenerational relationships John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, warned an...

It’s Thursday, April 25th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark How Indian Hindus are endangering Christians in Nepal International Christian Concern reports that Christians are facing more persecution in the Hindu-majority nation of Nepal. The increased persecution appears to be bleeding over the border from India where Christians face high levels of persecution. Hindu nationalists in India are now sending funds into Nepal, leading to more violence against Christians. This has only made the work of Christian evangelism more dangerous across the country. Argentina celebrates Evangelicals Last week, Argentina’s Senate approved a law to make October 31 a National Day of Evangelical and Protestant Churches. The South American country is about 15% Evangelical and has over 25,000 Protestant churches. Christian Hooft is the President of the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Republic of Argentina. He said, “To declare October 31 as the 'National Day of Evangelical and Protestant Churches' is to recognize the importance of this religious tradition in Argentinian history and society.” On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Catholic church in Wittenberg, Germany, objecting to the 95 ways the Catholic church had strayed from Biblical teaching. That was a milestone moment that marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. 67% of Christians live in South America, Africa and Asia The Global Christian Forum held its fourth gathering in Ghana, West Africa last week with hundreds of participants from 60 countries. The conference noted the geographical shift in the center of Christianity. In 1900, 82% of Christians lived in the Global North across countries in North America and Europe. Now, 67% of Christians live in the Global South across countries in South America, Africa, and Asia. Plus, 44% of Protestants now hail from Africa. Psalm 22:27-28 says, “All the ends of the Earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations.” Biden signed $95 billion foreign aid bill In the United States, the Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill yesterday. President Joe Biden signed it within hours of passing. The package gives $60 billion to Ukraine, $26 billion to Israel, and $8 billion to U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific like Taiwan. The legislation also moved to ban TikTok, a social media app owned by a Chinese parent company. The United States is giving the company a year to sell the app or it will be banned in America. Supreme Court hears another abortion case Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in an another abortion case. The Biden administration is challenging Idaho’s law banning nearly all abortions. The administration is trying to argue that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act allows abortions in medical emergencies. However, justices appeared skeptical that state abortion bans violate the federal law. A decision is expected in June. More Americans cannot retire A new survey from the American Association of Retired Persons found about a quarter of U.S. adults do not think they will be able to retire. Many older Americans are staying in the work force due to a lack of retirement savings. AARP noted, “Everyday expenses continue to be the top barrier to saving more for retirement, and some older Americans say that they never expect to retire.” Proverbs 23:5 says of toiling for wealth, “When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward Heaven.” Tennessee Governor bans discriminatory de-banking Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed a bill recently to ban discriminatory de-banking. The law prohibits major banks and insurance companies from closing someone’s...

It’s Wednesday, April 24th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Sudanese Muslim militants have damaged 150 churches Last April, a civil war broke out between factions in Sudan’s military government. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports the conflict has damaged or destroyed over 150 church buildings. Combatants are targeting houses of worship and religious leaders. Pastors and congregants have faced threats over their faith and even death. Evangelical Pastor Kowa Shamal noted that both military factions dislike Christians. Combatants threatened the pastor and even killed his nephew. Shamal recounted, “[My nephew] refused to remove the cross he wore around his neck, so the [fighters] killed him.” Revelation 2:10 says, “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested. … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” According to Open Doors, Sudan, Africa is the eighth most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. Scotland no longer gives puberty blockers to gender-confused kids Scotland is halting new prescriptions of puberty blockers for children with gender confusion. The move comes after England’s National Health Service released a report it commissioned on the issue. The report found that medical evidence surrounding so-called transgender treatments for children is “remarkably weak.” England already halted new prescriptions of transgender drugs for children last month. Belgium and the Netherlands are also questioning the use of the drugs following England’s report. Scottish buffer zone around abortion mills Speaking of Scotland, the country is considering a bill to create buffer zones around abortion mills. Pro-life advocates who try to persuade abortion-minded women not to kill their babies would face hefty fines. A Scottish Parliament consultation on the issue received nearly 6,000 submissions from the public. Seventy-seven percent of submissions disagreed with the buffer zone, and only 22% agreed. Catherine Robinson with Right To Life UK warned, “This Committee has totally ignored the overwhelming opposition to this bill and instead is supporting the introduction of the world’s most extreme [abortion clinic] buffer zone law in Scotland.” California Governor wants to kill more babies In the U.S., California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for more abortions. Arizona’s Supreme Court upheld a near total abortion ban earlier this month. In response, Newsom proposed legislation allowing Arizona abortionists to come into California to kill more unborn babies. On Monday, a day after Newsom’s proposal, thousands of people joined the fourth annual March for Life California in Sacramento. Biden includes sexual preference and gender identity under Title IX Last Friday, the Biden administration announced changes to Title IX. The 1972 civil rights law protects people from discrimination based on their sex. The new rule requires schools to protect children from sex discrimination. And it expands the meaning of sex discrimination to include discrimination based on so-called “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” The new protection for students living sexually perverted lifestyles goes into effect in August. Isaiah 10:1-2 says, “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed to rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless.” Trump stands with House Speaker Johnson Former President Donald Trump issued support for Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson this week. This comes after several Republicans in the House called on Johnson to resign for supporting a $1.2 trillion spending bill. On...