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Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music

The decadence of the rock music culture is notorious. Critics compare it with Dionysian dissipation1 and Babylonian corruption,2 and none lamented the shift “from Bach to Rock”3 more than the late philosopher Allen Bloom. In The Closing of the American Mind, he spoke warmly of the role that Bach and Beethoven could play in the “cultivation of the soul” in men “whose noblest activities are accompanied by a music that expresses them.”4 In contrast, said Bloom, “Rock music encourages passions and provides models that have no relation to any life the young people who go to universities can possibly lead.”5

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“No Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction”—The U.S. Courts on Church Discipline

A number of churches have recently found themselves on trial for the practice of biblical church discipline, which some courts in the last few years have found is a violation of the rights of the person disciplined. If that is the direction American jurisprudence takes, it will be a new one. Throughout the history of the American republic, civil courts have denied that they have any jurisdiction over ecclesial decisions of local churches. Here is a small collection of opinions on the matter handed down by America’s judges over the past 150 years.

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Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music

The decadence of the rock music culture is notorious. Critics compare it with Dionysian dissipation1 and Babylonian corruption,2 and none lamented the shift “from Bach to Rock”3 more than the late philosopher Allen Bloom. In The Closing of the American Mind, he spoke warmly of the role that Bach and Beethoven could play in the “cultivation of the soul” in men “whose noblest activities are accompanied by a music that expresses them.”4 In contrast, said Bloom, “Rock music encourages passions and provides models that have no relation to any life the young people who go to universities can possibly lead.”5

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Youth & Children Cantata

The First Baptist Church of Perryville Youth & Children’s choirs will present their cantata, “A Manger Scene” on Sunday, December 4th at 6:30 PM. For more information, call the church office, 410-642-6865.

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Abortion and the Early Jewish World1 (50 B.C. – c. 100 A.D)

  Steeped in the Noahic covenant and the Sinaitic law, early Jewish communities viewed abortion as evil. The former text warned, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” (Gen. 9:6 ESV). The latter insisted, “You shall not murder” (Exod. 20:13 ESV). And though contemporary abortion enthusiasts try to appropriate Exodus 21:22-25 to excuse their killing, Moses’ hearers and early interpreters would have found such reading absurd. Indeed, abortion on demand was “very likely not even contemplated in the Mishnaic law,”2 much less approved.

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Islamic anti-Semitism “would have made Hitler and Goebbels proud.”

  On October 16, 2003, the then Malaysian Prime Minister claimed that Jews ruled the world. Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the dictatorial 77-year-old leader, made his views known in his opening speech at a summit of Muslim leaders in the Malaysian city of Putrajaya. While his remarks were condemned around the world, they received a standing ovation at the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

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From Alienation to Adultery

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Genesis 3:7 (ESV)

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