Views From The Outside For July 28, 2026

 Views From The Outside

The purpose of this page is to list news stories and reports from mostly Western sources outside of the U.S. You can use Google Translate to translate articles that are printed in another language. 

So far, news sources include:

International

• Médecins Sans Frontieres
1. In Cité Soleil, People Risk Their Lives To Seek Medical Care
2. MSF Calls For The Immediate Release Of All Palestinian Healthcare Workers Arbitrarily Detained By Israel
3. Half A Million People In El-Obeid Face Limited Services As Drone Attacks Intensify
4. The Number One Health Issue In Palestine Is The Israeli Occupation
5. Testimony From An Injured MSF Colleague In Gaza, Palestine

• UN News
1. Thousands Prevented From Returning Home To Southern Lebanon
2. Nicaragua Continues To Weaken Political Freedoms, UN Warns
3. Deadly Afghanistan Floods Kill At Least 26 As Aid Agencies Race To Reach Survivors
4. From lithium To Nickel: How The UN Is Helping Countries Make The Most Of Critical Minerals
5. ‘Business As Usual Is A Business Of Death’: UN Adopts Road Safety Pledge Over US Objection

From Canada

• Le Devoir
1. Cette Astuce De Jardinage Pourrait Ralentir La Propagation Des Feux De Forêt
2. L’architecte Des Nouveaux Tarifs Américains Ne Craint Pas De Réplique Du Canada
3. Le Japon Troublé Par Le Rythme De Sommeil De Sa Première Ministre Japonaise
4. Le Taux De Criminalité Et La Gravité Des Infractions Ont Diminué Au Canada En 2025
5. Six Symptômes De Démence Qui Peuvent Se Manifester Des Années Avant Le Diagnostic

• Le Journal de Montréal
1. «C’est Majeur»: L’attaque Sur Un Pétrolier Dans La Mer Rouge Aura-T-Elle Un Impact Sur Le Commerce Mondial?
2. Rubio Et Lavrov Se Retrouvent En Marge De L'Asean Et Évoquent Le Conflit En Ukraine
3. Violents Incendies En Europe Du Sud, Des Milliers De Personnes Évacuées
4. Les Élus Américains Approuvent Un Plan À 95 Milliards De Dollars Notamment Pour Financer La Guerre En Iran
5. Washington Veut Développer Le Nucléaire Civil En Arabie Saoudite, En Plein Conflit Avec Téhéran

• Toronto Star
1. Yemen’s Houthis Attack Saudi Tankers In The Red Sea, Threatening To Widen Iran War
2. Brent Oil’s Price Briefly Tops $100 Per Barrel, As Tesla And Alphabet Drag Wall Street Lower
3. Suspected Militants Kill Judge, Security Guard In Ambush In Restive Southwest Pakistan
4. OPP, CSBA Investigators To Announce Results Of Cross-Border Gun And Drugs Probe
5. Pakistan Rejects Amnesty Call For War Crimes Probe Into Kabul Airstrike

• CBC
1. Haitians In The U.S. Brace For Deportation As Trump Ends Their Protected Status
2. EU Fines Alphabet $1B US For Google Play, Search Infractions
3. Trump's 'Big Lie' In Prime Time
4. U.S. FDA Panel To Review 7 Peptides Amid Growing Popularity
5. France's Heat Wave In June Tied to 5,700 More Deaths Than Normal

From England

•  BBC
1. US Hits Dozens Of Countries With New Wave Of Tariffs
2. Tens Of Thousands Evacuated From French Tourist Spot And Near Madrid As Wildfires Spread
3. This New Bridge Aimed To Show US-Canada Unity But Instead Stoked Divisions
4. South Korea Is Becoming A Medical Tourism Hotspot
5. Four Palestinians And Two Israelis Killed In West Bank Shooting

• Reuters
1. Brazil Says US Tariffs Related To Forced Labor Are 'Arbitrary' And 'Unjustified'
2. Iran Flew IRGC Commanders, Missile Gear To Yemen's Houthis
3. Iran Strikes On CIA Facilities Prompt Questions About Possible Russian Role
4. Russian Entrepreneurs See Stock Go Up In Flames As Ukraine Targets Wildberries
5. US Prosecutors Drop New York Times Subpoenas In Trump Plane Leak Probe

From France

• France24
1. Wildfires Force More Than 200,000 People In France And Spain To Flee
2. US Pummels Iran As Tehran Targets Regional Bases Stationing US Forces
3. Kyiv, Moscow Trade Long-Range Air Strikes, Killing More Than A Dozen
4. Netanyahu Orders New West Bank Settler utposts, Legalises Existing Ones After Deadly Clash
5. Arrests, Denials And Missing Images: Gulf States’ Response To Iranian Strikes

• Les Echos
1. « L'Union Européenne Paiera Le Prix Fort » : Trump Réplique Par Une Procédure Tarifaire Après L'amende Infligée À Google 
2. Destitué Par Erdogan, Le Leader De L'opposition Turque Lance Un Nouveau Parti
3. Au Caire, La France Tente De Désamorcer Les Critiques Sur Son Aide Aux Gazaouis
4. En Allemagne, Merz Remanie Son Gouvernement Avant Des Élections Régionales Cruciales
5. Guerre Au Moyen-Orient : « L'Iran A Peu De Cartes, Mais Les Joue Très Bien »

• Le Monde
1. Netanyahu Launches Large-Scale Operation In West Bank After Deadly Clashes Between Palestinians And Settlers
2. Spanish PM Says Priority Is To 'Save Lives' As Fires Burnt 25,000 Hectares West Of Madrid
3. At Sciences Po, 'I Have To Speak As A Media Founder, Not As A Victim Of Repression'
4. At France's Space Command Center In Toulouse, The Space War Is Already Underway
5. Four Days After Arriving At Downing Street, Andy Burnham Is Already In Turmoil

From Germany

• DW
1. Saudi-Led Coalition Attacks Yemen's Hodeida
2. Why Trump's 'Forced Labor' Tariffs Leave The World Puzzled
3. Canada-EU: Closer Trade Ties To Counter Trump?
4. German Municipalities Impose Water Restrictions
5. ICC Judges Living Under US Sanctions

• DER SPIEGEL
1. Schweizer Fall Pelicot?: Schweizer Politiker Soll Die 14-Jährige Tochter Seiner Partnerin Betäubt Und Missbraucht Haben – Die Behörden Wollten Daraufhin Die Opfer Abschieben
2.  Neuordnung der US-Außenpolitik: Rahm Emanuel könnte der nächste US-Präsident werden. Jetzt legt er sich mit Netanyahu an
3. Schwanger Und Plötzlich Ersetzt
4. Die Straße Von Hormus Ist Praktisch Wieder Dicht – Droht Der Welt Eine Neue Ölkrise?
5. Die Regierung Kürzt Das Wohngeld Drastisch – Und Trifft Damit Vor Allem Kinder

From Russian Source 

• Novaya Gazeta Europe
1. ‘Please Send Adult Diapers’
2. The War On The Warehouses
3. Jailed Russian Lawyer Denied Hospitalisation After Collapsing With Dangerously High Blood Pressure
4. Russian Senator Calls For Recruiting Women And Disabled People Into Drone Defence Units
5. Russian Courts Convicted Record Number Of People For 'Terrorism' In 2025, Study Finds

From Spain

• El Mundo
1. Los Alemanes Lamenta La Tragedia Ocurrida En Berlín, Este Sábado, Frente A La Puerta De Brandeburgo.
2. Colonos Radicales Queman Dos Mezquitas En Cisjordania Mientras Escala La Violencia Con Dos Israelíes Y Cuatro Palestinos Muertos
3. América. Daniel Ortega, "En La Diana", Tras Quitarse La Última Careta
4.  Zelenski Alerta De Que Rusia Prepara La Llegada De Otros 30.000 Soldados Norcoreanos
5. Putin Exige Actuar Con Firmeza Ante Los Intentos De Detención De Cargueros

• El País
1. Irán Asume El Precio De La Guerra Para Preservar El Estratégico Control De Ormuz
2. Marruecos Dedica A Trump La Nueva Autopista De Un Millar De Kilómetros Que Enlaza Con El Sáhara
3. Guterres Alaba La Transición En Siria Y Llama A Israel A Respetar Su Integridad Territorial
4. La Eliminación Del Voto Sitúa A Ortega Entre Los Peores Dictadores Del Mundo: “Nicaragua Se Está Convirtiendo En La Corea Del Norte De América”
5. Bucarest Convocará Al Embajador Ruso Tras Derribar Un Tercer Dron En El Espacio Aéreo Rumano

From Switzerland

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung
1. «Ein Teil Unserer Freiheit Ist Längst Verlorengegangen», Sagt Der Islamismus-Experte Ahmad Mansour
2. Drohnen gegen Lastwagen: Wie Die Ukraine Russlands Nachschub An Die Front Kappt
3. Messerattacken, Bomben, Fahrzeuge: Eine Chronik Der Islamistischen Anschläge In Deutschland
4. Chinas Wirtschaft Schwächelt, Aber Der Nächste Aufstieg Hat Bereits Begonnen
5. Abseits Des Bankensystems Hat Sich Ein Gigantischer Schuldenberg Aufgebaut. Er Könnte Der Auslöser Für Die Nächste Finanzkrise Sein

From Ukraine

• UATV English
1. Ukraine Opens A NEW FRONT In Britain, And Drones Destroy Russia’s SHADOW FLEET — RUSSIA IS FINISHED!
2. "Civilian" Wildberries: Hidden Artery Of PUTIN'S War Machine | 12% Of Warehouses ALREADY DESTROYED!
3. CRATERS, BOMBS, AND RUINS: THIS DONBAS TOWN Is Being WIPED OFF THE MAP | Travel Of Our Time
4. Russian Strikes On Gas Stations & Markets | Ukrainian Forces DESTROY Bridges In Crimea
5. CRIME OF THE CENTURY: Russia Is Abducting And Russifying Thousands Of Ukrainian Children!

<< Previous Views                                                        Next Views >>

What Kind Of Wall Should Separate Church And State?

In examining the role of religion in politics, we need to acknowledge not just the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment, we should also look at conversation between the Danbury Church and Thomas Jefferson, The Constitution, and a line from Jefferson's 1801 inaugural speech. We will look at the conversation first. In 2nd paragraph of its letter to Thomas Jefferson after he became President, the letter from the Danbury Church said the following (click here for the source):

'Our sentiments are uniformly on the side of religious liberty: that Religion is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals, that no man ought to suffer in name, person, or effects on account of his religious opinions, [and] that the legitimate power of civil government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbor. But sir, our constitution of government is not specific. Our ancient charter, together with the laws made coincident therewith, were adapted as the basis of our government at the time of our revolution. And such has been our laws and usages, and such still are, [so] that Religion is considered as the first object of Legislation, and therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the State) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights. And these favors we receive at the expense of such degrading acknowledgments, as are inconsistent with the rights of freemen. It is not to be wondered at therefore, if those who seek after power and gain, under the pretense of government and Religion, should reproach their fellow men, [or] should reproach their Chief Magistrate, as an enemy of religion, law, and good order, because he will not, dares not, assume the prerogative of Jehovah and make laws to govern the Kingdom of Christ.'

The 2nd paragraph of Jefferson's response is most pertinent here (the link to the this source is the same as the above link):

'Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.'

The Establishment clause from the 1st Amendment is displayed below (click here to see the source)

'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof'

Before discussing the issue, we should note that the very end of the Danbury letter seems to be at least a little prophetic to what has been happening in America today. 

We should note that the Danbury letter expressed a concern that the  then current legislation seemed, to them, that one's ability to practice a  religion was relegated to be a 'favor' rather than an 'inalienable right.' This provides the context for Jefferson's response. 

Similar to what was expressed in the letter,  Jefferson acknowledged that the government can only target 'actions' and not 'opinions.' So we see that with both the Danbury letter and Jefferson's response government could address actions. But the question becomes what, or perhaps whose, criteria is the government using to determine when to intervene in human affairs. That is the question on which our government's past response to slavery and Jim Crow laws and practices was responding to. It is also the question on which government's duty to respond to abortion revolves around. And what or whose criteria is the question that the debate over Christian Nationalism is concerned with. 

At this point, enter the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and his SCLC. in the 1950s and 1960s. They spoke of and worked for equality for all people. And they did so from their religious beliefs. But it wasn't just political equality that they promoted; it was an equality in outcomes. That latter point was made by King in his 1967 interview with Xander Vanocur (click here to see that interview).

Now when we look back at those days, how many people complained about the Church influencing the government? The answer to that question is complicated because the American Church has always been divided about racial equality and was on both sides of the racial divide. But we should note that because King and the SCLC spoke and worked for equality rather than a privileged place for themselves and their religion, their work was not seen as a violation of the separation between Chuch and State

We should note that the mission of King and the SCLC is supported by Section 1 of the 14th Amendment. Thus, equality, that is 'equal protection of the laws,' became the measuring stick that the government could use to intervene or be prevented from acting was equality. So we should not just note, but emphasize too, that King and the SCLC were working for the welfare themselves and some other marginalized groups.

That brings us to today and the desire of many of my fellow religiously conservative Christians to be the sole provider of rules that determine when the government can either intervene or be prevented from doing so. Many of those Christians are called Christian Nationalists. But there are also some Christians who are not Christian Nationalists who, to a lesser degree, want to provide rules to determine government intervention.

Christian Nationalists tend to argue that because they hold to the same faith that many of the founders had of America, they deserve a greater voice in determining what laws the government should pass. They also say that America was founded to be a Christian nation.  And so, again, they should have a greater, or perhaps the only, voice in determining the laws of the nation. And that brings up the question of whom the government should be representing. Should the government represent only Christians or Christians more than unbelievers or should the government represent all of its citizens?

The problem with the Christian Nationalist views is that citizenship in America is not defined by one's beliefs but by federal laws and The Constitution. Citizenship is determined by the location of one's birth, the citizenship of one's parents, or meeting requirements for becoming citizens. The Constitution gives no leeway for ranking American citizens except that only those born in the U.S. can become President.

Yes, Christians influenced the culture of America greatly during its early days. And many states, as stipulated in their state constitutions, favored Christian leadership over their states. But The Constitution did not do so. In fact, as can be ascertained from the Constitutional debates, religion played little to no role in the Constitutional definition of America. In fact, a deliberate distancing of the Federal government from religion was a feature both in The Constitution and in the debates that helped determine its contents.

But something else should be noted about America's early days that was heavily influenced by Christianity. That influence was determined by demographics. Because Christendom existed throughout America's early until around half of the 20th century, many people who saw themselves as being Christians though lifestyles or beliefs may not have confirmed that conviction. And so the biggest factor that determined America's past direction was demographics. Thus we have to ask why should Christians have the dominant voice over our government today when the demographics have changed. Should past demographics mean that those who  meet the legal definition of citizenship are not real citizens because they hold to different values and beliefs than our founders had?

Those who hold to Christian Nationalism would answer that last question with a firm 'yes.' And that is because, with their definition of what it means to be an American, the definition of America is fixed throughout time regardless of any changes in the values and beliefs of the people. And so those who do not hold to what Americans from the past hold to are not American enough to matter in terms of influencing the government.

What we have with the Christian Nationalist viewpoint is the tyranny of past demographics. According to them, it isn't what our founding documents said that defines us and determines our path, it is compliance with dominant religious views from the past.

We also need to pay attention to those non Christian Nationalists who use terms like 'moral law' or 'natural law' to obligate those in government to pass laws that are based on a unique Christian view. In particular, laws that would marginalize those from the LGBT community should be  based on the moral and natural laws. We should note here is that there are multiple versions of natural law. And so, to a lesser degree, we see the Church having undue influence on government's making of laws. And their justification for pursuing this undue influence is the view of the role of government officials that was held to in the past during Christendom.

And so we've seen two kinds of Christian influences on our government. One kind saw a Christian influence that advocated for the marginalized, others, as well as themselves. It attempted to lift up themselves and others to an equal place in society. The other kind of sees a Christian influence that is self-promoting while arguing for hierarchy. They want to lift themselves up above all others in society. And that brings us to our final quote. In his 1801 Inaugural Address, Thomas Jefferson said the following (click here for the source):

'All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression'

And so the one kind of Christian influence, which consists of Martin Luther King Jr. and the SCLC, was working for justice and the other kind while the current kind, of Christian influence, which consists of Christian Nationalists and some other authoritarian Christisns, is working for Jefferson's view of oppression. This latter influence is telling us that the State cannot properly function unless it is in control. Is it any wonder then that, today, many are arguing for a separation of Church and State in response to the latter kind's influence?

Views From The Outside For July 21, 2026

 Views From The Outside

The purpose of this page is to list news stories and reports from mostly Western sources outside of the U.S. You can use Google Translate to translate articles that are printed in another language. 

So far, news sources include:

International

• Médecins Sans Frontieres
1. DRC Ebola Outbreak Response Needs Urgent Scale-Up After Two Months
2. The Destruction Of Healthcare In Ukraine Is Deliberate And Calculated
3. No Safe Place To Heal
4. Palestinians Are Left Reeling By The Violence Of Israeli Occupation In The West Bank
5. How MSF Is Responding To The Earthquakes In Venezuela

• UN News
1. More Than 500 People Feared Dead In Double Myanmar Shipwreck Tragedy
2. Gulf Crisis: Guterres Calls For De-Escalation, Warns Against Return To Full-On War
3. New Guidance Offers Hope For Reducing The Global Toll Of Dementia
4. Colombia: Pockets Of Insecurity Challenge ‘Vibrant Democracy’, Security Council Told
5. Looted Gold And Gum Arabic Are Bankrolling Sudan's War, UN Warns

From Canada

• Le Devoir
1. Entre Salves Et Menaces, Iran Et États-Unis S’enfoncent Dans La Guerre
2. Israël Se Dit Prêt À Se Retirer De Deux «Zones Pilotes» Au Liban
3. Les États-Unis Frappent l’Iran Et Vont Rétablir Leur Blocus Des Ports
4. Macron Affiche Son Soutien À Chareh Pour Stabiliser La Syrie, Après Deux Attentats À Damas
5. Des Ukrainiens Prennent La Rue Pour Protester Contre Le Départ Du Ministre De La Défense

• Le Journal de Montréal
1. La Fumée Des Incendies Ontariens Asphyxie Le Nord-Est Américain
2. Les États-Unis Vont Limiter La Durée Des Séjours Des Journalistes Et Étudiants Étrangers
3. Discours À La Nation: Trump Promet Des Révélations Sur Le Système Électoral Américain
4. Bahreïn Et Le Koweït Affirment Avoir Contré Des Attaques Iraniennes
5. Le Pakistan Appelle Les États-Unis Et L'Iran À Reprendre Les Pourparlers

• Toronto Star
1. Brazil Calls Trump’s 25% Tariff Unjustifiable, Vows To Impose Reciprocal Tariffs
2. N.L. First Nations Chief Seeking A Reversal Of Fur Product Ban On Etsy Newfoundland And Labrador
3. At Least 1 Person Has Died As Texas Flooding Forces Evacuations And Rescues, Governor Says
4. UK Intelligence Watchdog Raps MI5 For Lying To Courts About A Neo-Nazi Informer
5. Ontario Asks Federal Government For Potential Wildfire Evacuation Help In The North

• CBC
1. Protesters Surround Tim Houston's Car, Windshield Smashed After Speech
2. Greenland Is Losing So Much Ice That Its Gravity Is Getting Weaker: Researcher
3. Israeli Strikes Kill 5 People In Gaza, Medics Say, As Attacks Escalate After Ceasefire Deal
4. A U.S. Prof Suspects Most Of His Students Used AI To Cheat. It's A Growing Concern Here, Too
5. California Lawmakers Are Begging Quebec's Premier To Put U.S. Booze Back On The Shelves. She Won't Budge

From England

•  BBC
1. Do Declassified Files Support Trump's Election Security Claims?
2. Burnham Says He Is 'Finalising' Cabinet Ahead Of Becoming PM On Monday
3. Many Ukrainian Soldiers Outraged Over Removal Of Defence Minister, Troops Tell BBC
4. Trump Alleges China Meddled In 2020 Election And Questions Voting Security Ahead Of Midterms
5. One Anti-War Critic Fined, Another Held As Russia Clamps Down On Opponents

• Reuters
1. Smoke, Fire, Floods: US Faces Triple Extreme Summer Weather Threats
2. Taylor Farms Pulls Iceberg Lettuce From Central Mexico Linked To US Parasite Outbreak
3. SpaceX IPO Earns Millions For US Small Business Administration Head 
4. US And Iran Attack Infrastructure, Raising Fears Of Escalation
5. Western Oil Companies See 'Fantastic' Future In Iraq, Sign Agreements

From France

• France24
1. 'Inclusive' World Cup Fell Short As Trump Administration Shut Out Fans, Rights Groups Say
2. From Colonial Symbol To Sanctuary: Paris's Grand Mosque Turns 100
3. Germany To Join French Nuclear Exercise In Bid To Boost Defence Cooperation
4. Magnitude 7.3 Quake Hits Mexican Coast Near Guatemala, Tsunami Alert Lifted
5. Paris Region's Record June Heatwave More Than Doubled Normal Mortality Rate To Reach 3,000

• Les Echos
1. Commerce : La France Et L'Allemagne Préparent Une « Feuille De Route » Commune Face À La Chine 
2. Israël : Coup De Barre À Droite De Netanyahou Avant Les Élections Législatives D'octobre
3. Au Japon, Une Réforme Contre La Peur Du Dernier Empereur
4. Donald Trump Hausse Le Ton Vis-À-Vis De La Chine, Accusée D'ingérence Électorale
5. « L'Allemagne A Une Vision Mercantile Quand La France En A Une Vision Stratégique Et Politique » : La Défense, Ce Grand Malaise franco-Allemand

• Le Monde
1. Venezuela Quake Death Toll Exceeds 5,000 As IMF Releases Funds
2. Frontex Continuing Mission In Greece Despite Serious Violations Of Migrants' Rights
3. Elie Barnavi: 'Marwan Barghouti Is The Only One Capable Of Uniting The Palestinian People Around A National Project And The Two-State Solution'
4. Why Russia's Hybrid Warfare Is Forcing France To Raise Its Voice
5. Democrats' Israel Split Widens Ahead Of US Midterms

From Germany

• DW
1. Iran Threatens 'Full-Scale' Offensive If US Keeps Bombing
2. Germany News: Minister Warns Of High Terror Threat
3.  Deadly Attack On Workers Highlights Italy's Slave-Like Farms
4. Why Trump Is Taking A Risky Bet On Iran
5. Why Gulf States Are Investing Billions In Africa

• DER SPIEGEL
1. How Israel's Mossad Lost Its Way In Iran
2. »Ich Hoffe, Dass Die 5000 Nicht Umsonst Starben«
3. SPD-Generalsekretär Will Vermögen- Und Erbschaftsteuer Zum »Schlüsselthema« Machen
4. Sie Wurde An Der Universität Mit Dem Tod Bedroht. Jetzt Hat Sie Ein Geheimes Büro

From Russian Source 

• Novaya Gazeta Europe
1. At Least Eight People Killed In Ukrainian Strikes On Online Retailer Warehouses Across Russia
2. Squeezing The Elites
3. Pro-Kremlin Blogger Who Published Anti-Putin Manifesto Detained On ‘Fake News’ Charges
4. Chechnya-Born Former AfD Influencer Claims Russia Has Formed Army Unit For German Citizens
5. Russian Anti-War Politician Fined €11 In Extremism Case In Move To Bar Him From Running For State Duma

From Spain

• El Mundo
1. El Golfo Pérsico Arde De Nuevo: Mueren Dos Militares De EEUU En Combate En Jordania Y Otro Permanece Desaparecido
2. América. Unas 60 Personas Desaparecidas Tras Volcar Un Ferry Con 133 Ocupantes En Guyana
3. Guerra. Los Ataques De Rusia Matan A Seis Personas Y Muestran De Nuevo Las Carencias De Las Defensas Aéreas De Ucrania
4. Rusia. La Aprobación De La Gestión De Putin Cae Un 5% En Una Semana Después De Haber Subido Desde El Inicio De La Guerra En Ucrania
5. Internacional. El Presidente De Hungría Promulga La Reforma Que Acaba Con Su Mandato Pero Carga Contra Ella: "Viola Los Principios Constitucionales"

• El País
1. Grupos De Colonos Israelíes Marchan Hacia Gaza Para Reclamar El Restablecimiento De Asentamientos En La Franja
2. Los Hombres De Mullin: Los Guardianes Que Ejecutan La Campaña Contra La Inmigración En Estados Unidos
3. Rusia Lanza El Mayor Ataque Con Misiles Balísticos Contra Ucrania Desde El Principio De La Guerra
4. Nadie Protesta En La Rusia De Putin, Pero La Guerra Empieza A Pasar Factura A Su Popularidad
5. Los Muertos De Nadie, Los Cadáveres Del ICE: “Que Se Revele La Verdad. A Mi Hijo Lo Mató El Guardia”

From Switzerland

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung
1. Führt Der Weg Ins Weisse Haus Über Palästina? Die US-Demokraten Schiessen Sich Auf Israel Ein
2. Die Batterie Der Superlative – Im Fricktal Entsteht Ein Stromspeicher, Wie Ihn Die Welt Noch Nicht Gesehen Hat
3. Ihr Vater War Am Stauffenberg-Attentat Beteiligt – Wie Christa Funk-Finckh Den Nazis Entkommen Ist
4. Erstmals Seit April Wurden Amerikanische Soldaten Getötet: Eine Ausweitung Des Kriegs Zwischen Iran Und Den USA Wird Immer Wahrscheinlicher
5. Japan Reformiert Die Thronfolge – Eine Kaiserin Soll Es Weiterhin Nicht Geben

From Ukraine

• UATV English
1. TOTAL FUEL COLLAPSE! Deep Strikes 2000 km Away Trigger Massive Panic In Russia!
2. CRIMEA CUT OFF FROM FUEL! Ukraine Destroyed 75% Of Vessels
3. HUNTING THE RAILWAYS! Russia Cynically STRIKES Stations And Carriages With Passengers!
4. FIRE HELL In Kyiv: Invaders Fired 41 Missiles And Over 100 Drones!

<< Previous Views                                                        Next Views >>

The Dilemma That Today's Christian Fundamentalism Has Caused For Some Of Us Believers

A long time ago, in a decade that seems far, far away, I wrote an article on why Christians should support same-sex marriage in society but not in the Church (click here for the article). In that article, I claimed that the insistence by some fellow believers on banning same-sex marriage in society will cause many believers to either accept homosexuality as a Biblically accepted lifestyle or to leave the faith all in order to rightly avoid marinalizing homosexuals. The kind rejection of the modern concepts of social injustice, CRT, and wokeness, all of which are synonyms for 'Communism' according to Trump, by many fellow Christian Fundamentalists has been producing a similar results. Religiously conservative Christians are being tempted to follow religiously liberal Christianity, which is not Christianity, in order to follow their social justice convictions. And that is especially true in today's political environment where religiously conservative American Christians are still strong supporters of Trump.

First, we should define the kind rejection of more modern criticisms of the West of which I am talking about. In 1967, when speaking against the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King Jr. said the following (click here for the source):

'The Western Arrogance Of Feeling That It Has Everything To Teach Others And Nothing To Learn From Them Is Not Just'

I have mentioned this quote before. In particular, I suggested that we replace the word 'Western' with a fill-in-the-blank to see how this quote can apply to more than the West during the Vietnam War and at other times. It can be used to help provide a check on any of the groups we belong to as well as ourselves as individuals. And it can be used as a litmus test on those individual groups we are listening to.

And so perhaps it is time to apply that quote to American religiously conservatives who are overly critical of progressive or leftist ideas such as Marxism, Critical Theory, Post Modernism, CRT, wokeness, DEI, and alike. By being overly critical, I am referring to applying the quote to the situation where many religiously conservative Christians believe that there is nothing to be gained by listening to progressive and leftist ideas. We need to ask if these American religiously conservatives have succumbed to that arrogance of feeling by believing that they have nothing to learn from Marx and his modern derivatives. I am not saying that American religiously conservatives should never criticize those people and ideas just mentioned, what is being challenged is how far are they going in questioning others.

Personally, I find it very troubling when I hardly find any fellow believers who share my agreements with Marx, Critical Theory, Post Modernism, CRT, wokeness, DEI and alike. I find it very difficult when so few of my fellow believers in Christ are either silent or supportive of how the Israeli government is treating the Palestinians and its neighbors. It is also distressing when they do the same with Trump's authoritarianism and his cutting of aid to programs that provide humanitarian help to the less fortunate while he is more than eager to send in the military where they do not need to go. They also do the same with Trump's opposition to DEI and equality for the LGBT community. For those actions and decisions involve moral issues. And then when those who are theologically liberal, who are in essence without the Gospel, are pursuing and promoting justice and peace that we Christians should be supporting and practicing, I find it more distressing. It is distressing not just because I feel almost alone in supporting politically progressive ideas and causes; it is tragic because of the harm done to the reputation of the Gospel our silence.

Sign made by Protest Barb

To those who are offended by my statement saying that those who are theologically liberal are without the Gospel, we need to note what their beliefs are in comparison with the Gospel. Liberal theology can be divided into two branches: the reduction of all reality into the physical realm and the belief in universal salvation.  And to be even more specific, many of today's liberal theologians are selectively citing the Gospels to bolster their claims about Jesus and thus they are challenging the rest of the Gospels as to all that Jesus said and did. In addition, they also ignore its other parts of the New Testament such as  the book of Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation.

Many of today's liberal theologians look for those parts of the Gospels which seem to support the kind of inclusiveness that they want to see in the Church. They want to see that inclusiveness in the Church because of how the Church can influence society. In other words, they teach the Gospels in a way that instructs the Church how to be what they want society to be. And though we should want inclusiveness that they want in society, the Church is a different story because the Church is exclusively about believers in Christ.

And so liberal theologians teach only parts of the Gospels. For example, when talking about homosexuality, they mention that Jesus never talked about homosexuality. And that is true. But what they leave out is when Jesus said the following (click here to see the source):

18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!

And what we should note is that the Law, of which Jesus spoke, condemns homosexuality. Should liberal theologians mention the Old Testament dietary restrictions, they forget Peter's dream, recorded in Acts 10, about how all food has now become clean.

So a major problem with these theologians is that they leave out the rest of the New Testament. And so what they ignore is what Jesus instructed the Apostles to do as recorded in the Gospels and the book of Acts. They also ignore the fact that Jesus sent out Apostles to authoritatively represent Him. And so the book of the book of Acts, the Epistles and Revelation are vitally important.

To their credit, many who hold to liberal theology put us religiously conservative American Christians to shame with their warmth, love, wanting inclusiveness in society, and moral concerns about social justice. They also put us to shame with their opposition to Trump's authoritarianism. We religiously conservative American Christians have a lot to learn from them with regard to their characteristics and views.

But as valuable as personal characteristics and their social justice views are, their attributes and views do not present the Gospel and thus do not save us in either the present or future senses. That is because of God's demand for holiness far exceeds any goodness that we can practice. We do need a savior who takes the punishment for our sins as well as calls us to live a life of repentance because, even after believing, we fight win some/lose some battles against sin. To reduce the Christian life to just having superior moral views on social justice and good characteristics ignores how sinful each of us is and how much we need a savior and not just a teacher or role model. And to think that all will be saved ignores our need to believe in the savior.

And so here is the dilemma that many of my fine, fellow Christian Fundamentalists present. We fall short in the personal characteristics  that we should excell in while representing Christ. The same goes for many of our social justice views. For many of us, that might be because our social justice views have been compromised by our political and ideological loyalties. And so in falling short in these matters, we hurt the reputation of the Gospel and have caused some to be tempted to switch to a false gospel because of how many liberal theologians are superior to us in displaying those personal characteristics and their social justice views. For they reason how can the true Gospel produce such poor results. I know that some of my behaviors and words have hurt the reputation of the Gospel.

I should add that the above is not the only dilemma. What I find personally upsetting is that I can't have political fellowship with many of my fellow believers in Christ because of the disparity in social justice morals caused by the differences in our social justice and political views. On the other hand, I can't have religious/spiritual fellowship with theological liberals who share my political and social justice concerns because they have either latched on to another gospel or simply believe in no Gospel and thus do not recognize the true Gospel.

I should add here that the above dilemma is an American phenomenon from what I have learned from Christians in other countries. I've been told that Christian Fundamentalists from the U.K., for example, hold to neither American conservative political views nor lack adequate social justice views.

Right now, many religiously conservative Christian churches are working hard to maintain the above status quo by either being silent on social justice issues and views or by espousing views that support or promote social injustices. And that fits them fine because then they can maintain more homogenity in their congregations. The result of such an approach is either a muted call to repent and believe to non political conservatives or an implied demand that non political conservatives must become political conservatives in order to believe in Christ. And that makes the religiously conservative American churches complicite in the sins of social injustices practiced by our government.

But perhaps there is a silver lining or two around our current dark cloud that seems to engulf us. That is that if we define Christian Fundamentalists solely by beliefs in the fundamentals of the faith, we find that such fundamentalists are a diverse lot. We are not a monolithic group. And because of that, there could very well be Christian Fundamentalists who are politically liberal or even leftist. In addition, perhaps we can find that Christian Fundamentalists and nonpolitical conservatives can learn from each other in terms of how to live together on this planet. That is a lesson I've begun to learn thanks to some of my unbelieving friends who have taught me things I would have not learned elsewhere.

Views From The Outside For July 14, 2026

 Views From The Outside

The purpose of this page is to list news stories and reports from mostly Western sources outside of the U.S. You can use Google Translate to translate articles that are printed in another language. 

So far, news sources include:

International

• Médecins Sans Frontieres
1. Communities In Mindanao Receive Medical Support Following Earthquake In The Philippines
2. Russian Attacks In Kyiv Damage Ukrainian Ambulance Station And Injure Medical Personnel
3. MSF Concludes Activities In Palma, Mozambique, Five Years After Deadly Attack
4. How MSF Is Responding To The Earthquakes In Venezuela
5. Alarming Rise In Admissions Of Children With Severe Malnutrition In Southern Afghanistan

• UN News
1. Restoring Dignity: Senegalese Surgeon And Burundian Foundation Win Reproductive Health Awards
2. US-Iran War: Renewed Attacks In Strait Of Hormuz Prompts Another Global Energy Alert
3. Sudan: ‘El Obeid Must Not Become The Next Crime Scene’ Warn UN Investigators
4. Cancer Cases Could Nearly Double By 2050 Without Urgent Action, WHO Warns
5. Grim Homecoming: Devastation Greets Lebanon's War-Weary Returnees

From Canada

• Le Devoir
1. Les États-Unis Frappent L’Iran, Qui Riposte En Visant Des Pays Du Golfe
2. Le Liban Exige Le Retrait D’Israël De Deux «Zones Pilotes» En Vue De Négociations À Rome
3. Le Hamas Dissout Ses Instances Dirigeantes À Gaza, Israël Y Voit Une «Ruse»
4. La Détresse S’incruste Au Liban
5. Le Brésil Craint Un «Recours À La Force Militaire» Des États-Unis Sur Son Territoire

• Le Journal de Montréal
1. Gastro Tenace Qui Dure Plusieurs Semaines: Comment Se Protéger De L’épidémie Parasitaire Aux États-Unis?
2. Au Liban, Des Joyaux Du Patrimoine Endommagés Par Israël
3. Taïwan Se Prépare Pour Son Plus Gros Typhon Depuis 1995
4. Nucléaire Civil: L'Australie S'accorde Avec L'Inde Pour Lui Fournir De L'uranium
5. Avec La Canicule, L'Europe Occidentale A Vécu Le Mois De Juin Le Plus Chaud De Son Histoire

• Toronto Star
1. News Outlets Urge A Judge To Sanction OpenAI In A High-Stakes AI Copyright Fight
2. Oil Prices And Stocks Hold Steadier As Calm Returns To Financial Markets Worldwide
3. US Home Prices Hit An All-Time High As Sales Slow And Mortgage Rates Rise
4. Ebola Death Toll In Congo Reaches 600, As New Cases Suspected In Previously Unaffected Provinces
5. Ukrainian Drones Batter Russian Oil Facilities And Set More Oil Tankers Ablaze

• CBC
1. What The Graham Platner Scandal Says About Democratic Party's Troubles
2. Kylian Mbappé Slams Paraguay Senator's Racist Remarks After World Cup Game
3. 'I Carry Sadness In My Heart.' Venezuelan Children Struggle In Aftermath Of Earthquakes
4. Trump Leaves NATO United On Paper, Uncertain In Practice
5. ICE Fatally Shoots Man During Enforcement Operation In Houston: DHS

From England

•  BBC
1. Meet The Crypto Billionaires Building A World Where Money Buys You A Vote
2. US Wants Iran To Pledge To Stop Shooting At Ships In Strait Of Hormuz
3. Spain Battles To Contain One Of Its Deadliest Wildfires As At Least 12 Killed
4. The photo That Shows Who's Really On Top In Le Pen's Party
5. What To Know About 'Explosive Diarrhoea' Parasite Outbreak In US 

• Reuters
1. How The Absence Of Iran's New Supreme Leader Is Becoming A Liability For The Islamic Republic
2. The Iran War Threatened A Food Crisis.The Next Gulf Conflict Could Do The Same.
3. North Korea Condemns NATO Summit, Says Denuclearisation Should Start With US Allies
4. Two Dead, 19 Wounded As Russia Strikes Ukraine With Missiles, Drones
5. China Evacuates Over One Million As Typhoon Bavi Nears

From France

• France24
1. Patriot Missile License A 'Long-Term' Investment For Ukraine – But Can It Afford The Wait?
2. Israel Ready To Attack Iran ‘A Third Time If Necessary’, Defence Minister Says
3. US Launches New Strikes On Iran That Trump Says Could Get 'Much Worse'
4. Marine Le Pen Appeal Verdict: Will The Far-Right Leader Be Barred From The French Presidency?
5. Iran Had 'Specific' Plan To Kill Trump, US Media Report Citing Israeli Intel

• Les Echos
1. En Italie, Le Chômage Recule Mais Le pPouvoir D'achat Aussi
2. Afghanistan: Comment Les Talibans Espèrent Tirer Profit Des Mines D'émeraude
3. Compétitivité, Climat, Ukraine : Les Priorités Ee L'Irlande Pour L'Europe
4. Malgré Un Déficit Budgétaire Qui S'est Creusé, La Hongrie De Magyar Vise L'euro D'ici 2030
5. Sanctions contre la Russie : Lukoil au coeur du bras de fer entre la Bulgarie et Bruxelles 

• Le Monde
1. War In Ukraine: Kyiv Spends Sleepless Nights Underground As Russia Intensifies Attacks
2. Houston Killing Of Mexican Man By ICE Reignites Debate Over US Immigration Agency
3. Apple Sues OpenAI For Stealing Trade Secrets
4. Silicon Valley's Next Generation Feels The AI blues
5. 'Behind The Suffering There Are People Who Love Life, Art And Peace': Words Of Hope From A Poetry Contest In Gaza

From Germany

• DW
1. Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei Vows Revenge For Father's Killing
2. Germany News: Third Summer Heat Wave Looms
3. Germany: Left-Wing Group Says It Is Behind Railway Sabotage
4. Trump Looked To Bypass Federal Election Agency, Report Says
5. Could AI Help al-Qaeda And Other Groups Plan Terror Attacks?

• DER SPIEGEL
1. DER SPIEGEL Investigation Reveals Deep Military Cooperation Between Russia And China
2. American Democracy Has Survived 250 Years, But Can It Survive Trump?
3. Does The US Really Hold The Reins In Venezuela?
4. Meinung•Kampf Um Die Demokratie: Dunja Hayali, Alice Weidel Und Die Fallstricke Des Engagierten Journalismus
5. Kritik An Verteidigungsminister Pistorius. Vizefraktionschef Röttgen Hält Bundeswehrabzug Aus Nordirak Für »Fatales Zeichen«

From Russian Source 

• Novaya Gazeta Europe
1. Ukrainian Project Says Every Seventh Search Request For Missing Russian Soldier In 2026 Is Under 25
2. Fleeing To Free Ukraine
3. ‘Practically Impossible’: Demining Russia’s Border Territories Will Take Years. In The Meantime, It’s Civilians Who Will Suffer
4. Second Documented Case Of Russian Soldier Born In 2008 Killed In Ukraine Unveiled By Journalists
5. ‘Most Of Us Simply Don’t Know What To Do’

From Spain

• El Mundo
1. La Cumbre De Los 'Mini-Rutte'
2. Guerra. Zelenski Releva A La Primera Ministra Y Remodela El Gobierno De Ucrania Para Potenciar Las Relaciones Con La UE Y EEUU
3. Estados Unidos. Muere El Senador Republicano Lindsey Graham, Estrecho Aliado De Trump, De Forma Repentina A Los 71 Años
4. Venezuela Actualiza La Cifra De Muertos Por Los Terremotos A 4.333 Víctimas
5. Estados Unidos. Trump, Otra Vez Contra Los Medios: Periodistas De The New York Times Reciben Citaciones Judiciales Tras Una Información Sobre El Nuevo Air Force One

• El País
1. Estados Unidos E Irán Se Enzarzan En Una Nueva Espiral De Ataques
2. Rusia Está Perdiendo La Guerra, Ucrania La Gana Solo A Medias
3. Mahmoud Khalil, El Palestino Al Que El ICE Encarceló Y Trump Quiere Deportar: “Vinieron A Por Mí E Irán Contra Cualquiera Que Disienta”
4. El Drama De Los Secuestros En Nigeria: Más De 2.000 Estudiantes Capturados En Una Década
5. Mercenarios Rusos Resisten A Duras Penas La Ofensiva De Los Rebeldes Tuaregs En El Norte De Malí

From Switzerland

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung
1. Die Linken Städte Betreiben Alibipolitik Gegen Die Wohnungsknappheit: Die Agglomerationen Beweisen, Wie Man Das Problem Wirklich Löst
2. Bei digitaler Souveränität Geht Es Nicht Um Unabhängigkeit Von Den USA, Sondern Um Das Ende Der Grossen Sorglosigkeit
3. Die Ukraine Eröffnet Im Asowschen Meer Überraschend Eine Neue Front Und Verschärft Die Benzinkrise In Russland
4. Psychische Krankheiten, Mobbing, Essstörungen: Was An Den Schweizer Gymnasien Probleme Macht
5. Der Erdölmacht Russland Fehlt Der Treibstoff – Was Ist Passiert?

From Ukraine

• UATV English
1. Decisive “Coalition Of The Willing” Meeting Begins In Paris Amid New Russian Attacks
2. China Begins WAR Against Starlink, while Ukraine Prepares FP9 Ballistic Missile Launches At MOSCOW!
3. TRUMP IS IMPRESSED! New Strikes By The Armed Forces Of Ukraine Radically Change The US Attitude
4. 1001 UAVs! Evolution Of Ukrainian Weapons. Impressive Developments!
5. EPIC! 90 Russian Ships Burned In SEVEN DAYS! Plus, A NUMBER OF REFINERIES Attacked

<< Previous Views                                                        Next Views >>