This week, my “Around the Web” wrap-up doesn’t have anything about creationism, the environment, or geology. I’ve put in a few 100-hour work weeks lately, and it is nice to finally have a little bit of time for The GeoChristian blog.

THE EXTINCTION OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST? — In the second century, the church father Tertullian stated that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” It has often been the case in the history of Christianity that intense persecution of the church has purified and strengthened it, leading to explosive growth. This happened during the Roman persecutions of Tertullian’s day, and more recently in 20th and 21st century China. But at other times, persecution has led to the extinguishing of the the church, whether through death, apostasy, or migration. North Africa was once mostly Christianized, but the Islamic invasion of the seventh century led to the demise of the church in all but Egypt. Turkey was once a stronghold of Christianity, but in the aftermath of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, Christians were either slaughtered (Armenians) or forced out (Greeks). The same seems to be happening today in a number of Middle Eastern countries, such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and to some degree in the Palestinian territories.

Christianity Today: Christians Killed in Egypt Following President’s Ouster

CNN: A post-Christian Middle East?

THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION TRUMPS ONE’S FREEDOM OF RELIGION — N.M. Supreme Court: Photographers Can’t Refuse Gay Weddings. Here’s what one of the New Mexico justices had to say:

The Huguenins are free to think, to say, to believe, as they wish; they may pray to the God of their choice and follow those commandments in their personal lives wherever they lead. The Constitution protects the Huguenins in that respect and much more. But there is a price, one that we all have to pay somewhere in our civic life.

Hmmm. So we can privately believe whatever we want, but we better not express our beliefs in any meaningful way. It seems that the freedom of religion expressed in the Bill of Rights might end up meaning little more than this statement from the constitution of a previous great power:

Citizens of [name of country] are guaranteed freedom of conscience, that is, the right to profess or not to profess any religion, and to conduct religious worship…  (click here for full text of constitution).

Would this same Christian photographer be required by law to photograph a pornographic wedding starring Miley Cyrus?

OPPOSITION TO GAY MARRIAGE: BAD. SUPPORT FOR MARRYING DOGS: GOOD. — I am not a Glenn Beck fan (a promoter of wild conspiracy theories and clueless on the environment). But I like this article that a Facebook friend pointed to: Conservative professor embarrasses liberal critic with this epic response.

At UNC Chapel Hill, there is a feminist professor who believes that women can lead happy lives without men. That’s nothing new. But what’s different is that she thinks women can form lifelong domestic partnerships with dogs and that those relationships will actually be fulfilling enough to replace marital relationships with men.

At Duke University, feminists hired a “sex worker” (read: prostitute) to speak as part of an event called the Sex Workers Art Show. After his speech, the male prostitute pulled down his pants, got down on his knees, and inserted a burning sparkler into his rectum. While it burned, he sang a verse of “the Star Spangled Banner.”

CHILD PORN AS ART — The article above gives so many good examples of really sordid stuff at North Carolina universities, that it is worth of a second entry in this week’s Around the Web:

A few years ago, a UNCW English professor posted nude pictures of under-aged girls as a part of an “art exhibit” in the university library. The Provost then ordered the nude pictures to be moved away from the library and into the university union. This decision was made after several pedophiles had previous been caught downloading child pornography in the university library just a few yards away from the location of the display. The English professor was incensed so she asked the Faculty Senate to censure the provost for violating her “academic freedom.” The faculty senate sided with the feminist professor. The provost was later pressured to leave the university.

If there are no moral absolutes, then anything is morally permissible.

DEATH TO THE _________________________ (fill in the blank) — From Fox News: Woman receives hate-filled letter asking her to move or euthanize autistic son. There are many in our country who are ethically no better than the Nazis or the Islamic extremists who want to purge their nations of Christians (and Jews and Bahais and Muslim sects and secular Muslims).

A MAP DEPICTING ONE THING THAT IS WRONG WITH HIGHER EDUCATION IN AMERICA

At least Montana has its academic priorities set right.

See more fascinating maps at 40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World.

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Come Lord Jesus

Grace and Peace