bookmark_borderTwo hundred years and 127,000 American Missionaries later

February 19th, 1812, a man named Adoniram Judson sailed from Salem harbor in Massachusetts to India, and eventually to Burma.  This trip was once called “the most important event of the nineteenth century.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if you never heard of Ann and Adoniram Judson.   I hadn’t either, until I looked at old lists of significant dates and events. Continue reading “Two hundred years and 127,000 American Missionaries later”

bookmark_borderReview of John Lawson’s Circus

You won’t find lions jumping through hoops of fire at John Lawson’s circus.  Nor would a school of dancing elephants fit in its cozy ring.
The only animals around are in the audience, roaring with laughter at the Popolino musical clowns and shrieking with delight at acrobatic feats of strength and skill.

John Lawson claims to have the funniest clowns in Britain, and that may be true. Continue reading “Review of John Lawson’s Circus”

bookmark_borderMadison’s act of belevolence: the Venezuela Earthquake and 200 years of American foreign aid.

James Madison is often quoted as having been against hand-outs,

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”*

Although these probably weren’t James Madison’s exact words, Congressman Madison probably said something similar.

Portrait of James Madison
Portrait of James Madison

Continue reading “Madison’s act of belevolence: the Venezuela Earthquake and 200 years of American foreign aid.”

bookmark_borderCovered (a tale of Caracas in 1812)

Men will tell you that the Republic had no faith in God; but then, why were the churches in the Capital full that day?

Some may have been there to display their gratitude (to their fellow atheists perhaps), or to ask forgiveness (from a God who they apparently did not think existed).

Ernesto Malego was there out of habit. Continue reading “Covered (a tale of Caracas in 1812)”

bookmark_borderAustralia’s declaration of secularization

The old Christian calendar to disappear.  — Men from Mars now from “fourth planet out.”  —   Language gets a new name.  — Monarchy disestablished and replaced by national beer.

Australia’s ruling labour party has had it with religious influence.  They have decided to secularize their country once and for all. Continue reading “Australia’s declaration of secularization”