Daily Archives: March 21, 2022

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10.)

The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened (Proverbs 10:27).

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life (Proverbs 22:4)

Thats absolutely right. But what does it mean?

It took me decades as a Christian even to begin to understand the meaning of the fear of God. Jordan Peterson isnt a believer, but I think he probably gets it better than I do. Better than just about any Christian Ive ever heard trying to explain it. I hear their answers and forgive me, but I cringe. It usually comes out sappy, and often completely meaningless.

No it doesnt mean you should be afraid of God, they say. It means you should reverence Him. Sorry, but thats no help. Aside from that awkward verbing of a noun (which is the way people always seem to word it), that answer tells me nothing. It just substitutes one mysterious, undefined word for another. What does it mean to reverence God? Does it mean thinking Hes really special? Really important? No, thats too small an answer by far. And Im having trouble thinking when Ive heard any better explanation, at least in casual conversations or even in small group studies.

Those who do not know the meaning of the fear of God do not know the meaning of the word God. They say the word, but they do not know what it means. They do not know who or what God is.

Its taken me decades, as I said, but honestly, I think Im getting a taste of what it means. How do I know? Because for the first time it Ive actually felt it as fear. Ive discovered that the word means what it means. I realized and Ive said it often since then that those who do not know the meaning of the fear of God do not know the meaning of the word God. They say the word, but they do not know what it means. They do not know who or what God is.

I think I have begun to understand. A little. (I think Peterson may understand it better.) My first touch with came during a period when I was spending much time contemplating how utterly different God is from us, and we are from Him. The chasm of that difference is unspeakably awesome, far beyond anything I could speak. My grasp on that fear grew even more while I was studying to write my book Too Good to Be False, and came face to with Jesus goodness as Id never seen it before.

It wasnt that Jesus was so much better than I. I could have stood that. It was that He was too much better. Overwhelmingly better. Frighteningly better.

Nothing He did with His extraordinary powers was for Himself. All of it was an offering of love. And when He set aside His powers to suffer on the Cross, that became an offering of love greater than any other made by anyone, ever. So I see the the example He set. I see how far I fall short of it. And I find it utterly overwhelming. The blazing sun of His goodness reveals the dark of my not-goodness, and its honestly fearsome.

I have studied these things, and I have thought I was beginning to understand the fear of God. But then I saw Jordan Peterson agonizing with it. Its gripping. Its eloquent especially when he is so overtaken by it, he has no words to say at all. So I urge you to watch this video, released January 29, 2022. If knowing the meaning of God requires knowing the fear of God, Peterson can teach you something.

Hes got that part right, and I commend him admire him, even for it. If only he knew the rest of it. Im not so concerned about his apparent confusions over the place of church or religious practice in our lives. Such matters are small compared to his need to come to grips with the reality of Jesus love. The love that Jesus lived on earth, the same love that set a standard so high it literally frightens me, is also the same love he offers to Jordan Peterson. And to you, and to me. And by His love He draws us in where we could never come by any other means.

Peterson sees that God is great, and what he sees, he sees well; but he is seeing only half of it. He sees Gods power and his piercing omniscience, and you can literally see him quaking in view of it. He sees Gods goodness and wonders how a person would have to live if they really believed in it. What a great question that is! And what a troubling one. For there is no good answer; none from any human perspective or strength or power, that is. I hope Peterson does not remain stuck in searching for it there.

Because even though he has a certain grip on Gods greatness, he has not discovered the equally awesome greatness of Gods grace and love, love great enough to invite us into life with Him despite His utterly fearsome goodness. We have no standing there with Him, we who are so flawed, confused, conflicted, self-centered, rebellious. Peterson sees that beautifully, but he does not yet see that God knows it better than we do; that God sees it, and even judges it, but grants us entrance anyway, if we will simply come to Him on His gracious terms.

This is the reconciling power of the Cross of Jesus Christ; it is the life-giving power of His Resurrection. Here where we must own up to one thing Peterson seems absolutely ready to admit, and one further thing I hope we will yet come to know. These are the terms of approach, you might say.

The first is the act of humility that recognizes we are not good enough for God; that we fall not just a short, but infinitely far away, which leaves us completely hopeless and powerless before Him. I think Peterson is there. He has taken that step. From all we can see of him in this video, I am quite sure he sees that, feels it, knows it, owns it deep inside himself.

His second step toward God on Gods terms remains, though. This, too, is a descent into humility, perhaps even further and deeper than the other. It is the humility that gives up anxiety about oneself; that lets all fear and trying and worrying and striving go, and leaves us resting limp, surrendered, and trusting in the loving hands of God. God saves us from even the fear of Himself.

I have written of this hard step in the past,

There is something of a paradoxical insult in the way God loves us. If we could stand before Him and tell him, Thank you very much, God, for your love; and of course everyone can certainly see what Ive done to earn it if we could only say that, now that would be something to be proud of. We could really feel good about ourselves. But its His goodness, not ours, that motivates God to love us. We need not earn it; we never could earn it. It comes with just one condition: that we accept it on His terms, not on our own. Because our terms arent good enough. Only His are. Humbled? Insulted, even? Then you get the point.

I cannot say more than I can see, but in this video it seems Peterson is still struggling to know how he or anyone could be good enough for God. If he remains in that struggle he is still lost, despite what he knows of God. His only hope is to give it up and let God be good enough for him instead.

Christians, we can learn from Peterson. He has a better grasp on the fear of God than almost any Christian I know. He has much to learn yet, too, though. For while those who do not know the meaning of the fear of God do not know the meaning of the word God, the same is true for those who do not know the meaning of Gods love and grace. Peterson knows some of God. May he come to know all of Gods greatness.

Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the recently released Too Good To Be False: How Jesus Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.

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Jordan Peterson Knows the Fear of God - The Stream

In the past week, two of Britain's most influential newspapers have launched attacks on comedian and YouTube personality Russell Brand. The condemnations caught the attention of billionaire Elon Musk and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson who both defended Brand from the critical articles.

The Independent published an article this week titled: "How did Russell Brand go from stand-up stardom to peddling YouTube conspiracy theories?"

The piece labeled Brand as "Joe Rogan's British counterpart." The article recalled how Brand was once married to Katy Perry and starred in the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" movie.

"I know! I'm disappointed too. But such is the age we live in: One minute, a comedian is going about his life, building his career, and the next, he's peddling conspiracy theories on YouTube and quoting Glenn Greenwald's newsletter at length," wrote Louis Chilton, who covers video games and culture for the outlet. "No, I dont like it. Yes, I'm exhausted."

Chilton claimed that Brand "has leaned hard into a brand of pseudo-skepticism we've come to expect from the Joe Rogans of the world."

The article dismissed Brand who has more than 5.2 million subscribers on YouTube (The Independent has 338,000 subscribers) as a "Twitter reply guy."

The writer asserted that Brand's videos "use the language of conspiracies" and utilize his platform to "share shaky conspiracy theories."

"In Brand's world, there should be room for 'alternative opinions' such as Rogan's. Maybe the 'mainstream media' are just jealous that Rogan is so successful, Brand suggested," the article noted, and then admitted, "Maybe we're jealous because Rogan's viewers trust him."

The Telegraph published a piece titled: "How Russell Brand became the Mad Hatter of conspiracy theories."

"In the age of online conspiracies, which have flourished since the onset of COVID, Brand's alarmist video headlines have found support among the frustrated and locked-down," the article purported. "Now, with global restrictions lifting, Ukraine has become the natural next area for scrutiny."

Both articles don't specify what conspiracy theories Brand has disseminated.

After reading The Independent article, Tesla CEO Elon Musk did his own research into whether or not Brand was peddling conspiracy theories by actually watching his videos and deciding for himself.

"With so many mainstream media companies saying @rustyrockets [Russell Brand] is crazy/dangerous, I watched some of his videos," Musk wrote on Twitter in a reply to The Independent. "Ironically, he seemed more balanced & insightful than those condemning him! The groupthink among major media companies is more troubling. There should be more dissent."

Jordan Peterson also defended Brand by saying, "An appalling union of large corporations, media agencies and government. What did Mussolini call that again?"

Peterson is likely referencing this quote: "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power." This quote is commonly attributed to Benito Mussolini, but there doesn't seem to be any proof that the Italian fascist leader ever said it.

Brand released a video addressing the attacks on him by big media on his YouTube channel which has more than 630,000,000 views.

"We dont claim to be a news channel. We're not sending out journalists going, 'Oh my god whats happening over there?' We're looking at news and analyzing news. That's what were doing, just to be clear. We're not claiming to be a news channel."

"So the idea of misinformation this is opinion," Brand stated. "This is obviously my opinion. We check our sources. We never say anything that can't be backed up."

Brand disputed the accusation of being an "anti-vaxxer," pointing out that he has not told anyone not to get vaccinated, but is empathetic to those who are vaccine-hesitant, especially from minority groups that have less trust of the government. He also stressed that the unvaccinated should not be treated as social pariahs.

Brand also questioned the ownership of The Independent. The British newspaper is owned by Evgeny Lebedev son of KGB officer-turned-Russian oligarch. The paper is also owned by Sultan Mohamed Abuljadayel an investor "associated with NCB Capital, the investment banking arm of Saudi Arabias National Commercial Bank," according to the Financial Times.

Brand shared a 2019 article from the Guardian:

Brand declared, "The mainstream media is not your friend. The culture is not your friend. Government is not your friend. Big business is not your friend."

My Response http://www.youtube.com

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After Russell Brand is attacked by big media, Elon Musk and Jordan Peterson defend the comedian - TheBlaze

Joe Rogan is a revolutionary figure in the podcasting domain. Whatever he does, or says, creates a massive social impact with his large fan following. Being famous has its perks, obviously. But it also makes one susceptible to scrutiny.

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Being the outspoken character Rogan is, he doesnt hold back from making his opinions heard. His podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, has been at the helm of many controversies in the past.

Recently, audio-sharing platform Spotify deleted over a hundred episodes of his podcast which was accused of spreading misinformation. This invited many reactions from various social commentators, some of whom supported the iconic UFC commentator. Renowned psychologist Jordan Peterson, too, defended Rogan and said it would be a mistake for Spotify to let him go.

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Peterson claimed, As long as he is careful like he is. I dont think Rogan can be canceled. So even if Spotify dumps him its like whos dumping who here. Rogan, hes on Spotify, it is not necessarily. Spotify might be on Rogan, its not so clear,he added.

WATCH THIS STORY: Top five most viewed episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience

He laid down the possible outcome of Spotify de-platforming Rogan. He explained, So whats gonna happen? They kick him off? Well, he will just have another platform like tomorrow and he will have all the money Spotify gave him which was actually quite a lot of money.

Rogan, who is a popular podcast host, an entrepreneur, and an integral part of the UFC commentator team, enjoys a luxurious lifestyle. He never shies from following his heart and doing things that please him.

Apart from being a vocal gun-rights activist, Rogan also has a knack for possessing firearms. He even called guns the best martial arts on the Lex Fridman podcast.

Rogan himself owns thousands of dollars worth of guns and also likes to learn the art of using them. In an Instagram post, Rogan shared a video of him at a shooting range, enjoying a shooting drill.

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He captioned the video, I learned a lot today, and it really made me appreciate how difficult it is to properly handle a gun.

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What is your take on the recent Joe Rogan controversy?

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Dont Think Rogan Can Be Canceled- Jordan Peterson Thunderously Defends Joe Rogan Amid Spotify Controversy - EssentiallySports

Five years ago, I was a mom to a newborn and a 2-year-old. I struggled with postpartum depression, sleep deprivation, and was worn out from being needed all the time.

I felt guilty that I found it so hard, and I dreamed of a time when it wouldn't be.

When people said things like, "Enjoy every moment, it goes by fast," it felt like a punch to the gut.

In a recent viral video on TikTok, Jordan Peterson a controversial psychologist, author, YouTube personality, and fathers'-rights advocate says in a voice-over: "You have little kids for four years, and if you miss it, it's done."

That's exactly what I struggled with, but now that my kids are older, I want other moms who are struggling like I did to know that our kids are fun past their 4th birthday.

When my kids were little, I felt guilty for wanting time away from them. I felt shamed by some moms with older kids who ignored my struggles and instead told me, "It'll be over before you know it."

Every day seemed to drag. I wanted to create magical moments for my kids but struggled to do that through my depression and exhaustion.

Now that my kids are 5 and 7, I get to sit at the dinner table and talk and laugh at their jokes. I get a front-row seat to their ideas, hopes, and dreams. They can communicate their needs more effectively and they can keep up on family hikes. They are so much more independent and a joy to be around.

Because of all this, I felt compelled to create my own version of the Peterson video on TikTok. I wanted to give a different perspective to parents who might be struggling as I did in the early years.

This is the text I wrote to go with the video:"You have little kids for four years.And if you miss it Well, you won't miss it, because chances are you're with those babies all day and all night and you know little else in those years.

You have sacrificed your time, your body, your career, your energy, and likely your mental health to create a loving and full life for them.

Of course, you want to enjoy as many moments as possible, but the reality is, those four years are some of the hardest, exhausting, patience-testing years, and sometimes you're just surviving.

You're already acutely aware of how precious it is and constantly reminded how fast it goes. You already feel the pressure to make it great and feel guilty for the things you do and don't do.

Of course, you want to make the best of it, but when you lack sleep and space for yourself, it makes it incredibly difficult to soak in.

And while you might look back and miss those little years and mourn what you were not able to fully experience due to the stresses of it all, you will remember the beauty of it all without the sheer exhaustion.

And you'll know you did your very best, despite how hard it was. And you'll have so many more years to look forward to with them. It doesn't end after 4."

Within minutes of hitting "post," I started getting thousands of responses from moms around the world thanking me and sharing how triggered the original video made them feel: shame, guilt, and pressure.

As a mom, I want to be seen, to be heard, and to be validated when I say, "This is hard." I worry that I am not enough, no matter how hard I try. Raising kids is incredibly difficult, but being made to feel like you've lost your chance if you don't nail it in the first four years makes it even harder. I needed something different than the "you'll miss it" narrative.

I needed support, not more pressure.

Libby Ward is an anti-mom-shamer and mental-health advocate on a mission to change the narrative of what it means to be a "good mom." Known as the "honest mom" to her social-media community, she is a content creator, public speaker, and storyteller breaking cycles of all kinds, one piece of content at a time.

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Viral TikTok: Best years with our kids aren't over after they turn 4 - Insider

Welcome to the first full day of Spring!

And we start off Spring with a burst of sunshine. Its World Down Syndrome Day, and our own Tom Sileo shares the celebration of life and the latest on his amazing daughter Natalie.

and has done a dazzling job rallying his people against long odds to hold off the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And his mastery of public messaging will be studied for years. But before we go dubbing Volodymyr Zelensky the next Winston Churchill or St. Patrick, as Bono did last week perhaps we ought to tap the brakes a bit on the fan-boying.

On Sunday, Zelensky signed a decree that combines all national TV channels into one platform, citing the importance of a unified information policy under martial law. In other words, Ukraine television is now state-run TV. Not that hed be getting much pushback anyway. He banned three opposition stations last year.

He has also just banned Ukraines main opposition party and many others for the period of martial law. As Bradford File noted on Twitter, good thing were sending him billions and moving troops that direction to save Democracy.

Sure, Putin has clamped down on media that go against the party line, and political opposition, and the West is outraged. Zelensky does it, lets build him a statue! Read aloud poems in his honor. Watch his sitcom on Netflix.

Of course, the criminalization of dissent is not exactly something the Biden administration is against. Hello, J6 prisoners. But for the rest of us, we must be cautious in celebrating someone so eager to throw away basic human rights. And again. Zelenskys clampdowns started long before Putin came across his border.

What good is it to repel Putin if youre going to turn into Putin?

Meanwhile, Zelensky was on CNN Sunday morning, stating hes ready for negotiations once again with Putin. Im ready for negotiations with him. I was ready for the last two years. And I think that without negotiations we cannot end this war. Zelensky warned that if negotiations fail that would mean that this is a third World War.

The threat must be real. Joe Biden evacuated to a bunker in West Virginia. No wait. Thats not it. He spent another weekend of leisure at his beach mansion in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Got in a nice bike ride yesterday.

Anyone can be governor of Georgia as Brian Kemp has proven but to be on Star Trek? Score one for gubernatorial candidate and Hollywood fav Stacey Abrams. Abrams popped up Thursday night on Star Trek: Discovery as President of United Earth. Sure, shes no Dame Judi Dench. She looked more like a kid at a candy store than a planetary leader.

And the shows blatant political partisan opportunism is a stain on the Star Trek legacy. Still, a Star Trek cameo is a Star Trek cameo, no matter how wretched her politics or acting chops.

Abrams had previously done an episode of Blackish. Still shes far behind Donald Trump, who has 26 TV and film credits to his name on IMDB. Younger folks wont remember, but Hollywood adored Trump right up until he announced he was running for President.

On Twitter, liberals are mocking conservatives who are griping about the cameo. Heres the difference. No conservative is asking for Abrams to be cut from the episode. Remember the effort to try and cut Trump out of Home Alone 2?

Speaking of politicians and bad acting

AOCs picked up Joe Bidens weird habit of whispering. In a creepy video posted last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used a whisper to condemn capitalism and celebrate socialism.

Let me tell you a secret, AOC whispered to her adoring flock. Most people dont really know what capitalism is. Most people dont even know what socialism is. But most people are not capitalists, because they dont have capitalist money. Theyre not billionaires.

Soak in the ridiculousness of that statement.

Let me tell you a little secret, AOC. You do need to whisper out of respect for the 100 million murdered by socialism in the 20th Century.

The Republicans have found a clever way to boost their fortunes. Holding voter registration drives at gas stations to grab those incensed by high gasoline prices. RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the initiative Saturday.

Seems they pinched the idea from Scott Pressler, whos already been tweeting about registering new voters at filling stations for a couple weeks now.

The Big Brother social media giant has again suspended the Babylon Bee, according to that satire sites CEO Seth Dillon.

The offending tweet seems to be The Babylon Bees Man of the Year is Rachel Levine. Rachel Levine, the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Service, is biologically male and was just named a USA Today Woman of the Year.

The Bee also just published a list of its Women of the Year if I describe it, I spoil the joke.

Twitter said it would remove the lock 12 hours after the offending tweet is deleted.

Annemarie McLean returns with a look at a new report that questions whether mRNA vaccines can alter human DNA. Will conspiracy theorists once again be proven right?

Tom Gilson offers an intense, powerful Jordan Peterson Knows the Fear of God.

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, chief barista for The Brew and co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl at GETTR, Gab, Parler, and real soon at TRUTH Social.

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The Brew: Planet Earth Has a New President, Zelensky Makes Some Putin-esque Moves, and Why is AOC Whispering? - The Stream

Today Israel is that different country. Not the progressive, cosmopolitan land. Not the country where people post pictures of coffee shops, bars, malls, and office buildings to show that were just like everywhere else.

Today we are the strange and mysterious Land of the Jews. The place where things are NOT like anywhere else in the world.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievskys funeral is to be held today. At 94 years old, it is not strange that he died but for all those who considered him the Minister of Torah, it is still a shock. Who will continue in his stead?

The title was not an official one but rather the result of deep admiration for his knowledge and wisdom. Minister of Torah signifies that he is of the same importance as the Ministers of the Israeli government only in the eyes of his followers, his field of expertise, Torah, Jewish wisdom is much more important.

Today is a day of different values. Very different from those who value Israels winners of the Eurovision because they popularize us in Europe. Very different even from those who admire Israels assistance to Ukrainian refugees because it is important to be (or show?) that we are good. Today Israelis honor the values of learning, wisdom, and modesty.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky spent most of his time in a tiny apartment, studying ancient Jewish texts.Every year he would study the Babylonian Talmud a process that regular scholars of the holy texts complete over seven and a half years by learning one page a day.

Children, grown-ups, and politicians all crowded into his tiny apartment to ask for his advice and his blessing.

From a secular perspective this admiration of crumpled old man, pouring over the same ancient texts year after is, well weird. The texts dont change, what learning can be provided from reading the same thing over and over? How can text thousands of years old be used to guide modern life?

When you understand Jewish thought, perspective changes. God created the Universe with the power of the Word. Words themselves have power. Our ancient texts convey wisdom that has been our guide throughout the ages. What is more admirable than one who is deeply familiar with the wisdom hidden within the texts?

The Orthodox Jews believe that their studying is what protects the Jewish People and even more so keeps the world from collapsing into itself. To the secular mind, these ideas seem bizarre and ridiculous. Those who have read Jordan Petersons work might think a little differently about the importance of Words. Those who take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary survival of the Jewish People might think twice about dismissing their idea When our survival occurs against all odds, contrary to all logic, physical, political, and the results achieved by all other nations who am I to say that the Orthodox are wrong in believing that their studying protects us all?

In light of these ideas, it is mind-blowing to consider the fact that Rabbi Gershon Edelstein directed for there to be no Torah studies today. All the students and scholars would focus only on mourning the passing of Rabbi Kanievsky and only that. In other words, this mans contribution to Jewish knowledge balances (or possibly is more important) than the studying that they believe keeps the world from imploding.

That is an extraordinary thought.

Not all Israelis agree with these beliefs and ideas but, nonetheless, the State bends in adaptation to them. So many people are expected at the funeral that streets have been closed, traffic rerouted, and people instructed not to travel in the area, if at all possible. Many people who heard that the police intended to limit attendance flocked to the area last night(!!). Many public sector employees were given an ok to work from home. Secular schools in the area were also shut down or moved to distance learning to prevent unnecessary travel. The IDF canceled induction for new soldiers today to minimize the necessity for travel. Provisions were made for crowd safety, but it is likely that the crowds will be bigger than anything anyone knows how to control. Local parks were set aside so that helicopters could land and evacuate people should a disaster occur.

All this, not for a rock star, politician, or even a charismatic influencer. Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky was a vessel of Jewish knowledge, an example of Jewish scholarliness, of putting learning, wisdom, and faith above all worldly comforts.

Im not religious. Im certainly not Orthodox and yet, in many ways, I like todays Israel better than the Israel we see on so many other days.

{Reposted from the authors blog}

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Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and the OTHER Israel - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com

By Samuel Sey, Op-ed contributor | Saturday, March 19, 2022Reuters/Victor Ruiz Garcia

Most conservatives support Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay Bill. However, many of these supposed conservatives apparently support the bill for the wrong reasons.

Many conservatives do not care about protecting children from LGBTQ indoctrination, they only care about protecting children from leftist indoctrination.

Most conservatives today are heading toward the same direction as liberals and leftists theyre simply progressing at a slower speed.

Christless conservatives hate leftism, not sin. We Christians shouldnt forget that.

They are generally our political allies, but they are not our philosophical allies. Jesus said: Whoever is not with me is against me (Matthew 12:30).

That applies to conservatives too. Leftists arent the only people who are against Jesus. Christless conservatives are against Jesus too. Therefore, Christless conservatives have more in common with leftists than they have with Christians.

So although leftists are a bigger threat to our society, Christless conservatives arent the solution. Actually, they are part of the problem.

Yesterday, Dave Rubin and the man he calls his husband announced theyre fathers of two children through surrogate mothers. Many supposed conservatives, including commentators and media outlets like Candace Owens,Prager University andThe Blaze shared their support.

If youre unfamiliar with Dave Rubin, he is a political commentator on his talk show, "The Rubin Report." He occasionally refers to himself as a conservative, but he mostly describes himself as a classical liberal.

I actually admire Dave Rubin a lot. Imentioned "The Rubin Report" in an article about my top 10 favorite podcasts two years ago. In that article, I said: Dave Rubin is the most interesting podcaster I follow.

His interviews with Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson, Larry Elder, Douglas Murray and many more have been so helpful to me. His first interviews with Ben Shapiro and Larry Elder especially shaped a lot of my thinking on racial issues. The interviews encouraged me to do further research research that strengthened my blog. Truly, without "The Rubin Report," my blog would be significantly weaker.

Nevertheless, Dave Rubin and the conservatives who support his announcement are part of the problem in our society.

In between their tweets about how LGBTQ indoctrination in public schools harm children, many supposed conservatives tweeted in support of Dave Rubin harming children.

Yes, Dave Rubin and the man he calls his husband are harming their children. I do not take any pleasure in saying that. But its true.

Just as children are a blessing to fathers and mothers, fathers and mothers are a blessing to children. Its therefore harmful to remove that blessing from children through homosexual parenting.

As Katy Faust explains in her must-read book,Them Before Us, homosexual parenting deliberately violates a childs right to a father and mother, with devastating consequences.

We shouldnt have to explain this to conservatives. After all, many of the conservatives supporting Dave Rubin and his partners homosexual parenting are some of the people who rightly blame racial disparities on fatherlessness in black families.

These hypocritical conservatives complain about why leftists do not care about fatherlessness in black families, but they apparently havent asked themselves why they do not care about Dave Rubins children being motherless.

They support homosexual marriages and homosexual parenting, and yet they complain about how gender theory and transgenderism have become so popular without acknowledging that acceptance of homosexual marriages and homosexual parenting fosters acceptance of gender theory and transgenderism.

Also, we conservatives have spent the last two years sharing our concerns about how masks harm children. And yet, we support children being harmed by homosexual parenting?

Of course, children shouldnt be forced to wear masks. But isnt homosexual parenting significantly more harmful than a mask?

Nevertheless, when Pete Buttigieg and his partner announced last year that theyre fathers of twins, they were criticized by many of the conservatives who are supporting Dave Rubin and his partner today.

Apparently, what makes Buttigiegs announcement harmful for society, and makes Rubins announcement helpful for society is their political affiliations.

Many conservatives are only committed to conserving their own interests, nothing more. Thats why just as liberals have regressed into leftists, most conservatives have regressed into liberals.

So dont be surprised when most conservatives support gender theory, transgenderism and public schools indoctrinating children with LGBTQ ideology in a few years.

Most conservatives arent conservatives at all.

Thats why Matt Schlapp, the president of the Conservative Political Action Conference the biggest conservative conference in America shared a tweetin support of transgenderism a few weeks ago. Thats why he alsoadmittedto removing pro-life speakers from the conference because he believes they are unnecessary.

Many conservatives are more interested in being on the right side of history than being right with God.

Until that changes, Christless conservatives will always be part of the problem, not the solution.

Originally published at Slow to Write.

Samuel Sey is a Ghanaian-Canadian who lives in Brampton, a city just outside of Toronto. He is committed to addressing racial, cultural, and political issues with biblical theology, and always attempts to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

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Conservatives are part of the problem - The Christian Post

In late February, Pierre Poilievre shared a video about the Ukraine crisis to his more than 211,000 followers on YouTube. It had been just days since Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops across the border, and over a montage of video clips appearing to be from the invasion, the Tory MP attempted to blame what was happening on Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus climate change policies, which he contrasted with his own newly announced campaign to become the Conservative partys next leader.

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Every time Trudeau kills a Canadian energy project, the dirty dictators like Venezuelas Maduro or Russias Putin do a victory dance, Poilievre said in the video, which has now been viewed more than 132,000 times. Elect me, Poilievre promised to his 511,000 followers on Facebook, where he reposted the video, and it would be Canadian oil and gas producers doing the dancing. As prime minister I will reject Trudeaus anti-energy laws, he said.

Of course, Putins decision to invade Russias neighbour had nothing to do with the oilsands or pipelines. But Poilievre seized his chance, using the winds of war to bear aloft his domestic political message.

The next day, an op-ed by Poilievre containing these same talking points appeared in the Post Millennial, a Montreal-based site that describes itself as one of the largest conservative news outlets in the world, and whose editor-at-large Andy Ngo has been called a right-wing troll by Rolling Stone.

Poilievres op-ed, which was entitled Canadian natural gas is the solution to Europes Russian energy crisis, was that day reposted on Canada Proud, a Conservative Party-linked Facebook group that has over 394,000 followers. That page reached potentially millions of people earlier this year with posts cheering on the anti-vaccine convoy in Ottawa, Facebook ad data suggests, despite evidence linking the convoys leaders to hate groups.

Two days later, True North, a conservative media outlet founded by former Toronto Sun columnist Candice Malcolm, which has deemed the Trudeau government tyrannical and accused CBC of spreading fake news, reported admiringly on Poilievres plan to scrap Canadas carbon tax if he is ever elected prime minister. That piece was shared on Facebook to True Norths 185,000 followers and was echoed by similarly appreciative posts about Poilievres opposition to climate regulations on the pages Elect Conservatives (85,000 followers) and Oil Sands Strong (155,000 followers).

As Poilievre attains frontrunner status in the Conservative leadership race, Canadian media outlets have focused on his relative youth, his attack-dog qualities, his fiscal conservatism, his interest in cryptocurrency and whether his populist approach Poilievre took selfies with convoy members in Ottawa and called them bright, joyful and peaceful Canadians will help or harm his campaign.

But these accounts have overlooked a key reason for Poilievres recent surge.

Poilievre is skilled at creating personally branded internet content, which is then pushed out to millions of Canadians through a tightly-linked network of social media pages and online personalities, often bypassing traditional media outlets entirely. These are techniques commonly used by Instagram or YouTube stars. Poilievre appears to be adapting them to right-wing politics.

Hes definitely got an influencer kind of vibe, Ben Woodfinden, a conservative political commentator based in Ottawa who contributes to outlets like the Hub and National Post, told The Tyee. In this new media environment, whatever you want to call it, that we find ourselves in I suspect hes not too interested in having approving op-eds in the Globe and Mail.

Poilievre didnt respond to an interview request from The Tyee.

If Poilievre becomes Conservative leader, expect him to transform how politics are retailed in Canada. He will have shown the way to win is by tapping into an alternative online ecosystem whose most prominent players flood peoples feeds with posts questioning COVID restrictions, calling the mainstream media corrupt, demanding the immediate resignation of Trudeau and asking the government to do everything possible to accelerate the production of climate-warming oil and gas.

There is a huge amount of potential support that can come from this network if they decide to get behind you, Caroline Orr Bueno, a behavioural scientist and freelance journalist whos written extensively about online disinformation, told The Tyee. Poilievres tactics might be effective, she argued, but the political consequences are chilling, because he is changing what is fair game for discourse by mainstream politicians. The Overton window is a name for what is reasonable to publically discuss.

Any time an extreme idea gets brought into the mainstream, youre kind of shifting the whole Overton window, so that if extreme becomes mainstream, then even more extreme ideas get brought in, said Orr Bueno.

Poilievre has been testing methods of self-promotion for some time. Back in 2015, he was the subject of minor controversy over a series of YouTube videos he starred in promoting the Stephen Harper governments child-care policies. In one video, Poilievre, who was then Conservative employment minister, walks around having impromptu conversations with people attending a consignment sale at an Ottawa arena, saying at one point We believe that the real child-care experts are mom and dad.

Opposition parties attacked Poilievre for using taxpayer funds to create vanity videos. But Poilievre refused to make any apologies and the whole thing soon blew over. Seven years later, it appears Poilievre was just early to the trend of using social media to spread a political brand, a tactic now used by everyone from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to Democratic congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In a recent video posted to his YouTube account Poilievre is seen filling up a minivan at a snowy Toronto gas station where prices are over $2 per litre. I have a common sense plan to tackle these high prices, which includes getting rid of the carbon tax, Poilievre says, disregarding the fact that prices are skyrocketing primarily because of COVID-linked disruptions and Putins invasion of Ukraine, not Canadian climate policies or that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently put out a major report warning that if we do not rapidly get greenhouse gas emissions under control more than three billion lives worldwide could be at stake. Yet the video has over 216,000 views.

I really like Pierre. It seems like he honestly just wants to fix this shit, one YouTube commentor wrote of Poilievres $123.74 gasoline bill. Another added, I love how Pierre used the cheapest grade of fuel just like the common man.

The online performance of relatability is part of a deliberate strategy used by social media influencers, which in recent years has been adapted by high-profile conservatives to market a series of increasingly far-right positions, according to a 2018 report from the U.S. think tank Data & Society. Rather than stressing institutional credibility, political influencers highlight how relatable and accessible they are to their audiences, reads the report, which is entitled Alternative Influence: Broadcasting the Reactionary Right on YouTube.

These content creators use collaborations with other influencers and responses to audience feedback to cultivate a sense of loyalty, it adds.

Evidence of Poilievre collaborating with like-minded political brands could be seen in March 2021, when he posted a photo of himself on Facebook out for a walk with his daughter. In the photo, which currently has 20,000 likes, hes wearing a black hoodie that displays the logo for Oil Sands Strong, a pro-oil and gas Facebook group created by Fort McMurray marketer Robbie Picard.

Since the logo includes a raised fist, the Carleton Federal Liberal Association in Poilievres riding saw an opportunity to attack. Poilievre sure loves this hoodie, it tweeted. Does he deny climate change? And whats with the clenched white fist, a white supremacy symbol? Really? But it was a strategic blunder that activated Poilievres social media allies.

Oil Sands Strongs Picard, who is Mtis, posted a photo of himself with two Black women: Amazing night out with my two best ladies! Poilievre then reposted that photo with a caption demanding the Liberal association apologize. The tweet disparaged Fort Mac and falsely alleged racism, he said. The episode was ignored by mainstream media outlets, but covered extensively in True North, the Post Millennial and Rebel News, the far-right outlet created by Ezra Levant which has 321,000 Facebook followers.

An Alberta-based site called the Buffalo Tribune (15,800 followers) hosted a 47-minute Facebook interview with Picard about the Liberal tweet. The fist represents solidarity, said Picard, who didnt respond to an interview request from The Tyee.

Transitioning to the bigger picture, Picard described as nonsense to Buffalo Tribune host Rob Boutilier the idea that someone would criticize the climate impacts of the oilsands, not noting that they are one of Canadas largest and fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Wind and solar, Picard argued incorrectly, are just as damaging to the environment: Theres no such thing as green energy.

By that point the Carleton Federal Liberal Association had deleted the tweet about Poilievre. It didnt reply to a media request from The Tyee.

Last November, the Buffalo Tribunes Boutilier posted a Facebook video to his 77,000 followers entitled Society demanding I get vaccinated is a load of bullshxt. As the Omicron surge took off, leading to record case counts across Canada, his site posted articles dismissive of disease prevention measures. When anti-vaxers set up a GoFundMe for a trucker protest in Ottawa that January, the Buffalo Tribune showed people how to donate. And weeks into the convoys occupation of the capital, during which some protesters displayed confederate flags and swastikas, the site shared on Facebook legal resources for truckers facing charges.

As in Canadas mainstream media, the so-called freedom convoy was major news across the countrys right-wing social media ecosystem. Sites such as the Post Millennial, True North and Rebel News posted story after story praising the demonstration. Canada Proud blitzed its followers with memes and posts. In the midst of it all, Poilievre met with protesters and posed in front of a sign saying Stocked shelves, thank a trucker. Empty shelves, thank Trudeau.

To some commentators this was political suicide. By aligning with the convoy, Poilievre repels most Canadians, Randy Boswell argued on iPolitics. But on far-right social media feeds Poilievre was treated like a hero. Shortly after appearing at the convoy, Poilievre gave a speech in the House of Commons attacking Trudeau for calling out Nazi symbolism among the Ottawa occupiers. Poilievre posted a video of the speech to his Facebook page with the hashtag #TruckersNotTrudeau.

It was soon being repackaged and spread across social media. MUST WATCH: Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre SLAMS Trudeau for falsely claiming the trucker convoy is racist, read an early February headline on the Post Millennial. Canada Proud reposted the story, with a caption questioning Trudeaus moral authority to call others racist.

Id say that there is likely no small measure of political opportunism in politicians like Poilievre harmonizing their political rhetoric with operations like Canada Proud, Shane Gunster, a communications professor at Simon Fraser University who studies Canadas right-wing digital platforms, told The Tyee. Those platforms have significant reach and deep resonance in parts of the conservative base that politicians like Poilievre are keen to reach.

Canada Proud is now making regular posts trashing Poilievres competitors in the Conservative leadership race. Things that belong in the '90s, reads one recent meme with photos of a Sony Walkman, a brightly colored ski jacket and Tory leadership candidate Jean Charest. Poilievres opposition to COVID restrictions has helped win him the support of right-wing mega-influencer Jordan Peterson, who tweeted to his 2.4 million followers in January that Poilievre is a Canadian politician who appears both courageous and articulate. (Two weeks later, Peterson went on Joe Rogans podcast, where he mocked climate activists and questioned if the climate emergency is real.)

Polls now suggest Poilievre is the frontrunner among Conservative voters. He is very popular with the partisan base, Woodfinden said. It really is his to lose.

In mid-March, Poilievre posted a video to YouTube of him taking a selfie with a security guard named J.R. Were legalizing the smile, eh? Poilievre says with his hand on the guards shoulder. Were gonna give Canadians back control of their lives, right J.R.? The video feels spontaneous and unscripted, casting a career politician who wants to eliminate climate-stabilizing taxes on Canadas largest oil and gas companies as a man of the people.

Keep it up Pierre! someone commented. Lets take back this country.

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How Poilievre Is Reinventing Right-Wing Politicking - TheTyee.ca

Patrick Peterson

Leave the decision up to him, and cornerback Patrick Peterson wants to return to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2022 season.

But the teams new leadership has to ask first.

Peterson has reiterated a couple of times this offseason his longing to remain with the Vikings after a relatively successful 2021 campaign. He tabulated a 63.0 grade from Pro Football Focus last season, acting as the most consistent cornerback on the roster. Cameron Dantzler was in the Mike Zimmer doghouse for a couple of months, Bashaud Breeland was erratic (in more ways than one), Mackensie Alexander struggled, and Jeff Gladney was cut before the season began.

On his podcast this week, Peterson said on his future with the Vikings:

I stand where I stood in December. I loved everything about Minnesota. At the end of the day, the balls in their court now if they want me back.

So, it sounds like Minnesota basically needs to pick up the phone, assuming it wants the soon-to-be 32-year-old cornerback back in 2022.

Minnesota should absolutely want Peterson back because the CB room as of early March is skimpy. The depth chart consists of Cameron Dantzler, Kris Boyd, and Harrison Hand. Outside of Dantzler if he continues to develop at his current pace that is not a fieldable batch of cornerbacks in the modern NFL.

As a result, most mocks draft predict the Vikings select a cornerback like Ahmad Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr. in Aprils draft. The selection of either of those men would blend best player available and team need for Minnesota with the 12th overall pick.

Peterson made humongous news when he signed with the Vikings in 2021 on Saint Patricks Day, no less as no fans or pundits even realized he was on the teams radar or vice-versa. However, Peterson sought to play for former coach Mike Zimmer, so the team readily obliged.

Now, Kevin OConnell is in charge, an offensive-minded coach. OConnell hired Ed Donatell to lead the defense in 2022, shifting to a 3-4 scheme after decades of 4-3 systems for the Vikings.

Finally, on Tuesday, the Vikings signed linebacker Jordan Hicks from you guessed it the Arizona Cardinals, Petersons old stomping grounds. The two played together for a couple of seasons in the desert. That move cannot hurt the realism of Peterson re-joining the Vikings.

Plus, there are Chander-Jones-to-Minnesota rumors, as well.

Peterson also mentioned on his show other teams have inquired about his free agency.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band).

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Patrick Peterson Provides Update on Future with Vikings - VikingsTerritory.com