Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2005 Fall Issue -- Trends: News You Can Use, Fall, 2005

“A Time of Doubts for Atheists” was the heading on the front page of the Los Angeles Times “Column One” section with the sub-heading, “With the religious making inroads in popular culture and politics, nonbelievers yearn for higher power in Washington.” Longtime president of the American Atheists, Ellen Johnson said, ‘We can’t complain about what the religious do. All we have to do is copy their strategy.’ Johnson goes on to say that at least one presidential candidate in 2008 will be an atheist. “Although the percentage of Americans who claim no religion is about 14%, less than a quarter of them identify themselves as atheists, according to recent polls.” (Los Angeles Times, 7/18/05)
A former ally of the theory of evolution, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, archbishop of Vienna, is now suggesting that “belief in evolution as accepted by science today may be incompatible with Catholic faith.” Schoenborn, a theologian close to Pope Benict XVI, stated his position July 7 in the New York Times, “Evolution in sense of common ancestry might be true, but evolution in the neo-Darwinian sense—an unguided, unplanned process of random variation and natural selection—is not.” (Press-Enterprise, 7/9/05)
Nationally, support for the Roe v. Wade decision is at “its lowest point in 20 years” according to a February 2005 Harris poll. Just 52% said they supported Roe and 47% oppose it. The 47 % who oppose Roe v. Wade is the highest since 1985. Surveyors “erroneously” told those polled that the Roe decision made “abortions up to three months of pregnancy legal.” ("LifeNews.com" 7/9/05)
G-rated movies are at least 12 times more profitable than R-rated films, according to the Dove Foundation Study from 1989 to 2003. The study showed that “family-friendly films made a $79 million profit.” In contrast “R-rated films, on the average, resulted in a deficit of $6.9 million.” (Family Research Council, "frc.org" , 6/13/95)
Clergy for the United Church of Christ will not be asked during ordination vows: “Do you profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?” Eight conservative UCC congregations proposed such a reaffirmation during their July national convention in Atlanta and it was defeated. (Christian Examiner, 8/05)
“Lost Souls at the University: Recreational sex,” is the title of William H. Willimon story in Christian Century recently when he discusses Tom Wolfe’s novel Dupont University. Willimon says Dupont sounds much like Duke University where he spent 20 years as the minister for the Duke Chapel. He is now bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has a positive statement in support of campus ministry when he says “It’s time that modern higher education check out its environment and the effect that is having upon our best and brightest. Although he surely didn’t mean it, this way, Wolfe’s novel is an eloquent call for campus ministry. In a world in which liberation, purpose, vision and truth have become problematic, Dupont is a fertile field for anyone attempting to rescue a few for the One who is the way, the truth and the life.” (Christian Century, April 19, 2005)
The American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) is striving to make it unconstitutional for the Boy Scouts to have further national jamborees using government facilities because all Scouts are required to swear a belief in, and a duty to God. In the meantime, the U.S. Senate voted 98 to 0, July 27, 2005, to pass legislation “that supports groups like the Boy Scouts and allows them to continue to utilize government facilities.” ("frc.org" , 7/28/05)
“Aspiring Students Sue UC” was the headline in the Riverside Press-Enterprise recently because the University of California will not accept “Christian Viewpoint” high school classes offered at Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta, California. Six Calvary Chapel students allege “violations of free-speech and religious rights and seeks to force the university to alter standards that reject religious curriculum such as that taught at Calvary.” Classes rejected by UC are Christianity’s Influence in American Government, Special Providence: American Government and Christianity and Morality in American Literature. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as the Association of Christian Schools International. While rejecting Christian message courses, UC permits courses such as Cinema and the Real World 2 and ROP Sports Medicine. The lawsuit contends. “It appears the UC System wants high school kids to learn everything but Christianity,” said Robert Tyler of Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a non-profit religious-liberty law firm based in Temecula, CA in Riverside County. (Press-Enterprise, 8/17/05)
University of Pittsburgh researchers have discovered one type of cell in human placenta characteristics that are very similar to embryonic stem cells “in their ability to regenerate a wide variety of tissues.” The cells are called amniotic epithelial cells can be extracted from the placentas that are now normally discarded at birth. ("post-gazette.com" 8/8/05)
The largest segment of the population in America is now “single, childless households” according the Census Bureau study released in August. Individual households (people living alone without children is 31.6%) This is an increase of 21% since 1990. Married or unmarried couples with children accounted for only 31.6%. (LA Times, 8/23/05)

Rick Rowland D.Min. is the Assistant Swimming Coach at California Baptist University. He recently retired from Pepperdine University where he was a professor teaching courses in Campus Ministry and Communication. Rowland is the External College Age & Young Adult Ministry Leader for the Murrieta Church of Christ in Murrieta, CA serving students at Mt. San Jacinto College.