The global center of Christianity has shifted

The global center of Christianity has shifted

Is your toddler on social media?

Is your toddler on social media?

VERBATIM:  According to a new study from the British government, nearly 40% of kids between the ages of 3-and-5 years old in the United Kingdom are on social media platforms regularly.  And we’re talking about the big platforms — Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Snapchat.  This report lands amidst growing concerns in the U.K. the U.S. and elsewhere about the harm social media is doing to TEENAGERS, let alone kids who might not be potty-trained.  MH REPORTING

Are you reading the scriptures?

Are you reading the scriptures?

VERBATIM:  The American Bible Society’s annual report finds that about 41 percent of Americans qualify as “Bible users,” meaning they have read the scriptures at least three times a year outside of church services.  That’s up from 38 percent last year but down from 2021, when half of Americans fit that category.  The ABS report also reveals that a little over a third of Gen Z and Millennials would qualify as Bible users — an increase for Millennials over 2024.  MH REPORTING

A new ranking of which states are the most giving

A new ranking of which states are the most giving

VERBATIM:  It comes from WalletHub and it reveals that Virginia is number one when it comes to donating money to churches, ministries and other charitable institutions.  New York comes in 2nd, followed by Maryland, Georgia and California.  Giving is clearly strongest in the states that are generally the most wealthy.  However, when it comes to donating one’s TIME to local charities, Utah comes in 1st, followed by Wyoming, Idaho, Montana,  and Minnesota.

The battle over gay marriage in Japan is heating up

The battle over gay marriage in Japan is heating up

VERBATIM:  A Japanese court has ruled that the government does not have to legalize homosexual unions in the last of six cases that are expected to be brought to the Supreme Court for a final and definitive ruling, possibly next year.  The Tokyo High Court says marriage under Japanese law is largely expected to be a union between men and women in a decision that reversed a lower court ruling last year.  This is also the first loss at high courts for gay activists.  MH REPORTING

A new Gallup poll asks Americans about Christmas

A new Gallup poll asks Americans about Christmas

VERBATIM:  88% of us will celebrate the holiday on Thursday — down from 96% who did so 20 years ago.  But while secular forms of celebration remain popular, religious ones are in decline.  Fewer Americans will be going anywhere near a church and fewer put out Nativity scenes or other religious displays at their homes.  Even self-identified Christians are changing their ways.  Just 61% of them say they attend church on Christmas Eve — down from 73% in 2010.  MH REPORTING

The number of abortion clinics in the U.S. continues to decline

The number of abortion clinics in the U.S. continues to decline

Europe is canceling Christmas

Europe is canceling Christmas

VERBATIM:  In an effort not to “offend” minority groups, including the millions of Muslims that flooded the Continent in recent decades, many schools and local governments are barring any reference to the true meaning of the holiday.  In the French city of Nantes (NAHNT), official celebrations are being called “Winter Journey”.  In Spain some mayors are limiting Christmas decorations and some schools in England have barred the use of the word Christmas.  MH REPORTING

A disturbing debate in England’s House of Lords

A disturbing debate in England’s House of Lords

VERBATIM:  The peers are considering the assisted-suicide bill that the House of Commons approved over the summer.  In the debate Lord Falconer asserted that pregnant women SHOULD be allowed to take their own lives — thereby killing the unborn baby too.  It’s not clear whether such an amendment to the legislation will pass the House of Lords, but if it does it would make Britain’s assisted-suicide law one of the most radical anywhere on earth.  MH REPORTING

The Satanic Temple is at it again

The Satanic Temple is at it again

VERBATIM:  Members of the New Hampshire chapter have set up a Satanic display outside the statehouse in Concord in response to the Nativity scene that is there to celebrate Christmas.  The display consists of a black wreath around a pentagram.  It is more modest than the one the Temple set up last year in Concord — a full-sized figure of Satan.  It was repeatedly vandalized.  This year’s display also encourages donations to the “Devil’s Pantry” — an emergency food drive.  MH REPOERTING

Why do people reject religious faith?

Why do people reject religious faith?

VERBATIM:  They are generally referred to as the “NONES” — atheists, agnostics and followers of no particular religion.  A new poll from the Pew Research Center finds that the most common reason people cite for rejecting faith is that they believe they can live moral lives WITHOUT God.  Other reasons for turning against religion include bad experiences at church, distrust of faith leaders, and the idea that one can be spiritual without being religious.  MH REPORTING

Abortion activists want you to watch the procedure on TV

Abortion activists want you to watch the procedure on TV

VERBATIM:  The annual Abortion Onscreen Report finds that the number of times the procedure is depicted or is part of a storyline in mainstream television shows or on streaming platform programs is DOWN.  In fact, there were 66 abortion storylines across the programming landscape in 2024 — down from the year before.  The Abortion Onscreen Report also complains that not enough TV characters are using abortion pills.  MH REPORTING

A giant Christian charity is receiving some big donations this year

A giant Christian charity is receiving some big donations this year

VERBATIM:  It’s becoming a Christmas tradition:  Anonymous donors dropping big money into the Salvation Army kettles of bell ringers across the nation.  In Barre, Vermont somebody popped a gold coin worth over 4,000 dollars into a kettle outside a shopping center.  In Lincoln, Nebraska, a bell ringer outside a Scheel’s store found a gold coin worth 4200 bucks in his pot.  More than 10,000 dollars worth of gold has been dropped in kettles around Chicago so far this season.  MH REPORTING

Illinois legalizes assisted-suicide

Illinois legalizes assisted-suicide

VERBATIM:  Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed into law a measure that will allow state residents to take their own lives with drugs provided by a doctor.  Thomas Olp of the Thomas More Society legal group says “This law places vulnerable lives at risk, tramples the inherent dignity of human life, and erodes the foundational conscience rights of medical professionals and religious medical practices.”  12 states now allow assisted-suicide.  MH REPORTING

Christianity is losing its grip on young people

Christianity is losing its grip on young people

VERBATIM:  According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, 76% of people who are over 70 and were RAISED as believers still ARE today.  But amongst those ages 18-to-24, only 41% who grew up in the faith say they are still Christians now.  And all those young people who are leaving Christianity are generally not subscribing to some different faith.  The Pew report indicates most who stop following Christ are now followers of NO particular religion.  MH REPORTING

Florida pro-lifers are celebrating

Florida pro-lifers are celebrating

VERBATIM:  The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has killed a buffer zone law that barred pro-life demonstrations on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic in Clearwater.  National Right to Life says “For pro-life organizations, this ruling is more than a legal triumph; it’s a lifeline for the vulnerable. Sidewalk counselors report that their outreach has helped countless women choose life over abortion.”  Similar buffer zones have been beaten in the courts in recent years.  MH REPORTING

Would you like to live in the past or the future?

Would you like to live in the past or the future?

VERBATIM:  A new poll from the Pew Research Center reveals that 45% of American adults say given the chance, they would cheerfully hop in a time machine and live the rest of their life in the PAST.  Most of those folks would be content to go back just 50 years — to 1975.  Only 14% of respondents say they would like to live in the FUTURE.  The numbers echo other polls that indicate a lot of people long for an America that was simpler, stronger and more religious.  MH REPORTING

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is celebrating

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is celebrating

VERBATIM:  Ministry leaders say they have distributed nearly 245,000 Bibles this year — up 25,000 from 2024.  The scriptures were handed out not just in the U.S. but in scores of foreign countries.  FCA tells the Christian Post that “By providing Scripture in multiple languages, FCA aims to make the Gospel accessible and culturally relevant worldwide.”  The ministry first began handing out Bibles to athletes who attended camps back in 1978.  MH REPORTING

A new poll on immigration and religion

A new poll on immigration and religion

VERBATIM:  The Public Religion Research Institute reports that on the question of whether to allow illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens, majorities of all major faith groups say YES — except for White Evangelical Protestants, of which only 46% support the proposal.  As for President Trump’s efforts to deport people who are in this country illegally, White Evangelical, White Mainline Protestants and White Catholics all support what he is doing.  MH REPORTING

An atheist group has a problem with the Department of Labor

An atheist group has a problem with the Department of Labor

VERBATIM:  The Freedom From Religion Foundation wants Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to call off a prayer service scheduled for Wednesday at the department.  The Foundation claims the event is a violation of the so-called “separation of church and state”.  A number of President Trump’s cabinet secretaries have been hosting voluntary prayer events, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.  The Foundation spends most of its time trying to eliminate Christianity from the public square.  MH REPORTING

A new poll charts America’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk

A new poll charts America’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk

VERBATIM:  It comes from the Barna Group, and it reveals that nearly one-third of adults took some kind of action in the wake of Kirk’s murder.  Barna says “ among those who did act, spiritual responses dominated. Eighteen percent reported taking a spiritual action, while just 5 percent took a political action. Another 6 percent said they had taken both.”  The poll also finds that those most affected by Kirk’s death are the youngest Americans.  MH REPORTING

A new poll paints a picture of black Americans’ faith

A new poll paints a picture of black Americans’ faith

The U.S. will no longer commemorate World Aids Day

The U.S. will no longer commemorate World Aids Day

VERBATIM:  President Trump has instructed federal offices to stop spending taxpayer dollars on the event, which has come to be seen as something that promotes the LGBT agenda.  The administration says it will continue helping in the global fight against the disease, but will skip the commemorative aspects.  Before winning his second term, the president vowed to stop spending money on promotion of the LGBT agenda, after hearing from angry constituents.  MH REPORTING

A new poll gauges trust around the world

A new poll gauges trust around the world

VERBATIM:  It comes from the Pew Research Center and it asks whether you believe that most people can be trusted.  Sweden is the most trusting nation, with 83% saying YES.  Next comes the Netherlands, Canada, Germany and Australia.  In the U.S., 55% of respondents think most people can be trusted.  The Pew study also reveals that here in America, Jews are the most trusting religious group at 70%, versus 56% of Christians.  MH REPORTING