Author: Andy Rowell

Malcolm Gladwell’s new book Talking to Strangers focuses on sin though he does not call it that

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date September 18, 2019

A thread by Andy Rowell

As usual, Malcolm @Gladwell's latest book "Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know" (Sept 10, 2019) is stimulating in its stories and commentary. But this is a dark one: sexual abuse, suicide, abuse by police, scams, alcohol, rape, and torture. Gladwell is a story-teller, popularizer, opinion columnist, pundit, reporter, writer, commentator, searcher for truth. I think his tone invites pushback, further research, and correction. He respects academics and researchers. I think he is a force for good. I have read all his books and listened to all of his Revisionist History podcast episodes. I have very occasionally been disappointed in his sloppiness and flippancy, but more often his curiosity, love for learning, joy, moral seriousness, and humanity have given me much joy. The "Talking to Strangers" audiobook is better than normal audiobooks in that he has used recordings of quotes when possible. I thought this critique of Gladwell's work back in Oct 2013 was fair.
But I think he has matured since then—perhaps due to his return to Christianity while writing David and Goliath, which he shared publicly that month.
@spulliam

(washingtonpost.com/local/author-m…)

This review out last week of "Talking to Strangers" is also fair:
Yes, I'm not sure the book has an overall thesis, except that sin is real. And yes, the stat about poets committing suicide frequently is thin but it is not important to Gladwell's argument. (theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…)

abortion

Making abortion rare. Reducing the number of abortions.

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date September 18, 2019

A thread by Andy Rowell

As study after global study has shown, "pro-life" limiting access to abortion is not a significant factor in reducing the number of abortions.

The main factor that reduces the number of abortions is making contraceptives easily accessible, which often "pro-life" people oppose.

kate shellnutt@kateshellnutt

The abortion rate dropped in Ohio by 27% and in Texas by 30%, and by similar amounts in states that protected abortion access, including California, Hawaii and New Hampshire https://apnews.com/7e45fe6f70cf45f1823a45ef9ad2187c …

Number of abortions in US falls to lowest since 1973

NEW YORK (AP) — The number and rate of abortions across the United States have plunged to their lowest levels since the procedure became legal nationwide in 1973, according to new figures released…

apnews.com

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9:48 AM – Sep 18, 2019

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Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

· Aug 15, 2019

Replying to @AndyRowell

Rev. A.J. Dudek "If Donald Trump will help save a couple million babies, that's a good thing. My vote has to align with my view of God's word — I should care for the baby in the womb." Likely, millions more abortions occurred in the United States because Trump was elected.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

"increasing access to highly effective methods of contraception (and thus preventing unintended pregnancies) is a more effective way to reduce abortion rates" [than restricting access to contraception]. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2019/07/29/reducing-access-to-contraception-wont-reduce-the-abortion-rate/ …

Reducing access to contraception won’t reduce the abortion rate

Increasing access to highly effective methods of contraception (and thus preventing unintended pregnancies) is a more effective way to reduce abortion rates.

brookings.edu

5:34 PM – Aug 15, 2019

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"1.4 percent of all abortions came after 21 weeks …
None of these Democrats [candidates for president] is explicitly saying, 'I support allowing third-trimester [28-40 weeks] abortions' — and, in fact, they seem to be trying hard to avoid doing so." (washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/…)

Reference:
Blake, Aaron. "Democrats’ leftward shift on third-trimester abortion." The Washington Post (Online), Sep 11 2019. This is also correct.

Daniel Grossman:
“Not all restrictions on abortion are the same — some create a minor obstacle that most patients overcome, while others result in the closure of large-volume providers, making it impossible for some to access care.”

Reference:
Belluck, Pam. "America’s Abortion Rate Has Dropped to Its Lowest Ever." New York Times (Online), Sep 18 2019. "43 states prohibit some abortions after a certain point in pregnancy.
– 22 states ban abortion between 13 and 24 weeks LMP (Last menstrual period).
– 20 states impose a ban at 24-28 weeks .
– 1 state imposes a ban … 25 weeks LMP onward" (guttmacher.org/state-policy/e…)

There is a some consensus about late term abortion:
– 43 of 50 states ban abortion between 13-25 weeks.
– Only 1.3% of abortions occur after 21 weeks.
– Third trimester abortion would be (28-40 weeks).
– Democratic presidential candidates are talking in generalities. See also:

for an argument that pro-life persuasion regarding the immorality of abortion and pro-life restrictions have reduced US abortion rate. But I am thinking about rates of abortion in different countries and the main factor is contraceptive access.

Evangelicals Saudi Arabia

American Christian fundamentalists met with MBS on Sept 10, the day that the transcript of Jamal Khashoggi’s dismembering was published

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date September 15, 2019

Andy Rowell

@AndyRowell

Sep 15

In light of Trump's tweet of deference to Saudi Arabia, note a delegation of American Christian fundamentalists met with MBS on Sept 10, the day that the transcript of Jamal Khashoggi's dismembering was published. The murderer is using them for positive publicity.

A thread by Andy Rowell

"New York Times bestselling author Joel Rosenberg led the delegation that included Rev. Johnnie Moore, a co-chairman of President Donald Trump's Evangelical Advisory Council; Larry Ross, longtime spokesman for Billy Graham; Ambassador Ken Blackwell who served as US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council; Michael Little, former president of CBN; Pastor Skip Heitzeg, senior pastor of Calvary Albuquerque … ; and Wayne Pederson, a member of the board of directors of the National Religious Broadcasters." (www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel…)

@danielsilliman

Daniel Silliman@danielsilliman

· Jul 2, 2019

Replying to @danielsilliman

According to @emmillerwrites and @jackmjenkins’ reporting at @rns, the people involved have not secured government approval for the plan, nor do they seem to be clear on the process to get approval.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

Johnnie Moore founder of Kairos Company.

Self-promotion:https://thekcompany.co/johnnie-moore/

James MacDonald:https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1099152681837387776?s=19 …

Trump "advisor"https://www.christiantoday.com/article/donald-trumps-faith-advisers-criticize-him-privately-not-publicly-says-johnnie-moore/129308.htm …

Rewarded with USCIRF:https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1140732940239818752?s=19 …

NAE is reputable. He is on that Board. https://www.nae.net/about-nae/leadership/ …

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

Replying to @onesarahjones

Four Trump cheerleaders: Tony Perkins, Gary L. Bauer, Johnnie Moore, Sam Brownback.
"While Christians are often called to speak 'truth to power,' [Jack] Graham said the leaders in the room felt called to speak 'love to power.'"https://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2018/08/evangelicals-meeting-with-trump-at-the-white-house-august-27-2018.html%20 …
See @JohnFea1's Believe Me.

12:50 PM – Jul 2, 2019

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@danielsilliman

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

· Aug 29, 2019

Replying to @AndyRowell

17. Relationship-building events like a prayer breakfast or 1-on-1 meetings across partisan lines or even with dictators may lead to positive breakthroughs. But when the evangelist is in a position of power, the evangelized may be looking for what they can get in exchange.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

18. A Senator or Representative doing "relationship-building" with dictators or any foreign leader will want to be realistic about the good influence they are having as compared to how the leader is using them to further their (possibly evil) aims.

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3:59 PM – Aug 29, 2019

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@danielsilliman

WORLD@WNGdotorg

· Sep 13, 2019

Does accreditation from the @ecfa ensure an organization's responsible use of donor dollars? https://world.wng.org/2019/09/an_easy_a … @MichaelReneau investigates

An easy ‘A’

Does approval from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability offer Christians useful information about an organization’s financial discipline?

world.wng.org

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

"Wayne Pederson, an executive with Far East Broadcasting Company, serves on the NRB board. He also serves as ECFA’s treasurer." Conflict of interest.

He also just went to Saudi Arabia and hung out with those who murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi. https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1172221257481211904 …

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

Replying to @AndyRowell @danielsilliman

to the UN Human Rights Council; Michael Little, former president of CBN; Pastor Skip Heitzeg, senior pastor of Calvary Albuquerque … ; and Wayne Pederson, a member of the board of directors of the National Religious Broadcasters."https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2019/september/us-evangelicals-visit-saudi-arabia-on-eve-of-9-11-nbsp …

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3:30 PM – Sep 13, 2019

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