Explainer: Survey finds Americans see stronger societal conflicts than other countries

A new survey of 17 advanced economies finds that the United States is one of the most conflicted when it comes to questions of social unity. In just about every category of the survey — politics, race, ethnicity, geography, and religion — Americans see strong societal conflicts. A majority also believe that there is a disagreement over basic facts.

This Week in Washington, D.C.

The end of the year is always busy on Capitol Hill, as Congress wraps up their remaining legislative work. Before the end of 2021, Congress must pass a budget to fund the government, pass the ​​National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and raise the debt ceiling again. Additionally, Congressional Democrats want to use reconciliation to pass President Biden’s “Build Back Better” policy agenda.

The ERLC is actively involved in monitoring these pieces of legislation and advocating for the inclusion of pro-life policies (such as the Hyde Amendment) and the removal of harmful sexual orientation and gender identity language. We regularly work with committee and leadership offices to advocate for pro-life provisions and other legislative measures that recognize God’s gracious love for every human life and protect our freedom to live according to our deeply held religious beliefs.

As the legislative branch wraps up its work for the first session of the 117th Congress, the ERLC is advocating for pro-life provisions in appropriations & reconciliation, opposing the Women’s Health Protection Act, advocating for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and the Adoptee Citizenship Act.

For further reading: How the ERLC is advocating on Capitol Hill this Fall

From The Public Square

Justice Department again presses to halt Texas abortion law
Associated Press

The Biden administration urged the courts again Monday night to step in and suspend a new Texas law that has banned most abortions since early September.

Judging 'sincerely held' religious belief is tricky for employers mandating vaccines
NPR

Whether an employer grants a religious exemption to a vaccination requirement is generally based on a judgment of the employee's sincerely held religious belief — and whether the accommodation poses an undue hardship on the employer, or would present a direct threat to health and safety of others.

Divided Supreme Court considers who can defend abortion restrictions
POLITICO

A divided Supreme Court on Tuesday weighed which state officials can defend abortion bans in court — a procedural question with implications that extend beyond reproductive health in states where the governor and attorney general hail from opposing parties.

Does Religion Ease the Burden of Poverty?
Institute for Family Studies

"There is reason to believe that religious decline may even accelerate in the decades to come. As a result, lower SES may well exert particularly harmful effects on well-being in the future."

What You Need to Read

Brent Leatherwood with What’s next for the ERLC? Advancing the Kingdom and serving Southern Baptists in the public square

Just like our missionaries are sent to ​tumultuous nations or church planters are commissioned to establish churches in the midst of challenging contexts, we feel it is both our responsibility and mighty privilege to be a kingdom voice and carry forth the good news of the gospel into a chaotic​ public square.

Taylor Combs with Why are so many young adults losing their faith? Prepare students for a faith that stands in a culture of deconversion stories

There is a real crisis of authority and expertise in American society. Evangelicals are suffering from the death of theological expertise. Our young people need to be taught — before they become young adults — that neither they nor their favorite TikTok theologian is going to ask a question that hasn’t already been asked and answered by someone in church history.

Andrew T. Walker with Why the transgender revolution can’t transcend human nature: Latest report from Europe confirms males have an innate advantage in sports

We know the nature of a thing by understanding its purpose, and purpose is never severed from a thing’s design. Hence, when we speak of male and female, we are speaking of those sexed persons whose bodily design bears a teleological purpose toward a particular end, namely, reproduction. As the Nashville Statement rightfully states, “the differences between male and female reproductive structures are integral to God’s design for self-conception as male or female.”

This Week at the ERLC

Featured Podcasts

On the ERLC Podcast, Lindsay and Brent discuss what’s next for the ERLC, student discipleship, and the transgender revolution. They also discuss Jon Gruden resigning, William Shatner’s voyage into space, the high cost of heating our homes this winter, and the formation of the Committee on Cooperation.

On the Digital Public Square podcast, Jason Thacker talks to Dr. Rhyne Putman about Christian truth and theological method. Putman is professor of Christian ministries at Williams Baptist University and author of The Method of Christian Theology: A Basic Introduction.