Turmoil continues to wage in Gaza and against the Fatah as deceased leader’s Arafat’s home is looted and just about everything of worth is stolen, including his Nobel Peace Price. Looters Raid Arafat’s Home

Governor Schwarzenegger is verbally pummelled for saying that if Hispanics want to really learn English they must stop watching Spanish television and instead watch English. Many pundits said this revealed that the governor was out of touch with immigration issues, while the National Association of Hispanic Journalists apparent believe the governor is correct that one must immerse himself into a language to learn it. One of the fastest ways to do this is to watch television in the language one wants to learn. Hispanic Leaders Blast Schwarzenegger

Due to the increase of Muslims in Britain there has been a rash of honor killings within the more radical elements of the Muslim community. This practice, regularly practiced in the Islamic communities of the Middle East, increasingly will be the experience of Britain, and other western democracies, as Islam spreads in the west. The “sins” that can bring death to girls in communities taht practice Sharia law include failure to marry someone the father desires, wearing western clothes or adopting western styles. See British Court Finds Muslim Father Guilty of Murdering Daughter in ‘Honor Killing’. Also see STOP! Honour Killings

Considerable debate has ensued again as to the value of the death penalty in deterring crime. A series of studies over the last several years has demonstrated that the death penalty saves between three and eighteen lives each year. Many persons who are against the death penalty have argued that the findings are inconclusive but even scholars against the death penalty personally argue that the evidence is compelling. See Studies Say Death Penalty Deters Crime

A recent survey reveals that nearly a quarter of young American-Muslims consider homicide bombing to be legimate to defend Islam. Secondly, nearly 50% view themselves as Muslim first and Americans next. These are alarming but not surprising. See Foxnews

Yesterday Dr. Jerry Falwell died in his office apparently of heart failure. He was the founder of Liberty University, Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and past president of the Moral Majority. In his life he was railed by those who disagreed with him, often embarrassed some within moderate evangelicalism and was a stalwart for biblical Christianity and historical Christian morality.

For more on his life and death see Foxnews

There is considerable excitement among biblical archaeologists this week after the announcement that Herod’s tomb had been found on the Herodium. The author was aware of the likelihood of this imminent find since he discussed this with one of the archaeologists of this dig when he was in Israel this past summer.

This discovery is important since King Herod was a prominent biblical character who was noted for his massive building projects (thus the name “Herod the Great”) and for his ruthlessness against those he believed threatened his throne, which gave rise to the slaughter of the male babies in Bethlehem at the time of Christ. Josephus records that Herod was buried at the Herodium.

For more information on this find, consult Radio Neatherlands Article and Baltimore Sun Article

The recent decision of prominent evangelical philosopher Frank Beckwith to convert back to Roman Catholicism has shocked most of his evangelical friends and readers and caused the glee of Roman Catholics who recently responded on his blog.

Beckwith, until his recent resignation, was the president of the Evangelical Theological Society for 2007 and is a professor of philosophy at Baylor University. He gives his rationale for his change from evangelicalism to Roman Catholicism on the blog Right Reason.