===michigan===
Michigan is a state in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwestern United States. It borders Wisconsin to the northwest in the Upper Peninsula, and Indiana and Ohio to the south in the Lower Peninsula; it is also connected by Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie to Minnesota and Illinois, and the Canadian province of Ontario. The area was part of the larger Northwest Territory until 1800, when western Michigan became part of the Indiana Territory. Michigan Territory was formed in 1805, but some of the northern border with Canada was not agreed upon until after the War of 1812. Michigan was admitted into the Union in 1837 as the 26th state, a free one. |
Third leader at televangelist Mark Barclay's church investigated for sex abuse crimes A third leader at televangelist Mark Barclay's Michigan-based church has been suspended following accusations of sexual abuse, months after Barclay's son-in-law was charged with several counts of criminal sexual conduct. The Living Word International Church figure at the center of the recent allegations, an unnamed pastor, has been suspended and removed from all positions, according to Barclay's son, Pastor Josh Barclay, in an interview with WNEM-TV5 last week. According to Barclay, the alleged abuse did not occur at the church. (Christian Post 4/4/24) READ MORE>>>>> NEW REPORT MAPPING CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM BY STATE SUGGESTS ELECTION NEED NOT BE PLAYED OUT ON CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST TERMS Intuitively, this lines up with secular descriptions of the political landscape. Hardcore conservative supporters of Trump are a very small group. Surrounding them is a larger group of traditionalists. Together, those groups make up a majority (55%) of all Republicans. The vast majority of both Democratic voters (83%) and Independents (73%) are Skeptics or Rejecters. The 2024 election will be largely contested over the few Republicans suspicious of Christian nationalism and Independents friendly to it. You can literally map out these differences. Blue states have very low levels of support for Christian nationalism. Red states are just the opposite. And the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin? They’re all right around the national average. Those numbers are not destiny, however. Conservative Utah has low levels of agreement with Christian nationalism, at just 28%. Meanwhile its solidly Democratic neighbor New Mexico is a bit higher, at 32%. (Religion Dispatches 2/28/24) READMORE>>>>> |
11 CULTS IN MICHIGAN YOU MUST AVOID
Cults are a terrifying thing. Truthfully, no one knows just how naive they are until they are sucked into a scam, but nothing hits quite as hard as being involved in a cult. By their nature, cults prey on the weakminded, shortsighted and downtrodden - but anyone can realistically fall victim to a cult. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly equate cult to the occult. While cults that are centered around the dark and terrifying exist, they aren't the ones that typically turn up in the news preying on innocent people looking for god or community. Because some people relate cult behavior with something typically scary like witchcraft and strange symbols instead of a perverse take on religion or some other inviting environment, they are ultimately left vulnerable by their naivety. (WBCK 2/27/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Cults are a terrifying thing. Truthfully, no one knows just how naive they are until they are sucked into a scam, but nothing hits quite as hard as being involved in a cult. By their nature, cults prey on the weakminded, shortsighted and downtrodden - but anyone can realistically fall victim to a cult. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly equate cult to the occult. While cults that are centered around the dark and terrifying exist, they aren't the ones that typically turn up in the news preying on innocent people looking for god or community. Because some people relate cult behavior with something typically scary like witchcraft and strange symbols instead of a perverse take on religion or some other inviting environment, they are ultimately left vulnerable by their naivety. (WBCK 2/27/24) READ MORE>>>>>
2023:
Feb 21, 2023: In a Western Michigan county, far-right Republicans overthrew a county board run by more traditionalist members of the GOP. What's unfolding is a test of what happens when hard-liners take charge. Members of an upstart group called “Ottawa Impact” control the majority of the Board of Commissioners in Ottawa County, Mich. They signed a contract pledging to “recognize our nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage and celebrate America as an exceptional nation blessed by God.” (Politico)
March 24, 2023: Docs show churches paid up to $100K to be part of Hillsong Family, an alleged honorarium scheme. Among the churches stateside that have paid or are currently paying since 2014 to be a part of the Hillsong Family are: The Judah Smith-led Churchome in Washington state; City of Life Church in Kissimmee, Florida; Grace City Church in Lakeland, Florida; The Cause Community in Kansas City; Chicago City Church in Illinois; Calvary Church in Miami, Florida; City of Grace in Arizona; Capital City Church in Washington, D.C.; El Lugar De Su Presencia in Arizona; Citizen Heights in Washington, D.C., Christian Faith Center in Seattle, Washington; Colonial Church in St. Augustine, Florida; and Motor City Church in Detroit, Michigan (Christian Post)