In Honor of Thanksgiving Feasts The 5-Year-Old Who Called Me "Fat" I was waiting at the checkout stand in my grocery store when the five-year-old boy behind me shouted, “You’re fat!” (I love children’s honesty.) Me at the Beach, looking Happy and "Prosperous" His flustered mom tried to shush him by saying, “No, he’s not … Continue reading God made me Fat
"Sunday Sermon" "Fun Facts" The Rise of Modern Atheism Recently, atheism has been growing at its fastest rate in western culture. Leaders of the New Atheist Movement include the popular "Four Horsemen," Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris. They zealously and persuasively promote atheism on social media, books, articles, podcasts, and college … Continue reading Least and Most Religious Countries (25 Top/Bottom)
"Sunday Afternoon Sermon" For atheists, everything is physical. Nothing else exists beyond the physical universe. This materialist belief places on atheists the burden of explaining non-physical reality, like, the existence of: love, self-awareness, empathy, compassion, sacrifice, free will, morality, good and evil. How can physical matter create consciousness and self-awareness? How can the random accidental … Continue reading Existence of God and the Rise of Atheism #7 (Last Commentary): Beyond Mere Physical Reality – Love, Self-Awareness, Free Will, Conscience, Morality
I enjoy working with jurors. They are upstanding citizens doing their civic duty, sometimes at great personal sacrifice. However, like everything else in the criminal justice system, jurors can be unpredictable. Murphy's Law overrides the entire criminal justice system. They Can/Can’t Get By Without Me at Work I had one woman prospective juror who tried to … Continue reading “My” Unpredictable Jurors, Pt 1
Concept of "Separation of Church and State" Roger Williams Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) is given credit for the phrase and concept of “separation of church and state.” That credit is largely misplaced. The person most responsible for “separation of church and state,” is Roger Williams (1601-1684). Roger Williams made a "monumental contribution. . . to the cause … Continue reading Roger Williams -“Early American Heroes of Religious Liberty” (Pt 2/5)
Unbelievably, after 400 years, freedom of religion is still controversial in America. In the beginning, religious issues permeated colonial America. Members of various sects immigrated to the New World seeking a safe haven for worship. Some of these religions flourished, some stagnated, some evolved, some fragmented, and some failed. Colonial Denominations Calvinists dominated early Massachusetts. … Continue reading Religion in Colonial America: “Early Heroes of Religious Liberty” (Pt 1/5)
Atheism and secularism threatens Latter-day Saints Robert D. Hales observed, “We live when the darkness of secularism is deepening around us. Belief in God is widely questioned, and even attacked in the name of political, social and even religious causes.” (“Seeking to Know God,” Ensign, Nov. 2009) LDS Professor Hyrum Lewis declared: “Atheism has been … Continue reading “There is a God: How to Respond to Atheism in the Last Days”
Inmates and Clergy - General Rules of Law In my Constitutional Law class we discussed that prisoners were originally considered "slaves of the state." They had no constitutional rights. Prison rules and regulations were upheld if they had the slightest "legitimate penological interest." Currently, inmates don’t forfeit their first amendment rights to the free exercise … Continue reading The Bizarre Case of the “Sacred Clown” Prison Medicine Man
Religious Attire in the Courtroom: The General Rules Judges have broad discretion in establishing rules of practice in their own courtrooms. This power includes standards of personal appearance and attire. Sometimes, the judge's dress standards must yield to someone’s sincere religious beliefs. For example, the First Amendment Free Exercise Clause generally requires the judge to … Continue reading “Bizarre” Religious Attire in Court
Just about everyone who knows me well, knows that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most Orange County attorneys who regularly appear in my court know I’m LDS. I was presiding over a driving under the influence (DUI) jury trial. We were selecting the jury. The clerks, bailiff, reporter, … Continue reading The LDS Juror and The Clueless Lawyer
The London Edition 