News

Winning the Pro-Life Battles, Losing the Persuasion War

Americans support right to abortion more than any time in recent history.

Pink and purple collage of pro-life vs pro-choice protests
Illustration by Christianity Today / Source Images: Getty

The pro-life movement won a historic victory at the US Supreme Court with Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. It has not, however, won over many hearts and minds. In fact, polls show a substantial shift in opinions on abortion for the first time in decades—more people now believe abortion is a right that should not be restricted.

When George W. Bush was running for president, he said the only way to build a lasting culture of life in a democracy is to persuade people, winning voters over to the pro-life position. If that’s true, then the recent success of the defenders of the unborn may turn out to be hollow.

Graph of the percent of Americans who say abortion should be legal all or most of the time.

Also in this issue

As this issue hits your mailboxes after the US election and as you prepare for the holidays, it can be easy to feel lost in darkness. In this issue, you’ll read of the piercing light of Christ that illuminates the darkness of drug addiction at home and abroad, as Angela Fulton in Vietnam and Maria Baer in Portland report about Christian rehab centers. Also, Carrie McKean explores the complicated path of estrangement and Brad East explains the doctrine of providence. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt shows us how art surprises, delights, and retools our imagination for the Incarnation, while Jeremy Treat reminds us of an ancient African bishop's teachings about Immanuel. Finally, may you be surprised by the nearness of the “Winter Child,” whom poet Malcolm Guite guides us enticingly toward. Happy Advent and Merry Christmas.

Pilgrim at Plaster Creek

Advent Begins in the Dark

Joy Allmond

Illustrating the Incarnation

Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt

The Light of the World Is for Everyone

Malcolm Guite

Review

What to Salvage from Fundamentalism

The Consolation of Providence

Qualms & Proverbs

Do I Have to Go to Church with My Folks?

Beth Moore, Kevin Antlitz, and Kiara John-Charles

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Soccer Fans Warned about Losing Souls

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Evangelicals Tap Power of the Sun—and Government Rebates

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Biblical Archaeology Gets Subatomic Help

Gordon Govier

A Solution for Seasonal Overwhelm

Public Theology Project

Let Heaven and Nature Wail

I’m Estranged from My Parents. I Still Love Them.

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Recovery Ministries Try to Help Portland Get Clean

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New & Noteworthy Books

Matt Reynolds

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Tending and Keeping the Christian Past in an 'Ahistoric Age'

Christopher Gehrz

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The Black Church Has Five Theological Anchors

Claude Atcho

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I Made Millions as a Porn Star. It Nearly Cost Me Everything.

Joshua Broome

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Finding Sobriety—and Jesus—in Vietnam’s Christian Drug Rehabs

The Incarnation Is More than the Manger

Jeremy Treat

Readers Praise Print Magazines and Local Churches

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