JB Shreve presents the End of History

Reading Time: 1 minuteJB Shreve and the End of History look at how the 2016 election year has changed America. Political polarization has crept into every aspect of our society to divide us. The date we should be concerned about is not election day but the day after. It is on that day when we realize the changes in our society this year cannot be undone.   Podcast Episode 137: 11/9/16 – The Day After   This is part of our ongoing series None of the Above that examines the US elections from a values and faith-based perspective.   Political Polarization

Reading Time: 1 minuteThis new episode in our history of terrorism podcast series looks at tyrannicide, the religious wars of Europe and the famous Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot. This is the famous Guy Fawkes image that many might recognize. It is referenced in the podcast story.   Episode 136 History of Terrorism: Guy Fawkes & The Gunpowder Plot   Here are some links for more reading about Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot * The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 * The Gunpowder Plot 3 Years in the Making * How Did Guy Fawkes Become a Symbol of Occupy Wall Street   If you enjoy this episode check out our other episode in the series on the History of Terrorism. More episodes will be added later as we work our way to the modern era and tell the story of the History of Terrorism in the modern world. Like us on Facebook so you can keep up to date when new episodes are released. History of Terrorism – Zealots History of Terrorism – Assassins     

This week marks the annual Islamic religious tradition known as the Hajj. All Muslims who are physically and financially capable are required, according to the tenants of Islam, to at least once in their lifetime make a pilgrimage to Mecca to worship Allah. islamic extremism   The Hajj has been marked by varying degrees of controversy and tragedy in recent years. Last year over 2,000 people were killed when millions of the pilgrims gathering for the Hajj in Mecca resulted in a stampede where the victims were trampled to death by fellow Muslims. Shortly before the beginning of those same religious festivities a crane collapse at the Grand Mosque resulted in the death of 107 people. Saudi Arabia rules over the holy cities of Islam and is ruled by the Sunni Saud family making the stewardship of the holy cities a notably Sunni affair. Meanwhile, tragedies like these have served to inflame tensions between the Saudis and their Shiite neighbors in Iran and Yemen. The Shiites use the tragedies to demonstrate the corruption and irresponsibility which the Saudis have exercised over their holy cities of Islam.   These sectarian tensions are merely the foreground of a greater crisis enveloping the Middle East and the religion of Islam. Even while millions of Muslims descend upon Mecca this week violent wars being waged in the name of Islam are being fought throughout the region. The Saudis have been at war with Yemen for decades but the recent levels of conflict have featured levels of atrocities on both sides that are unprecedented. Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General recently confessed to the Saudis holding the UN financially hostage. When the UN condemned the Saudis for killing civilian children in their fight against Yemen the Saudis forced them to recant this statement or suffer a loss of financial support from the oil rich nation.   Iran continues to sponsor groups like Hezballah and other Shiite extremists in the region. But all of this pales in comparison to the rise of ISIS under the banner of Islam. Islamic apologists and politically correct pundits argue that ISIS does not represent the Koran or Islam. This is likely true except for the fact that self-professing nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia are not countering the Islamic narrative that ISIS is proclaiming very well. Much of the ISIS doctrine and belief systems find their origins in Wahhabi Islam. Saudi Arabia spends a lot of its oil money to aiding humanitarian efforts among Islamic nations but just as much goes into propagating this dark and extremist messages of Wahhabism throughout the world. Iran is guilty of similar tactics from the Shia side of Islam. As a result of all this conflict one of the largest refugee crises since World War II is resulting as masses of immigrants flee war torn nations. Many of these refugees are Muslims. The governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia are on both sides of the equation confronting these refugees. On the one hand they are offering degrees of aid through Islamic charities and even the United Nations. On the other hand they are guilty of promoting the very radicalism that is causing the sufferings of these people.   This week we will hear a lot about the Hajj and the Islamic religion and its traditions being hijacked by radicals, extremists, and terrorists. This is all well and good but we would do well to remember that if Islam is to outlive this extremist era the governments and nations who promote themselves as the guardians of the religion have a responsibility to step in and behave responsibly and charitably toward those who are suffering. They have a responsibility to the refugees as fellow Muslims but also as those who have helped inflame the tensions and violence in the region of the Middle East and throughout the world. Furthermore, the people of Islam should stop pretending that ISIS alone is guilty of atrocities and...

We are opening up the History of Terrorism podcast series for free to our listeners. Previously this has been available to Premium subscribers only. This episode on The Assassins tells the story of this small but legendary band of true believers. They came from “the man on the mountain” during the time of the Crusades. They were expertly trained professional killers fueled by fanaticism. Seldom before in history had such a small number of people been able to change the course of nations and history. These were the Assassins! They set a standard for future terrorists to follow. Even today groups like al-Qaeda try to emulate the tactics and effectiveness of the Assassins. Share this episode with your friends and download more podcast episodes from the End of History. Watch for the next episode in The History of Terrorism podcast series from the End of History which will be available in the next few days. This podcast and others in the series on the History of Terrorism will remain free to listeners for a limited time. If you are logging on and this episode is no longer free please consider becoming a Premium Member to access all past episodes and series from the End of History. Here are some additional links if you would like to read more about the Assassins: The Fortress Holy Terror  A Feared Cult If you enjoyed this episode check out the series on the History of the Modern Middle East as well. Also, the History of Islamic Extremism might be of interest to you. 

the End of History: a podcast and website focusing on honest, intelligent faith in a generation of rising darkness

The world is getting darker. We can all see that. We all have stories to explain why it is getting darker. Our fight for those stories is often perpetuating the darkness as well. This podcast episode looks at how all the stories can be right and we can still be wrong.   times we live in

This weeks episode of 3 Stories in 15 Minutes covers three of this week’s important news stories in fifteen minutes or less. This is a great current events podcast for your weekend transits. Stories this week include. The Story About the Terrible List – Saudi Arabia and the UN The Story That’s About More Than Going to the Bathroom – The Virginia Transgender Case The More Important Story – Zika in Miami

This special episode from JB Shreve and the End of History covers some changes and updates arriving to the podcast and web site that will affect the way you hear the news and see the events unfolding in the world today. This episode introduces some big changes for the End of History because there have been big changes in the world we live in.

The End of History returns with a new 3 Stories in 15 Minutes podcast episode. Download to hear thoughts about three stories from the news you might have missed this week. This week’s episode runs the gamut from conspiracy theories to ISIS, and even a little economics in between. * Story #1 – The Story That Really Sounds Like a Crazy Conspiracy Theory But It Isn’t – The Attempted Coup in Turkey * Story #2 – The Story That is Not As Boring As It Sounds – Negative Interest Rates * Story #3 – The Story About Islamic Extremism – The ISIS Idea current events podcast

This two part podcast series explains the how the current crisis in Venezuela developed. Part 2 looks at the legacy of Hugo Chavez and the formation of the current crisis. venezuela food crisis Venezuela in Crisis helps you understand the news that is unfolding today.

This free two-part podcast series explains the how the current Venezuela crisis developed. Part 1 looks at the history of Venezuela. JB Shreve demonstrates this South American nation’s unique place in the global order. Venezuela in Crisis helps you understand the news that is unfolding today. This is a significant crisis and event in world history and it is occurring before our eyes. We should all understand why and how.

Three of this week’s important news stories broken down and considered in 15  quick minutes. Download and subscribe for one of the best current events podcasts. This week’s stories: * The Story About Freedom of Speech     Gawker and Hulk Hogan * The Story About Democracy’s Failings     Venezuela to Trump * The Story About Everyone Getting Paid      Universal Basic Income

This special podcast episode provides a briefing on what is happening with the European Refugee Crisis.

Three of this week’s important news stories broken down and considered in 15  quick minutes. Download and subscribe for one of the best current events podcasts. This week’s stories: * The Story That Looks Right     A Global Trend in US Politics * The Story About the President’s Trip to Asia     What Really Happened in Vietnam * The Story About Saying Sorry      The President Goes to Hiroshima

the End of History: a podcast and website focusing on honest, intelligent faith in a generation of rising darkness