Issues – La Vista Church of Christ

Finnish Study on “Gender Affirming Care”

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:14:56 +0000

Source: "Finnish study adds to growing scrutiny of ‘gender affirming care’ treatments, echoing Cass Review concerns", Christian Daily International, 14 April 2026.

"A major new study from Finland has found that adolescents referred for gender identity treatment continue to experience significantly elevated mental health challenges over time ..."

"The study, published in Acta Paediatrica, analyzed national registry data spanning 1996 to 2019 and tracked approximately 2,100 young people referred to specialized gender identity services. Researchers found that nearly half—about 46%—had already received psychiatric care before referral, rising to nearly 62% within two years afterward. Compared to their peers, adolescents in the study showed markedly higher levels of psychiatric need both before and after referral. After adjusting for prior treatment, girls were about three times more likely to require additional psychiatric care, while boys were about five times more likely."

"The Finnish study similarly found that adolescents referred for gender identity services had “significantly higher psychiatric morbidity” prior to treatment—suggesting that gender-related distress often coexists with other mental health conditions."

Source: Hannah Hiester, "Landmark Finnish study finds youths’ mental health problems increase after gender ‘transitions’", Catholic Vote, 14 April 2026.

"Mental health problems increased from 9.8% to 60.7% for youths who underwent male to female “transition” procedures and 21.6% to 54.5% for those who went through “female to male” procedures."

"The findings that young people tend to experience 'considerable severe' mental health issues before receiving a referral to gender identity procedures and that as these issues worsen over time indicate that gender dysphoria might occur after mental health challenges in some adolescents, according to the researchers."

Source: John Stonestreet and Glenn Stanton, "The Crumbling Sham of Trans Medicine", Colson Center, 16 April 2026.

"An impressive new Finnish study, published in the Swedish academic journal Acta Paediatrica, is extending the damning conclusions of the UK’s 2024 Cass Review. The report was unequivocal in concluding that the so-called 'settled science' of trans medicine is an area of remarkably weak evidence, and the 'reality is that we have no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress.'”

Can Life Be Formed by Random Chance?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:18:25 +0000

by Dr. Caleb Yu, Irvine, CA & Dr. James Ma, Kelsey Bay, B.C., Canada
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 3, September 1994

The smallest living cell in the human body is a virus [containing] 239 protein molecules. On average, a protein has 445 amino acids. The average molecular weight of the 19 essential amino acids for the human body is 137... By random chance, the odds of forming the first cell of a virus from an unlimited supply of pure essential amino acids are one in 2 x 10^{-239 x 445} = 2 x 10^-237,915.

The synthesis can hardly be completed on dry land because the semi-products are easily oxidized by air or destroyed by ultraviolet light. The best place to carry on the reactions is under water... the oceans hold 97% of our water. The total volume of ocean water is 1.3 x 10²⁴ liters, and the salt content is 3.9 x 10²⁵ grams. Suppose all the salts in our oceans could be converted into amino acids, then the total number of amino acid molecules in the oceans can only provide 7.8 x 10⁴⁶. We need 2 x 10^237,915 molecules. Our Earth is not large enough to provide the required amount of material.

[Thus we must] find another way to decompose...structures into amino acids...Suppose we used all the available amino acids in the oceans (7.8 x 10⁴⁶ molecules) to conduct the synthesis and degradation at a rate of 6 x 10¹⁸ times per second (the frequency of light). Every 3.8 x 10^106,325 years, there is one chance of success to form a virus cell by random chance. But the age of our Earth is only 6.4 x 10⁹ years old, and the age of our Milky Way is 1.7 x 10¹³ years old. [Using the ages typically given by evolutionists.] Our Universe is not old enough to have synthesized the first cell by random chance.

Even if a virus were... formed within the age of our Earth, the product would be a dead cell only.

Conclusion:

Quantitatively, the first Life in this earth cannot be formed by random chance without an external source.

Mary No Longer Called Co-Redemptrix

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 03:45:18 +0000

Source: Talia Wise, "Pope Leo Declares Jesus Alone Saved the World, Rejects Title of Mary as 'Co-Redeemer'," CBN, 7 November 2025.

"A decree from Pope Leo's office firmly rejects the claim that Mary, Jesus' mother, helped save the world from damnation, settling a debate that has baffled the Catholic community by stating that Jesus alone redeemed humanity by his crucifixion and death."

"In a lengthy note titled 'Mater Populi Fidelis' or 'Mother of the Faithful People of God,' the Vatican's doctrinal office instructed Catholics to no longer give her the title of "co-redemptrix" or "co-redeemer" as it "carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ" as the Savior."

"The late Pope Francis also strongly opposed granting Mary the title of "co-redeemer," and according to Reuters, he suggested the idea was "foolishness." "She never wanted to take anything for herself from her son," Francis said in 2019. Additionally, Benedict XVI, Francis' predecessor, also opposed the title. However, his predecessor, John Paul II, supported the title until the mid-90s when the doctrinal office began to voice skepticism."

Source: Cindy Wooden, "Mary, mother of Jesus and all believers, is not co-redeemer, Vatican says," United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 4 November 2025.

"In a lengthy doctrinal note titled 'Mater Populi Fidelis' ('Mother of the Faithful People of God'), the dicastery said the title co-redemptrix or co-redeemer 'carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ" in salvation. And, regarding the title co-mediatrix or co-mediator, it said that Mary, 'the first redeemed, could not have been the mediatrix of the grace that she herself received.' However, it said, the title may be used when it does not cast doubt on 'the unique mediation of Jesus Christ, true God and true man.'"

"The church believes that those in heaven can pray and intercede for people still on earth, and, among those chosen and glorified with Christ, first and foremost is his Mother,' the note said. 'Therefore, we can affirm that Mary has a unique collaboration in the saving work that Christ carries out in his Church. With this intercession, Mary can become for us a motherly sign of the Lord's mercy.'"

This becomes another example of the Roman Catholic Church changing its teachings while leaving itself enough wiggle room to claim that it hasn't really changed; it only clarified. This should be sufficient evidence that its teachings are not from God. God doesn't need to clarify Himself or rewrite the past to fit current teachings.

The claim that the dead can interceed for the living contradicts the Scriptures. The dead are unaware of events on the earth (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).

See "The Deification of Mary" for citations showing the extent the Catholic Church developed their ideas about Mary before rejecting them. At least in this change, the Roman Catholic Church moves a shade closer to the truth that pre-existed it.

Half of Americans no longer see traditional sins as wrong

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 03:16:35 +0000

Source: Chris Eyte, "Half of Americans no longer view most traditional sins as wrong, Barna study finds," Christian Daily International, 23 October 2025.

"... most Americans now say that they only consider half of 12 specific behaviors presented to them and traditionally considered sinful, as actually sinful."

"Some behaviors, such as drinking, gambling, and working on the Sabbath, are 'rarely viewed as sinful,' according to the research. Others such as abortion, sexual fantasies, and cheating on taxes split public opinion. Only six of the 12 behaviors were still widely regarded as sinful, mainly those related to speech, sexuality, faith, and drug use."

Source: "Millions of American Christians Deny Their Sinfulness," Cultural Research Center, Arizona Christian University, 4 September 2025.

"More than four out of five adults (84%) agree that there is such a thing as “sin.” The research revealed the population segments that are substantially less likely than the norm to believe in the existence of sin, including members of Gen Z, Asians, members of the LGBTQ community, people with no religious affiliations or who doubt the existence of God, those who do not believe the Bible can be trusted to teach truth, and adults who believe in reincarnation or do not believe in any type of existence after death."

"Only half of all adults (52%) believe that everyone on Earth has sinned. Although the sinfulness of all people is one of the foundations of the Christian faith and the basis of every person’s need to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, just two out of three self-professed Christians (66%) contend that everyone sins. Adults who attend Protestant churches are far more likely than those attending Catholic churches to believe that everyone is a sinner (73% versus 57%, respectively)."

Men and Women Need to Learn to Like One Another Again

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:43:09 +0000

Source: Emmy Griffin, "Men and Women Need to Learn to Like One Another Again," The Patriot Post, 13 October 2025.

"We have often fretted about the devastatingly low U.S. birth rate and the fact that couples aren’t having many children. However, as podcaster Brett Cooper recently pointed out, the fundamental problem is really that men and women, especially younger ones, don’t really like one another. Women have slipped into a fantasy world wherein they don’t respect men (and yet men must do everything for them), and men have slipped into a fantasy world of pornography and Artificial Intelligence."

"Feminism has taught women that the most important thing in life is taking care of themselves materially. Actress Emma Watson said recently that the societal pressure to get married is “violence.” Ironically, most societal pressure is actually in the other direction. Later in her comments, Watson displayed a fundamentally broken view of marriage, saying, “I’m just so happy not to be divorced yet.” Divorce isn’t inevitable, and any societal pressure to get married and uphold the essential building block of civilization is a net good. Calling it “violence” is unhinged."

"A recent NBC poll bears this out. When asked about what they see as marks of individual success, most Gen Z women responded that having a fulfilling job and being financially independent were the most important attributes. For conservative Gen Z men, however, the story is very different. Their top measures of individual success are marriage and having children."

"Part of the problem is that young Gen Z women are living in a matriarchy. They have been told that they call all the shots and that they can be as picky as they want because men should be grateful for anything they can get."

"But it’s not just the women who are struggling. Young men are as well. They are struggling with loneliness. They have been told to value financial success before even thinking about marriage and a family. Some don’t value women, some have given up on women entirely, and some believe that they are women. There is a strong argument that man-to-woman transgenderism is the ultimate expression of woman-hatred."

"Men’s masculinity has been pathologized. Male strength has been reframed as toxic and predatory. Good men have been pushed to the margins, which has allowed men who claim to be ultra-masculine but who are really the epitome of male infantilization..."

"When did we stop living in the world of reality? When did we forget that relationships aren’t about finding perfection; rather, they’re about an imperfect person who is perfectly right for you? When did we stop seeing that masculinity, when properly channeled, is a net good, and femininity is a perfect counterpoint to that strength? We’ve been conditioned to scorn and dispose of one another, and it’s tearing our culture apart. We need to come back and face reality with courage."

Alcohol and the Risk of Cancer

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:41:10 +0000

Source: "Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory," 2025.

"This advisory highlights alcohol use as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year."

"Alcohol use is very common—in 2019-2020, 72% of U.S. adults reported they consumed one or more drinks per week..."

"The direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time. This body of scientific evidence demonstrates a causal relationship between alcohol use and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx). The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer. For certain cancers, like breast, mouth, and throat cancers, evidence shows that this risk may start to increase around one or fewer drinks per day."

"Globally, 741,300 cancer cases were related to alcohol consumption in 2020; 185,100 of those cases were related to consumption of approximately two drinks daily or fewer..."

"Extensive research has demonstrated specific biological mechanisms by which alcohol causes cancer as well. For example, multiple studies have shown that giving rats and mice drinking water with ethanol (the same type of pure alcohol in alcohol-containing beverages) or its primary metabolic breakdown product, acetaldehyde, results in increased tumor numbers at multiple places in the body. At high levels such as those that occur with consumption of alcohol, acetaldehyde is highly toxic and cancer-causing. Further, the data in humans on alcohol and health show a strong association between drinking alcohol and increased cancer risk, regardless of the type of alcohol (e.g., beer, wine, and spirits)."

"There is extensive evidence from biological studies that ethanol (the type of pure alcohol found in all alcohol-containing beverages) causes cancer in at least four distinct ways: First, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde in the body. Acetaldehyde is a metabolite that causes cancer by binding to DNA and damaging it. When DNA is damaged, a cell can begin to grow uncontrollably and create a cancerous tumor. Second, alcohol generates reactive oxygen species, which increase inflammation and can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids in the body through a process called oxidation. Third, alcohol alters hormone levels (including estrogen), which can play a role in the development of breast cancer. Fourth, carcinogens from other sources, especially particles of tobacco smoke, can dissolve in alcohol, making it easier for them to be absorbed into the body, increasing the risk for mouth and throat cancers."

"The amount of alcohol a person drinks affects their risk of cancer. An important factor is the overall amount of alcohol consumed consistently over time. The risk of cancer increases as the level of consumption increases with higher risk at higher levels of consumption. ... For example, a study of 226,162 individuals reported that the absolute risk of developing any alcohol-related cancer over the lifespan of a woman increases from approximately 16.5% (about 17 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume less than one drink per week, to 19.0% (19 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume one drink daily on average to approximately 21.8% (about 22 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume two drinks daily on average. ... Over the lifespan of a man, the absolute risk of developing any alcohol-related cancer increases from approximately 10.0% (about 10 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume less than one drink per week to about 11.4% (about 11 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume one drink daily on average to approximately 13.1% (about 13 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume two drinks daily on average."

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).

Humans and Chimpanzees are Not 99% Genetically Similar

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 19:04:13 +0000

Source: Robert Carter, "Humans and chimpanzees are NOT 99% identical," Creation Ministries International, 3 July 2025.

"Yes, humans and chimpanzees do share a lot of DNA, but when you include what they don’t share, the percent identity drops significantly, into the low 80% range."

How similar are humans and chimpanzees? "about 85%"

"The evolutionary model ... will gladly accept high similarity levels, but there is a cliff on the other side of the argument. If we are too dissimilar, they cannot explain the differences in their 6.5 million years. They do have the ability to back up the time to the most recent common ancestor, but even that ability is limited. A few years ago, some scientists were arguing for 13 million years. Some wanted to push the time even further back, but the paleontologists would have none of that because that would necessitate putting early apes in with the dinosaurs. They are stuck. The difference must be low. Period."

"Over 6.5 million years (~300,000 generations) they would expect 15 million differences between each species and our common ancestor, or about 30 million differences between us and them today. 30 million differences / 3 billion letters = 1%. THIS is why they have been quoting that 1% figure all these years, and this is why they have been resisting anything else. If the number is much greater, things do not work out in their favor. When the difference grows past that level, their models break down. It is simply too hard to explain so many differences, even in their ‘millions of years’ mindset."

"There are also questions about population growth and how it affects all calculations. Given that the human population has been expanding (since the Flood or since the invention of agriculture, take your pick), ZERO genetic variants have become fixed in the human genome for the last 10,000 years in the evolutionary timeline. How does ‘no evolution for 10,000 years’ affect the evolutionary forecast?"

"Because evolution needs new genes to arise and activate. Humans and chimpanzees do not just differ at the nucleotide level. Our genes are not used in the same ways and our brains have very different wiring pathways. Those changes would not just have to arise. No, they would have to arise, spread out and replace whatever original gene was in that place, and then integrate themselves into the already complex regulatory processes that exist. The ‘fact’ that they have been trumpeting from the rooftops since the 1970s turns out to be no fact at all. The real difference is NOT 1%. No, it is 15x greater. This is a massive problem even for the “1%” crowd. Now that we know the human and chimpanzee genomes are more than 10 times more different than they thought, the problem of evolution only becomes that much more difficult."

"God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:25).

“Gender-Affirming Care” Does Not Work

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 07 May 2025 16:21:33 +0000

Source: "Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices," Department of Health and Human Services, 1 May 2025.

"Health authorities have also recognized the exceptional nature of this area of medicine. That exceptionalism is due to a convergence of factors. One is that the diagnosis of gender dysphoria is based entirely on subjective self-reports and behavioral observations, without any objective physical, imaging, or laboratory markers. The diagnosis centers on attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that are known to fluctuate during adolescence."

"Additionally, the natural history of pediatric gender dysphoria is poorly understood, though existing research suggests it will remit without intervention in most cases."

"These authorities now recommend psychosocial approaches, rather than hormonal or surgical interventions, as the primary treatment."

"The umbrella review found that the overall quality of evidence concerning the effects of any intervention on psychological outcomes, quality of life, regret, or long-term health, is very low. This indicates that the beneficial effects reported in the literature are likely to differ substantially from the true effects of the interventions."

"The risks of pediatric medical transition include infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret."

"In the U.S., the most influential clinical guidelines for the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria are published by WPATH and the Endocrine Society. A recent systematic review of international guideline quality did not recommend either guideline for clinical use after determining they 'lack developmental rigour and transparency.' ... In the process of developing SOC-8, WPATH suppressed systematic reviews its leaders believed would undermine its favored treatment approach. SOC-8 developers also violated conflict of interest management requirements and eliminated nearly all recommended age minimums for medical and surgical interventions in response to political pressures. ... U.S. medical associations played a key role in creating a perception that there is professional consensus in support of pediatric medical transition. This apparent consensus, however, is driven primarily by a small number of specialized committees, influenced by WPATH. It is not clear that the official views of these associations are shared by the wider medical community, or even by most of their members. There is evidence that some medical and mental health associations have suppressed dissent and stifled debate about this issue among their members.”

"There is a dearth of research on psychotherapeutic approaches to managing gender dysphoria in children and adolescents. This is due in part to the mischaracterization of such approaches as “conversion therapy.” A more robust evidence base supports psychotherapeutic approaches to managing common comorbid mental health conditions. Psychotherapy is a noninvasive alternative to endocrine and surgical interventions for the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria. Systematic reviews of evidence have found no evidence of adverse effects of psychotherapy in this context."

"A central theme of this Review is that many U.S. medical professionals and associations have fallen short of their duty to prioritize the health interests of young patients. First, there was a rapid expansion and implementation of a clinical protocol that lacked sufficient scientific and ethical justification. Second, when confronted with compelling evidence that this protocol did not deliver the health benefits it promised, and that other countries were changing their policies appropriately, U.S. medical professionals and associations failed to reconsider the “gender-affirming” approach. Third, conflicting evidence—evidence that challenged the foundational assumptions of the protocol and the professional standing of its advocates—was mischaracterized or insufficiently acknowledged. Finally, dissenting perspectives were marginalized, and those who voiced them were disparaged. While no clinician or medical association intends to fail their patients—particularly those who are most vulnerable—the preceding chapters demonstrate that this is precisely what has occurred."

Fatal Flaws in Transgender Brain Studies

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:12:46 +0000

Source: Colin Wright, "Transgender Brain Studies are Fatally Flawed," City Journal, 14 March 2025.

"The notion that males can have 'female brains,' and vice versa, rests on a flawed interpretation of 'brain sex' studies that in no way demonstrate or even suggest a definitive biological basis for 'gender identity.'”

"The theory is advanced for relatively straightforward reasons. Civil rights lawyers, activists, and researchers contend that people who identify as transgender possess a “brain sex” misaligned with their physical body, thereby establishing a biological basis for “gender identity” akin to immutable traits like race. This framing carries significant legal weight, as U.S. civil rights law offers strong protections for characteristics considered “innate” or rooted in biology."

"The idea of a brain-body mismatch has permeated popular culture, resonating with the 'born this way' narrative embraced by many in the LGBT community."

"The central flaw in current research purporting to validate the cross-sex brain hypothesis is an inconsistent—or complete lack of—control for individuals’ sexual orientation. ... This raises serious methodological concerns about the extent to which sexual orientation might confound or interact with the neurobiological markers that “brain sex” studies routinely attribute to gender dysphoria. ... If one properly controls for sexual orientation, the reported neuroanatomical shifts in transgender brain-scan studies diminish greatly or vanish entirely."

"It would not logically follow that a brain scan can capture a person’s 'gender identity'—just as brain scans cannot ascertain a person’s sexuality. ... Brain scans therefore cannot verify whether a person is homosexual; nor could they verify whether a person 'is transgender.' Brains, like most physical traits apart from primary sex organs, are not discretely sexed ..."

Feminism Makes Women Miserable

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 22:30:30 +0000

Source: Victor Joecks, "Modern feminism makes women miserable," Las Vegas Review-Journal, 20 February 2025.

"The Institute for Family Studies recently analyzed findings from the annual American Family Survey. It found 37 percent of conservative women ages 18-40 said they were completely satisfied with life. But only 12 percent of liberal women that age were."

"A 2017 study by a Penn State professor noted 'politically conservative participants were significantly more optimistic and satisfied with life than their liberal counterparts.'”

"The implication is that liberals are depressed because they care so much about the world’s problems. While that may sound noble, stressing out about something that you can’t control isn’t a virtue. It can lead to “learned helplessness.” If people believe their choices won’t improve things, they often give up or make worse choices."

"Feminists originally argued for equal opportunity in voting, education, and the workplace. That happened. But second-wave feminists went further. They disparaged marriage and religion as tools of the patriarchy. They didn’t view children as a source of meaning and fulfillment but rather as an obstacle to career success. Third- and fourth-wave feminists went beyond that. Many contend that different outcomes between men and women are the result of societal expectations. These ideas have gone so far that leftists now claim men can become women. Why some men would willingly give up the power of the patriarchy is never quite explained."

"As a result, liberals are less likely to be married, go to church, or have kids. But these choices haven’t brought joyous liberation. Just the opposite."

"Single, childless adults are more than twice as likely as married individuals to say they’re always or almost always lonely, Wilcox noted. Historically, single individuals found community and connection in a church or synagogue. But liberals are less likely to attend religious services."

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored" (Titus 2:3-5).