David T. Koyzis

It is generally believed that the birth of Christ is celebrated on December 25 because our savvy Christian forebears with a flare for marketing took over a winter solstice holiday from the surrounding pagans. Not so, apparently. Here is William J. Tighe on Calculating Christmas and Andrew McGowan . . . . Continue Reading »

Yesterday’s tragedy in Connecticut, like other similar tragedies before it, calls to mind a widespread and persistent tendency to assume that we can prevent every “avoidable” tragedy by passing yet another law. Sad to say, no law will effectively deter every possible crime in . . . . Continue Reading »

One hundred years ago the English composer Gustav Holst (1874-1934), best known for his series of orchestral tone poems, The Planets , composed a moving choral piece based on Genevan Psalm 86: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FIo9Buho1s&w=298&h=245] The metrical text was apparently . . . . Continue Reading »

Ted Olsen has written a fascinating article inspired by the recent decision of Boston’s Old South Church to sell off one of its two remaining copies of the original edition of the Bay Psalm Book, used liturgically by the New England Puritans in the 17th century: What You Need to Know About . . . . Continue Reading »

One of our brethren, Anthony Esolen, has written to extol that old-fashioned word, brethren . His comments have relevance for that increasingly complicated and contentious enterprise, Bible translation. In the older translations of the New Testament, such as the Geneva Bible and the King James . . . . Continue Reading »

News of the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy has brought the royal succession issue to the forefront. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports: Royal succession laws set to be changed . Last year, leaders of Britain and the 15 former colonies that have the queen as their head of state . . . . Continue Reading »

Last week I posted my Capital Commentary piece, Winner Take All or Splitting the Difference: Lessons from Switzerland . Now someone has brought this article to my attention: Who Needs a President? , by Bill Kaufmann. If only the New Jersey Plan had won out over two centuries ago: No matter which . . . . Continue Reading »

Another protracted presidential election cycle has come and gone, with Americans on one side of the political aisle celebrating victory, and those on the other licking their wounds in dismay. Two months ago in this space I asked whether the United States is becoming the next France , whose politics . . . . Continue Reading »

Having grown up with the King James Version of the Bible, I have no sentimental attachment to the Revised Standard Version, although I do read from it in the context of daily prayers. Still I cannot manage to summon up Fr. Neuhaus’s enthusiasm for this translation, which has a number of . . . . Continue Reading »

International Christian Voice is reporting that Pakistan has dropped all charges against Rimsha Masih under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Masih is a 14-year-old Christian girl who was accused of having burned pages of the Qur’an in August. She was subsequently released on bail, after which . . . . Continue Reading »