Various

The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Challengesedited by allen d. hertzke  oxford, 386 pages, $29.95 In matters of religious freedom, we seem to be living in the best and the worst of times. The best, because an abstract, propositional assent to religious freedom as a fundamental human right . . . . Continue Reading »

Jesus in IslamIn “Jesus the Muslim Hippie” (December), Gabriel Said Reynolds demonstrates the dissonance within the Muslim community between what the Qur’an says about Jesus and what later Muslims wrote about him. This helpful distinction notwithstanding, his article fails to . . . . Continue Reading »

Should We Live Forever? The Ethical Ambiguities of Aging by gilbert meilaender eerdmans, 135 pages, $18 An esteemed Protestant ethicist (and First Things advisor and contributor) has here an extended essay that is at turns philosophical, literary, and biblical, and is throughout humane. Drawing . . . . Continue Reading »

Love and Salt: A Spiritual Friendship Shared in Letters by amy andrews and jessica mesman griffith loyola, 324 pages, $14.95Over the course of three years, Amy Andrews and Jessica Mesman Griffith wrote each other what were, for a while, daily letters. This regular exchange began as a Lenten . . . . Continue Reading »

PhariseesIn “Marriage Matters” (“Public Square,” November), R. R. Reno wondered how such a display of “public” immorality—same-sex marriage—could be greeted without comment. He worried that, in the presence of a gay married couple, acting as if . . . . Continue Reading »

Work–Life Imbalance I agree with Elizabeth Corey (“No Happy Harmony,” October) that there will always be conflict between motherhood and career, but I don’t agree with her reasons. She contrasts the leisure needed for love of children with the self-culture needed for the pursuit . . . . Continue Reading »

Contemplative Provocations: Brief, Concentrated Observations on Aspects of a Life with God by fr. donald haggerty ignatius, 200 pages, $16.95 This book of spiritual guidance is concerned with the way in which the spiritual life is “a path of paradox,” a deepening yearning for a God who . . . . Continue Reading »

Coolidge There has been a rush to resurrect Calvin Coolidge as the antithesis of Obama, but one should be a bit careful what one wishes for. Ted V. McAllister’s review of Amity Shlaes’ Coolidge (“A Rooted Man,” August/September) pointed out that there were indeed positive . . . . Continue Reading »

The Common Mind: Politics, Society and Christian Humanism from Thomas More to Russell Kirk ? by andré gushurst-moore ?angelico, 264 pages, $24.95 An ambitious attempt to survey five hundred years of Christian cultural criticism, The Common Mind traces the efforts of twelve Britons and . . . . Continue Reading »

Being Together R. R. Reno writes in “Solidarity” (June/July) that “solidarity involves sharing social space and a living culture, not just bloodless financial resources.” One hundred years ago, when the great majority of Americans lived in small towns or on farms, solidarity was . . . . Continue Reading »