August Aphorism #8

by R. R. Reno

Strange times: We diet to narrow our waists, but we think our sexual desires fixed and unalterable. . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

Jesus, Gnosis, and History

by Robert Cheeks

Dr. Pence, in an earlier thread, implied that certain mainstream Judeo-Christian sects did not share the same faith that evangelicals consistently exhibit. I believe he is correct in his observations and hope that he might pursue the question. At the core of the modern problem of faith, both public . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

Obamacare: The Unfortunate Call to Emulate the Netherlands

by Wesley J. Smith

The other day, President Obama referenced the Netherlands as a splendid example of how the “public option,” that is a government plan, worked well with a private system. To The Source contacted me and asked me to reflect on the president’s use of that particular example.First, the . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

And Now for a Break From Our Regularly-Scheduled Reality

by Sally Thomas

This is a blog concerned with the material culture of religion, and as a general rule, I don’t write about politics. I do, however, write about weirdness. And there’s something about the saga of my hometown mayor which attains to the level of — well, at least of the voodoo products . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

Rise of the Techno-Rubes

by James Poulos

Every big idea that works is marked by simplicity, by clarity. You can understand it when you hear it, and you can explain it to people. Social Security: Retired workers receive a public pension to help them through old age. Medicare: People over 65 can receive taxpayer-funded health care. Welfare: . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

A Few Questions for Brian McClaren on Abortion and Health Care

by Keith Pavlischek

Brian McClaren is the guru of one of the most recent evangelical theological fads, something called the emerging church. He’s a regular contributor at Sojourners and spent a lot of time last year campaigning for President Obama, trying to convince evangelicals that Obama was actually the . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

Caritas in Veritate Symposium

by Joe Carter

All this week, First Things has been hosting an online symposium on on Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate . In case you’ve missed them, here are all six of the entries: » Benedict XVI, Economist by Ivan Kenneally » Is Benedict in Favor of World Government? by Douglas A. Sylva . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

What the Class of 2013 Knows

by Joe Carter

Each August since 1998, Beloit College has released the Beloit College Mindset List , providing perspective for us old timers on how students just entering college see the world. For the Class of 2013: 4. They have never used a card catalog to find a book. 6. Salsa has always outsold ketchup. 8. . . . . Continue Reading »

21 Aug 2009 0

Shocked, shocked to discover Christians want converts

by David P. Goldman

Recently newspapers reported the death of the Rev. “Ike” Eikerenkoetter, a roguish televangelist who preached a prosperity gospel and sold $19.95 prayer rugs guaranteed to help you pray for money. Because my student digs near Columbia were in a zip code that included parts of Harlem, I . . . . Continue Reading »

20 Aug 2009 0

Nietzsche and Strauss on Eternity and Christianity: Part II

by Ivan Kenneally

At the heart of modern nihilism, for Nietzsche, is the problem presented by the ascendancy of the modern scientific project-the mathematization of matter or the arbitrary formalization of material structure conceals the real chaos of Being. The Kantian split between phenomena and noumena, and the . . . . Continue Reading »

20 Aug 2009 0