To the extent there has been any debate about in vitro fertilization, opponents have argued against it philosophically or theologically. (The Catholic Church strongly rejects it, and many of the public opponents have been Catholics, but not all.) But without denying the necessity of that kind of . . . . Continue Reading »
We are excited to offer in the next issue of First Things an essay by the baseball player turned theologian David Bentley Hart on the metaphysics of baseball. If baseball does indeed possess metaphysical qualities, one wonders whether the perfect game stolen yesterday from Detroit pitcher Armando . . . . Continue Reading »
In today’s On the Square, Rabbi Shmully Hecht argues that the Israeli blockade will save Israeli lives and not hurt the citizens of Gaza. Read Israel’s Gaza Boycott Saves Lives for a pointed defense of Israel’s much debated actions. While you’re reading, you might go back to . . . . Continue Reading »
A recent poll conducted by Findlaw shows that two thirds of Americans cannot name even one Supreme Court justice. Here are the percentages who can name each of the nine current justices: * Clarence Thomas – 19% * John Roberts – 16% * Sonia Sotomayor – 15% * Ruth Bader Ginsburg – . . . . Continue Reading »
For the upcoming revision of the the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diseases (DSM-5)—the psychiatry profession’s main diagnostic manual—the American Psychiatric Association asked for public comments on proposed changes. As economist Steve . . . . Continue Reading »
In a pastoral letter to the Anglican Communion , Episcopal Church presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori seems to be saying that the Holy Spirit is either a moral and cultural relativist or a “colonialist”: The Spirit does seem to be saying to many within The Episcopal Church that . . . . Continue Reading »
See, I have to deal with this all of the time in the issues about which I engage. Too often, we don’t judge the wisdom of policies by their impact or their propriety, but how those affected make us “feel.” And now President Obama is being criticized for his handling of . . . . Continue Reading »
Clay Farris Naff asked in the Huffington Post last week, Do We Really Want America to Be a Christian Iran? It only takes a moment’s reflection on that question to realize Naff’s sense of proportion (like Tavis Smiley’s) is tilted. Many of his “facts” and his arguments . . . . Continue Reading »
The Department of Homeland Security has released a Public Service Announcement suggesting vigilance as an antidote to terrorism, with a slogan that will, no doubt, strike some as a bit too politically correct: “There are no suspicious people, only suspicious behaviors.” . . . . Continue Reading »
Whatever your theory of justice and fairness, you’ll be fascinated by a study published last week in the journal Science . “Fairness and Development of Inequality Acceptance” found that younger children favor socialist impulses toward wealth distribution, but grow to accept a more . . . . Continue Reading »
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