Hag Shavuot Sameach to Jewish Readers

by David P. Goldman

I will be out for observance of the feast of Shavuot until after sundown Thursday. Hag Sameach to all our Jewish . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

Beinart’s Eulogy for Liberal Judaism

by David P. Goldman

Peter Beinart, the former editor of The New Republic ,  laments the failure of the American Jewish establishment to present the universalizing, leftist, secular side of Israel to young Americans whose interest in Israel is small compared to that of their elders. His New York Review of Books . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

Sermon Review: Church of Saint Paul the Apostle (New York City)

by Meghan Duke

When the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle was completed in 1885, it fulfilled the dream of the founder of the Paulist Fathers—Servant of God Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker—to build a noble basilica. The Gothic exterior reflected European influence and continuity with the past, while the interior . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

Facts Don’t Save

by David Mills

Free Inquiry is a magazine in whose title the word “free” seems to mean freedom from having to include God in their inquiries, but not the freedom to include Him. The magazine is published by the Council for Secular Humanism, and as their homepage says, “The Council promotes . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

Chomsky, Chesterton, and a Moment of Purposeful Carelessness

by Kevin Staley-Joyce

There must still be a few geniuses at The Onion —America’s finest news source, yes—and perhaps a few disaffected intellectuals as well. Mustering as much cynicism—but with humor—as the academic himself, a r ecent Onion musing on Noam Chomsky read: Describing himself as . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

The Return of Scientism

by Joe Carter

Sometimes its hard to not to despair for the lack of intellectual sophistication in our culture. Rather than making progress, it seems that we too often slide back into acceptance of scholarly fads that had previously been discarded for being inane. Consider, for example, the return of of scientism . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

“The Humanist Case Against Euthanasia”

by Wesley J. Smith

Pro assisted suiciders often claim that the only reasons to oppose euthanasia/self mercy killing are religious.  They will claim that opponents see suffering as “redemptive” and thus desirable—intentionally misstating that doctrine— and oppose mercy killing on the basis . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

Said vs. Knew?

by Peter Lawler

1. So I took a few days off and now come back to this distinction, with a lot of fine comments in the thread. 2. Our Founders built better than they said. Is that because no theory can comprehend great practice? Or because there’s no theory adequate to the truth about who we are? In both . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

Honoring Ralph McInerny (Next Year)

by David Mills

Very long-term notice: A conference honoring Ralph McInerny, the late philosopher (novelist, poet, essayist, activist, journalist, etc.) and friend to this magazine and many of its editors and writers, and in fact a man who seems to have been a real friend of almost everyone he met. . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0

The Character of Jesus

by Hunter Baker

I have been leading a study of John’s Gospel at church. Something interesting occurred to me yesterday as we went through the fourth chapter.Nicodemus, who is described as a Jewish ruler, comes to see Jesus. The gentile official, who hopes for his son to be healed, comes to see Jesus.The woman . . . . Continue Reading »

17 May 2010 0