The Great Leap Forward

by Joseph Bottum

Mao’s experiment in industrializing China from 1958 to 1962 : “At least 45 million people were worked, starved or beaten to death in China over these four years.” . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

The Qur’an and historical criticism

by David Layman

In response to a well-known examination of the historical problems of The Koran, written before 9-11 by Toby Lester in The Atlantic, Seyyed Hossein Nasr said The acceptance of the Koran as the word of God suggests that the so-called historical and textual study of the Koran is tantamount to . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

Families in Canada Being Misled About Death to Harvest Organs? I Don’t Think So

by Wesley J. Smith

This report is unduly provocative in my view.  Some ICU physicians in Canada are urging a moratorium on “heart death” organ procurement because, they say, some of the patients might not actually be dead. From the story:A group of ICU doctors is calling for a moratorium on harvesting . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

Thirty Three Things (v. 15)

by Joe Carter

1. Recalling the “Green Book,” a guide for black travelers For almost three decades beginning in 1936, many African-American travelers relied on a booklet to help them decide where they could comfortably eat, sleep, buy gas, find a tailor or beauty parlor, shop on a honeymoon to Niagara . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

The Close of the Day

by Sally Thomas

View the Westminster Hall Speech via the Telegraph ’s live blog. From the same blog, a last glimpse of the Pope as night falls on Britain: “Eagle-eyed Pope fans spot Benedict walking up and down in front of the building, rosary beads in hand before retiring for the night.” . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

How Do You Put the Catholic Into Catholic Higher Education?

by R. R. Reno

In a commentary published by The Chronicle of Higher Education , David House looks back and assesses the influence of Pope John Paul II’s apostolic constitution on Catholic higher education, Ex Corde Ecclesiae . House takes an optimistic view, reading the last couple of decades as a muted, but . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

Mission Accomplished at Westminster

by William Doino Jr.

The pope’s historic speech at Westminster Hall , the political centerpiece of his visit to Britain, was everything one could have hoped for. Principled, sincere and generous, Benedict thanked his hosts and praised those elements of British society in harmony with Catholic teaching. At the same . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

Poetry Reading by Christian Wiman

by Losana Boyd

First Things is pleased to announce our next event : renowned poet Christian Wiman will be giving a reading here at our editorial offices in Manhattan on October 29, at 6 p.m. Wiman is editor of Poetry magazine. His most recent collection, Every Riven Thing , is just out from Farrar Straus Giroux . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

Loving theoretical activity

by David T. Koyzis

In the absence of a general cross-referencing apparatus to aid readers in negotiating the multiple First Things blogs, I thought I would draw the attention of Evangel readers to R. R. Reno’s Love Rather Than Theory, published yesterday at On the Square. It’s an important piece well worth . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0

Another Great Nation & the Future of This One

by David Mills

A special double-feature today in “On the Square.” First, David Hart presents an even more provocative argument than usual in The Greatest Nation on Earth .  It is not America for, he writes, “I was not really raised with any firm sense of being an American; it was not part . . . . Continue Reading »

17 Sep 2010 0