Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

Boosting McLeansboro

Speaking of McLeansboro, I recommend these examples of local boosterism in 1900 and local boosterism today:vs.Sometimes, off in the distance, I hear Robinson Jeffers mumbling, “shine, perishing republic.” . . . . Continue Reading »

Dept. of “You’re in Over Your Head”

Sci-Fi Author John C. Wright takes down a belligerent reviewer in style : The thrilling conclusion: An interviewer once asked me if my Christianity or my political philosophy would offend readers, by which he meant readers to the Left of Center. I answered that since such readers get offended at . . . . Continue Reading »

Sally’s Memory

You all are reading Sally Thomas, over at the Icons & Curiosities blog, aren’t you? Here she is —setting up a thought about Mary Magdelene: As I was waking up this morning, swimming into consciousness and daylight, something came to me, and it seemed illustrative: something I did when I . . . . Continue Reading »

As I lay dying

Chris Dierkes at the League of Ordinary Gentlemen has a thoughtful post up contesting Sir Edward Downes’ son’s description of his parents’ decision to undergo voluntary euthanization as “a very civilized act”. This passage was perhaps the most interesting: All I’m . . . . Continue Reading »

“Salvation is of the Jews”

...the sad thing is that you cannot be a Christian and take the Jews seriously at the same time. Or, if you can, it is a very very difficult thing to do… (Not Even the Rain, on Spengler’s Forum)The spiritual man is able to endure a duplication in himself; by his understanding he is able . . . . Continue Reading »

Federal Criminals

“You’re (Probably) a Federal Criminal”: A disturbing essay by Judge Alex Kozinski and Misha Tseytlin in a book called In the Name of Justice . The conclusion? After all the drug laws and business laws and wildlife laws and disposal-of-substances laws, one would be hard-pressed not . . . . Continue Reading »

Tags

Loading...

Filter First Thoughts Posts