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R.R. Reno is editor of First Things.

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Council of Europe Does the Right Thing

From First Thoughts

As C-FAM reports , representatives in the Council of Europe, the European legislative body that meets in Strasbourg, France, reversed an effort by abortion proponents. A resolution came before the Council that was designed to make it difficult for medical professionals to refuse to perform or . . . . Continue Reading »

The Body of Death, Pictured

From Web Exclusives

We are not at home in the world, at least not in our current damaged condition. As St. Augustine put it: we long to untangle ourselves from the earthly city and its wounding self-loves so that we can journey toward the heavenly city, but our bondage is self-wrought, and we cannot free ourselves… . Continue Reading »

Who Says Logic Can’t Be Fun?

From First Thoughts

On his blog, Ed Feser offers some amusing versions of the informal fallacies , in this case very informal ones. They’re all worth quoting, so I will. Post doc, ergo propter doc : The delusion that a Ph.D. confers wisdom, or even basic competence. Example: “Of course  the medievals . . . . Continue Reading »

Elites and Judicial Supremacy

From First Thoughts

Over at Public Discourse, Robert Lowry Clinton weighs in on the ascendancy of the Supreme Court as the Supreme Legislature that dictates national affairs. Clinton argues that the emergence of an activist judiciary stems from an elite attempt to retain power over and against a democratic majority. . . . . Continue Reading »

The Antinomian Gospel

From First Thoughts

In a recent posting, Tony Campolo effuses about the inclusive ministry of Jesus . Jesus, he writes, “was always reaching out to the marginalized.” Therefore, he concludes, evangelicals need to affirm homosexuals and support the political effort to secure for gays and lesbians “all . . . . Continue Reading »

While We’re At It

From the October 2010 Print Edition

• Remember the alliance of atheists who offered to take care of your pets in the event of the Rapture? We’ve spoken of them before. On the group’s website, you’ll find: “Q: Is this a joke? A: No. This is a serious offer to our Christian friends who believe in the Second Coming and . . . . Continue Reading »

A Son and His Father

From Web Exclusives

Edmund Gosse’s books are lovely to read but eminently forgettable. A winsome writer, fine stylist, poets of sorts, essayist, and arbiter of taste in the early decades of the twentieth century, he flourished at the center of London literary circles, and was eventually knighted for his cultural contributions… . Continue Reading »

The Importance of Religious Freedom

From First Thoughts

The Sunday edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer features an op-ed arguing for the importance of religious freedom, not just in the United States, but abroad as well. The authors, Christian Sahner and Bennett Graham observe that religious freedom plays a fundamental role in the development of a . . . . Continue Reading »

New York’s Third World Airport

From First Thoughts

I was enjoying the sharp and angular writing at Taki’s Magazine, an online journal that offers delicious little appetizers, or as the website puts it “Cocktails, Countesses & Mental Caviar”. Yes, caviar—tasty and salty. In a fun, rambling piece about . . . well, about lots . . . . Continue Reading »

Islamic Leaders in America

From First Thoughts

A helpful discussion on the role of Islam in America by Thomas F. Farr—posted on The Public Discourse —points out the ways in which the recent controversy about an Islamic Center near Ground Zero threatens to side-track the positive contributions that Muslims can make in America. At the . . . . Continue Reading »