Holding a Mirror Up to Nature opens with the story of Walter Manstein, “a distinguished-looking man in his late forties” with a successful career as a publisher. On the night of their twentieth wedding anniversary, Manstein strangled his wife to death with the leash of her pet dog. . . . . Continue Reading »
A couple of years ago I stumbled upon a cult. Browsing in a secondhand bookshop, I picked up R. H. Tawney’s Religion and the Rise of Capitalism and, remembering a vague resolution to read it one day, took it to the counter. The fresh-faced student at the cash register was delighted. . . . . Continue Reading »
In 1938 Franklin Roosevelt, facing a political challenge from a resurgent Republican Party, denounced the party’s “fascist” tendencies. It was an early example of how the term could be applied even to conservatives loyal to the framework of a liberal democracy. One might have expected this . . . . Continue Reading »
Like many a wayward daughter of middle-class America, when I was in college I took up academic culture’s invitation to throw off the moral restraints of my Christian upbringing. I experimented with all manner of substances and licentiousness—even with feminist theory, which almost proved . . . . Continue Reading »
On the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany in 2021, after churches had reopened but while many pandemic restrictions remained in place, three priests in my parish celebrated a traditional rite called the Blessing of Water on the Vigil of Epiphany. The rite is similar to rituals in the churches of the . . . . Continue Reading »
I’m seated at Gautreau’s, uptown, with Laine,fine student, now good friend. Obliged to bookan early hour—few choices in this bane,the Covid sequel—we take time to look at wine lists, menus, chatting; appetite’saroused thereby, and memories. How wellshe wrote, with industry and her . . . . Continue Reading »
It is a widespread and ecumenical complaint that most of the academic work of biblical interpretation today is useless for preaching, praying, or the life of the Church. Leroy Huizenga, author of the excellent study of St. Matthew’s Gospel The New Isaac (2009) has, since he converted to . . . . Continue Reading »
As college students are treated more as consumers than knowledge-seekers, what they learn and for what purpose becomes merely a consumer choice. Continue Reading »
James Ellis III joins the podcast to discuss his new book, An Inward-Outward Witness: Suffering's Role in Forming Faithful Preachers. Continue Reading »
Daniel McCarthy joins the podcast to discuss his foreword in Willmoore Kendall's newly re-published book, The Conservative Affirmation. Continue Reading »
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