First Things

A Letter from Rusty

Dear Readers, Supporters, and Friends,

There's still time to contribute to the mission of First Things. Continue Reading »

What You May Not Know about First Things

You may have read Randy Boyagoda’s fine biography of Richard John Neuhaus, our fearless founder. You may know that First Things was begun in 1990 to explore questions of religion and society in the English-speaking world, and that the print journal comes out ten times a year. You might even have . . . . Continue Reading »

First Things, a Lifeline

Ideas have consequences. They are also vehicles of truth, and of uplift. Continue Reading »

South Park, First Things, and the Need for a ‘Safe' Place

Why First Things is needed — and worthy of your support. Continue Reading »

The Value of First Things: Three Communications

I like First Things because it’s smart.” That’s what one journalist wrote to me awhile back. Before that, another one told me of a group of journalists and editors who pay close attention to . . . . Continue Reading »

Photos of the 25th Anniversary Dinner and Discussion Panel

On Tuesday, May 19, we had a special dinner at the Union League Club in New York to celebrate our silver anniversary.  Continue Reading »

Consider Supporting First Things

I am not paid to write for the First Things blog. I write for it because I believe its vision and its voice are of vital importance at this time. In the public square, both left and right have generally degenerated to the level of shouting angry soundbites and indulging in bitter recrimination. The . . . . Continue Reading »

May the Conversation Continue

At almost every event we hold in the office of First Things, I end up speaking with a college student who expresses a deep gratitude for this magazine. I can relate.Throughout my undergraduate years, First Things provided a vantage point from which to understand the intellectual trends and fads that . . . . Continue Reading »

Can You Support First Things?

Dear Reader,We've launched our spring fundraising campaign. Some of you have received letters from me asking for your support. That's been a great way to reach our regular readers, but some connect with us the way I'm doing so right now—by way bits and bites. Thus my electronic solicitation. Our . . . . Continue Reading »

Of Magazines and Communities

On March 7, 2015, Randy Boyagoda of Ryerson College, R. R. Reno of First Things, and Raymond de Souza and Peter Stockland of Convivium, discussed the legacy of Richard John Neuhaus and the life of magazines in a panel discussion hosted at St-Jean-Baptiste parish of Dominican University College in Ottawa, Ontario. What follows is a selected transcript of their remarks. Continue Reading »