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Reasons to Love New York

From First Thoughts

If the fact that First Things is produced here weren’t reason enough to love New York, New York Magazine suggests some others, including this one : Pregnant women in New York know how to tough it out in the city, even to the point of giving birth at the subway . . . . . Continue Reading »

Advent in Music

From First Thoughts

Thanks to Michael Linton for passing along this interesting piece on seven antiphons of Advent in music: They’re sung one per day, at the Magnificat during vespers. They are very ancient, and extraordinarily rich in references to the prophecies of the Messiah. Their initials form an acrostic. . . . . Continue Reading »

Three Complementarities

From First Thoughts

Today on our homepage you’ll find a lovely essay by Michael Novak on science and religion. This is the first of three pieces he’s written featuring pair of complementarities; the others are Man and Woman, and Truth and Freedom—both of which will be published here on the First . . . . Continue Reading »

Remembering Avery Cardinal Dulles

From First Thoughts

In another fine essay of remembrance for Avery Cardinal Dulles, George Weigel writes : Avery Dulles was a self-consciously ecclesial theologian, who made a deliberate decision to “think with the church.” Some imagined this a form of conservatism; if it was (and such labels really . . . . Continue Reading »

Setting Fire to the Freedom of Religion

From First Thoughts

Last Friday evening , Wasilla Bible Church was set fire while several people and two children were inside. The church, which gained national media attention during the presidential campaign as having once been attended by Gov. Sarah Palin, has suffered at least one million dollars in damage due to . . . . Continue Reading »

Faith & Fertility

From First Thoughts

In the latest issue of Intelligent Life , Anthony Gottlieb offers an interesting commentary on the correlation of faith and fertility in populations today: Earlier this year a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that nearly three quarters of American adults professed the . . . . Continue Reading »

Bringing you the Best

From First Thoughts

Among the New York Times ’ Ten Best Books of 2008 appears Nothing to Be Frightened Of by Julian Barnes—a book which FT features editor R.R. Reno has reviewed in an excellent article to appear in the forthcoming January 2009 issue of First Things . Don’t want to keep your nose to . . . . Continue Reading »

More on More

From First Thoughts

In today’s Daily Article , Michael Foley thoughtfully reports on a recent conference on the trial of St. Thomas More. For more reading on this great man and his lasting legacy, check out the fine review by Amanda Shaw and Nathaniel Peters on Broadway’s Man for All Seasons . . . . . Continue Reading »