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First Links — 2.29.12

From First Thoughts

Colorado Debates Public Funding for Circumcision Naomi Zeveloff,  Jewish Daily Forward Scholasticism and Political Freedom: An Interview Russell Hittinger, Liberty Law Site Anglicans Seek a Quiet Strength Alan Cowell, New York Times Nostalgia is the Enemy of Faith Collin Hansen, The Gospel . . . . Continue Reading »

Leaping Out of Secular Time

From First Thoughts

Today is “Leap Day,” a curio of calendrical planning. There is actually more to the day than one might expect. Some of February 29th’s oft-forgotten ‘traditions,’ particularly those relating to marriage, are of genuine origin and have left an interesting, albeit . . . . Continue Reading »

Infanticide Moves Off the Fringe

From First Thoughts

In virtually every debate over the ethics of abortion, both sides have at least been able to agree on the timetable under consideration. Whatever debaters termed the status of the fetus in utero , a bright line has been drawn at birth. Though arbitrary, this distinction has gone largely, perhaps . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 2.28.12

From First Thoughts

Boys Town Founder to Be Named ‘Servant of God’ Kevin J. Jones, Catholic News Agency The Hypocrisy of Israel Boycotts Evelyn Gordon, Commentary Iranian Pastor Still Alive, Execution Looming Lisa Daftari, Fox News How Title IX Hurts Female Athletes Linda Flanagan & Susan H. Greenberg, . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 2.27.12

From First Thoughts

Priest “Fired” for Refusing to Use New Translation Tim Townsend, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Marriage Referendum Drive Begins in Maryland Michael Dresser, Baltimore Sun The Reign of the Eggheads Daniel Ben-Ami, Spiked Review of Books Santorum Benefiting from Mistaken Religious Identity? . . . . Continue Reading »

The Scale of the Universe

From First Thoughts

Dr. Steven M. Barr sends us a link to this interactive feature , which attempts to convey some sense of the scale of the universe from the galactic to the quantum level. Check it out for a dizzying reminder of both our own stature and the intricacies which surround us. . . . . Continue Reading »

More on the End of Secularism

From First Thoughts

Speaking of prominent British non-Christians defending Christianity (and the role of religion in society more broadly), the UK’s chief rabbi, Lord Sacks, recently published a long-form essay in  Standpoint Magazine  on “the limits of secularism.” It’s a . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 2.24.12

From First Thoughts

A Non-Catholic’s Guide to Lenten Weirdness Simcha Fisher, National Catholic Register Not Just Santorum Believes in Satan—Most Americans Do, Too David Kuo & Patton Dodd, Washington Post What is It Like to Be a Libertarian? Richard Brody, The New Yorker The Hollywood Starlet Who Left . . . . Continue Reading »

The Public Appeal of Ash Wednesday

From First Thoughts

Lauren Winner, author of several popular books on spirituality, writes in the Washington Post about the essentially public nature of Ash Wednesday: “This is a rare day when I cannot and could not hide my Christian commitments and my Christian aspirations, even if I wanted to.” As she . . . . Continue Reading »