Sean Curnyn

Hmmm. I take Jennifer Bryson’s point, via Nathaniel Peters , that in his speech President Obama used more precise and defensible terms than “the Muslim world.” Yet, by addressing “Muslim communities,” “Muslims around the world,” and “Muslim-majority . . . . Continue Reading »

All of the attention paid to President Barack Obama’s speech to Cairo—including to an extent the negative criticism—has played into the rather strange concept behind it all; that is, that the speech is in itself some kind of real act that will effect a sought-after real-world . . . . Continue Reading »

At any time, the act of joining the U.S. military is a statement, both real and implied, of one’s willingness to die for one’s country. However, in times of apparent peace, there can be no doubt that many who enlist do so for far more practical reasons and benefits and fervently hope . . . . Continue Reading »

The story is generating quite a bit of heat, and—who knows?—maybe some rays of light along with it. It’s the story of a pastor by the name of David Jones in San Diego, recently told by local authorities that he can’t host a small Bible study group in his home without getting . . . . Continue Reading »

On Saturday, September 27, 1997, during the Twenty-third Eucharistic Congress and as part of pope John Paul II’s pastoral visit to Bologna, there took place an outdoor event attended by some 300,000 people, featuring musical performances by Bob Dylan, in addition to certain Italian . . . . Continue Reading »

The Things That RemainDylan's Vision of Sin.by Christopher Ricks. Ecco  517 pp. $26.95reviewed by Sean CurnynIn October 1985, Bob Dylan was interviewed on television, and among the questions posed was this: “There have been times when born-again Christianity, orthodox Judaism, both of those . . . . Continue Reading »