I Depart from the Masthead of First Things

[Spengler]

I Depart from the Masthead of First Things on the Spengler Blog


by David P. Goldman


As of February 28, my position as Senior Editor at First Things will end. Such is the publishing world: the challenge of producing a well-printed book of nearly a hundred pages in a world of sound-bites and digital images compels the journal to undertake major economies. I've been invited to contributed free-lance in the future and plan to do so.

I've been on leave since Thanksgiving writing a book which, God willing, should be out this summer.

Many thanks to all the many contributors to this forum.

[madafonos]

Appreciate heads-up and thus explanation re: content drought at 1T. Sometimes, it's not easy being a lightning rod, especially in cash-strapped 'industry'.

Many thanks and best wishes / blessings for continuing success, in any/all endeavors and venues.

m

[ChaimF3]

I see that First Things aimed at shooting itself in the foot, missed, and shot itself in the brain instead.

To be sure, we are comforted by the (hopefully regular) pieces that he will write for First Things. But what cannot even begin to be replaced is the array of first class writers that he brought in. Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Rabbi Shalom Carmy, and Rabbi Dr. Michael Wyschogrod all brought luminous and distinctive voices to the journal. That range and depth will be sorely missed.

Rabbi Chaim Frazer

[Marcus]

Rabbi,

With all due respect, sir, not by me . . missed, that is. As a Christian, I simply won't tolerate, with my subscription dollars, articles like "No Friend In Jesus." While there is assuredly a place in the public square for the Jewish voice, it is not on the pages of First Things.

Could you perhaps steer me to a Jewish magazine or Web site?

Best regards,
Marcus

[Richard Greene]

I've been on leave since Thanksgiving writing a book which, God willing, should be out this summer.

YES!

[Richard Greene]

Rabbi,

With all due respect, sir, not by me . . missed, that is. As a Christian, I simply won't tolerate, with my subscription dollars, articles like "No Friend In Jesus." While there is assuredly a place in the public square for the Jewish voice, it is not on the pages of First Things.

Could you perhaps steer me to a Jewish magazine or Web site?

Best regards,
Marcus

Last I checked, Jesus was a Jew, born of Jewish parents, who preached to fellow Jews, whose first 10,000 followers were all Jews, whose disciples were Jews, whose apostles, chief of which was Shaul of Tarsus, were all Jews, and whose biography is contained in scriptures written by Jews. And, oh, BTW, 95%+ of Jesus' ethical teachings were Jewish. Judaism doesn't involve Christianity in its narrative; Christianity is a narrative of Jewish origin. You can't escape those facts, Marcus.

[Marcus]

Last I checked, Jesus was a Jew, born of Jewish parents, who preached to fellow Jews, whose first 10,000 followers were all Jews, whose disciples were Jews, whose apostles, chief of which was Shaul of Tarsus, were all Jews, and whose biography is contained in scriptures written by Jews. And, oh, BTW, 95%+ of Jesus' ethical teachings were Jewish. Judaism doesn't involve Christianity in its narrative; Christianity is a narrative of Jewish origin. You can't escape those facts, Marcus.

I couldn't agree more, Richard, nor have I any inclination to forget all that.

"Gentle Reader,—I have for some length of time looked upon it as a duty incumbent, especially on the immediate successors of those that have had so large experience of those many memorable and signal demonstrations of God's goodness, viz., the first beginners of this Plantation in New England, to commit to writing his gracious dispensations on that behalf; having so many inducements thereunto, not onely otherwise but so plentifully in the Sacred Scriptures: that so, what we have seen, and what our fathers have told us (Psalm lxxviii. 3, 4), we may not hide from our children, showing to the generations to come the praises of the Lord; that especially the seed of Abraham his servant, and the children of Jacob his chosen (Psalm cv. 5, 6), may remember his marvellous works in the beginning and progress of the planting of New England, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth; how that God brought a vine into this wilderness; that he cast out the heathen, and planted it; that he made room for it and caused it to take deep root; and it filled the land (Psalm lxxx. 8, 9). And not onely so, but also that he hath guided his people by his strength to his holy habitation and planted them in the mountain of his inheritance in respect of precious Gospel enjoyments: and that as especially God may have the glory of all unto whom it is most due; so also some rays of glory may reach the names of those blessed Saints that were the main instruments and the beginning of this happy enterprise."

—quoted from Democracy In America

[Victor]

Many thanks to all the many contributors to this forum.

For what "IT" is worth, this Christian will miss your patience with me and so will sinfull vic and we skit sos would like to wish you all the best in your new endevors.

God Bless

[Walter Sobchak]

I am sorry, I hope that this transition hurts neither your purse, nor your pride. I look forward to the book, and will read your columns and posts at atimes.

[ChaimF3]

David,

Will you be retaining the Spengler Forum, which has been unified with First Things and Asian Times?

If so, how do First Things readers continue to access it?

Rabbi Chaim Frazer

[Frodo]

Many thanks and best wishes.

Could you let us know more about the book?

[Simple Minded]

Good luck Spengler!

How about some more info on the forthcoming book?

[Ehud]

David,

I look forward to following your writings and interviews wherever they may be.

Ehud

[Booklady]

David,

Will you be retaining the Spengler Forum, which has been unified with First Things and Asian Times?

If so, how do First Things readers continue to access it?

Rabbi Chaim Frazer

Dear Rabbi Frazer, our Spengler continues to write for Asia Times Online (ATOl) and his essays are discussed at his Forum there, The Spengler Expat Bar. You are most welcome to join us in discussing Spengler's ideas and essays. I have been following Spengler's essays since 2005 or so, so I understand how difficult it is to let go. There's something about Spengler!

[Marcus]

. . You are most welcome to join us in discussing Spengler's ideas and essays . .

Thanks, Booklady, for that bit of news, but since I've been banned from over there—no explanation, no reason given—I've taken myself to more agreeable environs—less arbitrary, less heavy-handed.

For any interested, the great majority of the old bunch that used to post on the Spengler forum at ATOL are now assembled at the Diegetics forum, so feel free to check it out and join us in discussing a broad range of ideas and subject matter in a very free and open manner.