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Historical Depravity

From First Thoughts

Messiah College history professor John Fea writes about human depravity and its implications for studying the past on The Anxious Bench : The historian Herbert Butterfield informed us that “if there is any region in which the bright empire of the theologians and the more murky territory of . . . . Continue Reading »

Jean Bethke Elshtain on Judging

From First Thoughts

As readers likely know by now, the eminent University of Chicago professor and political philosopher Jean Bethke Elshtain will deliver our annual Erasmus Lecture  on Monday, October 8. Her topic is the “Nature and Meaning of Loyalty.” I’ve been preparing for the event by . . . . Continue Reading »

Mormonism and Politicized Religion

From First Thoughts

Robert P. George yesterday wrote about the phone calls allegedly made by the group Catholics for Obama to ask voters questions like “How can you vote for a Mormon who does not believe in Jesus Christ?” The Obama campaign denies the charges, according to an editor’s note in . . . . Continue Reading »

(In)civility and Moral Progress

From First Thoughts

The Family Scholars blog has recently hosted a long discussion on civility with many of its resident writers. (Here are early contributions from Barry Deutsch , Amy Ziettlow , Ralph Lewis , Elizabeth Marquardt , and  Fannie ; for others, visit the blog .) Their conversation spurred me to think . . . . Continue Reading »

Defining ‘Evangelical’

From First Thoughts

In a post highly relevant to James R. Rogers’ recent On the Square column “The Definition of ‘Evangelical,’”  Timothy Dalrymple joins the discussion over how to define who’s an Evangelical Christian. He mentions two prominent attempts at definitions that I . . . . Continue Reading »

The Many Victims of Drones

From First Thoughts

We’ve discussed drones on this blog before, generally agreeing that killing enemy combatants with unmanned drones can be morally legitimate but leery about their seemingly indiscriminate use. A new report called ” Living Under Drones” serves as further proof that our leeriness is justified. . . . . Continue Reading »