B. D. McClay

Bob Dylan : Donovan :: Scotch : Bourbon, Stephen H. Webb asserts in today’s  On the Square : There are many imitators of Dylan (and many types of bourbon that aim at scotch’s greatness), but you cannot fake peaty stench or smoke-aged vocal cords. Think about how a beauty mark can . . . . Continue Reading »

Is Jesus a Baptist? Not really—but he’s not a Catholic either. In today’s  On the Square , Timothy George considers the need for “particularity in the service of unity” and gives a thoughtful articulation of why he is a Baptist despite also believing . . . . Continue Reading »

Some aren’t great at all, but we love them anyway. In today’s On the Square ,  R. R. Reno considers the books that are not great, maybe not even good, but nonetheless of tremendous personal importance: Some books are great:  Middlemarch  by George Eliot, for example, or . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s  On the Square ,  Wesley J. Smith wants you to know that he is not anti-science, despite what his critics might claim . Quite the contrary, in fact. He’s pro-science, but also pro-ethics: Debate adversaries are called “anti-science” most commonly during . . . . Continue Reading »

Rising Republican stars, like Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan, support more open immigration policies. But not Pete Spiliakos : A further increase in low-skill workers would tend to drive down the wages of a population that is already struggling. Why would Democrats, who gain a disproportionate share of . . . . Continue Reading »

If you’ve been on pins and needles waiting for the conclusion of the Great C. S. Lewis Conversion Debate , wait no longer! Andrew Lazo has the answer in today’s  On the Square : By pulling together these various strands, we can now craft a definitive timeline. In 1930, Trinity Term . . . . Continue Reading »

We’ve just received this request in our inbox: To the literaries at First Things : If some of you are familiar with the writing of Larry Woiwode—could you recommend me, perchance, to what you consider his finest novel in terms of artistry and articulation of the Christian vision, if . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s  On the Square , George Weigel provides a few apt quotes to get you through your Wednesday. Here’s a sample: Getting the conversation started properly: “How doth truth prosper in thy parts?” (an old Quaker greeting). Read the rest here . . . . . Continue Reading »

In his piece for today’s  On the Square ,  Aaron Taylor argues that Francis and Benedict’s comments on gay priests are part of “a robust commitment to defending the dignity of all people.” Gay Catholic men are not called to be priests merely because they are . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s  On the Square ,  Bishop Conley discusses how Ariel Castro’s pornography addiction contributed to the dulling of his moral sense: Ariel Castro belongs in prison. Last week, he was sentenced to serve more than one thousand years. But despite the depths of his . . . . Continue Reading »