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Seeing Calvinism from the Inside

From First Thoughts

David and Collin , I think the connection between Calvinism and the Baptist heritage is more than just about historical overlap. The question of just how much those two categories really overlap in history is very hotly contested, but that’s not the only reason to bring other dimensions into . . . . Continue Reading »

Re: Negative Reviews

From First Thoughts

Micah , I’m fascinated by this discussion of negative book reviews. I had taken it for granted that the reviewer’s task is to evaluate—making allowances for reasonable differences of opinion and taste, of course, and trying to be of service to a diverse population of book-buyers . . . . Continue Reading »

Re: Ayn Rand Really, Really Hated…

From First Thoughts

Matthew , what I find most fascinating about those Randinalia is how they reveal her irrationality. Her responses are not even remotely tracking the actual content of Lewis’ argument; they’re more like conditioned reflexes than reasoning. It’s clear that she perceives . . . . Continue Reading »

Redating Lewis’ Conversion?

From First Thoughts

I have to question Alister McGrath’s insistence (linked in this morning’s First Links ) that the date of C.S. Lewis’ conversion “clearly needs review.” Lewis recounted in his autobiography Surprised by Joy that he converted to theism—not Christianity, . . . . Continue Reading »

Re: Re-Stigmatizing Wealth

From First Thoughts

Anna , as a general matter, changes in social stigmas tend to be the results of changes in underlying social conditions more than their causes . The vanishing stigma on divorce, illegitimacy, etc., which you mention, is one case in point. To some extent a reduction in the stigma preceded the change . . . . Continue Reading »

Re: It’s the Culture

From First Thoughts

R.R. Reno’s article about the culture war today—-that the Democrats are becoming the party of culture war, a transition confirmed by the decreasing power of economic interests in the party—-is further confirmed by this observation: The Republicans are becoming the party . . . . Continue Reading »