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Symbolic War

From First Thoughts

Ukraine is at a crossroads, and not only symbolically, says Peter Leithart in his On the Square today. Stuck between the East and the West, between its recent past and its deeper past, the country has two competing iconographies: Christian and Soviet. When we come into the open, we’re standing . . . . Continue Reading »

Is the Pope a Radical?

From First Thoughts

Another voice has joined the fray in the aftermath of the Pope’s much-discussed interview. Pope Francis “is not a radical. He is something more interesting and unexpected both inside the church and out: a radical traditionalist,”  claims Mary Eberstadt in  Time . . . . . Continue Reading »

Why Casinos Matter

From First Thoughts

The Council on Casinos recently released a report titled “Why Casinos Matter” which highlights, among other things, the now pervasive presence of gambling in American life. Regional casinos, rather than resort casinos, are the norm: “In the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, nearly . . . . Continue Reading »

Upcoming Lecture: Faith and Intelligence

From First Thoughts

For readers in the New York City area: This coming Sunday, September 22, the Dominicans at St. Catherine’s are hosting Fr. Thomas Joseph White from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., for a lecture titled ” Faith and Intelligence: Why it is wise to . . . . Continue Reading »

What’s Really Wrong with Philosophy

From Web Exclusives

After the embarrassment of well-known philosopher of mind Colin McGinn for alleged inappropriate actions toward a female grad student, The Stone, a New York Times blog “for contemporary philosophers and other thinkers on issues both timely and timeless,” decided to host a series of articles on women in professional philosophy… . Continue Reading »

My Doubts About the Internet

From Web Exclusives

Humor site McSweeney’s Internet Tendency recently posted an article with this promise: “Our Internet Speeds Are So Fast You Will Lose Your Faith in God.” Finally, McSweeney’s says, that whole religion and science debate is dead; with the right technological gadgets, faith evaporates as nonessential metaphysical baggage. But rather than triumphantly defeating religion in a head to head battle, this high-speed Internet will just slowly drown out the religious impulse … Continue Reading »