Joe Carter

Patheos has an excellent interview with sociologist and historian of religion Rodney Stark. As with anything from Stark, it’s difficult to choose just one section to quote. But here’s the core of his claim:When I was very young, there was a Protestant mainline and they . . . . Continue Reading »

1. How many books are there in the world? 129,864,880 °°°°°° 2. How a Bach Canon Works °°°°°° 3. John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” Animated °°°°°° 4. Beethoven’s 5th: The Animated Score Click here to get a PDF . . . . Continue Reading »

[Note: Every Friday on First Thoughts we host a discussion about some aspect of pop culture. Today’s theme is “Renaissance woman” lists. Have a suggestion for a topic? Send them to me at jcarter@firstthings.com.] After posting the list of  ” 50 Things a Man Should Be . . . . Continue Reading »

A new international study of healing prayer published in the Southern Medical Journa l suggests that prayer for another person’s healing can be effective if the one praying is physically near the person being prayed for: Subjects exhibited improved hearing and vision that was statistically . . . . Continue Reading »

If there was any doubt that Judge Vaughn Walker would allow his personal views of homosexuality trump legal reasoning, he removed that with his ruling today overturning California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Fortunately, the reasoning is so jaw-droppingly stupid that it will be overturned on . . . . Continue Reading »

Disappointing, though not really surprising, news out of California : A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a California ban on same-sex marriages as unconstitutional, handing a key victory to gay rights advocates in a politically charged decision almost certain to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. . . . . Continue Reading »

The great English abolitionist and statesman William Wilberforce once asked, And, sir, when we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice, the laws . . . . Continue Reading »

On May 6, during a a speech to the Catholic Community Conferences, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: They ask me all the time, ‘What is your favorite this? What is your favorite that? What is your favorite that?’ And one time, ‘What is your favorite word?’ And I said, ‘My . . . . Continue Reading »

As I was sitting alone in the cafeteria one afternoon, far from home, overwhelmed and lonely on a campus of 20,000 students, an older student walked up, smiled, and asked if he could join me. He took a seat as I prepared to engage him in a heady discussion of politics, philosophy, science. Thrilled to have the company, I was mentally preparing for anything he threw at me… . Continue Reading »

Overheard at a local shopping mall: Jan: “Marsha! How are you girl? I haven’t seen you in ages.” Marsha: “Hey Jan, you’re looking great. How’ve you been?” Jan: “Just peachy. Hey, guess what? I’m going to have a fetus! ” Marsha (excited): . . . . Continue Reading »