Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

Annual Slovak Seminar on Free Society

From First Thoughts

For students interested in joining lights such as Michael Novak, Robert Royal, Bill Saunders, Joe Wood, and Fr. Derek Cross in eastern Slovakia to explore the political, economic, and moral-cultural dimensions of free society in the thought of Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II, the Federalist . . . . Continue Reading »

The Hook-Up Culture’s One-Way Street

From First Thoughts

Frank Bruni, the New York Times ’ first openly homosexual columnist, has written a surprising piece entitled “ The Bleaker Sex ,” in which he laments the emotional and physical damages many women experience as a result of embracing the “awkward emotional fit” of so-called . . . . Continue Reading »

Eugenics April

From First Thoughts

This Spring, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has before it an unprecedented number of court cases relating directly to abortion. And because the principles established by the ECHR obtain for 47 member states, Europe will see cases settled that are uniquely decisive for human dignity and . . . . Continue Reading »

Corky Is A Person

From First Thoughts

Writing for the Weekly Standard , Wesley Smith speculates about the imminent legal recognition of nonhuman personhood: For years, animal rights activists have been preparing the intellectual ground to overcome the “animals aren’t persons” legal impediment to their goal of allowing . . . . Continue Reading »

What Should Christians Do?

From First Thoughts

Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, answers what GetReligion finds to be a revealing litmus test: “Would the powers that be in mass media have dared to approve x, y, or z if this particular advertisement, comedy routine, cartoon, Broadway show, movie, music video or whatever had . . . . Continue Reading »

Library of Law and Liberty Listening

From First Thoughts

For those traveling this weekend or otherwise disposed to listening, the Library of Law and Liberty makes available nearly all of its audio content. To give you an idea, below is an excerpt introducing a podcast featuring Russell Hittinger on Jacques Maritain’s Scholasticsm and Politics : . . . . Continue Reading »

Marilynne Robinson and Neuroaesthetics

From First Thoughts

George Walden, writing for Standpoint , has written a probing critique of the precocious widening influence of neuroscience. Who knew advances made with the fMRI, technology only twenty-two years old, could affect literary criticism? Marilynne Robinson warns against the reductionism all this can . . . . Continue Reading »

The New Translation’s Effect

From First Thoughts

Reflecting on the current state of affairs after several months of the new translation of the Mass, it’s interesting remembering the divergent expectations. Some looked forward to it for various reasons, many were probably indifferent. But some were rather suspicious : In the weeks and months . . . . Continue Reading »