Various

No-fault divorce changed the American culture of marriage. So did the sexual revolution. Now proponents of gay rights are redefining marriage at an even more fundamental level. What’s to be done? As a post-biblical vision of sex, gender, and marriage gains the upper hand in our society, should our . . . . Continue Reading »

Dark Passages of the Bible: Engaging Scripture with Benedict XVI and Thomas Aquinasby matthew j. ramagecua, 312 pages, $39.95 Benedict XVI’s letter Verbum Domini refers to “dark passages” of the Old Testament that contradict the ethical teachings, monotheistic claims, or assertions . . . . Continue Reading »

DiscriminationEven though we disagree on gay marriage and on gay rights more generally, I admire R. R. Reno’s honesty and integrity in his writing about these issues, and I read what he says with care and appreciation. However, I was surprised by his dismissive remarks regarding the aims of . . . . Continue Reading »

The Future of Religious Freedom: Global Challengesedited by allen d. hertzke  oxford, 386 pages, $29.95 In matters of religious freedom, we seem to be living in the best and the worst of times. The best, because an abstract, propositional assent to religious freedom as a fundamental human right . . . . Continue Reading »

Should We Live Forever? The Ethical Ambiguities of Aging by gilbert meilaender eerdmans, 135 pages, $18 An esteemed Protestant ethicist (and First Things advisor and contributor) has here an extended essay that is at turns philosophical, literary, and biblical, and is throughout humane. Drawing . . . . Continue Reading »

Jesus in IslamIn “Jesus the Muslim Hippie” (December), Gabriel Said Reynolds demonstrates the dissonance within the Muslim community between what the Qur’an says about Jesus and what later Muslims wrote about him. This helpful distinction notwithstanding, his article fails to . . . . Continue Reading »

Love and Salt: A Spiritual Friendship Shared in Letters by amy andrews and jessica mesman griffith loyola, 324 pages, $14.95Over the course of three years, Amy Andrews and Jessica Mesman Griffith wrote each other what were, for a while, daily letters. This regular exchange began as a Lenten . . . . Continue Reading »

PhariseesIn “Marriage Matters” (“Public Square,” November), R. R. Reno wondered how such a display of “public” immorality—same-sex marriage—could be greeted without comment. He worried that, in the presence of a gay married couple, acting as if . . . . Continue Reading »

Work–Life Imbalance I agree with Elizabeth Corey (“No Happy Harmony,” October) that there will always be conflict between motherhood and career, but I don’t agree with her reasons. She contrasts the leisure needed for love of children with the self-culture needed for the pursuit . . . . Continue Reading »

Contemplative Provocations: Brief, Concentrated Observations on Aspects of a Life with God by fr. donald haggerty ignatius, 200 pages, $16.95 This book of spiritual guidance is concerned with the way in which the spiritual life is “a path of paradox,” a deepening yearning for a God who . . . . Continue Reading »