Various

Thinking About Abortion The conclusion of James Davison Hunter’s article, “What Americans Really Think About Abortion” (June/July), shows clearly why the abortion issue has become for us Americans a “regime question.” For in addition to every individual horror that has been authorized by . . . . Continue Reading »

Byzantium: The Apogee by John Julius Norwich Knopf, 389 pages, $30  John Julius Norwich is a good storyteller and Byzantine history is filled with lively tales of palace intrigue, nepotism, treachery, assassinations, arranged marriages, perfidious ambassadors, ambitious generals, sieges of . . . . Continue Reading »

June 17, 1948 Recent decisions of the Supreme Court have extended the meaning of the constitutional prohibition of an establishment of religion so that any action by the state that is intended to benefit all religious bodies without discrimination is forbidden. This development of the conception of . . . . Continue Reading »

Tithing for the Poor The question, “What Should We Do About the Poor?” (April), is at least as old as the Bible. The real question, or perhaps more aptly stated, the real problem has more to do with the manner of our response. Private social responsibility has been increasingly replaced with . . . . Continue Reading »

Judas Iscariot and the Myth of Jewish Evil by Hyam Maccoby Free Press, 213 pages, $22.95  Maccoby is noted, or notorious, for his argument, made here once again, that anti-Semitism is inherent in Christian faith. Judas Iscariot, he claims, is for Christians the demonic symbol of Judaism, which . . . . Continue Reading »

The Democracy Reader: Classic And Modern Speeches, Essays, Poems, Declarations And Documents On Freedom And Human Rights Worldwide edited by Diane Ravitch and Abigail Thernstrom  HarperCollins, 330 pages, $35  A very useful anthology of almost a hundred readings. Regrettably, the . . . . Continue Reading »

The Question of Anti-Semitism  I enjoyed very much reading the editorial “Jews, Christians, and Anti-Semitism” (March), imbued as it is with a generosity of spirit and deep faith . . . . I appreciated the clarifying statement that to care about Jews and Judaism is to care about Israel. . . . . Continue Reading »

The AIDS Debate Although basically an enthusiastic reader of First Things, I find the editors’ incessant bashing of the liberal straw man somewhat tedious. At times it seems that polemical zeal overtakes astute social commentary. One prime example of this [unfortunate] manner of social analysis . . . . Continue Reading »

With so many translations and study aids available, clergy and literate laity must from time to time make a decision about which edition of the Bible to adopt as their daily working edition. The Oxford Study Bible is a very strong candidate indeed. Its chief merit is the accuracy and . . . . Continue Reading »

Accuracy in Media? Among the first things that First Things is surely committed to are accuracy and fairness. Richard John Neuhaus’ references to my September keynote address at the Future of the American Church Conference in Washington, D.C. (The Public Square, January) fail on both counts. It . . . . Continue Reading »