Positive Chastity

Readers of First Things who are teachers and administrators at secular colleges know what happens in formal and informal discussions of student conduct when someone mentions the word “chastity.” Continue Reading »

Pentecostalism and the Question of Culture

In a recent article for Christianity Today, Ed Stetzer offers some sociological analysis as to why Pentecostals continue to experience growth despite trends of decline or stagnation among many forms of Christianity. His three reasons coalesce around the distinctive Pentecostal doctrine of a baptism . . . . Continue Reading »

Nicholas Kristof’s Argument for Sterilization

Nearly a century ago, Margaret Sanger promoted birth control as a way to put an end to poverty. That meant educating the poor in its methods. But she knew that this would be successful only to a certain degree. There’s a significant portion of society, made up of “irresponsible and reckless ones having little regard for the consequences of their acts, or whose religious scruples prevent their exercising control over their numbers. Many of this group are diseased, feeble-minded, and are of the pauper element dependent upon the normal and fit members of society for their support. There is no doubt in the minds of all thinking people that the procreation of this group should be stopped.” Continue Reading »

What We’ve Been Reading (& Listening To)

St. Aelred of Rievaulx’s Spiritual Friendship has been getting a lot of attention recently, and justifiably so. Friendship—close, intimate friendship—always deserves our time and attention. A few things stood out to me as I read this short treatise.First, Aelred’s insistence that friendship is eternal: “Friendship is indeed everlasting. Hence a friend loves always.” Friendship’s aim extends beyond this world to heaven, for “the true and eternal friendship that begins here is perfected there.” Continue Reading »