At one time the website Front Porch Republic stood as a shining light, celebrating an open and public discussion of the limits of government, the intrinsic necessity of conceiving of ‘place’ in the human drama, and the acknowledgement of ‘liberty’ as a requirement . . . . Continue Reading »
1. Why do we hate modern classical music? The highest-priced painting in history is Jackson Pollock’s swirlingly abstract No 5, 1948, which sold in 2006 for $140m. Tycoons and emirs covet avant garde architects. James Joyce’s Ulysses inspires worldwide drinking parties every 16 June. . . . . Continue Reading »
A friend and I have been corresponding, covering lots of different topics, but lately focusing on the Reformation. A question came up. Did the Reformation need to happen? I don’t like that question (and I told my friend so), because “necessary” and “unnecessary” tend . . . . Continue Reading »
In Light of the World , Benedict “speaks extensively on issues related to Israel and the Jewish world, confirming his unwavering personal commitment to both,” writes a Jerusalem Post writer, surveying his statements about Jewish issues in the book. The New Criterion describes the NEH vs . . . . Continue Reading »
Here is a fair-and-balanced review: Peter Lawler is today’s wisest guide through the conceptual thicket of dignity, virtue, and democracy in America. His usual wit and charm are on display in this new book, a tour of technology and tradition, faith and freedom. Lawler doesn’t flinch from . . . . Continue Reading »
In today’s second “ On the Square ” article, Peter J. Leithart points out that what poets have always seen in love (“It’s a burning thing”) can be appreciated by theologians with equal attention—a lesson available to us since the Fall of our first parents. Most . . . . Continue Reading »
Many of us already suspect that many non science—and some scientist—boosters of GWH are ideological quasi religious fundamentalists. The religion’s dogma seeks to punish the rich West for the sins of our forebears by redistributing wealth and stopping our economies in their . . . . Continue Reading »
We all knew that when Stanley Hauerwas, a post-Constantinian if there ever was one, was given the opportunity to review Peter Leithart’s book Defending Constantine , things were going to get ugly. For a pacifist, Hauerwas sure can get rhetorically violent. Here is an excerpt from . . . . Continue Reading »
Distinguished sociologist Peter Berger defends what he regards as American civil religion, the first commandment of which is (he says) “Thou shalt be tolerant!” He takes as his text this story about an interfaith Thanksgiving service in suburban Westchester, New York. In the . . . . Continue Reading »
In today’s first “On the Square” article, David Hart reflects on the reality of holiness and the places we find it. “The wonderful thing about holiness, when you really encounter it, is that it testifies to itself,” he writes in The Abbot and Aunt Susie . This is . . . . Continue Reading »
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