First Links — 5.11.12

Population Change is Reversing Secularism Eric Kaufmann, AEI Pope Formally Proclaims Sainthood of Hildegard von Bingen Catholic Culture Washington’s Iconic ‘Jewish Letter’ to Be Displayed Paul Berger, Jewish Daily Forward “Evangelical” Catholicism? Micah Murphy, Truth . . . . Continue Reading »

Knowing Your Place

1. Wendell Berry’s example of a man who really knows his place in the Jefferson lecture is the farmer whose horizon doesn’t extend beyond the field behind his barn. 2. That doesn’t apply to Berry himself, but he has hung around his small-town part of Kentucky most of his life. 3. . . . . Continue Reading »

Archaeology’s New Digs

Israeli archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel announced earlier this week several findings which may contribute toward a positive case for the veracity of biblical history, in particular the question of whether a centralized Israelite kingdom existed during the era of the biblically purported King David. . . . . Continue Reading »

Job Was A Real Person

Or so argues Fr. Ryan Erlenbush in a post at the New Theological Movement : There is nothing in the description of the figure of Job which would make us think that he was not an historical person. Indeed, though one may hold that the various dialogues and discussions in the book of Job are stylized . . . . Continue Reading »

On the Square Today

Russell E. Saltzman on the residue of death : The dead are not really dead. They hang around to pester us. Not as ghosts, no; I don’t believe in ghosts. Nor do I mean the dead “live on” in our memory and in our hearts, nor even necessarily—as I’ve noted before—that . . . . Continue Reading »

90 Becomes 8

In response to Georgetown University’s invitation of Kathleen Sebelius to a commencement weekend ceremony, outgoing professor Patrick Deneen has circulated a letter of protest among the faculty: Calling the invitation to speak on commencement day “one of the greatest honors that a . . . . Continue Reading »

Repressive Desublimation

One disadvantage to living in the sticks not emphasized by the Porchers is that it deprives the blogger of being able to provide cutting-edge analysis of new films. So I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t seen Whit Stillman’s DAMSELS IN DISTRESS yet. That doesn’t prevent me from . . . . Continue Reading »