“Music,” writes Roger Scruton (Soul of the World, 175) “addresses us from beyond the borders of the natural world” and thus “requires us to respond to a subjectivity that lies beyond the world of objects, in a space of its own.” It’s one of the intimations . . . . Continue Reading »
At the heart of Scruton’s Soul of the World is a plea for a “cognitive dualism” that he sets in opposition to all “nothing but” reductionisms - music is nothing but sounds, painting nothing but pigments on canvas, the world nothing but matter in motion, humans . . . . Continue Reading »
The sacred is Janus-faced, writes Roger Scruton in Soul of the World(15): “Sacred objects, words, animals, ceremonies, places all seem to stand at the horizon of our world, looking out to that which is not of this world, because it belongs in the sphere of the divine, and looking also . . . . Continue Reading »
Keith Darden writes in Foreign Affairsthat the main problem in Ukraine is not Russia but Ukraine.It’s dangerous to ignore the fact that Russia is exploiting divisions that have existed in Ukraine for a long time: “inattention to Ukraine’s internal demons reflects a dangerous . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus is the greater Jacob who rolls away a great stone to offer water to the world. Further reflections at the Trinity . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus relished a good argument, and so did the Buddha. That is the premise of Michael Collender’s To End All Suffering. Collender relishes a good argument too, and he mounts one. He thinks that Buddhist-Christian dialogues ought to give way to something their founders’ would have . . . . Continue Reading »
I reflect on Shakespeare and the Christian notion of tragedy over at the Colson . . . . Continue Reading »
Discussing his book Christianophobiaat the fathom journal, TLS religion editor Rupert Shortt suggests that there is a “hierarchy of victimhood” according to which “it’s just not very fashionable to be a persecuted Christian.” Shortt suggests . . . . Continue Reading »
In 1863, James H. Hackett sent a copy of his Notes and Comments upon Certain Plays and Actors of Shakespeare to the White House. Abraham Lincoln wrote a note of thanks and revealed his Shakespearean reading habits. He had read some “as frequently as any unprofessional reader,” . . . . Continue Reading »
No sooner is David anointed to be Saul’s successor than he starts plundering the king’s house.His victory over Goliath wins the admiration of the women of Israel, who praise him more highly than they praise Saul.Jonathan recognizes that David will be the next king, and he strips off the . . . . Continue Reading »
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