Daniel Burge is Associate Editor of the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society and Coordinator of the KHS Research Fellowship Program at the Kentucky Historical Society. This interview is based on his new book, A Failed Vision of Empire: The Collapse […]
Archives for May 2022
What is popular this week at Current?
Here are the most popular features of the week at Current: Jen Glaze, “A Meditation on Doomscrolling, Picnics, and the Ukrainian-Russian Conflict“ Adam Jortner, “The Better Angels of Our Democracy“ Christopher Shannon, “Christian Nationalisms, Easter Risings“ Daniel K. Williams, “Abortion and […]
The Strange Bedfellows of Anti-Woke Alarmism
The confessions of a recovering culture warrior
The Author’s Corner with Brendan J. J. Payne
Brendan J. J. Payne is Assistant Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History at North Greenville University. This interview is based on his new book, Gin, Jesus, and Jim Crow: Prohibition and the Transformation of Racial and […]
Evangelical roundup for May 12, 2022
What is happening in Evangelical land? The New York Times reports on how Trumpism divided an Arkansas church. Veteran religion writer Terry Mattingly responds to the piece. Shane turning guns into tools: It appears that The New York Times is […]
“There Are Many Ways of Serving God”
The final installment of a series of meditations on Ignazio Silone’s Bread and Wine
The consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade
Michael Walther, a pro-life Catholic, can live with the consequences. But at least he is aware of them. Here is a taste of his piece at The New York Times: American society as we know it today came into being […]
Climate change at Jamestown
The National Trust for Historic Preservation just placed it on a list of the country’s most endangered places. Here is Michael Ruane at The Washington Post: The dig site where archaeologist Sean Romo has just found the ancient fragment of […]
Pennsylvania senator Bob Casey will vote to codify Roe v. Wade into law
Here is Amy Gang and Seung Min Kim at The Washington Post: Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. said Tuesday that he would support legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into law, a dramatic shift for one of the few remaining Democrats […]
Why Pennsylvania Democrats are hoping Christian nationalist Doug Mastriano gets the GOP nomination for governor
We have covered Mastriano before at this blog. Get up to speed on this guy here. Watch this piece by CNN: The Pennsylvania GOP knows that Mastriano will hurt them in the general election and are trying to stop him […]
Cultural change comes from networks, not individuals
How does cultural change happen? Here is writer and cultural analyst John Seel at Tri-State Voice: Christian leaders in the marketplace and in vocational ministry are uniquely “change agents”—they want to make a difference with their lives. However, almost all […]
The Author’s Corner with Matthew Dougherty
Matthew Dougherty is Assistant Professor of History at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. This interview is based on his book, Lost Tribes Found: Israelite Indians and Religious Nationalism in Early America (University of Oklahoma Press, […]
What Jane Addams Knew
Digital-age democrats have a new old friend. She lives at 808 S. Halsted St., Chicago.
The latest on sexual harassment at Liberty University
Fourteen women have sued Liberty University since July, accusing the school of a “long-standing pattern of mishandling sexual assaults.” Here is Josh Moody at Inside Higher Ed: Liberty University is under fire, facing a barrage of allegations that it mishandled […]
Pro-lifers attack pro-life Christian pregnancy centers
This is what happens when you mix anti-intellectual populism and the anti-abortion movement. Emily Belz reports at Christianity Today. Her editors have chosen a polite and civil title for her piece: “The Supreme Court Leak Was an Unplanned Complication for […]
The fight for the soul of Grove City College
A self-professed conservative Christian college has decided to turn its back on systemic racism and diversity. Here is Kathryn Post at Religion News Service: When Cedric Lewis came to Grove City College nine years ago, he was delighted to teach […]
The Author’s Corner with Thomas Alter
Thomas Alter is Assistant Professor of History at Texas State University. This interview is based on his new book, Toward a Cooperative Commonwealth: The Transplanted Roots of Farmer-Labor Radicalism in Texas (University of Illinois Press, 2022). JF: What led you […]
Smart people talking about abortion
First, let me call your attention to Current contributing editor Daniel K. Williams‘s piece today at The Atlantic: “This Really is a Different Pro-Life Movement.” A taste: The enthusiastic embrace of the movement by white evangelicals in the Bible Belt […]
Christian Nationalisms, Easter Risings
Early visions for Catholic Ireland provide a counterpoint to today’s rhetoric about “Christian America”
Historians Nicole Eustace and Ada Ferrer win Pulitzer Prizes
There were two winners in the history category. Eustace, a history professor at New York University, won for her book Covered With Night: A Story of Murder and Indigenous Justice in Early America. Ferrer, also a history professor at NYU, […]