What happens when you plan a big rally on the steps of the state capitol and less than 100 people show up? Perhaps it is a sign that people are not very excited about your campaign for governor. Here is […]
Archives for September 2022
Critics of liberalism; critics of national conservativism
I missed this when it appeared last month. Several intellectuals, many from the world of religion and theology, published “An Open Letter Responding to the NatCon ‘Statement of Principles.’” Signers include Paul Griffiths, David Bentley Hart, Eugene McCarraher, John Milbank, […]
Evangelical roundup for September 26, 2022
What is happening in Evangelical land? Evangelicals who lead with a moral code need more Jesus. More than 75% of Republican evangelicals want the United States declared as a Christian nation. D.G. Hart on Ron Sider’s legacy. Is worship at […]
Why I Wrote a Social Novel
Moral imagination demands a certain kind of story
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: George Will on Doug Mastriano Missing Roger Federer Historians on first books W.E.B. Du Bois’s Black Reconstruction in America P.T. Barnum on the dangers of alcohol Lewis Lapham interviews Kermit […]
Episode 102: The Ghosts of Colonial Williamsburg
Our guest on this episode, public historian Alena Pirok, explains how John D. Rockefeller’s vision of Colonial Williamsburg eventually gave way to a vision of the site championed by an early 20th century clergyman who saw ghosts. Join us for a conversion […]
Black pastor confronts Robert Jeffress on the legacy of racism at First Baptist-Dallas
Robert Jeffress, the Trump-loving pastor of Dallas’s First Baptist Church, should get credit for showing-up at this event. It’s a step in the right direction. Here is Matt Goodman at Dallas Magazine: Monday evening at SMU’s Dallas Hall, Dr. Michael Waters, […]
Song of the day
Context here. (HT: C K)
Why Jonathan Haidt is resigning from his professional society
Here is a small taste of the New York University psychology professor’s piece at The Chronicle of Higher Education: I have been thinking a lot about fiduciary duty because my main professional association — the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, […]
Adam Greenway resigns as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
He replaced the morally compromised Paige Patterson. Now he is out. Here is Mark Wingfield of Baptist News Global: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary confirmed Friday afternoon, Sept. 23, what BNG first reported Thursday evening, Sept. 22: Adam Greenway resigned as […]
How the students and alumni of one Christian college are benefiting from Biden’s debt-relief plan
The school is Fresno Pacific University, a Mennonite Brethren university in California. Here is Katherine Knott at Inside Higher Ed: As congressional and state Republicans explore ways to block President Biden’s loan-forgiveness plan, one Christian college is touting its benefits […]
Editorial changes at Current
Current editor Eric Miller’s team is expanding. We are happy to announce two new changes to our masthead. Robert Erle Barham, formerly an Associate Editor at Current, is now our Deputy Editor. He will work directly with Eric in the […]
Former First Things editor Damon Linker on the “Know Your Enemy” podcast
The guys at Know Your Enemy Podcast talk with former First Things editor Damon Linker. It’s a really interesting interview. He talks about his Straussian influences, his intellectual debt to Mark Lilla, and his work as a speechwriter for Rudy […]
What is popular this week at Current?
Here are the most popular features of the week at Current: Marvin Olasky, “LONG FORM: A Wrinkle in Journalism History“ John Fea, “Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?“ Nadya Williams, “‘Joshua Was Here’“ John Fea, “Seeing New Things, Asking New […]
Steven Mintz on popular history
A thoughtful piece from a veteran American historian. Here is the University of Houston’s Steven Mintz at Inside Higher Ed: No one owns history. The key question in evaluating any historical work, whether by a professional or a nonspecialist, is quality and […]
Dreaming about school
I have three recurring dreams about school and academic life. In the first dream, I am a college student taking a literature class. After the first few days of lectures I stop attending the class and do not return until […]
REVIEW: After Philosophy
Alasdair MacIntyre exposed the failings of the liberal tradition. Do we dare remember?
Episode 48: The Christian Right Against Arlen Specter
Evangelical Bush supporters are angry at the new chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Episode 48: “The Christian Right Against Arlen Specter’” dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here […]
David Barton manipulates the past for political ends. The latest.
At a recent Family Research Council event, David Barton, the GOP political activist who uses the past to promote his politics, confused an early 19th-century Sunday School for a “public school.” For some, this might be an honest mistake. But […]
Old state anti-abortion laws are becoming relevant again
Current contributing editor Daniel K. Williams explains in a recent piece at The Atlantic: Abortion opponents seem not to have expected some of the more draconian consequences of the Dobbs decision—that anti-abortion laws would prevent pregnant women who were not seeking abortions […]