According to writer Anand Giridharadas, we can save democracy by commanding attention, making meaning, meeting people where they are, picking the right fights, helping people find a “home” where they feel safe, and telling better stories. It’s a really helpful […]
Archives for October 2022
Eric Foner on C. Vann Woodward
Over at London Review of Books, Columbia University Eric Foner reviews James Cobb’s new biography of C. Vann Woodward. It is a fascinating review. Here is a taste: As he approached retirement, Woodward entered what one former student called his […]
How can evangelicals help to preserve democracy during this election season?
Current contributing editor Daniel K. Williams offers some helpful advice. Here is a taste of his piece at Christianity Today: Harvard historian James Kloppenberg, author of Toward Democracy, argued that democracy in the US will succeed only if parties on both […]
Two former Army War College history professors say Doug Mastriano is unfit for office
Here is Inside Higher Ed: Some retired U.S. Army War College professors are speaking out against Republican Doug Mastriano’s controversial bid to become the next governor of Pennsylvania—a campaign in which Mastriano’s higher education credentials from a Canadian university also […]
BOOK MARKS: Take Whatever You Wish
“Why not turn from this brief and transient spell of time and give ourselves wholeheartedly to the past?”
Michael Wear, a former Obama faith adviser, launches the Center for Christianity and Public Life
Here is Jon Ward of Yahoo news: At 34 years old, Michael Wear has already been a faith adviser to an American president, written two books and developed a reputation as a thoughtful and connected leader in American politics and […]
Episode 50: “Happy Birthday Jesus!”
The Christian Right tries to “put the Christ back in Christmas” Episode 50: “’Happy Birthday Jesus!;’’” dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here is a teaser: If you like […]
Evangelical roundup for October 17, 2022
What is happening in Evangelical land? Cal Thomas: Christian nationalists are misguided. Kristin Kobes Du Mez on PBS Russell Moore on Kanye West Roger Olson on the “religious Left“ A former anti-abortionist is now pro-choice. Tim Keller: Can you be […]
Academic Humility
If there’s a confession scholars need to make, it’s this: We are not equal to the task
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: Bad Catholics, great writers Nineteenth-century missionaries to the Ottoman Empire The “Mitt Romney martyr thesis“ Alberto Polimeni reviews two new books on populism Arlington Cemetery‘s Confederate monument A stop at […]
The “Immaculate Reception” at 50
Current editor Eric Miller will appreciate this post. The Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh is celebrating the history of Franco Harris’s “Immaculate Reception.” Here is a taste of WPXI’s coverage: This December marks 50 years since the greatest play in […]
Christian nationalism, 1925 style
In November, 1925, Dr. Edgar Lowther, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Oakland, California, preached a sermon on Christian nationalism. Here is the Oakland Tribune: Now that is a Christian nationalism I can live with.
Springsteen joins The Killers for “Born to Run”
Springsteen seems ready for his upcoming tour. So does Jake Clemons. Watch:
1776 returns to Broadway and it’s a little different from the 1969 production
Harvard historian Jane Kamensky has one of the first reviews. A taste: In May 2019, theater websites reported that Diane Paulus, the artistic director of Harvard’s American Repertory Theater (ART) and a noted Broadway hitmaker, would mount a revival of 1776, to open […]
Jelani Cobb: “I would like to see our graduates walking out the door with 50 years of contextual knowledge on the beats they cover”
This is what you get when you hire an American historian to run a school of journalism. Historian and New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb is the new dean of Columbia School of Journalism. What a great pick! Here is a […]
Are you going to the Harrisburg Book Fair?
The folks at the Midtown Scholar have put together a great event. Learn more here. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19TH 10 AM-6 PM — OUTDOOR TENT SALE 20,000 used books priced at $1, $2, and $3. Across from the store at 3rd […]
What is popular this week at Current?
Here are the most popular features of the week at Current: Elisabeth Lasch Quinn, “REVIEW: The Need to Be Whole“ John Fea, “‘Societal Collapse Is in the Air–Or It Smells Like It’“ Marvin Olasky, “LONG FORM: A Wrinkle in Journalism History“ […]
We live in a world of persons; not “rigid” identity categories
David Brooks nails it: Besides being offended by the racist comments made by members of the Los Angeles City Council — as so many people were — I was also struck by the underlying worldview revealed during their leaked conversation. […]
Interview with Frank News
Frank News brings context to a 24/7 news cycle through conversation — free of armchair experts, revisionism, and moralizing. I had a great experience working with Tatti Riberio and Noelle Forougi. Here is a taste of the interview: The preoccupation […]
Grace
Close calls, near misses—and a state of gratitude