What is happening in Evangelical land? Evangelicals talk to the dead. Is “Christian Right” an oxymoron? An evangelical higher education “hole” in New York City. Evangelicals against the death penalty in Florida. Russell Moore: “Culture war is not spiritual warfare.” […]
Archives for 2023
Hunting invisible elephants
As I look out the window, there is a large ash tree. In that ash tree is an invisible elephant. You don’t believe me? Well, prove there is no elephant in the tree. You can’t see the elephant, you say? […]
UFO Alert
The long tangle between science and religion takes an extraterrestrial turn
The real meaning of Kevin McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry against Biden
I’ll let Russell Berman explain. Here is a taste of his piece at The Atlantic: As Kevin McCarthy made his televised declaration earlier today that House Republicans were launching an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, the House speaker stood outside his […]
The Author’s Corner with Joseph Beilein Jr.
Joseph Beilein Jr. is Associate Professor of History at Penn State Behrend. This interview is based on his new book, A Man by Any Other Name: William Clarke Quantrill and the Search for American Manhood (University of Georgia Press, 2023). […]
Ideas in progress: Robert Fleegler on the history of smoking in the U.S.
Robert Fleegler is Associate Professor of History at the University of Mississippi. He is the author of two books, Ellis Island Nation: Immigration Policy and American Identity in the Twentieth Century (Penn, 2013) and Brutal Campaign: How the 1988 Election Set the Stage […]
The Rustling Ones
Hannah Szenes helps us hear the sounds of a still, small voice
“Anything that wasn’t stale tea party table talk was permitted”
Last week I asked college students to consider forming a Junto. I used the Boston Gleaning Circle as an example of such a community of mutual improvement. And today over at Zocalo Public Sqaure, writer Emily Zarevich introduces us to […]
Bayard Rustin and the politics of class
Civil rights activist Bayard Rustin was a complicated guy. Perhaps that’s why I find myself drawn to him and his work. Today The New York Times is running a piece on Rustin by writer James Kirchick. Kirchick is the author […]
On becoming a perpetual student
I always enjoy reading Wesleyan College president Michael Roth‘s reflections on liberal arts education. In his recent piece at The New York Times, he reminds us that learning and freedom are always connected, regardless of age. Here is a taste: […]
Ross Douthat: A Christian conservative who lives among liberals and writes for them
Here is Isaac Chotiner at The New Yorker: “Douthat is highly skilled at addressing liberal Times readers in a manner that makes clear he is not one of them, without allowing them to think that he actually holds views—about Donald Trump, say, […]
White supremacists converge on Eastern Nazarene College
Last month I called your attention to a migrant shelter hosted by Eastern Nazarene College, a Christian college in Quincy, Massachusetts. You can read “Eastern Nazarene College: An Evangelical School Doing Evangelical Things” here. Here is the latest from The […]
REVIEW: It’s About the Journey
Students are indeed pilgrims. But what kind of pilgrims are they?
Paul Thompson on higher education, temperance, and biblical views on race
Paul Thompson is Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences and Professor of History at North Greenville University. He is the author of A Most Stirring and Significant Episode: Religion and the Rise and Fall of Prohibition in Black […]
Trump court evangelicals, prophets, and pseudo-historians will gather with Charlie Kirk in San Diego this week to train pastors
This week over 1,000 Christian pastors will converge on San Diego for the Turning Point USA “Pastors Summit.” According to the event website, this event will highlight “the need for pastors and their congregations to stand for truth and no […]
Evangelical roundup for September 11, 2023
What is happening in Evangelical land? Mylon Lefevre, RIP A Houston megachurch pastor opposes buoys at the border. French evangelicals are more concerned about climate change than the rest of the country. An Iowa evangelical church’s food pantry is open. […]
Song of the Day
Remembering our fallen heroes:
LONG FORM: Reimagining the Liberal Arts College
The first essay in a forum on what higher education needs now
Let us now praise famous men (and women) or do some praiseworthy deeds
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the […]
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: The end of takehome essays? The corruption of Texas attorney general Ken Paxton. Before there was Uncle Sam, there was Brother Jonathan. Should Democrats apologize to the singer of “Rich […]