Here is author John Calhoun at The Atlantic: Lately, Twitter has descended into chaos, and if you spend any time on the platform, you’ve likely seen the debate about whether to keep using it or leave for Mastodon, Hive, or any […]
Episode 106: “Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Long Walk Home'”
In this episode we chat with historian Jonathan D. Cohen about his edited collection Long Walk Home: Reflections on Bruce Springsteen and the current state of “Springsteen Studies.” We also ask Cohen if there is any connection between his current book, For a Dollar […]
Is it possible to oppose human rights violations in Qatar and still make the World Cup part of one’s “Advent journey?”
Check out Adam Russell Taylor’s piece, “The Men’s World Cup is Part of My Advent Journey. Yes, Really.” It’s a wonderful reflection on how to find hope, joy, and human solidarity amid injustice. Taylor is the editor of Sojourners. A […]
Bob McGrath, RIP
Another piece of my childhood is gone. RIP, Bob! Here is The New York Times: Bob McGrath, who played the sweater-clad neighborhood music teacher and general advice-giver on “Sesame Street” for almost half a century, died at his home in […]
Current’s 2022 Pushcart Nominations
Please join us in congratulating our nominees for this year’s Pushcart Prize, which is awarded by the Pushcart Press, publisher of the annual Best of the Small Presses, “the most honored literary series in America.” These are: “Bricolage” by Sarah […]
Evangelical roundup for December 5, 2022
What is happening in Evangelical Land? Prestonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas-area faces criticism for its Christmas show. Communion at megachurches. Jim Wallis on poverty: And this: Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla: Megachurch pastor Matt Chandler is back. Tim […]
“I’m a Christian. I’m a prophet. And I’ve been accurate since 2016”
Lance Wallnau being Lance Wallnau: What strikes me the most about these claims is that they sound a lot like some folks on the Christian left these days.
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: How to save the Rose Bowl The Brazilian footballer SĂłcrates Labor historians support railway workers World Socialist Web Site reviews the new 1776 musical Nell Irving Painter on what American […]
Revisiting the Harper’s letter on justice and open debate
I reread this today. It was published July 7, 2020 in Harper’s: Our cultural institutions are facing a moment of trial. Powerful protests for racial and social justice are leading to overdue demands for police reform, along with wider calls […]
Religious freedom vs. LGBTQ rights on college campus: a short primer
Over at The Conversation, University of Dayton professor Charles Russo gives us the lay of the land. Here is a taste: Disputes over religious freedom and LGBTQ rights in the United States have led to some of the most high-profile […]
This may have been John McCain’s finest moment
I did some historical writing on this today. My analysis will appear in a future episode of the A History of Evangelicals and Politics podcast, available to patrons of Current with early episodes free at most podcatchers.
Song of the day
“Twitter super-users” have “become the unacknowledged class that determined which events and ideas were considered important in America”
Yesterday I wrote about Twitter. Today someone on Twitter posted an article by Eve Fairbanks about the decline of Twitter. She writes, “Elon Musk’s platform may be hell, but it’s also where huge amounts of reputational and social wealth are […]
Buy history books written by independent scholars
Some of you are familiar with the online magazine Contingent. Historian Erin Bartram has put together a great team of historians who do not work in tenure-track history teaching jobs at colleges and universities. I encourage you to check it […]
Petitioning as a civic duty in a democracy
What does it mean to participate in a democracy? Historian Sarena Zabin argues that between the American Revolution and the Civil War it was petitioning, not voting, that was the important way people performed their civil duties. Here is a […]
What is popular this week at Current?
Here are the most popular features of the week at Current:: Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Way of Improvement Leads Home blog:
“A mordant political culture in which power transforms a person into a celebrity”
My feeds are filled with MasterClass ads. For $180 a year I can learn cooking from Gordon Ramsey, science from Bill Nye, writing from James Patterson, comedy from Steve Martin, personal branding from Kris Jenner, acting from Samuel L. Jackson, […]
Is Kristin Kobes Du Mez illiberal?
I am not going to rehash the controversy over Jay Green’s article on Christian political discourse. I wrote a little more about it today at Current. I agree with Jay–the piece shouldn’t have categorized people without evidence. Jay has apologized […]
Song of the Day
Editorial changes at Current
As Executive Editor, I am pleased to announce the following changes to our editorial staff: Nadya Williams, Professor of Ancient History at the University of West Georgia, moves from Current Contributing Editor to Book Review Editor. Nadya received her B.A. […]