Before the whole James Sweet presentism thing went down, American historians were on Twitter arguing about David McCullouugh. Over at History News Network, Rebecca Brenner Graham calls our attention to the debate that took place in the immediate wake of […]
A Chicago church closes its doors
A nice piece of reporting and stortytelling here from Bob Smietana of Religion News Service: Like so many pastors around the United States, the Rev. Amanda Olson has kept one eye on the Bible and another on the evolving religious […]
Current continues to grow and we could use your help!
Since we launched in April 2021, Current has continued to attract readers and high quality writers. Our editorial team is growing and we have some new things we hope to roll out in the near future. Thanks for reading. We […]
How critical race theory can help us serve our neighbors
Here is Baylor ethicist Jonathan Tran a The Christian Century: Perhaps most troubling about anti-CRT posturing is how often Christians are behind it and how much it has taken root in Christian educational institutions. Loving God requires loving neighbor, and […]
Doug Mastriano to a guy wearing a half-American, half-Confederate flag: “I can’t think of a better cape”
On July 4, 2020 Pennsylvania state senator–now GOP gubernatorial candidate–Doug Mastriano did a livestream at the Robert E. Lee monument on the Gettysburg battlefield. I will let Eric Hananoki of Media Matters take it from here: In one of his […]
Is Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan “populist”?
This is an interesting piece by Sebastian Milbank, online editor of The Critic. He argues that Biden is a better populist than many on the Right. A taste: What did (and does) populism consist of, outside of a vague rhetorical […]
Bernard Bailyn: “Historians know how it all came out, but the people of the time didn’t”
In this 2010 lecture, the late Harvard historian Bernardo Bailyn says: Historians know how it all came out, but the people of the time didn’t. The most important things in their lives was the uncertainty. We haven’t got a clue […]
“Doug [Mastriano] is laying down his life for you, for me, for the residents of Pennsylvania, and to God be the glory.”
The title of this post comes from a pastor who introduced Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano at a recent rally. Here is The Washington Post: At another rally east of Pittsburgh, two days later, Mastriano, flanked by an American flag […]
In search of a good 5th-grade American history textbook
A reader who teaches 5th grade American history at an evangelical elementary school is looking for a good textbook. This person is currently using a textbook published by a Christian conservative publishing house that is steeped in providential history and […]
Jim Wallis: Still “evangelical”
In my reflection on the life of the late evangelical activist Ron Sider I noted that he refused to abandon the word “evangelical” to describe his religious identity. Here is a taste of that post: White Christian nationalism is also […]
Episode 46: Flexing Muscles
After lifting George W. Bush to victory, the Christian right seeks its reward. Episode 46: “Flexing Muscles” 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 […]
Evangelical roundup for August 29, 2022
What is happening this week in Evangelical land: Megachurch pastor Matt Chandler takes a leave of absence after inappropriate texting with a woman who is not his wife. Evangelicals and beards. And some thoughts from Beth Moore: An Iowa evangelical […]
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: Bookworms at the Huntington Library A critique of big history The limits of biography The Twilight Zone as cultural criticism Doug Mastriano in his New Apostolic Reformation context Understanding the […]
U.S. historians who American conservatives like
Recently journalist Matt Yglesias asked his more than 530,000 Twitter followers this question: At the time I am writing this, his post has 384 comments. After eliminating non-historians and purveyors of the past who think they are historians, I made […]
Pennsylvania Doug Mastriano posed in a Confederate uniform
Doug Mastriano is running for governor of Pennsylvania. In 2014 he had the option to pose for a picture dressed in historical attire. He chose to pose in a Confederate uniform. Even the Army seems embarrassed by the photo. Let’s […]
Some justice for Breonna Taylor
Here is Kenneth Walker, of Louisville, Kentucky: After nearly two and a half years, a person connected with the Louisville Metro Police Department has finally taken some responsibility for the death of my girlfriend, Breonna Taylor. Since March 13, 2020, I have […]
Joan Scott and David Bell debate history, presentism and power
In the wake of AHA president’s James Sweet’s “controversial” column in Historical Perspectives, David Bell of Princeton and Joan Scott of the Institute of Advanced Study have responded at The Chronicle of Higher Education. (See our coverage here and here […]
Is Trump’s “Big Lie” good for democracy?
Here is The Editorial Board: We all understand that the former president’s Big Lie is ruinous to democracy, the rule of law and republican government. It fueled the J6 insurrection. It inspired GOP legislators to enact draconian election laws. It […]
The Trump superstore!
Yes, such a thing exists. It is located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Here is Jenny Powers at Business Insider: When I was in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I spotted a billboard advertising a Donald Trump superstore. My […]
What is popular this week at Current?
Here are the most popular features of the week at Current: Paul Luikart, “The Liberal Agenda in Higher Education“ John Fea, “My 2024 Presidential Election Predictions“ John Fea, “Happy Birthday, Felix Millan“ Robert Erle Barham, “Leave-Taking“ Elizabeth Stice, “Help the World, […]