In a recent essay at the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, one of the most important journals in the study of religion, historian Matthew Avery Sutton writes: “…post-World War II evangelicalism is best defined as a white, patriarchal, nationalist religious movement made up of Christians who […]
“Students would stop, perhaps look over at a bookshelf, or just say, point-blank, that they didn’t read.”Â
Over at The Chronicle of Higher Education, Beth McMurtrie writes: Students seem increasingly cynical about the value of college, transactional in their approach to learning, and frustrated by their coursework. On college tours and in admissions literature, they are promised […]
On “pushing MAGA back to the periphery of American life”
David French writes: “There is a difference between beating a candidate and sidelining a movement…I believe that fear may be sufficient to beat Trump, but only joy can push MAGA back to the periphery of American life.” I hope he […]
Obamacare enrollments nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021
According to The Washington Post, the Affordable Care Act is not only working, it is “working brilliantly.” Here is a taste of the Post‘s editorial page: The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is a big reason why. It […]
New information on the Emmett Till murder
Over at The Washington Post, Gillian Brockell reports on William Bradford Huie‘s research notes. Huie’s 1956 article in Look magazine was considered by many at the time to be the “true account” of Emmett Till’s killing. Here is Brockell: William […]
Pro-life conservative evangelicals learn that Donald Trump’s “art of the deal” also applies to abortion
Donald Trump does not support Florida’s six-week ban on abortion. Here is Politico: Donald Trump says he doesn’t support the six-week abortion ban put in place by former ally Gov. Ron DeSantis in the former president’s adopted home state. But […]
We have now entered the “go to hell” phase of the 2024 presidential race
I guess this is a logical outcome when politics becomes spiritual warfare. 🙂 I’ll let Meryl Kornfield of The Washington Post take it from here: Former president Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, doubled down Wednesday on […]
The pro-life movement continues to turn on Trump
We’ve covered this story here and here and here. Now a leader of the pro-life movement says, “It is not the job of the pro-life movement to vote for President Trump.” Her name is Lila Rose and she leads the […]
Should a women’s college bar transgender students?
Does a women’s college stop being a women’s college if it admits transgender students? Sweet Briar College was recently faced with this question and it answered “yes.” Sweet Briar has decided to maintain its mission as a woman’s college by […]
National Endowment for the Humanities announces August 2024 grant winners
Here are a few of the grants that caught my eye: William Okie (Outright: $35,000)[Public Scholars]Kennesaw State University AND A CURRENT AUTHOR!Project Title: The Hidden Histories of Wayside PlantsProject Description: Writing a book about the natural and cultural history of […]
Wehner: “The pro-life justification for supporting the former president has now collapsed”
Over the course of the past week we have called your attention to Donald Trump’s appeal to pro-choice voters. See our posts here and here. Today at The Atlantic, Peter Wehner makes a similar case: The most common argument made […]
Too many books?
In a beautiful piece at The New York Times, Margaret Renkl wonders what to do with all the books that her husband, an English teacher, brought home after he retired. Here is a taste: My husband, Haywood, reached retirement age […]
The Catholic faith of JD Vance
Over at The New York Times, Elizabeth Dias profiles the GOP vice-presidential candidate. Here is a taste: In Washington, he connected with a Yale Law alumnus who had become a priest at the Dominican House of Studies. Before joining the […]
JD Vance says Trump will veto a federal abortion ban. What are pro-life evangelicals saying?
On Friday, Donald Trump said that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” Conservative evangelicals responded. We covered it here. Today, JD Vance said that if Trump were president and congress sent him a national ban […]
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: Why John Fetterman was not at the DNC Pragmatic socialism David Brooks on Tom Wolfe New books: abolitionism and Huck Finn Trails of Tears, Plural First-year reading lists Confidence men […]
How do you run against joy?
Ever since Kamala Harris introduced Tim Walz as her running mate, the Democratic candidates have been talking about running a campaign full of joy. Here is Three Dog Night: OK–sorry for the digression. During the convention, Bill Clinton said Harris […]
RFK Jr.’s family responds to his endorsement of Trump
Some context here.
Almost as if on cue, the Christian Right falls in love with a pro-choice environmental activist and conspiracy theorist
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pro-choice on abortion, an environmental activist, an isolationist on foreign policy, and an indigenous rights advocate. He wants to “seal” the southern border with “high walls” and “high gates.” He also believes that Wi-Fi causes […]
What are evangelicals saying about Trump’s claim that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights?”
Earlier today, Donald Trump wrote: “My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” Such a claim, of course, puts pro-life conservatives in a difficult spot. Will they vote for Trump despite what appear to be his pro-choice […]
A tale of two conventions
Whatever you think about Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, this Morning Joe video is revealing: