The day after Current published my essay, “The New Shape of Christian Public Discourse,” amid a barrage of criticism over the names I selected to illustrate the “emancipatory maximalist” quadrant, I responded. I conceded a few of the more blatant […]
Way of Improvement
Roots
Every year in my United States history survey course we spend three or four class periods talking about the meaning of democracy in antebellum America. During a small seminar I introduce students to Alexis De Tocqueville, the author of Democracy […]
Are you listening to WNYC’s “On the Media’s” podcast series on conservative talk radio?
We introduced you to this series here. Episode Four dropped today. I talked a bit about my experience with the Rush Limbaugh show in the early 1990s and introducing my Dad to the program. Here is WNYC’s “The Divided Dial: […]
Raphael Warnock: theologian
If you haven’t seen it yet, Gary Dorrien has published a fascinating piece at Commonweal. on re-elected Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock It provides several first-hand of accounts of his years at Union Theological Seminary (where Dorrien teaches) and his relationship […]
What happens when gay rights clash with religious freedom?
Here is Tish Harrison Warren at The New York Times: This week, the Supreme Court will hear a case that will reignite a continuing conversation about what to do when long-established religious convictions clash with gay people’s civil rights. In 303 […]
What Prohibition accomplished
Writing on the day (December 5) that marks the ratification of the 21st Amendment in 1933, political scientist Mark Lawrence Schrad wants us to think about what the movement to end the manufacture, transportation and sale of liquor in the […]
Is it better to be a vampire or a werewolf?
Obama!
Hey Oklahoma, teachers need a college degree
Have you heard about this? Here is Janelle Stecklein at the Enid News & Eagle: In response to Oklahoma’s continued teacher shortage, lawmakers passed a measure that no longer requires educators to have a college degree in order to teach […]
“It’s hard to trust culturally influential people about the need for Twitter when their influence is tied to Twitter’s survival”
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.