Monthly Archives: January 2009

Drive-through religion

Posted on January 12, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

“Christian publishers and retailers realize that today’s busy consumers are looking for . . . spiritual food that can be consumed in a convenient way,” said Bill Anderson, the [Christian Booksellers Association] president. (“A closer, faster walk with thee.”) Today’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 25 Comments

Welcome to the Fold

Posted on January 11, 2009 by Bradlaugh

Spotted a new recruit today: New York Post weekend columnist Kyle Smith: Andrew Breitbart … opened up a ballroom full of bumblebees: his blog Big Hollywood, which promises to organize a  network … of right-minded people who think entertainment could be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Open thread: Ayn Rand

Posted on January 10, 2009 by Walter Olson

Since one of the ongoing comment threads has gotten into a discussion of Ayn Rand, since she was in the blogs a lot this week because of this Stephen Moore article for the WSJ, and since few if any intellectual … Continue reading →

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Orthodoxy vs. Conservatism

Posted on January 9, 2009 by David Hume

In light of Richard John Neuhaus’ comment about orthodoxy, I thought I would quote a bit from a piece I posted earlier from Jerry Muller on conservatism & orthodoxy: The orthodox theoretician defends existing institutions and practices because they are … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Richard John Neuhaus, cont’d

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Walter Olson

Damon Linker has blog posts up at New Republic here and here, drawing a reply from Ross Douthat (earlier from Bradlaugh). I find this paragraph from National Catholic Reporter very puzzling: From the early 1970s forward, Neuhaus was a key … Continue reading →

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God against the gods

Posted on January 8, 2009 by David Hume

In Children of the Revolution: The French, 1799-1914 the author notes that militant secularism during the 19th century in France was a feature of the Metropole. In contrast, the French Church was always the privileged handmaid of Empire no matter … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Unfit to Serve

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Bradlaugh

Ron Guhname, who blogs as “Inductivist,” and knows his way round all the GSS and polling data, has dug up an interesting result from the World Values Survey. The pollsters asked respondents in 60-odd countries if they agreed that an … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 21 Comments

Going to school v. going to church

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

The teen birth rate has started climbing again. As usual, it’s highest in red states and states with high black and Hispanic populations and lowest in New England blue states. In 2006, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas topped the list, … Continue reading →

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Richard John Neuhaus

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Bradlaugh

Richard John Neuhaus is apparently near death.   Most of what I know about the man comes from his starring role in Damon Linker’s 2006 book Theocons.  The rest is three or four encounters at conservative functions, when he seemed cordial … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

A Win for God?

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Bradlaugh

Sorry, I missed the whole “Godwin” thing. Could someone please explain? The only Godwin I know anything about is Mrs. Shelley’s Dad, of whom The Oxford Companion to English Literature records:  “He believed that men acted according to reason, that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments