Category Archives: culture

Missionary Nation

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Bradlaugh

I watched the 2007 movie Freedom Writers the other day. It put into my mind the thought that the U.S.A. is, among many other things, a missionary nation. If you don’t know the movie, here’s the synopsis from IMDb: Hilary … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 11 Comments

From the eyes of babes

Posted on May 9, 2010 by David Hume

The cognitive psychologist Paul Bloom has a long piece in The New York Times Magazine, The Moral Life of Babies. Such research always interests me because the biological and cultural shape that humans give to morality are important parameters in … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, politics | Tagged , | 6 Comments

S. E. Cupp and her future spiritual journey

Posted on May 1, 2010 by David Hume

In case you hadn’t noticed, The Daily Caller has a blogger named S. E. Cupp who is an avowed atheist and conservative. That being said, I have gone on the record and stated that she’ll probably be Roman Catholic within … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged | 30 Comments

Palin Inc.

Posted on April 26, 2010 by David Hume

New York Magazine has a long profile of Sarah Palin up right now. Its focus is more publicity, personality and celebrity, than politics. The profile reduces my probability that Palin will make a serious run (as opposed to a pro … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, politics | Tagged | 40 Comments

Bad News Bear

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

If Comedy Central ever had a reputation for being an “edgy” channel it has lost it now. The story of the channel’s decision to, uh, tinker with episode 201 of South Park ought to be well known to many who … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Happy St. George’s (Yester)day!

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

For the most part, I’m no great fan of saints, a rum bunch of characters too often found teetering uneasily between insanity, hysteria and fable. England’s (and I use that national qualifier deliberately) St. George, however, is an exception, decent, brave, … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged | 2 Comments

The Wrong Lesson

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Bradlaugh

Here’s a curious little sequence of video clips from BBC News. They show us how education goes in Finland. Then we get a clip of schooling in South Korea. And then the BBC’s Matt Frei interviews Arne Duncan, our federal … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, politics | 10 Comments

Near-Death Experiences

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

The idea of the supernaturally flavored “near-death experience” (shining lights, angels, cheerily waving, long-dead relatives and so on) is one that seems to have been gaining traction in recent years. And that’s no surprise; they make for a good story … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Science & Faith | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Medical doctors are liberal?

Posted on April 6, 2010 by David Hume

Well, young doctors at least. I have a post analyzing the data over at Discover Blogs. Young doctors are inverted from the American population, with about twice as many self-identified liberals as conservatives. In fact, a plural majority are liberal!

Posted in culture | Tagged , | 15 Comments

Great Leaps Backward

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

Not long after the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975 I remember hearing accounts of how the victorious Khmer Rouge was smashing up radios, gramophones, televisions and other consumer goods. It was at that moment I felt certain that Cambodia … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, history, politics | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments