At the Intersection of Faith and Culture

Last week, one ofAmerica’s most notorious rats departed from the Earth.  Perhaps with the exception of that of Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, there was no other snitch with whose name Americans were more familiar than that of “Henry Hill.” Unlike Gravano—who, being the right-hand henchman of the now deceased mafia star, John Gotti, achieved a…

Many distinguished, even brilliant thinkers, both past and present, have championed the doctrine of “natural rights” (more commonly referred to nowadays as “human rights).”   Without doubt, largely thanks to its enshrinement in America’s Declaration of Independence, it remains our public political philosophy. According to the creed, all human beings, simply by virtue of their humanity,…

Jesus was no “radical.”  To this claim of mine, several thoughtful responses have been in the coming.  My friend and writer, the always perceptive Ilana Mercer, lead the charge (you can see some of this exchange here: http://barelyablog.com/?p=52564).  Jesus was indeed a “radical,” Mercer asserted.  He was also a man of “genius” and “courage” whose…

Recently, while discussing topics in the philosophy of religion during my introductory course in philosophy, a student claimed that Jesus was “a rebel.”  Although this judgment of hers is not without some truth, it is decidedly false in the sense in which I am sure she intended for it to be taken. The idea that…

On June 10, I will be 40 years old. Much has changed since 1972, both in my own life as well as in the world. Forty years ago, President Richard Nixon presided over America. We were still engaged in the Vietnam War.  The median price of a home was $27, 600.  The average car cost…

Believe it or not, some of the most impassioned and vocal champions of liberty are implicated in the crimes that have been committed against her.  Unlike those for whom government can never be large enough, these disciples of liberty are well meaning.  However, their failure to come to terms with liberty in all of its…

Mitt Romney is now the Republican Party’s presidential nominee.  Ok, technically he isn’t.  At 1,024 delegates, he is twenty short of the number needed in order to formally secure the nomination.  Like I said, Romney is the GOP nominee. No other candidate comes close, and even though my candidate, Ron Paul, hasn’t officially withdrawn from…

Mitt Romney is no conservative. There isn’t a question in my mind that under a President Romney, America will continue down the same road that our elected (and unelected) government office holders have been dragging her from at least the time of the last half of the nineteenth century. Yet the rate of decline under…

Readers of this column know that during the GOP primaries, I threw my support behind Ron Paul.  Paul was a flawed candidate in several respects, but he not as flawed as his competitors.  Besides, most of Paul’s disadvantages were primarily stylistic.  Those of his rivals were mostly substantive. Now, though, the primaries are over and…

The world’s largest religious tradition has had more than its share of critics over the centuries.  A not inconsiderable number of these have been men and women (but mostly men) of genius.  And the brightest and most constructive of critics have tended to be Christ’s own disciples. That popular funny man and political leftist Bill…

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