My selection for this month’s book of the month is David Garrison’s A Wind in the House of Islam. Meticulously researched, this book provides necessary background information for Christians who want to understand anything Muslim-related in the modern world. Whether we are talking about world mission, terrorism, or immigration, or America’s drone warfare in Muslim …
A Crash Course in Crashes
As everything comes unraveled more rapidly than you thought it could, perhaps your thoughts have turned to the prospect of coming to a greater understanding of stuff. The airplane is nose down ten thousand feet above the ocean, and you have now begun to reflect on where, exactly, the flight attendant said the life preservers …
Review: The Decameron
The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio My rating: 3 of 5 stars Three stars because the quality of the stories was all over the place. Some rated much higher, others lower. The stories were, in turn, bawdy, folksy, funny, and shrewd. But one of the things that struck me was how lightly adultery was treated in …
It Gets Creepier
On the back of this month’s Sports Illustrated, we have as fine an example of agitprop as can be imagined.
Babylonian Exceptionalism or, Insanity Explained
Over time Nebuchadnezzar drifted into a belief in Babylonian exceptionalism. “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Dan. 4:30). Because of his hubris, because of his conceit, he was …
On the Attempted Defenestration of Mablog Through the Overton Window
So then first, what is this Overton Window? That window, named after Joseph “Wiki” Overton — who coined the phrase — refers to the range of ideas that are palatable, thinkable, acceptable, or otherwise within the pale, when it comes to public discourse. Outside the window, you’re just a hate-filled weirdo. In the area of …
Review: Suicide of the West: An Essay on the Meaning and Destiny of Liberalism
Suicide of the West: An Essay on the Meaning and Destiny of Liberalism by James Burnham My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have read Burnham before, decades ago, but don’t recall the circumstances. I recently thought to reread him, and he remains as trenchant as ever. Some of the things that you might think …
Review: Centuries of meditations
Centuries of meditations by Thomas Traherne My rating: 4 of 5 stars Really enjoyed reading through this — although it would be difficult to summarize the overall flow. That said, there are many striking phrases and observations that were a real blessing. Traherne wrote in the 17th century, and is a somewhat obscure writer. Some …
This Crimson Carnage
I begin by saying that I think of the American flag with affection, respect and sorrow. I think of what it used to represent, what it ought to represent, and what it periodically still represents. The sorrow has to do with what our ruling elites are insisting that it must come to represent, and the …
Audio Reading of Post
Tolle, Leg It
In the aftermath of the Obergefell decision by the Supreme Court, a lot of Christian parents are reeling. They know they must do something, but what can they do? The decision was so high-handed, so arbitrary, so insolently rendered, that it would be easy to assume that there is nothing we can do about it …