Black Sheep and White Goats

Visionaries, Just a brief response to Andy: I actually do think that R.L. Dabney had some racist assumptions, and these assumptions sometimes came out in truly odd ways. My favorite is found in his Systematic Theology, where he takes on redheads who do not know that they are objectively inferior. These racist assumptions of his …

The Browner Parts of the Globe

Visionaries, Two comments, if you all have moment. I separated “y’all” into “you all” as a concession to others on a sensitive topic. First, I agree completely with Roger’s exposure of the hypocrisy that pervades this kind of issue. A color-blind society should mean one of two things: either nobody gets to do it, or …

Nuanced and Complex

Visionaries, Rachelle wrote in to say that “history, like any academic discipline, is nuanced and complex.” Judging from the local response to the first hint of nuance or complexity, you could have fooled me. She goes on to say that “ownership of another human being, regardless of the quality of living conditions provided, is loathsome …

Margaret Sanger’s Racism

Visionaries, Margaret Sanger argued for the elimination of human weeds, “for the cessation of charity, for the segregation of morons, misfits, and maladjusted,” and for the sterilization of “genetically inferior races.” From The Pivot of Civilization by Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood. “This following is a very important point to emphasize. Like abolitionism, all …

Br’er Wilson, He Lay Low

Visionaries, What’s the deal? I wanted to talk about Margaret Sanger some more. And Darwin too. Got lots of cool quotes. Let’s have a rousing debate on racism! Throw me in that briar patch! Cordially, Douglas Wilson P.S. For those sensitive readers who might be offended by the literary allusion to Joel Chandler Harris, I …

Without Revolution

Visionaries, With one eye on the slavery issue, Andy asked if something is permitted by the Bible, but is not mandated, should a Christian society mandate that thing. For example, marriage is not required of Christians — the unmarried state is permitted. Should a Christian society take this information and use it to forbid marriage …

Farley’s Ghost

Visionaries, Dan asked what students at NSA and Logos learn about the scientific method. In response to that question, one of the first things they might learn is that the phrases “the real world” and “the material world” are not interchangeable. Embedded in Dan’s question is the clear assumption that the Enlightenment project has its …