There is an old joke that has an evangelical say something like this to a liberal—“I'll call you a Christian if you call me a scholar.” But whenever conservative believers enter into the world of such trade-offs, the end result is always something like Simple Simon going to the … [Read more...]
Ouch
His books well trimm'd and in the gayest style, Like regimental coxcombs rank and file, Adorn his intellects as well as shelves And teach him notions splendid as themselves. William Cowper … [Read more...]
Jane Austen and Our Culture of Feeeeelings
As I noted in my brief review of Pride and Prejudice below, Jane Austen is amazing. A truly wise woman, she wrote a novel of two kinds of people -- people who change and grow, and people who do not. This is simply another way of marking those who are capable of repentance and … [Read more...]
The 7 Real Reasons Protestants Can’t Write
Peter Leithart recently set the cat among the pigeons by claiming here and here that Protestants can't write. He did this as a Protestant, writing, so we really should be dubious from the outset. Among the scholarly responses to this flight of learned fancy, I commend to you … [Read more...]
Conflict Makes the Story
Every Saturday night at our Sabbath dinner, we have a round of catechism questions for the kids. The last question, the one I ask all of them together, is "Kids, what's the point of the whole Bible?" The answer is "Kill the dragon, get the girl!" This was the point of the … [Read more...]
Fiction and the Third Commandment
One of the magazines I subscribe to is Reformed Perspective, and I would encourage you to do the same. If you like, you can get over there and subscribe right now. I bring this up because the cover story of their most recent issue was on "Christian Fantasy after Lewis and … [Read more...]
The Blinkered Prophetess
Like many conservatives, I have been able to enjoy the writing of Marilynne Robinson, even though she appears to be quite at home in the liberal mainline tradition. Despite the differences I have had with her outlook on many issues, her novels have been written with depth, … [Read more...]
The Apocalypse Is Here. Now Calm Down.
I recently noted with interest a new reading technology/app that is about to be rolled out. The technology is called Spritz. I also noted with interest some of the responses to it -- as in, "won't be long now, one more clean shirt, o tempora, o mores . . ." This spritzing … [Read more...]
Mark Driscoll and Problems of Citation
I don't have much to say about the ruckus these last few weeks concerning the allegation of plagiarism by Mark Driscoll, an allegation that was made by Janet Mefferd, and then subsequently withdrawn by her. Not having much to say, I intend therefore to not say it. Initially I … [Read more...]
Is Someone Trying to Tell Me Something?
I want to tell you about something that has happened to me twice, in the span of just a few days. Then I will try to draw out an edifying lesson from it. Last Sunday, I was reading one of Peter Leithart's books -- Ascent of Love -- to accompany my reading of the Divine Comedy. … [Read more...]