One of the good things about controversy is that it makes you answer questions you wouldn’t otherwise address, and it sometimes make you answer uncomfortable ones. And despite the fact that Anthony Bradley shouldn’t have done such a lame thing, and shouldn’t still be doing it, we are still expected to turn a spiritual profit …
Feet of Clay Up Past My Knees
Having participated in two uproars back to back, and in anticipation of a hat trick, I wanted to set out a few things that describe what is actually going on, and what I believe to be at stake. I have already outlined the basic two-step that usually runs. Pick an offense, demand an apology. If …
When Life Gives You Lemons . . .
In the midst of our, ahem, robust discussion this last week, it occurred to my agent that this might be a good time to ask HuffPo if they wanted a piece from me on 50 Shades. They did, and it is now posted here. This is important because it appears that feminists are trying to …
Just an Excuse to Tell the Joke? You Decide.
Hey, I had another thought on this whole business. People who don’t get out much can suffer from a limited imagination, and consequently a creative understanding of metaphor is quite beyond them. The only use of colonial that they know of involves tri-corner hats, which they don’t think is sexy at all. It reminds them …
The Politics of Outrage
Gather around, children, and I will try to provide you with a brief post mortem on the recent ruckus created by our professional indignati. The Bible certainly says to weep with those who weep. When one part of the body hurts, the rest of the body hurts. But this happens in community, face to face, …
My Very Own Trigger Alert
In this happy little imbroglio of ours, I am pleased to say that this was the very first trigger alert. (HT: Michael Terry). These are the first lines of Fidelity. But I have noticed two things about this sort of qualification. The first is liberated outrage if I suggest that you should talk to women …
Probably Where I Learned It
And in a Facebook discussion of Recent Events, my brother Evan pointed out this passage from That Hideous Strength: Jane said, “I always thought it was in their souls that people were equal.” “You were mistaken,” he said gravely. “That is the last place where they are equal. Equality before the law, equality of incomes …
An Episcopalian Lays Down Some Diversionary Fire
A friend sent me this, apropos of the discussion themes around here . . . “Sex, as commonly conceived, is something a couple do together. But the sexual act itself is not quite like that. It is, and remains, something a man does to a woman. They are not both working at the same thing. …
Probably Not! She Thundered
Let’s play the aggrieved game, shall we? Let’s play us a round of placing the worst possible construction on the words of someone we are in a dispute with. It might not look so good in the cold light of day, but then we might learn something. Here’s hoping. Rachel Held Evans has said the …
Cloacina, Goddess of Sewers
So here’s what happened. 50 Shades of Grey went on the NYT bestseller list. For those just joining us, 50 Shades presents a demented view of sexuality, of the women-are-idiots school of thought. Jared Wilson of The Gospel Coalition posted an excerpt from my book Fidelity that he thought helped explain why people go in …