A Thinking Reed

  • The new new new fusionism?

    I remember those days of–what?–three years ago when the “new fusionism” was supposed to be an alliance of pro-lifers and foreign policy hawks. And then there was “liberaltarianism.” Now it’s an alliance between “neo-Benedictines” and “libertarians.” The idea is that folks who want to live in Alasdair MacIntyre-style local communities heavy on religious identity and…

  • Mainliners breaking for Obama

    Interesting column by Beliefnet’s Steven Waldman. This may seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget–what with all the talk about the “liberal mainline”–that mainline Protestants in the pews are not necessarily all that liberal (Bush won the mainline vote in 2004). Indeed, according to Waldman, a little over four in 10 describe themselves as conservative,…

  • Shenandoah pics

    We took advantage of the long weekend and drove to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia for some relaxation, hiking, and communing with nature. It’s quite purty there this time of year. Here are a few pics:

  • Notes on human uniqueness and the Imago Dei

    In light of this post, here are some thoughts on what it might mean to affirm human uniqueness and to say that we’re created in the image of God: The Bible doesn’t give us much to go in when it says that human beings are created in God’s image: Then God said, “Let us make…

  • Sorry, dad

    Since I’m still getting a lot of hits for “conservatives for Obama” here’s one for you–Christopher Buckley (son of William F. and a well-regarded writer in his own right) endorses.

  • Human uniqueness qualified (if not debunked)

    From the New Scientist – six traits found in animals formerly thought to be the sole preserve of human beings. Really, this is exactly what you would expect if evolutionary theory is right – not sharp breaks between human beings and the rest of the animal kingdom, but differences in degree. Some Christians still seem…

  • Pollan’s open letter to the next president

    On food, farming, and health–here.

  • Friday metal – thrash throwback edition

    Been listening to Florida “neo-thrash” act Trivium’s new album Shogun. Pretty good stuff–in some ways a better Metallica album than Death Magnetic. 🙂 Here’s “Down From the Sky”:

  • The sacrifice to end all sacrifices

    Here’s a very thoughtful post on the Atonement from the fine blog Sub Ratione Dei. I wouldn’t call myself a “Girardian,” but I’ve definitely learned from the Girardian perspective, especially via James Alison‘s work. I’m hoping to get my hands on a copy of Mark Heim’s Saved from Sacrifice soon too.

  • Disappearing act

    Apparently there was some controversy about the remains of John Henry Newman. The Catholic Church wanted to exhume the remains of the soon-to-be-sainted cardinal (and famous convert from Anglicanism) and display them for veneration. But Newman had explicitly requested burial next to his longtime friend Father Ambrose St John, which is further complicated by the…