A Thinking Reed

  • 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…

  • Don’t forget Prop 2!

    A pre-Election Day reminder about Proposition 2 in California. This modest measure could not only make a dramatic difference to the lives of millions of animals, but establishing these protections in the largest state in the Union could have a dramatic ripple effect on animal welfare across the country. More info here. (Links via)

  • Invasion of the left-wing body snatchers

    I largely agree with John’s take on the whole Obama-as-closet-radical idea being pushed by the (increasingly desperate) McCain campaign and its media fellow travelers. (Be sure to follow the links he provides too.) I have plenty of lefty friends, and they certainly don’t think Obama is a radical lefty. On everything from health care to…

  • Tagged!

    From Rick Ritchie – five people (living or dead) who have been a positive influence on your spiritual life. It’s kind of tricky question for a few reasons. For one, I don’t know that my spiritual life is anything to write home about. For another, I’m sure that what spiritual life I do have has…

  • Flex time

    My pal Mary links to this article from Newsweek on “flexitarians” – folks who, for a variety of reasons, eat meat sparingly but without being full-bore vegetarians (or vegans). I think this is all to the good. In particular, as veggie options become more widespread and palatable, people will recognize that you can eat well…

  • You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind blows

    The Nation has re-posted a story it ran on the Obama-Bill Ayers connection when the Clinton campaign tried to make hay out of the same issue during the primaries. What’s completely baffling to me is what inference the McCain campaign thinks we should draw from Obama’s (tenuous) connection to Ayers. That Obama is a secret…