Since I criticized Joseph Bottum’s article on the “new fusionism,” it seems only fair to note that he has a really good article on capital punishment in this month’s FT. (Not that Mr. Bottum was losing sleep over criticisms from these parts!)

The Christian Century on Joel Osteen.It’s actually a pretty balanced article giving Osteen credit for having a multi-racial ministry for one thing. It also points out that the “prosperity” gospel isn’t necessarily as far from the Christian mainstream as one might think: In some ways Osteen echoes an ancient and venerable Christian tradition that borrows…

Since Alberto Gonzales does not have a public record of opposing Roe v. Wade or being otherwise pro-life, some media outlets seem to have dubbed him a “moderate” choice for the Supreme Court. Gene Healy explains why you should be troubled by a Gonzales nomination whatever your stance on abortion (via Unqualified Offerings). I ranted…

Disturbing piece from George Neumayr (via Amy Welborn): Each year in America fewer and fewer disabled infants are born. The reason is eugenic abortion. Doctors and their patients use prenatal technology to screen unborn children for disabilities, then they use that information to abort a high percentage of them. Without much scrutiny or debate, a…

From Newsweek (via Get Religion): Keeping Republicans and their conservative kin together won’t be easy. For the first time in a nomination fight, corporate lobbyists are determined to play a leading public role. They are concerned that an obsessive focus on abortion and gay marriage will jeopardize what they regard as a once-in-a-generation chance to…

Frederica Mathewes-Green compares Roman Catholic and Orthodox views of what the unity of the church means (she’s Orthodox). Ms. Mathewes-Green says that RCs focus on membership, or belonging to an institution, whereas Orthodox focus on shared belief. From a Roman Catholic perspective, unity is created by the institution of the church. Within that unity there…

Good article from Alan Bock on the United States’ “Middle Eastern Paradigm” (MEP) and how it ought to change. Bock argues, leaning on the work of Leon Hadar, that the paradigm the U.S. has used in dealing with the Middle East grew out of the Cold War and a perceived need to counter Soviet influence…

Lots of comments over at Versus Populum. Pastor Frontz has posted a very thorough explication of the kind of “liberal Protestantism” Braaten seems to have in mind: In the contemporary “Protestant” culture, Braaten and others see a Kulturprotestantismus which differs in its assumptions about the culture but is one with the primary assumption that Barth…

Remember the BBC poll to determine the greatest philosopher in history? Well, they’ve announced the winner and it’s none other than Uncle Karl himself! And by a significant margin too! Here’s how the vote broke down: Marx: 27.93%Hume: 12.67%Wittgenstein: 6.80%Nietzsche: 6.49%Plato: 5.65%Kant: 5.61%St. Thomas: 4.83%Socrates: 4.82%Aristotle: 4.52%Karl Popper: 4.20%

Maybe I don’t understand terrorist strategy or something, but I can’t see how blowing up little kids is a good way to win friends or influence people. I mean, presumably, even Iraqis who are hostile to the occupation would abhor this kind of depraved act.