The winds of change seem to be finally blowing as a sea change (particularly over the past five years) has taken place in America’s schools’ systems as parents have increasingly demanded choice—religious and otherwise—be not merely tolerated but publicly supported.   The dog days of summer are not typically associated with school, but the summer... Continue Reading

Technology itself isn’t the enemy. It’s a powerful tool that can be used for good or for ill. The goal isn’t simply to limit screen time, though that may be part of the solution. The real objective is to train our children to engage wisely with technology, think critically about what they encounter, and stay... Continue Reading

Of course, Rousseau is not responsible for the evil of others, but his ideas did provide justification for some of the worst villains in human history. That is why it’s so important to study ideas, including bad ones.   A meme on social media quotes my colleague Glenn Sunshine as saying, “If I had a... Continue Reading

The so-called Christian Nationalist view invites skepticism as to its proponents’ understanding of history. Ball says that “under the United States Constitution and a pietistic church, America has spiraled down into debauchery and degeneracy,” forgetting that Britain has fallen much farther with its own constitution and established churches.  Or again, James Baird quotes early American... Continue Reading

There is a gaping wound between us, a chasm of theology, culture, history, and pain. But Christ bridges chasms. And so I extend this invitation—not in spite of our differences, but because of them: Come, let us reason together. Let us sit across tables, walk through one another’s streets, hear the Psalms in each other’s... Continue Reading

For us, summer may be an ideal time to enjoy and profit from reruns of the most basic texts in the Bible, such as the creation account, the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord’s Prayer, the love chapter (I Corinthians 13), or on the Blessed Hope, our Lord’s return to claim His... Continue Reading

The sign of a great leader is not that they are the most gifted or competent person in the organization. The sign of a great leader is someone who can attract and keep people more gifted and competent than themselves.   So…let’s just be honest. I’m a little insecure. My guess is you might be... Continue Reading

What’s important for congregants to understand is that it is not only listeners who need to remain undistracted, who need to battle to keep their minds focused and their thoughts directed. The preacher fights the same battle….So, just as we pray for undistracted minds for those who listen, we would do well to pray for... Continue Reading

Chances are Catholic bishops won’t want priests to endorse candidates during Mass. Despite expectations, evangelical Protestants might not rush to endorse, either. By strong tradition, they desire sermons on biblical teaching, not politics, and they need no special prodding from pastors in order to vote Republican.   (ANALYSIS) Unless a federal court challenge succeeds, American... Continue Reading

Simply seeing our culture being dumbed-down is worrying enough. So too the creation of a people who are so obsessed with images and gadgets and technological marvels that basics like thinking, reflecting, reading and writing are increasingly being lost.   I have said it before: I am old, and I am old school. So things... Continue Reading