I like this article:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659585/Congresswoman-reveals-what-she-believes-people-get-wrong-about-faith-and-American-politicians.html?pg=1   Perhaps because I tend to like most people.   I very much regret the rancor and disdain and refusal to compromise that poison American politics today.   That’s one of the reasons that I find Trumpism so off-putting.  As I’ve explained many times, I have very strong conservative beliefs, shading into libertarianism (especially on economic policy), but I don’t hate those who disagree with me.   (Nor, for the record, do... Read more

  First, I won’t be speaking at BYU Education Week this year.  I genuinely regret that, but I had little choice:  I’ll be out of the country and the commute would simply be too long.  I’ve mentioned this before, but some likely missed my announcement.  I’m sorry to disappoint, or to provide reason for rejoicing.   If you want to hear me in Oslo, Norway, though, I’ll be speaking there on Sunday evening.   *   Second, I’m trying to... Read more

    In view of the recent controversy over BYU’s bid to join the Big 12 Conference, this article might be helpful:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659832/So-how-are-gay-athletes-coaches-and-fans-treated-when-their-teams-play-at-BYU.html     Read more

    My latest exercise in mean-spirited ad hominem viciousness has appeared in the Deseret News:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659899/Paul-and-the-riots-in-Ephesus-through-recent-archaeological-discoveries.html     Read more

    An interesting survey that promises more to come:   http://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/islam-in-western-cinema-part-1   I have to admit that I find his very brief summary of Casablanca rather odd.     Read more

    http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438775/pay-gap-studies-disprove-myth-sexism-responsible     Read more

    I love the photograph that accompanies this article:   “Amish Visitors Take a Tour of LDS Philadelphia Temple”   An interesting article from the Washington Post:   “A new Mormon temple opens in Philadelphia, offering a glimpse into a secret shrine”   And, finally, a good video including the best images that I’ve seen of the new Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple:   http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/philadelphia/video/     Read more

    Absolute atheism starts in an act of faith in reverse gear and is a full-blown religious commitment. Here we have the first internal inconsistency of contemporary atheism: it proclaims that all religion must necessarily vanish away, and it is itself a religious phenomenon. Jacques Maritain     Read more

    This is a helpful perspective from Professor Asifa Quraishi-Landes of the University of Wisconsin School of Law:   https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-sharia/2016/06/24/7e3efb7a-31ef-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html?utm_term=.1b2bc8b95d5b     Read more

    This is it.     Read more