“Coming Out Christian”: I’m in The American Conservative

Last updated on: December 21, 2013 at 7:23 pm By Eve Tushnet

this month, talking about how the growing presence of openly gay Christians who accept the historical Christian teaching on sexuality is changing our churches. I think it’s a provocative and exciting story (I mean, I would!), and it includes the money quote (not from me), “I think if there’s no homosexual couples going to your church that’s probably a bad sign. You’re probably not having a reputation for actually being Jesus.” Plus, no joke, a Kristin Lavransdatter shout-out. None of... Read more

…And Charge Them for It

Last updated on: December 19, 2013 at 10:10 pm By Eve Tushnet

in action: …First the agents strip-searched the plaintiff, examining her anus and vagina with a flashlight. Finding nothing, they took her to the University Medical Center of El Paso, where they forced her to take a laxative and produce a bowel movement in their presence. Again they found no evidence of contraband. At this point one of their accomplices, a physician named Christopher Cabanillas, ordered an X-ray, which likewise found nothing suspicious. Then the plaintiff “endured a forced gynecological exam”... Read more

Richard Rodriguez on God of the Desert

Last updated on: December 19, 2013 at 6:58 pm By Eve Tushnet

Some crankiness, but lots of challenging stuff here: …Well, I think obviously we would have a different experience of nature. And maybe a different notion of what God expects from us; this is said as a believer, I should stress. It seems to me that a God who would reveal himself to Abraham in a place of such desolation is at least reminding us that our place on this Earth is temporary, and this is a place – a landscape... Read more

Against Opinions: Wisdom from Susan Sontag and Richard Hell

Last updated on: December 19, 2013 at 11:34 am By Eve Tushnet

I think about this quote a lot: There was one thing [Sontag] said that I didn’t understand at all until many years later. She said that she ‘hated opinions’ and that she’d rather not have them. I thought she was being like [host] Victor [Bockris] in contrarian incitement. I took it for granted so completely that opinions defined a person, that one was the sum of one’s opinions and that the point was to have interesting ones, that I could... Read more

“Magritte: Horror and Humor at MOMA”: Me at AmCon

Last updated on: December 17, 2013 at 12:28 pm By Eve Tushnet

reviewing: …Of course, the popular Magritte is often the punny Magritte (yes, you can see the famous not-a-pipe at the MOMA show); and the horror-laced, otherworldly Magritte was often the result of finding just the right, resonant punchline for an existential joke. more Read more

The Entire Bible in One Page

Last updated on: December 17, 2013 at 12:27 pm By Eve Tushnet

A project by a reader of this blog; you can also get particular passages, like the parable of the prodigal son, on a big aluminum sheet to hang on your wall. Read more

“Bloggers Sell Books”: Useful in Light of Catholic-Fiction Discussion

Last updated on: December 16, 2013 at 3:40 pm By Eve Tushnet

this is a chord: In a recent Wall Street Journal article (1) it was noted that books by 60 self published authors have been acquired by traditional publishers. 2012 was definitely the year of the self published author from E.L. James to Tammara Weber to Colleen Hoover. While there are some bloggers who are resistant to reviewing self published books, the rise of the self published author could not have occurred without three things: Robust digital market made possible by... Read more

Underrated Horror Flick on Netflix Streaming!

Last updated on: December 16, 2013 at 3:38 pm By Eve Tushnet

I infest the fine blog Kindertrauma, with a recommendation for a 2012 indie horror movie which really struck me. More in comments. Read more

The Catholic Writer and the Skating Boom, Or Every Day Is Self-Parody Day

Last updated on: December 14, 2013 at 9:23 pm By Eve Tushnet

“[Kathleen] Hanna wanted to become a writer. But Kathy Acker, a counterculture writer Hanna admired, told her that no one listens to spoken word, and instead she should be in a band.” –as recounted in The Punk Singer Alan Jacobs weighs in vs. me vs. Dana Gioia, on the past, future, and subjunctive tense of “the Catholic writer.” A few scattered thoughts follow. * Jacobs’ second point is really important: “Why should we not simply think of the generation of... Read more

“Where’s the Love?”: Underrated Horror Films Series

Last updated on: December 14, 2013 at 1:12 pm By Eve Tushnet

at Kindertrauma, ongoing! I sent in a contribution, which I think will be posted tomorrow, and any horror mavens who read me should send in their suggestions. I’ve found a lot of terrific lesser-known flicks through KT in the past, like I Start Counting, Games, and The Boys Next Door. Read more