A Few Good Reads

“What the Media Isn’t Telling You Regarding the Arguments Over Same-Sex Marriage“
As the debate over same-sex marriage heated up, conservatives warned a move in this direction would lead to a loss of religious liberty and open the door to the legalization of other types of sexual relationships. Michael Kruger helps us see both of these issues as he analyzes the transcripts of last week’s oral arguments before the Supreme Court. “The logic being used to promote same-sex marriage could be used to support a variety of other sexually questionable forms of marriage.” (Emphasis Original)

“What is Your Purpose?”
I have always enjoyed the thoughtful writing of David Brooks. His writing lately raised the question of our moral vocabulary and noted how our moral debates have been politicized. In this piece he ponders the meaning of life, noting our need to make space for discussing life’s most important issues. “The shift has meant there is less moral conversation in the public square. I doubt people behave worse than before, but we are less articulate about the inner life. There are fewer places in public where people are talking about the things that matter most.”

“Split Images“
Madison Holleran appeared to have everything a college freshman could want. She had been a successful high school student athlete and now ran track at an Ivy League school. Her Instagram account detailed the life of a girl who looked to be happy and enjoying life. Kate Fagan at ESPN tells a different story though; one only a few people knew. Madison battled severe depression and ultimately took her own life. This piece details what everyone saw from a distance versus what was really happening inside. (Warning: This is a beautiful and moving piece of writing, but it also details what happened when Madison took her own life.) “Madison was beautiful, talented, successful — very nearly the epitome of what every young girl is supposed to hope she becomes. But she was also a perfectionist who struggled when she performed poorly. She was a deep thinker, someone who was aware of the image she presented to the world, and someone who often struggled with what that image conveyed about her, with how people superficially read who she was, what her life was like.”

“Best, Brightest, and Saddest”
Frank Bruni of The New York Times explores the reasons behind a string of teenage suicides in Palo Alto, California. He zeroes in on the pressure teenagers in this city face to excel in school and get accepted into Stanford. (Warning: This piece is informative, but discusses teenage suicide.) “And while mental health professionals are rightly careful not to oversimplify or trivialize the psychic distress behind them by focusing on any one possible factor, the contagion has prompted an emotional debate about the kinds of pressures felt by high school students in epicenters of overachievement.”

Good Deals on Kevin DeYoung’s Books
I’ve benefited from Kevin DeYoung’s writing the last few years and his books Crazy Busy, Don’t Call it a Comeback, Taking God at His Word, and The Hole in Our Holiness are discounted for Kindle this week. You should pick them up and give them a careful read.