It is well known that Christianity has had a long history in advocating the dignity of the human person. In the Didache, for example, we can read early pronouncements against abortion. But it speaks about more than abortion. It says that there are two paths, the way of death and the way of life, and Christians are called to follow the path of life: There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between... Read more
I love poetry the way some people love wine, and I’ve been reading or writing it continually since I was about 15. Some of my favorite poets include Eliot, Auden, Yeats, Galway Kinnell, Langston Hughes, Denise Levertov, Jimmy Santiago Baca, and Anthony Hecht. But over the past few years I have developed a deep affection for the work of Czeslaw Milosz, the Polish-born Nobel Laureate (1980, Literature). If you aren’t familiar, here’s a taste, a poem titled “Meaning,” written in 1988 and translated by... Read more
Introduction and Part II “God, being full of goodness and ungrudging bounty, not only created man with free will but also endowed him with the capacity to conform with God if he so wishes.”[1] When there is no wickedness within, one can then conform to God.[2] “If, then, man praises the good actions and virtues of a soul which is holy and enjoys the love of God, and if condemns ugly and wicked deeds, how much more so does God,... Read more
Down syndrome is the most common birth defect in the world, affecting approximately 1 in 750 births. In the United States, perversely, thanks to prenatal screening and selective abortion, the number of births has decreased even as the medical and psychological understanding has increased: just as children with Down syndrome are more likely to live long and fulfilling lives, they are less likely to be born. My oldest son has Down syndrome; my wife and I were not quite 30... Read more
The compromise debt deal plan currently being discussed is unacceptable. It doesn’t resolve the debt limit issue. We will be back to dealing with the politics of this before the next election. Republicans have maintained that revenue increases are a poison pill in these negotiations. It appears that the Democrats may have acceded to these demands. If tax cuts are a poison pill, then spending cuts might as well be a poison pill, especially on health care and social security.... Read more
Matthew 14: 13-21 When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the... Read more
Over the past eight months or so, I’ve been selecting and editing my writing here at Vox Nova into a self-published book: Things and Stuff. I never expected it to take this long, or to be this rewarding. I am especially excited to share this book with you, the readers of Vox Nova. The book will be available in September and I hope to continue to take up this project again every two or three years. As many of you... Read more
One of the traditions of Wabash College (the college where I teach) is a weekly “Chapel Talk,” given by faculty, staff, and other guests on a topic of their choosing. I had the honor of giving my first talk (“White History Month“) this past Spring and I have enjoyed hearing several of the talks given by veterans and novices alike. Of all the talks given this past year, only one has stayed with me. It was delivered by the editor... Read more
Angelic choir in the soup kitchen soothing the ache of the streets with show tunes and joyful alleluias and Leonard Cohen, so that Christ at the tables can smile that you have remembered His Humanity. Read more
In the recent spanking debate here, one of the points that I’m not sure was really expanded upon was the idea of spanking being a preventative for real and substantial harm. What makes spanking seem unreasonable to modern sensibilities is the very real sense that it appears to be disproportionate punishment. The harms that can befall a child today for the most part find their source in malice. While historically not always the case, when spanking is done today it... Read more
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