Family

April 05, 2022

The kids are all right, but better with religion

In a classic 1976 episode of All in the Family, the TV character Archie Bunker took it upon himself to baptize his grandson at his local church. He did this secretly, as he explained to God, because his son-in-law was a “dopey atheist” who wouldn’t permit the baby to be baptized. Continue Reading...

February 22, 2022

Charles Schulz, Peanuts, and the power of community

Charles Schulz believed that life was hard and lonesome. That is why he believed that life was best experienced with others. Only through the sharing of burdens and triumphs and fears and joys could a person navigate the immense challenges of life. Continue Reading...

December 23, 2021

The American family needs a Miracle on 34th Street now

My Christmas movies series has hitherto considered church (The Bishop’s Wife), work (The Shop Around the Corner), and family (Christmas in Connecticut), the communities that constitute America. Continue Reading...

December 03, 2021

Finding a community of faith in The Bishop’s Wife

I try to write every year on old Christmas movies, and this year I’m doing an entire series on ’40s movies remade in the ’90s, which suggests we can bring back some of those heartwarming stories. Continue Reading...

November 06, 2021

Despite displays of strength, China has key weaknesses

The recent announcement that China had tested something akin to a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System, which is launched into space and then orbits the globe before discharging a missile at its target, underscored yet again that America and its allies have serious grounds to be worried about China. Continue Reading...

September 19, 2021

The impact of church attendance on child development and family life

Only 47% of Americans belong to a church of any faith. This matters, especially for families and children, as well as our communities, as church attendance and religious adherence not only benefit family life, but also the development of children, as both church and a strong family life positively form children and help them become productive members of society. Continue Reading...

August 23, 2021

Strong families are good for the economy – and vice versa

Families and free market economies: On the surface, they seem unrelated. We associate family with game nights, holiday traditions, and cute baby photos, while the economy is associated with the stock market, cold-hearted businessmen, and bloated corporations. Continue Reading...

July 14, 2021

The antidote to Americans’ crisis of ‘meaning’

What do you want? Or, better yet, what do you want from what you want? It turns out, more than money or praise, humans yearn for a purpose. And new data indicate Americans are lacking that meaning and connection in their lives. Continue Reading...

July 13, 2021

A country for old men: Why American communities need the elderly

America is facing a crisis of community. The prevalence of social media is threatening human relationships. Religious detachment is leading to declining civic participation. Politicians and central planners are increasingly expanding their reach in American communities. Continue Reading...

July 07, 2021

Government shouldn’t be the one leading our communities – we should

As our lives begin to crank back up after over a year of turmoil, we have to ask the question: what comes next for society? As usual, politicians have their own answer, eager to wade into new spheres during times of crisis. Continue Reading...

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