Once in a while a new book in religious studies comes out with a bold thesis, challenging old assumptions and raising some eyebrows. The Islamic Secular, a thick, dense, and elaborate monograph by Sherman A. Continue Reading...
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November 08, 2024
J.R.R. Tolkien on War
For his creation of Middle-earth, drenched in cultural and linguistic inventiveness, and rich in theological undertones, J.R.R. Tolkien is deservedly credited as one of the first and best creators of the modern fantasy genre. Continue Reading...
November 07, 2024
China: Greatest Threat or Paper Tiger?
With the Russo-Ukraine War and Israel’s battles with Hamas and Hezbollah comprising most of corporate media commentary on U.S. foreign policy for more than a year, it’s easy to overlook that many wonks label China our nation’s top security threat. Continue Reading...
November 06, 2024
Why Are Some Countries Still Poor?
This year’s Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded to Daron Acemoglu (MIT), Simon Johnson (MIT), and James A. Robinson (U of Chicago) for their work investigating why some countries flourish while others don’t. Continue Reading...
November 04, 2024
Death of a Liberation Theologian
A decade or so ago, I boarded a Miami flight headed for Detroit and found myself sitting next to a short, elderly, Latin American gentleman. Throughout the flight, we exchanged the usual pleasantries that characterize such travel. Continue Reading...
October 31, 2024
The Pastor Who Looked Evil in the Face
Hollywood multi-hyphenate Todd Komarnicki first burst onto the public’s radar in 2003 as one of the producers of the Christmas comedy classic Elf. From there he went on to demonstrate his versatility across several projects and genres, notably the dramatic screenplay for the much-acclaimed 2016 biopic Sully (based on the book by the late Jeffrey Zaslow). Continue Reading...
October 30, 2024
Do Presidential Debates Matter Anymore?
The 2024 election campaign has been unprecedented in numerous ways, but one of the less expected ways has been the number of presidential debates between the two candidates. Only one debate has occurred, and for the first time in presidential history, the vice-presidential debate looks to be the last one that will be held before the November election. Continue Reading...
October 29, 2024
Preserving Religious Freedom in Taiwan, the Holy See’s Way
In early October, I sat down with Chou-seng Tou, former ambassador of Taiwan (the Republic of China) to the Holy See (2004–8), at his residence in Taipei. Ambassador Tou has had a long and distinguished diplomatic career. Continue Reading...
October 24, 2024
Conclave’s Art Is Great, but Its Doubt Is Dubious
The intersection of religion and politics has always fascinated Hollywood filmmakers, from Becket and A Man for All Seasons to The West Wing. And no wonder. Both religion and politics are two of the biggest commanders of loyalty in their followers, and therefore they wield an enormous amount of power. Continue Reading...
October 23, 2024
You Are Not in Control: The Death of Boethius 1,500 Years On
In a prison dank and dark, somewhere outside the town of Pavia in northern Italy, a middle-aged man whiles away his final days, writing. His execution looms, and he knows it. Continue Reading...
