Saturday, September 26, 2015

Saturday Good Reads


Last year and this year I’ve been reading about World War I – the history of the war, how it happened, the poets, and the aftermath. One of the more interesting things I keep running across is how the thinking of the 19th century set the stage for both the world wars of the 20th – the belief in progress, the triumph of Darwinism, the German “higher criticism” of the Bible, and much more. Greg Forster at The Gospel Coalition has a post about a new book about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein that describes how much of their writing was in reaction to the 19th century and World War I.

I’ll have to read this book. And Forster’s words set my mind in motion, wondering what kind of price we’re ultimately going to pay for the intellectual bankruptcy known as political correctness, the enshrinement of victimization as an operating principle in society (see Rod Dreher’s article in American Conservative, linked below), and what happens when the most powerful nation on the face on the planet decides to take an extended vacation from global security concerns.

Dominic Bouck, a Dominican brother in the province of St. Joseph in Manhattan, describes what many Christians fear is coming – a country without churches. His is one of three articles from the Washington Post featured here today, and I have to say, I’m surprised at some of the stories the Post is publishing. And over at The New York Times, while it’s a kind of bashing-the-military story, it is also indirectly bashing “cultural sensitivity” and political correctness that’s beginning to run rampant among U.S. military leaders. I’m not ready to declare that journalism has returned to America, but a few glimmers of light might be appearing.

Life and Culture

Are Democrats and Republicans talking about the same country? – Phillip Rucker at the Washington Post.

Innovate or Fritter: A Story of Life – John Mertz and Voter wants to find the right candidate for you – Molly Page at Thin Difference.



A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War – Greg Forster at The Gospel Coalition.

SJWs as Marcusian Monsters – Rod Dreher at American Conservative.

Faith

10 Thoughts on the Church – Troy Cady at T(r)oy Marbles.

A country without churches – Dominic Bouck in the Washington Post.

When Home Isn’t a Physical Address – Eileen Knowles at The Scenic Route.

Good Ol’ Words: Preach – Winn Collier.


Does the Everyday Mundane Matter? – Hugh Whelchel at Faith, Work & Economics.

The Language of Abortion – Seth Haines.

Poetry

This Present Wildness – John Blase at The Beautiful Due.

John Dryden – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

Poet C.K. Williams – Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

Let’s Take a Walk in This World – Troy Cady at T(r)oy Marbles.

Photography

The Champion Table Build, Part 1: Compose, Scribe and Fit – Jack Baumgartner at The School of the Transfer of Energy.

Dewy Dawn – Tim Good at Photography by Tiwago.

Writing

Where Does the Story End? – Michael Rennier at Dappled Things.




Photograph by Ave Lainesaar via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

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