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Monthly Archives: September 2010
Turkish Generals and American Judges
On September 12, 58% of voters in a referendum approved changes in the constitution of Turkey which significantly reduced the power of the military—the staunchest supporter of the secularism which had from the beginning characterized the republic established by Kemal … Continue reading
Posted in Islam, Secularism
Three Cheers for Kansas
In 2004 Thomas Frank, a liberal journalist and writer, published a book entitled What’s the Matter with Kansas? He was trying to explain why some people, notably in Kansas, voted Republican in obvious defiance of reason and morality. In this … Continue reading
Posted in Religion, United States
How to Keep a Closed Community Closed
On September 3 The New York Times carried a story about a twenty-six-year old man being charged in Curryville, Missouri, with two sexual assaults on under-age girls and suspected of several more over a period of ten years. I am … Continue reading
Posted in Religion, Secularism, Sociology
Do Dogs Go To Heaven?
First Things is a journal published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life in New York, founded by the late Catholic theologian Richard John Neuhaus and now edited by Joseph Bottum. At the end of every issue there is … Continue reading
A Postscript on Democracy and Ethnic Culture
After finishing the last post on Islamophobia in Europe an unexpected association occurred to me—I thought of an earlier post in which I discussed problems with democracy in Israel. In both cases there is a tension between democratic principles and … Continue reading
Islamophobia
If there is such a thing as Islamophobia, this summer would seem to be the season for it. In the United States the plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero under the auspices of what is the most tolerant … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Islam, Religion, Secularism
Dancing with the Gods
As students of mine soon discover (some admiringly, some with irritation), my favorite mode of thinking is free association. A few days ago a news item reminded me of one of the more fascinating individuals I met very early in … Continue reading
The Buddha and the Gallows
On August 28, 2010, The New York Times had a story about a tour for journalists of the major execution chamber in Tokyo. The tour was initiated by Keiko Chiba, the minister of justice, who is personally opposed to the … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, Europe, Morality, United States
Christians, Same-Sex Marriage and Slavery
The Puritan heritage still casts its long shadow over American culture, even if very few Protestants today would identify with Puritan theology in its original form. Puritanism survives in its moral rigidity, its legalism, and its exaggerated notions about the … Continue reading
