The most advanced oligarchy in the world

Simon Johnson points out that "the market" as a non-political entity does not exist, and that the economic crisis is greatly complicated by the intersection of finance and political power. Denninger agrees.

Give them Christ

Sandro Magister "gets" Benedict XVI.

The age of the Spirit

Actually Joachimism might be a very accurate description of the worldview of President Obama and of the cultural tradition that generated him.

Life

Africa, the new Alexandria?

Christ is everything in everyone

A new biography of G.M. Hopkins.

Fideism vs. rationalism

Another column by Mons. Albacete

Education vs. mechanics

In case someone bothers about the Pope and condoms in Africa, give him John Allen. Or this. Also John Waters.

Rigor and relationships

David Brooks is right on education. The problem though is not just lack of responsibility. The dominant ideology in education opposes precisely Brooks's two key concepts (acquiring rigorous knowledge through a relationship with an adult).

Salvation history

This book review wanders a bit, but the last three pages (on St. Augustine and the Jews) are very interesting.

Pragmatism is not realistic

Mons. Albacete on Obama's ideology.

Human fragility is real, the invisible hand is not

The end of an era.

Old New England

Connecticut legislators want to force congregationalism on the Catholic Church.

Ethics?

William Saletan is a thoughtful man. But many others seem indeed to be "dead to ethics and drifting wherever science takes you". See also Yuval Levin.

Depressing

From the Lord's prayer to core values.

3 monks, 12,000 corpses

Reading about Syriac Christians one wonders: is their fate simply a result of harsh persecution, or does it also reflect an aspect of their mentality?