Kathryn Lindskoog and Gracia Fay Ellwood Earlier versions of this essay were published in The Christian Century and The Taste of the Pineapple. THE HUMAN RACE is haunted by the idea of doing what is right. In the first five chapters of Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis discusses the fact that people are always referring to some standard of behavior that Read More ›
“What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects — with their Christianity latent.” “Christian Apologetics” in God in the Dock 1. Spirits in Bondage (London: Heinemann, 1919; San Diego: Harcourt,1984). A collection of early poems published under the pseudonym Clive Hamilton. 2. Dymer (London: Dent, 1926; New York: Dutton, Read More ›
Walter Hooper’s C.S. Lewis: Companion and Guide $40 This 940-page volume from Harper-San Francisco is the first by Hooper that does not lead off with his fictitious secretaryship and/or deep friendship with Lewis. Instead, the book flaps identify Hooper as an eminent Lewis scholar, a trustee of his estate, and editor of Letters of C. S. Lewis (the collection originally Read More ›
Americans either tend to hate to love it, or to love to hate it. But neither attitude toward the United Nations is appropriate to the situation today. Neither is the old, idealistic view on the far left that the UN eventually should develop into some kind of world government, nor the recent far right delusion that the UN is trying Read More ›
WILL THE INTERNET COLLAPSE? NO WAY! What is all this commotion in Massachusetts? The very source of the Arpanet at Bolt, Beranek & Newman — the cradle of the Internet — Massachusetts is falling to the forces of Auntie Spiker and Aunt Sponge. These are the mingy ladies in the Roald Dahl story who rejoiced in James’s Giant Peach as Read More ›
It was a year ago when my wife and I began thinking of taking a vacation trip to our nation’s capital. A friendly fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee recommended lodging in the center of town in order to be close to the sights. And what could be more convenient–or more secure–than The White House? Tennis, swimming, excellent food, fine Read More ›
The campaign of 1996 will get out of the summer Doledrums when the prospective GOP standard-bearer announces his economic program. If that program is ambitious in scope, joining a growth package of and tax reductions and spending controls with a long term rescue of Social Security through private sector investments, Bob Dole’s supposed lack of a “vision” suddenly will disappear Read More ›
The Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future that begins in Philadelphia this Sunday promises to provide prestigious encouragement for broad citizen volunteering, a worthy purpose, we can all agree. But here’s a caveat that should, and possibly will not, be heard: Don’t let the government continue to invade–define, finance, direct–voluntary associations. We already are well down that path and it leads Read More ›
A Series of Eyes How do we see? In the 19th century the anatomy of the eye was known in great detail, and its sophisticated features astounded everyone who was familiar with them. Scientists of the time correctly observed that if a person were so unfortunate as to be missing one of the eye’s many integrated features, such as the Read More ›
“May Cause Abdominal Cramping and Loose Stools.” That’s only part of the delightful warning label the Food and Drug Administration insists that Procter & Gamble place prominently on potato chip and tortilla chip products prepared with its new fat-substitute, Olean. The FDA did not accede to the Center for Science in the Public Interest this winter when the Naderite group Read More ›