@firstthingsmag

America’s most influential journal of religion & public life.

New York City
Joined March 2009
First Things retweeted
Astoundingly gifted writer, trans pioneer, and…“monster”? Me for @firstthingsmag on a fine biography of Jan Morris:
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A life of contradictions, a mind of extraordinary gifts, and prose of cold beauty. Dan Hitchens reflects on Jan Morris’s remarkable legacy in Sara Wheeler’s "Jan Morris: A Life". To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/a-cold-beaut…
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How much of sexual identity is innate, and how much is shaped by culture and social influence? In this piece, Darel E. Paul examines recent shifts in LGBTQ identification among young Americans, exploring changing social attitudes, the influence of elite institutions, and the political and cultural forces shaping the evolution of sexual identity. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/lgbtq-is-far…
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Can the Church remain silent when political decisions touch on the foundations of life, marriage, and the common good? In this piece, Paul D. Scalia examines two proposed amendments to Virginia’s constitution concerning abortion and marriage, exploring the Church’s responsibility to speak on moral questions, the limits of state authority, and the role of religious witness in public life. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/virginias-ba…
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In this piece, James Hankins explores whether history can offer a way to preserve a nation’s cultural identity while navigating religious and demographic change. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/a-muslim-ans…
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In the ​latest installment of Conversations, Bonnie Kristian joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss her recent book, In Defense of Evangelicalism. To listen to the conversation, visit firstthings.com/the-survival…
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Can a society limit the harms of pornography without questioning the sexual revolution that helped normalize it? In this piece, Niall Gooch examines Britain’s new restrictions on certain forms of pornography, exploring the contradictions of a sexual ethic centered on individual consent, the challenges of rebuilding shared moral standards, and the enduring role of commitment, marriage, and religious belief in understanding sexual intimacy. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/britains-por…
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How does artificial intelligence change not only what we do, but how we think and relate to one another? In this piece, J. Jacob Tawney examines the distinction between AI algorithms and their interfaces, exploring how automation may erode human expertise and how conversational AI shapes our understanding of friendship, communication, and human reason. The piece considers two guiding principles for evaluating AI’s long-term consequences: technology replaces what it automates, and it forms us through its very use. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/algorithm-in…
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First Things retweeted
I have a short piece at @firstthingsmag today reflecting on sex, porn bans and the contradictions of the permissive society (link below).
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First Things retweeted
On the latest @firstthingsmag podcast, R.R. Reno, @germansdiaz & I discuss the ethics of public execution, perceived Trump-world corruption, & the legacy of Foucault. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
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The editors discuss the canceled livestreaming of the Nidal Hasan execution, the stench of corruption in the Trump administration, and the 100th anniversary of Michel Foucault’s birth. To listen to the conversation, visit firstthings.com/the-executio…
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How does a modern adaptation reshape one of John Steinbeck’s most enduring novels? In this piece, Veronica Clarke examines Zoe Kazan’s adaptation of "East of Eden", exploring its reinterpretation of Cathy Ames, the role of maternal love, and the enduring themes of parental rejection, guilt, and forgiveness. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/a-womans-eas…
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First Things retweeted
A little late to the party, but I reviewed Zoe Kazan’s seven-part Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” for @firstthingsmag. Kazan brings a woman’s sensibility to a man’s epic—for better and for worse. firstthings.com/a-womans-eas…
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Why has pornography become a point of contention even among conservatives? In this piece, Freya India examines the impact of porn on relationships and marriage, exploring its connection to trust, intimacy, and marital stability, particularly among religious couples. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/women-should…
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