Category Archives: Society

The Politics of the Mist

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

I have a reflection on Ecclesiastes and politics over on Political Theology Today, largely drawing upon some previously posted material: ‘Vanity of vanities’—or, more literally translated, ‘vapor of vapors.’ There are few more potent and fecund metaphors for human life, activity, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Experience, Ecclesiastes, Guest Post, OT, Politics, Prayer, Providence, Society, Theological | Leave a comment

Podcast: Understanding the Meritocracy

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

On this week’s episode of Mere Fidelity, Derek, Andrew, and I discuss a recent article by Helen Andrews on the subject of meritocracy. You can also follow the podcast on iTunes, or using this RSS feed. Listen to past episodes on … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, Podcasts, Society, The Church | 1 Comment

Brexit and the Moral Vision of Nationhood

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

I have a lengthy guest post over on Mere Orthodoxy, reflecting upon the recent Brexit vote, and what it may reveal about a growing class and ideological divide in the UK and in the world more generally. Within it I … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, Ethics, Guest Post, In the News, Politics, Society | 7 Comments

Brexit Throws Down The Gauntlet For Confronting Deep Social Divisions

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

A piece of mine on the recent Brexit vote has just been published over on Political Theology Today. Britain’s vote to leave the European Union is a social earthquake that will define the next generation of politics in this country. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, Guest Post, In the News, Politics, Society | 9 Comments

The Politics of Wisdom and Folly

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

I’ve just guest posted over on Political Theology Today. I discuss the significance of the personification of Wisdom in Proverbs and the relevance of the distinction between the politics of folly and wisdom. The conceptual interplay between the pursuit of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Culture, Ethics, Guest Post, In the News, OT, OT Theology, Politics, Proverbs, Sex and Sexuality, Society, Theological | Leave a comment

Podcast: Amoris Laetitia

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

For this week’s podcast, the Mere Fidelity crew is joined by our friend Pascal Emmanuel Gobry. Within this episode we discuss the papal document, Amoris Laetitia and some of the reactions to it (see, for instance, Matthew Schmitz and Dwight … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Ethics, In the News, Podcasts, Sex and Sexuality, Society, The Church, The Sacraments, Theological | 1 Comment

Why We Should Jettison the ‘Strong Female Character’

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

I’ve just guest posted over on Mere Orthodoxy on the subject of the Strong Female Character trope: Fictional worlds are places in which we can explore possibilities for identity and agency. The fact that women’s stature as full agents is … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Culture, Guest Post, In the News, Politics, Proverbs, Sex and Sexuality, Society, Theological | 24 Comments

Podcast: Tribalism

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

In our most recent Mere Fidelity podcast, Matt, Derek, Andrew, and I discuss the subject of tribalism, taking Scott Alexander’s recent Slate Star Codex post on the subject as our starting point. You can also follow the podcast on iTunes, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, On the web, Podcasts, Politics, Society, The Church | 6 Comments

Podcast: What is Appropriate in Worship?

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

This week we had a podcast time and subject lined up, but Matt wasn’t around and Derek couldn’t make it at the very last moment. Andrew has been in some conversations about whether dancing has a place in churches and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church History, Controversies, Culture, Ethics, Liturgical Theology, Podcasts, Society, The Church, Theological, Worship | 15 Comments

The Friendship Between Justices Scalia and Ginsburg and the Importance of Civility for Public Dispute

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Alastair Roberts

I’ve just guest posted over on Political Theology Today, discussing some of the lessons that we can learn from the friendship between Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The current rise of inflammatory and uncivil rhetoric, of prescriptive, punitive, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Culture, Ethics, Guest Post, In the News, Politics, Society | Leave a comment