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First Things

First Things

Magazine | United States | Right
www.firstthings.com/

Journal of religion and public life featuring leading scholars on faith, culture, and public policy.

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Articles

Discussions from First Things

Culture

A Gracious and Modest Punch to the Gut

For Instanceby rhina p. espaillatwiseblood books, 126 pages, $18 Dominican-American poet and translator Rhina Espaillat, at ninety-four, has spent decades examining life and then, graciously and modestly, punching us. The post A Gracious and Modest Punch to the Gut appeared first on First Things

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Geopolitics

An American Pope at a Time of War

When it comes to papal matters in Rhode Island, I am often interviewed on the local news. Thus, I get my “fifteen minutes of fame” whenever a pope dies. The post An American Pope at a Time of War appeared first on First Things

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Culture

The Return of the Mainline? (ft. Brad East)

In this episode, Brad East joins R. R. Reno on The Editor’s Desk to talk about his recent review, “Mainlining Nostalgia” from the April 2026 issue of the magazine. The post The Return of the Mainline? (ft. Brad East) appeared first on First Things

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Politics

The USCCB’s Just War Error

Just war is again being discussed in the public square by policymakers and prelates alike. Recently, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine, Bishop James Massa, made a. The post The USCCB’s Just War Error appeared first on First Things

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Politics

Two Visions of Religious Liberty

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are reflecting again on the principles that shaped their political order. The declaration famously appeals. The post Two Visions of Religious Liberty appeared first on First Things

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Culture

Art Criticism for Art’s Sake (ft. Michael Clune)

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Michael Clune joins in to discuss his recent novel, Pan. The conversation is embedded below. The post Art Criticism for Art’s Sake (ft. Michael Clune) appeared first on First Things

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Culture

An Open Letter to Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J.

Your Eminence: In an article recently published by a major German Catholic website, you suggested that the question of whether the Church can ordain women has not been definitively. The post An Open Letter to Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J. appeared first on First Things

Global
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Politics

The Smoke Clears in Budapest

On Sunday night, after a heated and chaotic election campaign, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party lost in a landslide after sixteen years in power. The. The post The Smoke Clears in Budapest appeared first on First Things

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Culture

In Defense of Cultural Christianity

More than two centuries ago, Søren Kierkegaard attacked the established church of his native Denmark. He denounced it for encouraging outward “Christian” behavior rather than authentic belief. People identified. The post In Defense of Cultural Christianity appeared first on First Things

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Politics

New York Is Bullying Nuns Who Care for the Dying

New York governor Kathy Hochul recently made headlines for decriminalizing assisted suicide, claiming as motivation her compassion for the terminally ill. Now her state’s public health agency has targeted. The post New York Is Bullying Nuns Who Care for the Dying appeared first on First Things

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Culture

Reviving Orestes Brownson

Who is worth remembering? Charles Darwin and Karl Marx, though so destructive to Christian thinking, are household names. But Orestes Brownson (1803–1876), America’s most profound Catholic thinker and a. The post Reviving Orestes Brownson appeared first on First Things

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Culture

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place with Wifi

As waiters glide across the room,espresso steams beside my bookon the small, round table.The low purl of conversations eddies around me, though most of usstare down at screens and dreamof. The post A Clean, Well-Lighted Place with Wifi appeared first on First Things

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