First Things

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

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

When does love of country become an idol?

In his review of Keith L. Johnson’s "Karl Barth and the Idolatry of the Nation", James R. Wood examines the tension between Christian faith, national identity, and cultural belonging.

To read the piece, visit https://t.co/PgMJUeHr6Y

[Virginia Aabram @VirginiaAabram]

Is Gen Z really the broke, teetotaling, trad, religious, heath-prioritizing, Nixon-obsessed generation that will usher in a golden age of the Tradwife and slay the dragon of the Girlboss all while going no contact with their parents and living in a tiny apartment alone because they’re too scared to date?

Or are all these stats just “three TikToks in a trench coat” that make easy fodder for lazy journalists and activists?

On the latest episode of Secret Third Thing, we had Reason Magazine reporter @_meagan_orourke on to discuss the data (or lack thereof) for these characterizations of our generation.

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

What do Gothic literature’s darkest tales reveal about the human soul?

Algis Valiunas explores the enduring power of "Dracula", "Frankenstein", and other classic works to confront temptation, sin, pride, and the struggle for salvation. A compelling reflection on why the greatest Gothic stories remind us that the stakes of human existence reach far beyond life and death.

To read the piece, visit https://t.co/vHbP3sZVYg

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

As artificial intelligence reshapes our world, the Church’s most urgent task may be to remind us what makes us human. George Weigel argues that evangelization must begin with a fundamental truth: we are creatures of a Creator, not merely algorithms to be optimized. A timely reflection on AI, human dignity, and the meaning of our humanity.

To read the piece, visit https://t.co/PCgX4QcGg1

[Bethel McGrew @BMcGrewvy]

I'm back in @firstthingsmag with my condensed take on "Elliotgate."

https://t.co/r4FKPNYjPu

[Germán S. Díaz del Castillo @germansdiaz]

“Gen Z doesn't drink,” “Gen Z are Nixonmaxxing,” "Gen Z are becoming Catholic" etc. It’s tempting to believe this sort of trend reporting without inquiry. But is it based on reliable data?

@_meagan_orourke joins us on Secret Third Thing to discuss.
https://t.co/rLEGgm0x2x

[Dan Hitchens @ddhitchens]

Astoundingly gifted writer, trans pioneer, and…“monster”? Me for @firstthingsmag on a fine biography of Jan Morris:

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

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 https://t.co/GRPyD0CeMU

[Mark Bauerlein @mark_bauerlein]

A very important election in Virginia, Father Scalia says:

https://t.co/0GzuyZpRtS

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

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 https://t.co/dIgQHlGyHM

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

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 https://t.co/86iurUwPHe

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

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 https://t.co/qgss18LmjV

[Darel E. Paul @darelmass]

Particularly among elites and young women, it’s far too early to say that heterosexuality is staging a comeback.
https://t.co/7QCAvJNIGt

[Aaron M. Renn 🇺🇸 @aaron_renn]

Meet the Post-Religious Right - My review of @ScottMGreer's new book Whitepill: The Online Right and the Making of Trump’s America https://t.co/G1Fb2tGp26

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

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 https://t.co/IvbcupRG2F

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

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 https://t.co/mgVNbjKmbg

[First Things @firstthingsmag]

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 https://t.co/z9zgIBvBfH

[NPRG @CptHastings1916]

"Conservatives, of course, can reasonably point out that this sounds like reverse-engineering marriage from first principles." https://t.co/yoSAbYBMpF

[NPRG @CptHastings1916]

I have a short piece at @firstthingsmag today reflecting on sex, porn bans and the contradictions of the permissive society (link below).

[Justin Lee @justindeanlee]

On the latest @firstthingsmag podcast, R.R. Reno, @germansdiaz & I discuss the ethics of public execution, perceived Trump-world corruption, & the legacy of Foucault.
https://t.co/O0oSC92LEX