politics

What is Critical Theory? – Book Review

Books / By

Bradley G. Green’s What Is Critical Theory? traces the intellectual roots of contemporary progressive movements to the Frankfurt School thinkers of the 1920s, revealing how critical theory functions as a secular alternative religion that appropriates Christian concepts while replacing divine redemption with political revolution. The book demonstrates that critical theorists like Marcuse, Adorno, and Benjamin developed their ideas as disappointed Marxists seeking to explain why the predicted proletarian uprising never occurred, ultimately blaming technological civilization and culture for pacifying revolutionary impulses. Green argues from a Christian perspective that critical theory fundamentally misdiagnoses the human condition by locating evil in societal structures rather than the human heart, offering a “redemption” without a Savior and a hope grounded in revolutionary upheaval rather than divine grace.

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Black Conservative and Black Liberal Women Discuss Issues

Opinion, Worldview / By

In a powerful episode of The Bridge hosted by Dr. Michelle Daf, ten Black women (five conservative and five liberals) engaged in a moderated, in-depth discussion on polarizing topics like party loyalty, policing, reparations, affirmative action, DEI, immigration, and abortion, modeling the rare practice of active listening to truly understand opposing views rather than simply rebut them. While sharp divides emerged — conservatives often emphasized personal responsibility, policy outcomes over intentions, and skepticism toward government solutions, while liberals highlighted historical trauma, systemic inequities, and the need for protective programs— the participants uncovered surprising moments of overlap, such as shared Christian faith as a unifying force. Despite frustrations and no full consensus, the conversation underscored that uncomfortable, substantive dialogue across political lines is an essential first step toward recognizing shared humanity and advancing meaningful progress for the community.

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Timothy Snyder On Freedom

Books / By

A critical review of Timothy Snyder’s book “On Freedom” Published by Crown in 2024; 345 pages. “On Freedom” challenges the conventional American understanding of liberty as merely “freedom from” government interference, proposing instead a concept of “positive freedom” that requires active effort to create, choose, and build meaningful lives together. Through five interconnected forms (sovereignty, unpredictability, mobility, factuality, and solidarity) Snyder argues that genuine freedom demands both individual virtue and collective political structures, drawing lessons from wartime Ukraine and critical theorists rather than classical liberal philosophers. While offering thought-provoking insights about technology’s threats to human autonomy and the necessity of truth-telling institutions, the book’s fragmentary structure and lack of engagement with serious defenses of negative liberty leave it reading more as progressive political polemic than rigorous philosophical treatise.

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St. Augustine at the museum. Scene 1

Augustine’s Political Philosophy Explains Our Political Chaos

History, Worldview / By

St. Augustine’s political philosophy offers a surprising diagnosis for America’s polarization: our crisis stems from “disordered loves” – valuing the wrong things and treating politics as a religion that can save us. Augustine argued that nations are defined not by laws but by what they collectively love, and that without proper ordering of these desires toward truth and justice, governments become merely legitimized “gangs of robbers” driven by lust for domination. His solution isn’t withdrawal or despair, but “engaged pilgrimage” – working for provisional justice while recognizing that politics cannot provide ultimate meaning, freeing us from the rage and desperation that comes from expecting earthly systems to save us.

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Black Conservative Women vs. White Liberal Women

Ideas, Opinion / By

A dialogue between Black conservative women and White liberal women on the Dr. Daf Show revealed unexpected common ground despite sharp disagreements on issues like DEI and immigration. While they clashed over fundamental questions – with conservatives arguing DEI perpetuates tokenism and liberals emphasizing systemic barriers – both groups found consensus on feminism as fundamentally about choice and recognized they were operating from entirely different informational realities. Ultimately, participants concluded that political elites exploit division to maintain power, and that genuine face-to-face dialogue can reveal shared values obscured by partisan narratives.

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Sanctuary Cities vs. Biblical Refuge

Commentary / By

This analysis compares the Old Testament’s cities of refuge — a divinely mandated legal system providing conditional asylum for those accused of accidental manslaughter — with Operation Midway Blitz, a 2025 federal immigration enforcement action in Chicago that employed military-style tactics to target undocumented individuals. While the ancient framework prioritized individual due process, public adjudication of intent, and equal protection under law, the modern operation emphasized demographic targeting and collective enforcement, resulting in mass detentions that included U.S. citizens alongside only two confirmed gang members. The comparison reveals a fundamental tension between process-centric justice rooted in individual culpability and outcome-driven enforcement that prioritizes administrative efficiency over individualized rights.

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Christian Nationalism: A Discussion With David VanDrunen

Worldview / By

Explore the concept of Christian Nationalism, its definitions, historical roots, and contemporary debates. It begins with a reflection on the phrase’s increasing use and its varied interpretations — ranging from a movement to align national identity with Christian values to a pejorative label tied to racism and nationalism. The text contrasts this with Roger Williams’ 17th-century advocacy for liberty of conscience, emphasizing religious freedom over state-enforced faith. The core discussion features Dr. David VanDrunen and Pastor Chris Gordon analyzing Christian Nationalism through a theological lens, drawing from VanDrunen’s book Living in God’s Two Kingdoms. They critique proponents like Doug Wilson and Stephen Wolfe, arguing that the New Testament does not support nations being explicitly Christian. Instead, they advocate for a “two kingdoms” approach, where God’s common grace sustains civil order for all, while the church focuses on spiritual mission, not political dominion. Key themes include the decline of Christendom, the rise of culture wars, and the tension between Christian identity and national loyalty, urging believers to prioritize heavenly citizenship over earthly power.

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Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Restoring Responsible Citizenship

Commentary, Opinion / By

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, once a prominent New Atheist who criticized Islam, announced her conversion to Christianity in 2023, marking a significant shift from her Muslim background through atheism to embracing Christian morality as essential for Western nation-states. In her recent ARC conference speech in London, she argued that Europe’s societal stability relies on Christianity as its “operating system,” warning that secularism’s push against it has destabilized the West, and she drew on biblical principles to highlight how Christian ethics underpin democracy, human rights, and good governance.

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