Why the autonomous revolution needs comparative religion more than another ethical framework In 1236, Korea’s government had relocated to an island. Five years earlier, Mongol cavalry crossed Korea’s northern border. King Gojong’s court fled the mainland capital for Ganghwa, a tidal island safe from the horsemen. On the mainland, the invaders burned everything they encountered,... Continue Reading →
What can Highland Aluminum Works tell us about the factory's age? They laid them to rest where they fell, on a knoll above the water, marking each grave with concrete—the only material the land offered in abundance. Twenty-two graves stand there. Most stones bear only the word "Unknown." Three are named: Darkey Cunningham, John McFadden,... Continue Reading →
What would Thomas Merton say to a Franciscan's charge of patriarchal clericalism? In March 1925, a Belgian priest boarded a train to Rome, certain he was heading toward his own downfall. At forty-two, the son of a Schaerbeek coal merchant had spent six years building something his own bishops put on trial. His movement, the... Continue Reading →
Green Junction Garbage along highways can endanger drivers. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) spent nearly $10 million of its budget to clear garbage from the roads in 2024. The state’s website includes strong statements about the unfortunate use of state funds for trash removal. “ALDOT’s mission is to maintain and improve roads, not trash... Continue Reading →
As the US prepares to celebrate Labor Day, remember the holiday's true meaning. The man at the head of the column carried an American flag. He was Slovak. He worked underground for a company that owned his house, employed his doctor, and ran the store where he bought his flour. On the morning of Friday,... Continue Reading →
A priest in Quincy, a monk in Minnesota, and a chaplain in Brussels all asked the same question: what does the distance from the altar to the street reveal? Thomas Merton helps answer it, and the story begins in Quincy, Illinois. In the summer of 1886, a thirty-two-year-old priest stood upon the altar of St.... Continue Reading →
You must be logged in to post a comment.