We’ve gotten a lot of mileage over the years from graduation speeches. Perhaps because they tend to be so long on law and short on grace–i.e. full of exhortation rather than comfort–that when they’re good, they really stand out. Among our favorite “anti-commencement addresses” would have to be those by Bill Watterson, JK Rowling, Conan O’Brien, Jonathan Franzen and, of course, David Foster Wallace. With schools around the country gearing up for their big days, I figured it was time to toss another log on the fire, in the form of the hilarious and deceptively wise words Stephen Colbert delivered…
Augustine on the Word Becoming Flesh
Here are some poetic words from Saint Augustine’s Sermon 69: On the same words, John 1: “In the beginning was the Word, etc.” excerpted from the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers edited by Philip Schaff. There are some beautiful lines here on the Incarnation—the Word of God becoming flesh—that could make this a Christmas sermon.
Do not follow the current of the flesh. For this flesh is indeed a current; for it has none abiding. As it were from a kind of secret fount of nature men are born, they live, they die; or whence they come, or whither they go, we know not.…
A Cardinal and a Comedian Walk into a Gym
A terrific round-up of last week’s “the Cardinal and Colbert” event at Fordham University, via Sam Sawyer, SJ. This article was originally published on The Jesuit Post.
Official Event Art by Fordham student Tim Luecke
On Friday evening, I stood in a line in the Bronx, waiting to get the colored plastic bracelet that would get me VIP access into a crowded venue. Before anyone gets concerned that I’m endangering my vows, let me point out that the Cardinal Archbishop of New York was there too. Not to mention a crowd of almost 3,000 students chanting “Steee-phen! Steee-phen!” and “U-S-A! U-S-A!”.…
The iLife Pursuit and Adultescent Loneliness
Bryan J’s recent post on The Law of Social Media (which could not have been a more apt primer on the subject) looks into a TED talk given by Sherry Turkle, an M.I.T. professor and author of Alone Together, who has become something of a clarion caller upon the state of our lonely lives as a result of the technologies we have become conditioned to need. Most of her research focuses on the loss of the art of relating due to the immediacy and detachments available with technology. She references, both in her TED talk and her interview with Colbert…
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Another Week Ends: Monastic (Olympic) Masochism, Successful Children, Justified Paranoia, Mumford and Sons, Edward Gorey, Creedal Colbert and the Return of PZ’s Podcast
1. As the Olympics wind down (and Morrissey gets his London back), we would do well to read Heather Havrilesky’s jaw-droppingly insightful piece “The Loneliness of the Person Watching the Long Distance Runner” that appeared in the NY Times Magazine last week. She absolutely nails the religiosity at the heart of much contemporary athleticism. And she even touches on how we instrumentalize suffering in a distinctly theology-of-glory-like way, i.e. as a means of self-salvation. Which is a bit ironic, since as far as cultural commentators are concerned, I consider Havrilesky a gold-medalist:
If the ’70s and ’80s were marked by a…
Something Comes From Nothing: Colbert the Apologist
Be sure to stick with it to the very end:
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Another Week Ends: Attachment Parenting, Sendak on Innocence, Self-Disclosure, Fraudulent Psych, Prometheus, Avengers, and Josh Hamilton
1. Why Is This Attractive Woman Breast-Feeding This Giant Child? asks Hannah Rosin over at Slate, in response to Time’s, um, eye-catching cover this past week. You know the one I’m talking about – at least you do if you’ve seen it (below). The story within, bearing the not-so-subtle title of “Are You Mom Enough?”, profiles the controversial world of radical attachment parenting and the man behind it, Dr. Bill Sears. Now I’m as big a proponent of breastfeeding as the next guy (…), so the reason I include the article here has nothing to do with developmental health or…
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Another Week Ends: DFW50, Simpsons 500, Ira Talks Radiolab, Rowling Talks New Novel, Helpless Women, Helpless Kids, Lenten Identity, Cormac McCarthy Pictionary
All the best wishes for those mockingbirds at the Liberate Conference in Fort Lauderdale this weekend, including our very own David Zahl.
1. Along with the rest of the blogosphere this week, we wish David Foster Wallace a happy 50th birthday. There’s too many blessings to recount, but the web has exploded with numerous avenues for you to get your feet wet or soul soaked. Take a look at The Awl’s “46 Things to Read and See for David Foster Wallace’s 50th Birthday,” a piece of which includes an 86-minute interview with German TV ZDF, the first of which you’ll find…
Satirical Super PACs and the Boisterous Humility of Stephen Colbert
Jonathan Swift said that, for the satirist, “Vanity is the mark of humility rather than pride.” So it goes with Colbert’s Super PAC campaign, an uncomfortably invasive political commentary under the guise of egomaniacal humor. Just look at the most recent Twitter feeds: “Just got a Super PAC-Man Machine for the Super PAC break room. Please make all future donations in quarters.” Or his own media releases: “Stephen Colbert Wins Democracy! Kingmaker Pundit Regains Super PAC, Files Financial Report, Takes Nap”. Or the slogans: “Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow.” Or his treasurer’s memo adjoining his F.E.C. forms: “Stephen Colbert,…
Children / Death / Film / Gender / Grace in Practice / Humor / Literature / Religion / Social Science / TV / Week In Review
Another Week Ends: Colbert’s Gratitude, Eagleton’s Jesus, Silent Men, Parenthood, Buck, Twilight Sparkle, and Sendak on Blake
1. Midway through The New York Times Magazine’s lengthy profile of America’s favorite all-around man-of-excellence Stephen Colbert, a bomb drops. To comment on his words might detract from their power. Holy Smokes, ht NM:
In 1974, when Colbert was 10, his father, a doctor, and his brothers Peter and Paul, the two closest to him in age, died in a plane crash while flying to a prep school in New England. “There’s a common explanation that profound sadness leads to someone’s becoming a comedian, but I’m not sure that’s a proven equation in my case,” he told me. “I’m not bitter…
Colbert: Jesus Is a Liberal Democrat
Pretty funny (and on target), as always, from Stephen Colbert. The best line, however: “if this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we’ve got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are or we’ve got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition…and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.”
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Jimmy Cliff’s Heavy Burden
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Jimmy Cliff
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2010 Election
March to Keep Fear Alive
I love Stephen Colbert! His retort of “I’ll take faith and grace” to Jimmy Cliff’s desire to be judged on the scorecard of truth and facts is so perfect I almost can’t stand it. This interview brings to mind Jesus’ words: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Jimmy…
The Cross According to Colbert (Plus Mountain Goats)
Pretty darn funny/clever/amusing. Be sure to stick with it til the end:
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| The Word – Symbol-Minded | ||||
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| The Mountain Goats – Psalms 40:2 | ||||
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mark mcculley: http://www.thefix.com/content/mary-karr-liars-sober91684?page=1...
hespenshied: ditto what Karen said.........I understand the SportsCenter habit, tho...
Melissa: Thank you so much!...
Carey: This visit with Christian Wiman was indeed a reverberating gift. Than...
David Zahl: Affirmative! Download here: http://www.mbird.com/resources/?sermon_id...