Old Things, New Things

What's worth keeping from the Christian Tradition?

Summer is a season of uncertainty. I expect my “normal” Substack schedule will be derailed again here and there, but I’m going to try to stay on track for a bit, starting with this week’s theme: “old things worth keeping.” I plan to pair that with a “new things worth keeping” week soon, though perhaps not next week because… America 250. Obviously, next week has to be America-themed.

My “normal schedule,” as a reminder, features original essays on Tuesday and Thursday, a “from the stacks” selection of my own work Friday, and a wrap-up post Saturday. Monday and Wednesday I may post a quote, a link, or a book recommendation. It’s low key. Sunday I post faith reflections.

In the spirit of last Friday’s reflection, “Old Things” week will look at aspects of Christian tradition that I think hold up pretty well, even though they are often dismissed as dated, prejudiced, or otherwise useless. My major essays will discuss Great Books (a hot subject over this past week) and traditional sexual morals. Spoiler alert: I think they’re both good! I will acknowledge some non-ridiculous critiques, and discuss possible adaptations to “the old ways,” but in the end I am robustly pro-classics, and also a straight-down-the-line Christian moralist when it comes to sex. Without apology. I appreciate that this is a hard teaching, but I still think it’s the truest, and therefore worth keeping.

I realize that some readers may find this confusing. Isn’t Christendom Reborn’s message about adaptation and dynamism? Do we really want to be wedded to old books and onerous moral teachings? My reply: Yes.

I don’t really mind if you want to dismiss me as a hidebound reactionary, but at least let me give you advance warning that my “new things worth keeping” week will include essays on free enterprise and feminism. I don’t always hate new things!

For today though, I just want to recommend to readers this forum, hosted this month by my own Law & Liberty, on modernity and what we should make of it. The lead essay was written by my friend Lee Oser, whose writing on “the radical middle” has shaped my thinking on many of the themes of Christendom Reborn. There are smart, substantive replies from my friend Elizabeth Corey, Hillsdale’s Jason Peters, and my Law & Liberty colleague Michael Lucchese (coming Wednesday). You should be warned that this is heady stuff, not optimal for phone skimming. Well worth the effort though. I’ll acknowledge that I’m proud of this forum, as the primary instigator and editor. Planning fora like this is part of my job, of course, but sometimes one has a “bright idea,” issues invitations, and finds the result… a little disappointing. This was not one of those times.

Lee’s final reply will go up on June 30. As you see then, this Substack may just be part of a deep plot to get everyone to read Law & Liberty.