Author Archives: James Ernest

The abortion distortion in current US politics

A friend took exception to this part of something I posted on Facebook yesterday morning: Still in Putin’s pocket. Still bashing his domestic political opponents during meetings with foreign heads of government. Grotesquely incompetent and/or gallingly disloyal to our country: Could be either. Could be both. No way it’s neither. He wants to be re-elected.Continue reading “The abortion distortion in current US politics”

Read Timothy Snyder; skip Ben Sasse

[Originally posted on Facebook May 24, 2019. I had been reading The Road to Unfreedom slowly, posting quotations and comments as I went. This was my concluding post.] OK, a concluding comment about Timothy Snyder, The Road to Unfreedom. For me Snyder was a scales-from-the-eyes read. His European and specifically Ukrainian and Russian focus throughContinue reading “Read Timothy Snyder; skip Ben Sasse”

The profanity presidency

The Profanity Presidency” is the title of Peter Baker’s column in today’s New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/19/us/politics/trump-language.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share Baker says: “No one has debased the civil discourse in this country more than President Trump, and the president really does set the tone in the country,“ said Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California. “We see it reflectedContinue reading “The profanity presidency”

Truthfulness and the Word (Christmas 2018)

Here is my Christmas letter to my friends for this year. We tend these days to separate words and actions sharply. Words are just words. Words are cheap. What counts is action, and action can get on well without words. Good talk, bad talk—it’s all just talk, it’s all inconsequential. We don’t confer much creditContinue reading “Truthfulness and the Word (Christmas 2018)”

On publishing books in a world in turmoil

“When the foundations are thrown down,” asked the psalmist, “what can the righteous person do?” (Psalm 11:3). This question resonates for many in our own setting, when the props and stays of the old normal in so many areas—political, social, ecclesial, environmental—seem to be under assault and crumbling. Voltaire’s Candide rejected explanations that all theContinue reading “On publishing books in a world in turmoil”

Do you have any patience for argument?

People who believe that what became flesh in Jesus Christ was the Logos should be slow to give up on words, on speech, on patient, reasoned explanation and persuasion.

Can I trust you?

An Address by Dean Gregory Sterling of Yale Divinity School Today at the Yale Divinity School commencement exercises, Dean Gregory Sterling offered some sobering words to graduates in the class of 2018 regarding the context into which they are stepping to begin their service as ministers, scholars, workers for nonprofits. Along with his description ofContinue reading “Can I trust you?”

In memoriam: Gabe Fackre (Eerdword)

 The Chapel at Andover-Newton Theological Seminary where Dr. Fackre taught for over 30 years. James Ernest is vice president and editor-in-chief at Eerdmans. * * * Perhaps many Eerdmans readers will have heard by now of the passing of Gabe Fackre. Just three months later than his beloved life partner and sometime coauthor, the Rev. DorothyContinue reading “In memoriam: Gabe Fackre (Eerdword)”

Politics, sabotage, and the meaning of government

When you think about the purpose of the US federal government and the basis of its legitimacy, where do you start, and what do you include? Obviously one has to think of the Constitution. But how to think about it? There is a temptation to think about canonical texts ahistorically, as though it were desirableContinue reading “Politics, sabotage, and the meaning of government”