The important question is not "why did liberalism fail?" (assuming it has), but rather "Why has Christianity failed?" Now, when I say that I do not mean to imply that Christianity fails at its core purpose: to open the way to salvation and be a conduit for divine grace. That works just fine. But why has Christianity failed to hold its cultural dominance? I don't have any pat answers to that-- but I believe it is the conversation we need to have.
On the Texas gay couple, I don't think we should criticize the desire to have a child-- it's the most normal desire there is, and it isn't strange gay people would feel it too. Maybe criticize outré means (by straight or gay people) but not the desire itself.
“During our current moment of global populism, the liberal tradition is under threat. Many people have gone economically nationalist and culturally traditionalist. Around the world, authoritarian moralists promise to restore the old ways, the old religion, national greatness.”
“I don’t think Brooks opposes “family, nation, God,” certainly not when opposed rhetorically to “I, me, mine”. It’s just that he finds Viktor Orban distasteful.”
How do you reconcile the first quote from Brooks with your second one? I do not think Brooks holds much stock in God as reflected in traditional religion nor the nation. As far as family, that is part of the "old ways." Thus, rather than being slander, his take on Urban is a logical conclusion.
Having recently become familiar with Orthodox Holy Day observation traditions, I do not feel odd about it at all. You put it on a different place on the calendar. Same holiday, same observance and meditation upon this singular miracle to mankind, witnessed by history. Either way, Sunday is coming.
I was told the “the kids are not okay” because in my teenage bands I teased my long hair and wore eye liner. As I’ve said before, we used to try and attract girls with the hair…not be a girl. Any, yes, it worked. I’m a married priest…
In regard to Tarkovsky's comments about art: At my parish we recently started a rosary group to make rosaries for the missions. However, we use plastic beads because it's affordable; a plastic rosary is better than no rosary. For me, using a plastic rosary is a penance. Whereas, a beautiful yet simple rosary inspires me to pray. I've purchased my own supplies to make knotted rosaries for the missions because I'm certain the poor love beauty, too.
Brooks' first couple of sentences are accurate but he is dishonest when he writes about a "bigoted and brutal strongman methods." What is the evidence? Hungary is not run by a brutal strongman. Italy is not. Even Trump's four years in office had no evidence of fascism or thug government.
One of liberalism's errors is that it is constantly on the march. Nothing is permanent, nothing is allowed to stay the same, nothing is sacred. So liberals like Brooks move on to the new fad while a conservative doesn't change. That is bound to cause tension. Liberalism has galloped into new fields of degeneracy and Brooks finds fault with conservatives for not joining the parade. Liberalism can't die soon enough. What a repellant political system liberalism is.
As an aside, for Roman Catholics it is Good Friday, a permanent thing. Three hours at prayer at church starting at high noon. And Lent ends at noon tomorrow. It will be time to feast.
I just can't understand why supposedly reasonable, supposedly moderate, supposedly sober, supposed centrists like David Brooks and Damon Linker defend this regime. It's absolutely nuts
"A row has erupted in Australia after a women's football tournament was won by a team containing five transgender players, one of which had been accused of breaking a rival's leg. Flying Bats FC won all of their games during the Beryl Ackroyd Cup in Sydney and claimed a $1,000 (£514) prize for lifting the trophy."
"There’s glory in striving to add another chapter to the great liberal story — building a society that is technologically innovative, commercially daring, with expanding opportunities for all; building a society in which culture is celebrated, families thrive, a society in which the great diversity of individuals can experience a sense of common purpose and have the space and energy to pursue their own adventures in living."
Okay, but what culture? Western? Islamic? DEI? What is a family? Many competing definitions unfortunately. And in that "great diversity of individuals", what is the common link between them? Religion? Culture? Family? Though for me he fails given his positive quote from Zakaria:
“The greatest challenge remains to infuse that journey with moral meaning, to imbue it with the sense of pride and purpose that religion once did — to fill that hole in the heart.”
So moral meaning without religion? No God? What is that source of moral meaning?
No answers from Brooks that I can discern other than Trump and Orban are bad.
"This is nothing but a business transaction, so these men can have a baby as a lifestyle accessory."
I have to push back on this. Living just outside of NYC and being in public service, I get to interact with quite a few gay families. Some are undoubtably freaks and it breaks my heart to think what their kids have to endure for the sake of their nuclear family fantasies. But this is the exception. Most are devoted, stable, supportive, and loving. You can certainly make the argument that despite all that, a gay family is not the best environment for a kid to grow up in. I agree. But it's pretty damn cynical to generalize that most of these kids are nothing more than purse pooches. Yeah, that couple pictured looks pretty friggin weird. But you don't know them personally. And for what it's worth, I can still probably guarantee that their kid will have a better childhood than a kid living with a meth addicted mother playing musical beds with an endless stream of abusive men. And don't even get me started on "urban" parenting.
And cut these people some slack. They're disordered and probably miserable, but only because the culture failed them, their parents failed them, and their churches failed them. They have no blooming idea of what other options are available. It's entirely alien.
Brooks conflates liberalism with one of its opposites, progressivism. I'm a liberal who believes in strong borders, national economies, and cultural traditions. Because I'm liberal, I believe all those things are open to question and reevaluation. For the progressive, there are no questions.
Thanks to Rod for a column which was truly a blessing on this Good Friday.
Small thing “My father was of a later generation, but he had very strong spiritual connections to Dostoyevsky.” Well, yes, I was saying Dostoyevsky, even over Tolstoy :) I leave this matter to Tarkovsky figlio and Rod. (Ha)
I wondered, <<<“He goes on to say that whatever your profession, you should think of it like a prayer addressed to the Creator.” >>> I make money day trading stocks – and while doing that post on this Substack plus read good things while I am at my computer trading. I wonder how to make that a prayer. I know the funds will go to both charity and to my Budapest apartment rent so as not to drain saving. I can pray when the charity goes out – but it is hard to be spiritual about this. I will have to consider it. In the meantime, my interactions with so many people I know and meet here in Budapest are definitely a prayer.
One of the beautiful parts of today’s Substack was this: << “Art is a manifestation of hope. Any art that does not offer hope, in Tarkovsky’s view, is not true art, because it has been unfaithful to ultimate reality.”>> Well, yes, this Substack is art, written art, and will continue to offer hope.
<<<”Look at El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. He’s unquestionably an autocrat and a strongman — yet he is overwhelmingly supported by his people. Why? Because he ended the tyranny of the gangs, who had made El Salvador the most murderous country on earth.”>>>
I am off tomorrow for a nine day tour of former Communist countries – Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo I hope to learn a lot, though the amazing Bosnia & Herzegovina trip was once in a lifetime. I won’t post too awfully much while gone, I think. But…a rare mention of Latin America today!
A great hope for our future is in the 3rd World. Rod hasn’t been there. It is full of people who believe in Christianity. Yes, I know, a large number of their governments are corrupt, whether left or right. I approve of Bukele, whose speeches I listen to several times a year. His approval rating in El Salvador are consistently 91%, 92% - but drill down and listen to interview with the people of El Salvador on You Tube. Those people are Christians! They thank God, mention Jesus, and also say they approve of Bukele. And I’ve spent a lot of time in El Salvador’s neighboring country of Honduras, as well as time in Ecuador. So many Christians. Not at all post-Christian societies
So this is what I am working on after the European Conservative article. My thoughts have not gelled at all. But – the article and other writings seem to imply that illiberalism would be a possible way to approach things – not definitely advocating it but certainly seeing how it should be considered. My unformed thought: Bukele is illiberal. It worked in El Salvador. Some degree of it works in Hungary, which is not really post-Christian in culture. Can it work in a post-Christian country – countries of Western Europe, Oceania, the USA & Canada. I think maybe not. I think maybe the degree of Christian foundation (and they all have some left – read Tom Holland) has to be greater than it is now.
I think perhaps illiberalism from the right could not be successfully implemented in the countries I mentioned. These thoughts are still gelling - I am not ready to defend them to any great extent - they are not complete.
Beautiful post on (for this Anglican) Good Friday. Thank you, Rod.
As for David Brooks, he is too blind and busy blaming those deplorable populists to see the real causes of the current swift decline of liberal democracy.
The important question is not "why did liberalism fail?" (assuming it has), but rather "Why has Christianity failed?" Now, when I say that I do not mean to imply that Christianity fails at its core purpose: to open the way to salvation and be a conduit for divine grace. That works just fine. But why has Christianity failed to hold its cultural dominance? I don't have any pat answers to that-- but I believe it is the conversation we need to have.
On the Texas gay couple, I don't think we should criticize the desire to have a child-- it's the most normal desire there is, and it isn't strange gay people would feel it too. Maybe criticize outré means (by straight or gay people) but not the desire itself.
“During our current moment of global populism, the liberal tradition is under threat. Many people have gone economically nationalist and culturally traditionalist. Around the world, authoritarian moralists promise to restore the old ways, the old religion, national greatness.”
“I don’t think Brooks opposes “family, nation, God,” certainly not when opposed rhetorically to “I, me, mine”. It’s just that he finds Viktor Orban distasteful.”
How do you reconcile the first quote from Brooks with your second one? I do not think Brooks holds much stock in God as reflected in traditional religion nor the nation. As far as family, that is part of the "old ways." Thus, rather than being slander, his take on Urban is a logical conclusion.
Having recently become familiar with Orthodox Holy Day observation traditions, I do not feel odd about it at all. You put it on a different place on the calendar. Same holiday, same observance and meditation upon this singular miracle to mankind, witnessed by history. Either way, Sunday is coming.
I was told the “the kids are not okay” because in my teenage bands I teased my long hair and wore eye liner. As I’ve said before, we used to try and attract girls with the hair…not be a girl. Any, yes, it worked. I’m a married priest…
Big Tarkovsky fan, btw. His science fiction films are mindblowing. The remake of Solaris was astounding as well.
In regard to Tarkovsky's comments about art: At my parish we recently started a rosary group to make rosaries for the missions. However, we use plastic beads because it's affordable; a plastic rosary is better than no rosary. For me, using a plastic rosary is a penance. Whereas, a beautiful yet simple rosary inspires me to pray. I've purchased my own supplies to make knotted rosaries for the missions because I'm certain the poor love beauty, too.
Brooks' first couple of sentences are accurate but he is dishonest when he writes about a "bigoted and brutal strongman methods." What is the evidence? Hungary is not run by a brutal strongman. Italy is not. Even Trump's four years in office had no evidence of fascism or thug government.
One of liberalism's errors is that it is constantly on the march. Nothing is permanent, nothing is allowed to stay the same, nothing is sacred. So liberals like Brooks move on to the new fad while a conservative doesn't change. That is bound to cause tension. Liberalism has galloped into new fields of degeneracy and Brooks finds fault with conservatives for not joining the parade. Liberalism can't die soon enough. What a repellant political system liberalism is.
As an aside, for Roman Catholics it is Good Friday, a permanent thing. Three hours at prayer at church starting at high noon. And Lent ends at noon tomorrow. It will be time to feast.
I just can't understand why supposedly reasonable, supposedly moderate, supposedly sober, supposed centrists like David Brooks and Damon Linker defend this regime. It's absolutely nuts
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1882752/Women-transgender-football-team-Flying-Bats
"A row has erupted in Australia after a women's football tournament was won by a team containing five transgender players, one of which had been accused of breaking a rival's leg. Flying Bats FC won all of their games during the Beryl Ackroyd Cup in Sydney and claimed a $1,000 (£514) prize for lifting the trophy."
From Brooks' column:
"There’s glory in striving to add another chapter to the great liberal story — building a society that is technologically innovative, commercially daring, with expanding opportunities for all; building a society in which culture is celebrated, families thrive, a society in which the great diversity of individuals can experience a sense of common purpose and have the space and energy to pursue their own adventures in living."
Okay, but what culture? Western? Islamic? DEI? What is a family? Many competing definitions unfortunately. And in that "great diversity of individuals", what is the common link between them? Religion? Culture? Family? Though for me he fails given his positive quote from Zakaria:
“The greatest challenge remains to infuse that journey with moral meaning, to imbue it with the sense of pride and purpose that religion once did — to fill that hole in the heart.”
So moral meaning without religion? No God? What is that source of moral meaning?
No answers from Brooks that I can discern other than Trump and Orban are bad.
"This is nothing but a business transaction, so these men can have a baby as a lifestyle accessory."
I have to push back on this. Living just outside of NYC and being in public service, I get to interact with quite a few gay families. Some are undoubtably freaks and it breaks my heart to think what their kids have to endure for the sake of their nuclear family fantasies. But this is the exception. Most are devoted, stable, supportive, and loving. You can certainly make the argument that despite all that, a gay family is not the best environment for a kid to grow up in. I agree. But it's pretty damn cynical to generalize that most of these kids are nothing more than purse pooches. Yeah, that couple pictured looks pretty friggin weird. But you don't know them personally. And for what it's worth, I can still probably guarantee that their kid will have a better childhood than a kid living with a meth addicted mother playing musical beds with an endless stream of abusive men. And don't even get me started on "urban" parenting.
And cut these people some slack. They're disordered and probably miserable, but only because the culture failed them, their parents failed them, and their churches failed them. They have no blooming idea of what other options are available. It's entirely alien.
Brooks conflates liberalism with one of its opposites, progressivism. I'm a liberal who believes in strong borders, national economies, and cultural traditions. Because I'm liberal, I believe all those things are open to question and reevaluation. For the progressive, there are no questions.
Thanks to Rod for a column which was truly a blessing on this Good Friday.
Small thing “My father was of a later generation, but he had very strong spiritual connections to Dostoyevsky.” Well, yes, I was saying Dostoyevsky, even over Tolstoy :) I leave this matter to Tarkovsky figlio and Rod. (Ha)
I wondered, <<<“He goes on to say that whatever your profession, you should think of it like a prayer addressed to the Creator.” >>> I make money day trading stocks – and while doing that post on this Substack plus read good things while I am at my computer trading. I wonder how to make that a prayer. I know the funds will go to both charity and to my Budapest apartment rent so as not to drain saving. I can pray when the charity goes out – but it is hard to be spiritual about this. I will have to consider it. In the meantime, my interactions with so many people I know and meet here in Budapest are definitely a prayer.
One of the beautiful parts of today’s Substack was this: << “Art is a manifestation of hope. Any art that does not offer hope, in Tarkovsky’s view, is not true art, because it has been unfaithful to ultimate reality.”>> Well, yes, this Substack is art, written art, and will continue to offer hope.
<<<”Look at El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. He’s unquestionably an autocrat and a strongman — yet he is overwhelmingly supported by his people. Why? Because he ended the tyranny of the gangs, who had made El Salvador the most murderous country on earth.”>>>
I am off tomorrow for a nine day tour of former Communist countries – Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo I hope to learn a lot, though the amazing Bosnia & Herzegovina trip was once in a lifetime. I won’t post too awfully much while gone, I think. But…a rare mention of Latin America today!
A great hope for our future is in the 3rd World. Rod hasn’t been there. It is full of people who believe in Christianity. Yes, I know, a large number of their governments are corrupt, whether left or right. I approve of Bukele, whose speeches I listen to several times a year. His approval rating in El Salvador are consistently 91%, 92% - but drill down and listen to interview with the people of El Salvador on You Tube. Those people are Christians! They thank God, mention Jesus, and also say they approve of Bukele. And I’ve spent a lot of time in El Salvador’s neighboring country of Honduras, as well as time in Ecuador. So many Christians. Not at all post-Christian societies
So this is what I am working on after the European Conservative article. My thoughts have not gelled at all. But – the article and other writings seem to imply that illiberalism would be a possible way to approach things – not definitely advocating it but certainly seeing how it should be considered. My unformed thought: Bukele is illiberal. It worked in El Salvador. Some degree of it works in Hungary, which is not really post-Christian in culture. Can it work in a post-Christian country – countries of Western Europe, Oceania, the USA & Canada. I think maybe not. I think maybe the degree of Christian foundation (and they all have some left – read Tom Holland) has to be greater than it is now.
I think perhaps illiberalism from the right could not be successfully implemented in the countries I mentioned. These thoughts are still gelling - I am not ready to defend them to any great extent - they are not complete.
"In the documentary, we hear Tarkovsky saying that culture cannot exist without religion, nor can religion exist without culture."
Bingo. Hence why, with few exceptions, Hollywood can no longer make movies, apart from superhero films, and endless sequels and remakes.
Beautiful post on (for this Anglican) Good Friday. Thank you, Rod.
As for David Brooks, he is too blind and busy blaming those deplorable populists to see the real causes of the current swift decline of liberal democracy.