Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 364

Looking backwards, looking forwards

The week building up to New Year’s is a good time to look back at the year that has passed.  We’ll be doing that on this blog over the next week, among other things, with your help.  Then we’ll look forward to the new year ahead.  And that will bring us to a celebrated and [Read More...]

The geometric form of the year

This is an “amplituhedron.”  See “A Jewel at the Heart of Quantum Physics” , which describes the shape as “a jewel-like geometric object that dramatically simplifies calculations of particle interactions and challenges the notion that space and time are fundamental components of reality.” “The new geometric version of quantum field theory could also facilitate the [Read More...]

Scientific discovery or technological breakthrough of the year?

Along the lines of the amplituhedron, above, what would you say was the top scientific discovery or technological breakthrough of 2013?

Thrivent is fair and balanced about abortion

Thrivent is the made up name for the merger of two Lutheran institutions:  The  Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood.  These were “fraternal” organizations that sold life insurance, IRAs, and other financial services exclusively to Lutherans.  (There are equivalent groups for Catholics and, I believe, other churches.)  In return, the AAL and LB funded [Read More...]

Christmas giving and Christmas receiving

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Consider that receiving gifts is a sign of the Gospel.  And giving gifts is a sign of Vocation. May this day be full of reminders of Jesus Christ and all of His blessings to you.

“God was man in Palestine. . .”

I didn’t even realize that the late John Betjeman, England’s long-time poet laureate, was a Christian, but he was, as I’m learning.  His poem “Christmas” is stunning, a warm survey of all of the decoration and shopping and nostalgia surrounding the season, building up to this: No love that in a family dwells, No carolling [Read More...]

My take on “The Hobbit” 2

We’re on the road, and Friday we were caught in the ice storm in Oklahoma City, taking shelter in a hotel in Bricktown, OKC’s very cool entertainment district.  It was 9:30 p.m. and I was just settling down for a long winter’s nap, when my wife said, “Let’s go see the Hobbit!”  Showing that we [Read More...]

You are not allowed to disapprove of gay sex

Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson was not accused of mistreating gay people, nor of interfering with their freedom to have sex as they please, nor did he say anything against gay marriage.  He said that the physiology of gay sex is “illogical” and quoted 1 Corinthians.  For that he lost his job. Those who disapprove [Read More...]

Corporate assaults on freedom

When we think of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and other civil liberties, we usually think of the way the government has violated or could potentially violate them.  The Bill of Rights limits what the government can do and thus is an important safe guard of its citizens’ freedom.  And yet, the government is [Read More...]

Christmas carols on the Incarnation

Sean Morris posts on how the classic Christmas carols draw on the Nicene Creed as they confess that the baby Jesus is God incarnate.  See his examples after the jump.  What are some others? From Sean Morris, in the confusedly titled The Inauthenticity of Christmas Carols | Humane Pursuits: Consider the first line of the [Read More...]