Discussions on Catholicism, Liberalism and the American Experiment - A Roundup

As I've mentioned before, if you notice a dip in postings on "Against The Grain", do check 'Religion & Liberty' blog, where I've been pretty busy in connection with the website 'The Church and the Liberal Tradition' and a discussion of various topics loosely centered around the 'Whig-Thomist / Augustinian-Thomist' debate.

This past week, Chris Burgwald (Veritas) picks up on the conversation begun at David Jones' La Nouvelle Theologie with the first in a series of posts elaborating on the reasons for disagreement with Michael Novak (together with Fr. Neuhaus, George Weigel, and Fr. Sirico).

The first of Chris' posts is on the proposition: "The death of God for our times, for our culture, for us, is Liberalism", which I followed with:

1. "On Liberalism": Discussion w. Chris Burgwald
2. Religious Convictions and Public Discourse (Discussion w. Chris Burgwald)
3. Making Sense of Schindler: Good Diagnosis: What about the Prescription?

Additional Posts in Recent Weeks

• Against a "Managerial" Conception of Democracy Nov. 12, 2005 - Excerpt from Irving Kristol, "Pornography, Obscenity and the Case for Censorship" The Neocon Reader pp. 175-176. (Grove Press, 2005)

• "What Makes a Neocon?" Nov. 6, 2005 - questioning the rather liberal application of the term to just about anybody, as has become the fad in recent years.

• Charles Carroll and the American Founding Nov. 6, 2005. Some recommended links on Catholic influences on the American founding; discussion of a talk by Scott McDermott to the Thomas More Society of Dallas, TX (+ a two-parter interview with Zenit News Service) on the life of the Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence). Those wishing to read an at-times heated exchange on the purported Freemason sympathies of the Carroll family (Charles Carroll was cousin to John Carroll, America's first Catholic bishop; David Carroll, John's brother, was apparently a Mason) can check out the post-July fireworks here.

• Responding to David Jones' "Disagreement with Novak & other Whig Thomists" - an extended discussion with David Jones of La Nouvelle Theologie.

• Toward a Proper Understanding of Neoliberalism Oct. 20, 2005 - addressing what I contend to be a mistaken use of the term by the Houston Catholic Worker.

• Leo Strauss and the Neoconservative Cabal Oct. 6, 2005 - on recent exploitation of a somewhat-dated conspiracy theory by TCRNews.com.

• Aquinas:"First Whig?" - Novak's Catholic Whig Tradition - Sept. 21, 2005. Making sense of Novak's self-identification as a 'Catholic Whig' while taking into account the criticisms from Kenneth Craycraft and Thomas Storck.

Last but not least, I wanted to convey a hearty welcome to "Democracy of the Dead", another collective who has been -- unbeknownst to us -- blogging for some time now on similar issues.

* * *

I'll likely be doing some updates and new posts to Against The Grain in the future -- just didn't want y'all to be mystified by my absence or the infrequency of posts.

Peace!