An interesting interview with the ever-thoughtful Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams: Can we make sense of morality without a religious notion of a transcendent or supernatural being?I think that, to make sense of unconditional rights or claims, we need to be clear that there is such a thing as universal human nature and that it has some intrinsic dignity or worth. To try and ground this independently of the idea of a transcendent source of value seems to me not finally feasible. People do, of course, make such claims, and do so in good faith, but I don't see how...

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Eegad: From classical concerts to sophisticated dinners, Liverpool Cathedral is a venue with a difference. Fanfares, fashion, cocktails... from belinis to Beethoven, Liverpool Cathedral has the perfect event space for you... With its magnificent gothic arches the central space offers historical beauty with a modern twist. Liverpool Cathedral is a versatile space and we are open to creative ideas. Whether it is a candlelit dinner, star-studded awards ceremony or a stylish canapé reception the central space will wow your guests. Here it is, by way of First Thoughts.

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From the Wall Street Journal, and apropos of Fr. Sanderson's homily this past Sunday, an assesment of Manute Bol's Christian legacy: Bol reportedly gave most of his fortune, estimated at $6 million, to aid Sudanese refugees. As one twitter feed aptly put it: "Most NBA cats go broke on cars, jewelry & groupies. Manute Bol went broke building hospitals." When his fortune dried up, Bol raised more money for charity by doing what most athletes would find humiliating: He turned himself into a humorous spectacle. Bol was hired, for example, as a horse jockey, hockey player and celebrity boxer. Some...

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Eve Tushnet on making a confession: There's an objection that Protestants sometimes pose to Catholics: Why should I confess my sins to a man, when I could simply confess alone, in my room, to God?   I'm sure there are all kinds of theological answers to this question. But I want to talk about what the presence of the "other person," and the other structural elements of the sacrament, add to the experience and spirituality of confession.   Praying alone in one's room, recalling one's sins and intentionally holding them up for God to inspect, can be deeply humbling. It...

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