All the best with your journeys! I don’t envy the thought of moving a professors personal library...even if it’s one room over.
I doubt we agree on much politically (I lean liberal or at best hard-never-trumper) but I find your commentary insightful for what the religious right is feeling. Thanks.
Rod is an old First Amendment liberal as well, which in EUROPE puts you in a neverending war with the EU. Like me, Rod is also Orthodox, which in Europe puts you in a neverending war with the EU. Almost all of the American political labels fail in Europe (and Africa, especially). Rod is an economic progressive, pro-environment and has deep concerns about global corporate structures. That used to be "liberal." Today, that is "populist." Now, Rod is a conservative on moral and cultural issues -- which means he is OK with secular gay unions and human-rights basics. He is not in favor of state educators attacking the views of parents. Is that religious right, today? Anti-California? It's interesting that in EUROPE the medical establishment is backing away from trans care for minors. America -- especially the Democratic party -- rushes toward that, gung-ho. Right? You get my point, of course.
Matt, I'll read what I can for free. I'm retired and on a fixed income. I'm comfortable, not broke. But I can't afford to subscribe to every Substack I like to read. (There are a lot of them!) I'm having to make some other choices as well--the other day I started going through my books to sort out what I can get rid of, to make room for new purchases. I don't have room for another bookshelf, so it's either quit buying or get rid of some. I also appreciate your area. My late mother's family were scattered around Eastern Ky, East TN, and western NC--family names included Burns, Webb, and Crisp. She migrated north to Cincinnati, OH in 1936 to join her older sister; but in the 1960s she still had relatives scattered around all three states.
Oh man, do I understand, as an almost-retired guy. I just sold, as part of this move, my final boxes or vinyl LPs. We are having to take our bookshelves -- 18 feet or so -- down by half. Like I said, there will be at least two free posts a week, including my commentary on the Crossroads podcast of the week. Thank you for your READING support!
Develop a Sunday school class or adult forum that explores why smartphones open users to certain dangers, including bullying, shaming, and related cruelties.
Consult the work of Ray Guarendi (https://www.drray.com) about being a strong parent who is not pushed around by children.
Parents might volunteer to live by the same phone discipline as they ask of their children. The Light Phone (https://www.thelightphone.com) offers devices with basic features like calling, music, and directions without the hazards of texts or social media.
I do enjoy your content, as I despair of my local parish ever ‘doing anything’ about our culture or the tech that fuels it. We parents appear to be on our own in this fight, and your insights are valuable there. But I would also love to read about my beloved appalachian culture and history which are being sadly overrun and forgotten.
And good luck on moving! Every time we move, we downsize on everything - except books. So. Sympathies and prayers for you!
OK, lost 11 subscribers today and gained four. Not bad after a post on reader-supported concepts. And one new pledge of financial support! Thank you!
All the best with your journeys! I don’t envy the thought of moving a professors personal library...even if it’s one room over.
I doubt we agree on much politically (I lean liberal or at best hard-never-trumper) but I find your commentary insightful for what the religious right is feeling. Thanks.
Also, #NeverTrump at all times. Also #NeverHarris
Fair enough!
The last thing I am is the religious right. I was a pro-life Democrat until that world was destroyed. I’m a hard core old liberal on First Amendment.
My apologies, I misread your links to Rod Dreher as an endorsement to other his authoritarian proclivities.
Rod is an old First Amendment liberal as well, which in EUROPE puts you in a neverending war with the EU. Like me, Rod is also Orthodox, which in Europe puts you in a neverending war with the EU. Almost all of the American political labels fail in Europe (and Africa, especially). Rod is an economic progressive, pro-environment and has deep concerns about global corporate structures. That used to be "liberal." Today, that is "populist." Now, Rod is a conservative on moral and cultural issues -- which means he is OK with secular gay unions and human-rights basics. He is not in favor of state educators attacking the views of parents. Is that religious right, today? Anti-California? It's interesting that in EUROPE the medical establishment is backing away from trans care for minors. America -- especially the Democratic party -- rushes toward that, gung-ho. Right? You get my point, of course.
Matt, I'll read what I can for free. I'm retired and on a fixed income. I'm comfortable, not broke. But I can't afford to subscribe to every Substack I like to read. (There are a lot of them!) I'm having to make some other choices as well--the other day I started going through my books to sort out what I can get rid of, to make room for new purchases. I don't have room for another bookshelf, so it's either quit buying or get rid of some. I also appreciate your area. My late mother's family were scattered around Eastern Ky, East TN, and western NC--family names included Burns, Webb, and Crisp. She migrated north to Cincinnati, OH in 1936 to join her older sister; but in the 1960s she still had relatives scattered around all three states.
Oh man, do I understand, as an almost-retired guy. I just sold, as part of this move, my final boxes or vinyl LPs. We are having to take our bookshelves -- 18 feet or so -- down by half. Like I said, there will be at least two free posts a week, including my commentary on the Crossroads podcast of the week. Thank you for your READING support!
Here are a few ideas for parents or pastors to help resist the smartphone invasion.
Provide children only with dumb phones until a certain age.
Use a service like Bark (https://www.bark.us/) or Gabb (https://gabb.com/).
Develop a Sunday school class or adult forum that explores why smartphones open users to certain dangers, including bullying, shaming, and related cruelties.
Consult the work of Ray Guarendi (https://www.drray.com) about being a strong parent who is not pushed around by children.
Parents might volunteer to live by the same phone discipline as they ask of their children. The Light Phone (https://www.thelightphone.com) offers devices with basic features like calling, music, and directions without the hazards of texts or social media.
Smartphones are only one part of the puzzle, especially for boys (whose addictions are more desktop-games oriented). I am ready for an updated version of Andy Crouch's Tech-Wise Family book. Note some of his overlaps with your concerns in this column: https://www.tmatt.net/columns/2017/5/31/can-clergy-help-modern-parents-struggle-with-technology-issues-in-their-homes
I do enjoy your content, as I despair of my local parish ever ‘doing anything’ about our culture or the tech that fuels it. We parents appear to be on our own in this fight, and your insights are valuable there. But I would also love to read about my beloved appalachian culture and history which are being sadly overrun and forgotten.
And good luck on moving! Every time we move, we downsize on everything - except books. So. Sympathies and prayers for you!