Film & Music
“Stranger Things 2”: Not quite strange enough
In its second season, Stranger Things shifts from a show about human beings with monsters in it, to a show about monsters with human beings […]
Articles by Thomas P. Harmon
General
Judas and St. Peter in Scorsese’s “Silence”
Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence is a story meant to plumb the depths of the mysterium iniquitatis by focusing on the character of Judas Iscariot and his relationship with Christ. Martin Scorsese underlines the theme of […]
General
On the Dark and the Light in Star Wars
The newest Star Wars movie is different. That is not a controversial observation. Many of the features that shout “Star Wars!” have been deliberately removed: the opening crawl, the John Williams score, the Jedi as […]
General
What it means to be Catholic in America: A reading list
This election season has been trying for many, many reasons. It has been tough no matter your party affiliation or religion. But it has been particularly frustrating for Catholics, who have been subjected to endless […]
Books
Who Is God?
Remi Brague begins his lovely little book by stating: “What is truly interesting is that the images and concepts that have been made of God (which concepts are themselves, at bottom, but images) differ among […]
Books
Jim Gaffigan on Fatherhood for the Recovering Narcissist
Jim Gaffigan is Catholic. As he wryly informs us, his wife is “Shiite Catholic.” Does that make his new book, Dad Is Fat, Catholic? Is he, as the Washington Post’s Michelle Boorstein put it, “the […]
Books
The Pope’s Book About Christmas
In the first volume of Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict says that the purpose of writing a book about Jesus—the whole reason why Jesus is important—is because he is the one who brings God to […]
Books
A Scripture Primer for a Skeptical Age
There is a lovely early American hymn entitled “Fulfillment” that begins, See how the Scriptures are fulfilling, Poor sinners are returning home; The time that prophets were foretelling, With signs and wonders now is come. […]
Interview
At the October Synod
The 12th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops took place at the Vatican October 5-26, reflecting on the theme “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.” In addition to […]