Many rightwing evangelicals are selling their souls for Trumpism. William Blake would have something to say about that.
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Tag Archives: William Blake
The Evangelical Rose Is Sick
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Holy Thursday", "Sick Rose", Donald Trump, London, rightwing Christianity, Roy Moore Comments closed
Rightwing Evangelicals Bind with Briars
Studies show that college does not turn young people away from religion. In fact, literature and humanities courses can strengthen faith.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Garden of Love", "poem in praise of menstruation", Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jane Austen, Lucille Clifton, Pride and Prejudice, Purple Hibiscus, rightwing Christianity, rightwing evangelicals Comments closed
Wordsworth and a Depressed Philosopher
When utilitarian John Stuart Mill’s philosophy led him into despair, Wordsworth’s poetry saved him.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Mock on, Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Depression, Englightenment, Giver, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Lois Lowry, Tintern Abbey, Ursula K. LeGuin, utilitarianism, William Wordsworth Comments closed
Milton Understood Ambitious Con Men
A recent “Atlantic” article argues that Milton’s Satan is quintessentially American, with the archangel as both rugged individualist and honey-tongued con man. Sounds a lot like our current president.
Immigrants Face a Sophie’s Choice
Republicans have recently been outdoing themselves in cruelty, both regarding immigration and health care. William Styron and William Blake weigh in.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Chimney-Sweeper", GOP, immigrants, Obamacare, Sophie's Choice, William Styron Comments closed
The Twisted Fingers Letting Go
Catherine Alder has a beautiful poem in which she calls upon us to unclench our fists. I reflect also upon two other works that feature clenched fists, Blake’s “Grey Monk” and George MacDonald’s “Lilith.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Advent Hands", "Grey Monk", Advent, Catherine Alder, George MacDonald, Hands, Lilith, St. Joseph Comments closed
All Must Love the Human Form
In “The Divine Image,” Blake gives us a poem for our time, a call to pray for mercy, pity, peace, and love and to recognize the human form in diversity. In “The Human Abstract” he adds that prayer is not enough. It must be accompanied by human justice.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Divine Image", "Human Abstract", Abortion, analysis, Christian Right, classism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Jeff Sessions, Michael Flynn, politics, racism, Steve Bannon Comments closed
Teachers, Don’t Nip Their Buds
In “Songs of Experience,” William Blake worries that authority figures will nip the promise of budding schoolboys. “The Schoolboy” serves as a timely reminder for all teachers.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Schoolboy", Education, public schools, schooling, teachers and teaching Comments closed
Ted Cruz–Dark and Satanic?
When NYT columnist David Brooks called Ted Cruz “dark and satanic,” he was referencing a Blake poem. But although the allusion is apt, it struck most people as weird or offensive because they didn’t recognize the source.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Jerusalem", David Brooks, electoral politics, GOP primary, Marco Rubio, politics, Ted Cruz Comments closed