Chapter 8
In: Protestant Periodicals in Transition
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Abstract
First Things (1990–), an American Christian journal that takes up the tradition of “editor-bishop” from the Christian Century (1884–), promulgates a generally conservative agenda. The journal reflects the interests of its founder, Richard John Neuhaus (1936–2009), and of its current editor Russel Ronald Reno (*1959). Both Neuhaus and Reno converted from Protestantism to Catholicism and their analysis of contemporary culture is inspired by T. S. Eliot. Aside from the column “Litvak at large” by orthodox Rabbi Shalom Carmy (*1949), which has been a part of First Things since 2017, the journal shows little interest in other Abrahamic faiths, and Reno himself appears to gloss over Eliot’s anti-Semitism. Similarly, the marginal presence of Islamic thought further testifies to the cultural conservatism of First Things in its view of contemporary faith and society, putting it at odds with more literary Eastern Orthodox American Journals such as Saint Katherine Review (2011–). First Things takes up critically the liberalization of Protestantism begun by the Christian Century by appealing to the Catholic Church. In his current editorial work, Reno seeks to stand up for the poor and needy. His aim is to reveal the spiritual and practical injustices of contemporary society, while downplaying, if not turning a blind eye on, deficiencies of the (Catholic) Church. While masking a missionary agenda ultimately more apologetic than interventionist, First Things offers what may be the only substantive criticism available of “presentism” and contemporary “liberal pieties” precisely because it shows the extent to which contemporary secular liberalism bears characteristics of dogmatic belief.