Consumerism is, quite precisely, the consuming of life by the things consumed. It is living in a manner that is measured by having rather than being... and consumerism is hardly the sin of the rich. The poor, driven by discontent and envy, may be as consumed by what they do not have as the rich are consumed by what they do have. The question is not, certainly not most importantly, a question about economics. It is first and foremost a cultural and moral problem requiring a cultural and moral remedy.

All my life I have prayed to God that I should remain religiously orthodox, culturally conservative, politically liberal and economically pragmatic.

Religion as a human phenomenon is as riddled through with potential for both good and evil as any other phenomenon.

My eyes are wide open to the conflicts within the Church, but I don't think you can call it schism.

If a church offers no truth that is not available in the general culture - in, for instance, the editorials of the New York Times or, for that matter, of National Review - there is not much reason to pay it attention.

I do believe that those who compare the religious Right to the Nazis have fallen victim to polemical heat prostration.

Progress without the reasoned freedom to think and act is regression to slavery.