In "Prime Rib of Unicorn", John Wilson celebrates the rediscovery of Henri Coulette, a poet whose wit, formal brilliance, and gift for irony have long been overlooked. Through close readings of Coulette’s poems and his unexpected friendship with novelist Ross Macdonald, Wilson explores the art of borrowing, the distance between poet and speaker, and the strange intersections of literary influence, personal hardship, and creative imagination. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/prime-rib-of…

In A Culture of Parricide, Ephraim Radner reflects on the spiritual and creative power of inheritance, exploring how gratitude toward parents, teachers, and predecessors sustains a living chain of wisdom, love, and artistic achievement. Through music, philosophy, and personal memory, the essay challenges a culture of repudiation and celebrates the generational bonds that make creativity not an act of self-creation, but a gift received and passed on. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/a-culture-of…

In the recent episode, Meagan O’Rourke joins Virginia and Germán. Reporting on Gen-Z trends has become trendy. It’s an easy way to get a few views and likes. “Gen Z aren’t drinking alcohol,” “Gen Z are Nixonmaxxing,” “Gen Z are turning their backs on technology,” and many more. It’s tempting to believe this sort of reporting without much inquiry. It makes Gen Z seem interesting and helps explain apparent cultural differences between generations. But is this reporting based on reliable data? Some of these pieces surely are, but many are a product of taking a viral concept and assuming that it is a widespread phenomenon. Why should we care? Because political decisions are being made in response to these supposed trends, and our political future is being set by misinformation. Meagan O’Rourke is an associate editor at Reason and has been pointing out the discrepancy between trends and data for a long time. We’ll discuss particular claims, why they might be false, the reason why they are trending, and the consequences of not slowing the brakes in trend reporting. To listen to the conversation, visit firstthings.com/three-tiktok…

In The Real World of Francisco de Zurbarán, Jaspreet Singh Boparai explores the profound spirituality, haunting realism, and imperfect genius of a seventeenth-century master whose paintings transcend technical flaws to reveal something beyond the visible world. For Zurbarán, art was more than an instrument of contemplation or prayer; it was prayer itself. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/the-real-wor…

When does love of country become an idol? In his review of Keith L. Johnson’s "Karl Barth and the Idolatry of the Nation", James R. Wood examines the tension between Christian faith, national identity, and cultural belonging. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/smashing-the…

What do Gothic literature’s darkest tales reveal about the human soul? Algis Valiunas explores the enduring power of "Dracula", "Frankenstein", and other classic works to confront temptation, sin, pride, and the struggle for salvation. A compelling reflection on why the greatest Gothic stories remind us that the stakes of human existence reach far beyond life and death. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/souls-at-sta…

As artificial intelligence reshapes our world, the Church’s most urgent task may be to remind us what makes us human. George Weigel argues that evangelization must begin with a fundamental truth: we are creatures of a Creator, not merely algorithms to be optimized. A timely reflection on AI, human dignity, and the meaning of our humanity. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/ai-and-evang…

A life of contradictions, a mind of extraordinary gifts, and prose of cold beauty. Dan Hitchens reflects on Jan Morris’s remarkable legacy in Sara Wheeler’s "Jan Morris: A Life". To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/a-cold-beaut…

How much of sexual identity is innate, and how much is shaped by culture and social influence? In this piece, Darel E. Paul examines recent shifts in LGBTQ identification among young Americans, exploring changing social attitudes, the influence of elite institutions, and the political and cultural forces shaping the evolution of sexual identity. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/lgbtq-is-far…

Can the Church remain silent when political decisions touch on the foundations of life, marriage, and the common good? In this piece, Paul D. Scalia examines two proposed amendments to Virginia’s constitution concerning abortion and marriage, exploring the Church’s responsibility to speak on moral questions, the limits of state authority, and the role of religious witness in public life. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/virginias-ba…

In this piece, James Hankins explores whether history can offer a way to preserve a nation’s cultural identity while navigating religious and demographic change. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/a-muslim-ans…

In the ​latest installment of Conversations, Bonnie Kristian joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss her recent book, In Defense of Evangelicalism. To listen to the conversation, visit firstthings.com/the-survival…

Can a society limit the harms of pornography without questioning the sexual revolution that helped normalize it? In this piece, Niall Gooch examines Britain’s new restrictions on certain forms of pornography, exploring the contradictions of a sexual ethic centered on individual consent, the challenges of rebuilding shared moral standards, and the enduring role of commitment, marriage, and religious belief in understanding sexual intimacy. To read the piece, visit firstthings.com/britains-por…