Here is Hancock’s latest piece on the 200th anniversary of Marx is up on DesNews: 200 Years, Apparently, Wasn’t Long Enough To Decide Marx Was Wrong And here is a little tidbit from the article: “The whole question, though, is that of the standpoint from which one levels a critique of a market economy. Marx’s standpoint was the dream of the revolutionary creation of a new human being, and indeed a new world. He said plainly that his point was... Read more
Here is a snippet from Dr. Hancock’s article in the Fall 2017 edition of Square Two entitled “Beyond the Mormon Moment“: A new, true Mormon Moment may thus be opening. Now that it is clearer who we are, and who we are not, we can take up the task of being Mormon in a world (and first of all in an America) that seems to have set its face resolutely against the goods of the natural and traditional family (yes,... Read more
Hancock’s latest outrage is up on Deseret News: Vulgar Elitism and Empty Populism Here is a quick teaser: A college professor recently defended speech codes and regulations that discriminate against moral and religious conservatives on campuses by explaining that “students have been indoctrinated for the first 18 years of their lives by their parents and by their churches; we only have four years to undo the damage.” This professor’s words express a common attitude, not only among academics, that is rarely stated... Read more
by Ted Richards The Darkest Hour depicts the controversial and brilliant statesmanship of Winston Churchill amid the crisis at Dunkirk. It should be noted, although this article is not a film review, it will contain spoilers, although I wonder if one can actually spoil a film based on historical events. While the whole film was excellent (and highly recommended), a specific exchange between Churchill and the King gave me pause and led to some thoughts on the question of government... Read more
Hancock’s latest outrage is up on Deseret News: Exploring the limits of nature, nurture, and feminism Here is a little taste: “If evidence shows that differences in outcomes are largely a result of different choices, different priorities between men and women on the whole, then a more feminist feminist will say there must be structural factors in our society that are influencing men and women to sort themselves out differently. And these factors must be overcome. Invisible barriers must be... Read more
by Ralph Hancock An email from the indispensable Interpreter Foundation alerted me to this excellent article by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw on a question of fundamental importance: Was Eve deceived by Satan? Or to what degree and in what way was Eve deceived by Satan? This article takes what could be called a middle position between the traditional, Augustinian position (Eve was the first sinner and notable simply for bringing sin into the world) and a completely positive view of Eve’s choice in... Read more
What could possibly have justified the plagues of Egypt, particularly the final plague: the slaughter of each first born male. This is a vexing question for anyone who considers God to be a just and benevolent being. While I do not have the whole answer, I think the context of the story can offer at least a portion of the justification for the plagues. The traditional story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt involves a stuttering Moses petitioning... Read more
by Ralph Hancock Here is my latest piece for Deseret News: Donald Trump, President Monson, and the Times We Live In I am by no means offended and certainly not surprised that the Times chose to consider President Monson’s life in the context of its relentless progressive-liberationist agenda. We already knew that elite bi-coastal opinion regards anyone who believes what President Monson and I believe about sexuality, marriage and male-female complementarity, to be hopelessly retrograde and bigoted. Read more
“I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.” (Alma 60:36). The announcement of Orrin Hatch’s retirement and President Monson’s passing as well as recent perusals of the political thought of Machiavelli has got me thinking about leadership and power. I previously posted on a similar topic: The Greatest Day in American History My favorite character... Read more
by Ralph Hancock Savannah has raised some deep and important questions regarding my very imperfect attempt to size up the current state of the question of sex in our society in 700 words. I do not have all the answers, but I do have some questions for Savannah that I hope may lead to further reflection and understanding. First, a little “methodological” preface: these matters are very challenging to discuss, for many reasons. One reason is that we must shuttle... Read more
The Soul and the City
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