In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson asserted that the pursuit of happiness was a self-evident truth and an inalienable right. The concept is everywhere, from advertisements to “happily ever after.” A search for “happy” on Amazon Books produces over 70,000 results and at least as many definitions of that word. We live in a…

It seems that highbrow fine art is in popular demand. The spring auction scene in New York shattered records, doubling last year’s total. (A canvas by Jackson Pollock fetched more than 181 million dollars.) Once-niche contemporary art spaces now charge hefty admission prices, and even fusty traditional spaces now attract tourist hordes. On my recent…

It was a simple question, but it landed with the force of grief. A coworker told me that both his parents had recently died. His family is Christian. They believe in Jesus, in resurrection, in eternal life. And yet, in a hushed voice, he asked what many brokenhearted believers quietly wonder: Do you think they’ll…

“This kind can come out only through prayer,” or, in some manuscript traditions reflected in translations such as the King James Version, “through prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). These were Jesus’ words to the disciples after they failed to exorcise a demon from a suffering boy. The boy’s father pleaded with Jesus to heal his…

I have increasingly had an uncomfortable realization. It’s not necessarily one I thought I would ever even remotely embrace. Having grown up an avid reader of historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, detective fiction, comic books, adventure stories, and more, I have, like yesterday, always strongly defended the importance of creating fictional literary worlds and immersing…

I will always be grateful to my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Burick, for two things. One of these things I appreciated at that time. The other I did not. What I appreciated at that time was that Mrs. Burick was allergic to gerbils (she probably did not appreciate this fact quite as much). After bringing a…