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Plough Quarterly

@plough.bsky.social

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Another life is possible. Plough is an international magazine of stories, ideas, and culture, publishing daily online and quarterly in print. Join our newsletter: http://plough.com/signup Subscribe: http://plough.com/subscribe

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Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 14h

Plough Reader Meetup in Cincinnati this Friday!

Don't miss the chance to meet other readers in your area, discuss the latest issue, and generally enjoy good food and company. And you don't have to be a Plough reader to attend – anyone's welcome!

plough.com/en/events/20...

Cincinnati Plough Reader Meetup

Join other Plough readers in Chicago for discussion and fellowship.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 17h

“What a phenomenal book! The Plough does it again! I have 23 pages of notes dense with wisdom-rich quotes. …The extract and chapter lengths are long enough to be substantial, but short enough to communicate a clear, concise point.” —Lakshmi Piette Walker

lakshmipiette.substack.com/p/book-revie...

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 21h

“The criterion of a genuinely Christian spirituality is the experience of spiritual suffering. This is what it means to be marked with the sign of the Son of Man, that is, the cross.” —Benjamin Crosby

Am I a Christian if I Don’t Have Spiritual Experiences?

Christians often desire ecstatic encounters with the divine. But not everyone has them.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 1d

“Without the church, character cannot be developed, and faith, hope, and love cannot be formed. Without the church, Christian witness invariably gets co-opted by the political and economic ideologies of our age.” —Charles E. Moore

renovare.org/articles/jes...

Renovaré | Jesus Changes Everything—Really? - Charles E. Moore

Charles Moore describes how Stanley Hauerwas's teaching challenged him to align his thinking and living with the way of Jesus.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 1d

“Shūsaku Endō portrays grace in fleeting moments of luminosity: the fallen priest crossing himself when he thinks no one is looking, a flicker of true pity for the resented father, a recitation of the Beatitudes, a moment of acceptance and forgiveness.” —Joy Marie Clarkson

Portraits of a Mother

Joy Marie Clarkson reviews Shūsaku Endō's Portraits of a Mother: A Novella and Stories

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 2d

Last week Plough hosted a talk by Paul Kingsnorth on how to resist technological takeover. Watch the recording here:

Paul Kingsnorth: After the Machine

YouTube video by Plough

www.youtube.com

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 2d

“Vocation is not about being able to fulfill our desires, pursue our passions, or follow our bliss. Vocation is about being called by others to serve. This understanding offers a much bigger vision of vocation than mere self-fulfillment.” @karenswallowprior.bsky.social

How Do You Find Your Calling in Life?

I don’t have a secret formula or surefire plan, but I can point you in the right direction.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 5d

Watch the video of Paul Kingsnorth speaking about his new book, Against the Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity.

Thanks to sponsor Abigail Adams Institute and thank you Sean D. Kelly and Jacqueline C. Rivers for your responses.

Paul Kingsnorth: After the Machine

YouTube video by Plough

www.youtube.com

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 5d

“As Wendell Berry lives into his tenth decade, he meditates on the way a simple story – one held in place and handed down from one generation to another – can shape our lives beyond all expectation.” —Jeffrey Bilbro

The Berry Family’s Founding Myth

Wendell Berry’s new novel, Marce Catlett, blurs the line between fiction and autobiography more than ever before.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 6d

“We must never withdraw from the rushing stream of present-day life into a selfishness of soul that makes our love grow cold in the face of need and the countless paths of guilt connected with it.” —Eberhard Arnold

Inwardness in a Distracted Age

What is Christianity’s answer when civilization is falling apart? The most effective way to resist evil starts with becoming quiet before God. But it doesn’t stop there.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 7d

Paul Kingsnorth, Jacqueline Rivers and Sean D. Kelly speaking at Harvard University this evening.

Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iOS...

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 7d

“I don’t want courses or gurus or weekend retreats to fix me. I want old apple trees anointed by the touch of God. Trees that wrap themselves around me and trees that gasp the last of their life force into a lovely little apple, round and perfect, that I may eat.” —Tara Couture

The Marvel of Apple Trees

Each apple tree in our orchard has its own character.

Reposted by Plough Quarterly

Natalie Morrill @nataliemorrill.bsky.social · 9d

"... paint the portrait or the porch. Try again after the miscarriage; love the children whose hands you wash and the children whose hands you never got to. Get the puppy. Live. Live. Live."

Very beautiful short essay:
www.plough.com/en/topics/li...

Six Kids and Six Pets

A chaotic puppy taught me to embrace the beautiful messiness of life.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 8d

🎟🎟🎟 A few seats have opened up for the Paul Kingsnorth lecture at Harvard University tomorrow!

Wednesday, Oct 1 at 6 p.m.
110 Thompson Room, Barker Center

Purchase your ticket here: jotform.com/251945574979...

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 8d

“If you find yourself confused, wavering, disillusioned, or just needing encouragement to remain faithful, Hauerwas’ understanding of the good news can make a real difference.” —Charles E. Moore

Renovaré | Jesus Changes Everything—Really? - Charles E. Moore

Charles Moore describes how Stanley Hauerwas's teaching challenged him to align his thinking and living with the way of Jesus.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 9d

“The only way to prevent heartbreak is to prevent the chance for joy. So, reluctantly, I chose pain and joy. Cautiously, and with great pessimism, I stepped out into the abyss.” —Lauren Pope

Six Kids and Six Pets

A chaotic puppy taught me to embrace the beautiful messiness of life.

Reposted by Plough Quarterly

cdl6229.bsky.social @cdl6229.bsky.social · 11d

www.plough.com/topics/justi...

Teaching Children About Injustice

When a schoolteacher relates to his pupils what he found traveling the world, their responses amaze him.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 9d

Happy Birthday to you, Gina! 🎂

Reposted by Plough Quarterly

Gina Dalfonzo @ginadalfonzo.bsky.social · 11d

Happy 5th anniversary (a few days late) to this little book of mine! 🎉📚 @plough.bsky.social #Dickens #Booksky #Literaturesky www.plough.com/en/topics/cu...

The Gospel in Dickens: Selections from His Works

Wish you had time to re-read and enjoy that daunting stack of Charles Dickens novels? Take heart: Dickens enthusiast Gina Dalfonzo has done the heavy lifting for you. In short, readable excerpts she ...

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 12d

“We desired something more: life lived and shared in common in Christian community. Notice the commonality between the words ‘common’ and ‘community’ and ‘communion.’” —Jeffrey Wald

An Experiment in Common Living

My wife and I thought we wanted more community. We got more than we reckoned for.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 13d

Paul Kingsnorth: After the Machine
Lecture at Harvard University

The in-person event is sold out, but you can watch the livestream next week, Oct 1 at 6 pm Eastern time.

Register to watch:
plough.com/en/events/20...

Paul Kingsnorth: After the Machine

The Machine, the technological-cultural-capitalistic matrix, encompasses much of contemporary existence. In this age, how can we remain human?

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 13d

“Some hesitantly walk through the doors, unsure why they are open. Maybe they don't know that the open doors are always a welcome. Come inside, the doors tell them.” —Terence Sweeney

Leaving the Church Doors Open

Most churches lock up after Mass or other services, leaving big cavernous halls empty of people and all they bring with them. Several years ago, however, my parish started keeping its doors open after...

Reposted by Plough Quarterly

Dori Moody @dorimoody.bsky.social · 13d

I waited a month for the audiobook after reading this review. Well worth the wait! Both the story and voice recording by @yangszechoo.bsky.social are enchanting. Following behind the two detectives, one a man, and one a fox, was delightful! 🦊
www.plough.com/en/topics/cu...

The Revenge of the Fox Spirit

Yangsze Choo’s The Fox Wife is a delightful blend of genres: detective story, romance, and fairy tale.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 14d

“‘Put your hands together and pray: Lord Jesus, help me! We have seen long enough what the devil does; now let us see what the Lord Jesus can do!’ After a few moments she woke up, prayed those words after me, and all convulsions ceased.” —Johann Christoph Blumhardt

The Case of Gottliebin Dittus

In a Black Forest village, a pastor battled demons and witnessed miracles.

Plough Quarterly @plough.bsky.social · 15d

“Events appear almost always as a series of little, unexpected problems we must solve one at a time. We choose between two alternatives, one of which, in the final analysis, appears closer than the other to the laws of Jesus Christ.” —André Trocmé

André Trocmé in His Own Words

In his newly published memoir, the French pastor tells how his village offered sanctuary to thousands of Jews facing deportation to concentration camps.