The Political Provocations of Asexuality
As more people begin to identify themselves as asexual, their presence is revealing the limits to certain kinds of feminist politics.
The Dream of a Plain Bible
Beginning in the late eighteenth century, many Americans experienced a crisis of religious authority. During this time, the idea of an unambiguous “plain Bible” began to gain traction.
Frog and Toad Attend a Philosophy Class
The richness of the Frog and Toad books derives not only from their mood but from their willingness to challenge readers with philosophical dilemmas.
Must Social Workers Fight for Social Reform?
How social work embodies its commitment to social justice has always been fluid. The history of the profession fluctuates between a focus on system and individual social problems.
The Spiritual Side of Vocation
Over the centuries, the idea of vocation has evolved to such a degree that it now encompasses any occupation which satisfies a personal calling.
19th Century Anesthesia and the Politics of Pain
Many doctors embraced anesthesia, but critics in the medical community protested its use, giving rise to what’s known as the “ether controversy.”
When Women Channeled the Dead to be Heard
Spiritualism was one of the nineteenth-century’s most successful religious innovations, a movement of individuals who yearned for a religion which united mysticism and science.
Frederick Douglass’s Feud Over Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Journalist, physician, and committed black nationalist Martin Delany took Frederick Douglass to task over, among other things, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”
On Embracing Boredom
What does “boredom” even mean? As both a word and a concept, boredom is not a universal phenomenon but a historical construction specific to our times.
The Great American Game of Picking the Great American Novel
Arguing about the great American novel was perfect fodder for periodicals in the late 1800s, and it is catnip for a listicle-obsessed internet.
