Thanks to editor Mike Buma for allowing me to post this piece, published back in November, online, and to Christian Bell for saying such nice things about it.
In this essay I try to explain how it’s possible that Marilynne Robinson, whose writing, worldview, and politics pretty much embody the word generous, seems to draw a lot of her inspiration from a theologian, John Calvin, who figures in many peoples’ minds as the Great Satan of modern western history. In so doing, I also give brief shout-outs (or shouts-out?) to Prince, Noam Chomsky, and Karl Barth, while thumbing my nose at Max Weber, R.H. Tawney, and (an unnamed) Daniel Dennett. Because that’s how I roll.
EDIT: Well, actually, I did name him.
