Blog Small Slider

Being Emotional Is Not an Argument 0
- Politics, Culture
- April 11, 2023
Discourse, especially in schools, is miserable these days. As Randall Smith, the Scanlan Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, argues, there are only three options when it comes to uncomfortable topics, “Non-judgmentalism, furious indignation, or ironic detachment.” How he describes his experiences teaching at the college level goes a long way
READ MORE
How to Debate: What Lieutenant Columbo Teaches About Arguing 2
- Philosophy
- April 10, 2023
At age 14, I was introduced to a debate tactic I never forgot. Called the “Columbo Tactic,” this strategy allowed me to challenge any view I found even remotely illogical, all the while keeping me from having to meticulously, painstakingly articulate my own position. I first heard about this debate method in Gregory Koukl’s Tactics:
READ MORE
California LGBT Activists Call for Taking Children From Parents 4
- Politics, Family
- April 10, 2023
In California, “stranger danger” may be about to acquire a whole new meaning. Forget warning kids. It’s the parents in California who will need to be terrified of strangers if a new bill passes. Snuck into AB 665, legislation ostensibly about extending mental health care to lower-income California youths, is a provision that effectively would
READ MORE

Fight or Flight? Some Thoughts for Easter 5
- Politics, Religion
- April 7, 2023
The long Gospel readings in my church on Palm Sunday offer an unflattering portrait of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Judas sells out his master for 30 pieces of silver and leaves the Last Supper to put his betrayal into action. Later that evening in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asks three of his followers
READ MORE
ChatGPT: The Modern Oracle 1
- Science
- April 7, 2023
“All men by nature desire to know,” says Aristotle at the beginning of his Metaphysics. This is a natural, healthy, even virtuous, longing in the human heart. But it can also get us into trouble when that desire is corrupted. ChatGPT and similar AI technologies are powerful information tools, but their use does not come
READ MORE
Not Your School’s Reading List 11: Thoughtful Reads for Young Women 2
- Literature
- April 6, 2023
At Intellectual Takeout, we strive to offer not only commentary on current events but also tangible advice for engaging with our increasingly chaotic world. That’s why we’re proud to present this ongoing series of literature recommendations. Perfect for girls over 14 years old, these books are a mix of fiction and non-fiction with stories and
READ MORE