Welcome to the weekly digest for February 4, 2022. Visit your account page to edit your email settings. Latest Content and Media I was a guest on the God and Culture podcast to discuss my First Things article on
I'm wondering what to think of the Francis Collins article in light of the substack post about normal people and loyalty.
"In October, even after Collins’ funding of the University of Pittsburgh research had become widely known, Moore continued to burnish his friend’s reputation, saying, “I admire greatly the wisdom, expertise, and, most of all, the Christian humility and grace of Francis Collins.” That same month, influential evangelical pundit David French deemed Collins a “national treasure” and his service in the NIH “faithful.” Former George W. Bush speechwriter and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson struck the most poetic tone in his effusive praise, claiming that Collins possesses a “restless genius [that] is other-centered” and is a “truth-seeker in the best sense.”
Now, this may not be an expression of "loyalty" at all, since it costs nothing in terms of status. Indeed, speaking out against Collins' actions as head of NIH would probably be more costly. But the point I want to get at is this: what would Aaron do? How do we apply this business about loyalty in situations where one's friend did some really messed up things?
If someone is genuinely a friend (versus merely an acquaintance you were on a panel with a couple times or interviewed as a guest), then if they are in the wrong you should confront them privately. If you feel they are in severe unrepentant error, you can break off the friendship. Also, there's no need to publicly promote someone in areas where you disagree with them, even if he is a friend.
I'm wondering what to think of the Francis Collins article in light of the substack post about normal people and loyalty.
"In October, even after Collins’ funding of the University of Pittsburgh research had become widely known, Moore continued to burnish his friend’s reputation, saying, “I admire greatly the wisdom, expertise, and, most of all, the Christian humility and grace of Francis Collins.” That same month, influential evangelical pundit David French deemed Collins a “national treasure” and his service in the NIH “faithful.” Former George W. Bush speechwriter and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson struck the most poetic tone in his effusive praise, claiming that Collins possesses a “restless genius [that] is other-centered” and is a “truth-seeker in the best sense.”
Now, this may not be an expression of "loyalty" at all, since it costs nothing in terms of status. Indeed, speaking out against Collins' actions as head of NIH would probably be more costly. But the point I want to get at is this: what would Aaron do? How do we apply this business about loyalty in situations where one's friend did some really messed up things?
If someone is genuinely a friend (versus merely an acquaintance you were on a panel with a couple times or interviewed as a guest), then if they are in the wrong you should confront them privately. If you feel they are in severe unrepentant error, you can break off the friendship. Also, there's no need to publicly promote someone in areas where you disagree with them, even if he is a friend.