Mortal Remains
Complexity & Judgment
Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. . . . (2 Chr. 33:21f.)
The Chronicler's blunt post-mortems on the kings of Israel and Judah as having done good or evil (often qualified good or qualified evil, but one or the other notwithstanding) is something that has impressed me strongly, particularly since acknowledgement of such judgments is not only a vital part of the faith of both Testaments, but wholly contrary to the temper and habit of those who claim that learned objectivity and appreciation of the complexity of things does not permit them to think in such rude fashion.
These are frequently marked by an aversion to taking sides, for one of the prejudices of their caste is that resolute opinion on complex matters is a mark of ignorance. His hearers noted that Jesus was different, for he taught with authority and not as an intellectual. As a reader and editor, I have found that the error of insufficient knowledge is commonly alleged by members of the intelligentsia in their attacks on opinions they do not like and would rather not risk attempting to argue on the merits, since this always contains the temptation of vulgar lawyering—presenting for some personal profit firm opinions on complex matters.
THIS ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
FOR QUICK ACCESS:
S. M. Hutchens is a Touchstone senior editor.
• Not a subscriber or wish to renew your subscription? Subscribe to Touchstone today for full online access. Over 30 years of publishing!
personal subscriptions
Purchase Print &
Online Subscription

Get six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for only $39.95. That's only $3.34 per month!
gift subscriptions
GIVE Print &
Online Subscription

Give six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for the reduced rate of $29.95. That's only $2.50 per month!
Transactions will be processed on a secure server.
bulk subscriptions
Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.
kindle subscription
OR get a subscription to Touchstone to read on your Kindle for only $1.99 per month! (This option is KINDLE ONLY and does not include either print or online.)
Your subscription goes a long way to ensure that Touchstone is able to continue its mission of publishing quality Christian articles and commentary.
more on bible from the online archives
more from the online archives

23.6—November/December 2010
Darwin, Design & Thomas Aquinas
The Mythical Conflict Between Thomism & Intelligent Design by Logan Paul Gage
calling all readers
Please Donate
"There are magazines worth reading but few worth saving . . . Touchstone is just such a magazine."
—Alice von Hildebrand
"Here we do not concede one square millimeter of territory to falsehood, folly, contemporary sentimentality, or fashion. We speak the truth, and let God be our judge. . . . Touchstone is the one committedly Christian conservative journal."
—Anthony Esolen, Touchstone senior editor