NPR: Young Catholic Nuns

This story discusses the growing number of young nuns at a Catholic convent in Tennessee. In addition to religious training the women are educated as teachers at St Aquinas College and then work in the schools associated with the congregation. What I found interesting about this report is that Barbara Bradley Hagerty, who regularly produces reports on religion for NPR, describes their role in the community as well as the specifics of how they orient themselves to questions of love and society. The way they talk about their love for Jesus using the language of person-to-person romance is definitely surprising to hear from young American women.
NPR page for the story


PHOTO: CELINE NADEAU

What Shouldn't be Sold

"I don't think of it as constraining peoples' freedom. I think of it as taking on an impoverished conception of freedom that is concerned only with individual or consumer choice in the marketplace."

Professor Mike Sandel explores issues surrounding controversial forms of wage labor and market transactions, such as paid surrogacy, prostitution as well as buying and selling body parts in a conversation on Philosophy Bites with host Nigel Warburton. Is consent on the part of the seller enough? What's the limit of what the market should decide? Excellent questions and responsiveness from Nigel Warburton. A great conversation starter and philosophical brain teaser.

Link to Philosophy Bites page for the episode