Editor’s Commentary

Saying goodbye is never an easy thing to do. Nevertheless, it can be a moment to express love and thanksgiving. We said goodbye to Ellis Sandoz who died on September 19. Beyond being a prolific scholar, Sandoz was one of the most important students of Eric Voegelin. He interviewed him for the “autobiographical lectures” and took the initiative of launching the early iteration of VOEGELINVIEW back in January, 2009. Without him and his work, this journal wouldn’t exist. As such, we give thanks and say: Godspeed, Ellis.

Last month I noted that VOEGELINVIEW had completed its transformation into being a public journal with a principal focus on the humanities featuring essays, reviews, poems, and interviews. As such, we christen the new identity with a new motto: A Review of Art, Culture, Politics, Science, and Divine Ground. Readers who have become familiar with the content of the journal over the past few years, especially the past year and a half, along with readers and scholars of Eric Voegelin, will understand the choice of wording to accompany this journal. We look forward to continuing growing our presence and prominence as a leading online journal of the intellectual life, education, and reviews. With readers and contributors from all over the world, we can now, more effectively, influence the heart of culture with our writings as we build and grow together in this journey.

In the ever-changing world and the need to adapt to it, we also welcomed an inaugural quartet of Senior Writers to the journal: Sophia Belloncle, Sarah Chew, Perita Govil, and Sarah Reardon. Sophia Belloncle is a recent graduate of Hillsdale (2021), a classical humanities teacher, and podcaster. Her insight and wisdom into art and literature will be shared with us every month. She began her column with an exceptional essay on the greatest work of American literature, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Sarah Chew has been working with the journal behind the scenes as one of our assistant editors, but now we welcome her into the ranks as one of our contributors. She is a student at Samford University, double majoring in English and Philosophy. Sarah brings the eyes, ears, and heart of an undergraduate student to our journal, a bright and brilliant young soul navigating the world of the classroom and her own intellectual striving and wrestling. Prerita Govil is a Barry Scholar at Oxford University reading for the MPhil in Classical Indian Religion & Philosophy. She will share with us, and the world, a personal perspective of studying at one of the world’s leading academic institutions as a master’s student who has ventured across the pond from America to Britain. Prerita’s column, which reflects her love of Montaigne and Dostoevsky, will be “Notes from Oxford’s Backroom.” We are blessed to have her as a Senior Writer for her entire time as a graduate student at Oxford. Sarah Reardon is a teacher, writer, and poet who just graduated from Grove City College (2023). I had the privilege of getting to know her over the past couple of years while she was serving as the managing editor of Front Porch Republic. Sarah is already an accomplished writer and poet having been published in First Things, Public Discourse, Plough, and other journals. She is writing as a teacher and MFA student wrestling with the meaning of Christian education and Christian artistry both within and outside the classroom. I know we all give the warmest welcome to these talented young women as they find a home with us.

After bringing on this inaugural quartet, and with eyes to the future, Filip Bakardzhiev and Jesse Russell have also been added to the masthead as we look to future changes we will embrace and enact in the coming months and into the new year. Neither of these two need the same introduction as our inaugural quartet since they have both been writing for the journal over the past several years. Both have been mainstays in offering excellent book reviews which have become a pillar of this journal’s new identity. Filip has also been working as one of the assistant editors for the past year and half. These two gentlemen will primarily aid in building and expanding our repertoire of reviews which is now one of the pillars of our identity as a journal.

The establishment of a group of Senior Writers makes VOEGELINVIEW comparable to many other journals of public intellectual criticism and commentary while also situating us to begin carving out a unique identity as we grow into the future.  As we continue to expand our influence, say goodbye to old friends, and welcome new friends, VOEGELINVIEW: A Review of Art, Culture, Politics, Science, and Divine Ground is adapting to fulfill the mission of the Eric Voegelin Society to be “an organization devoted to the revitalization of teaching and understanding of Eric Voegelin’s work and fundamental expressions of human civilization in art, literature, science, and politics.” We look forward to growing together in the odyssey of the human soul as we bring you the finest essays, reviews, poems, and interviews on art, culture, education, politics, and more.

~ Paul Krause

Your Help Matters! VOEGELINVIEW is on the front line of the battlefields of culture and education. With readers and contributors across all continents, we value our ability to bring commentary, reviews, and poems on the enduring questions of the human condition. While free to read, the journal is not free to host and maintain. Therefore, the Eric Voegelin Society, which publishes VOEGELINVIEW, asks that you consider a tax-deductible donation to support the journal and the humanistic renewal of culture. Your support allows us to give back with our essays, reviews, poems, and more!

With support of the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy, the University of Wisconsin Foundation – a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 39-0743975) – receives donations by credit card on behalf of the journal. If you would like to give a gift now, please go here and make sure you have selected the VoegelinView fund: secure.supportuw.org/give

Alternatively, you can support the Eric Voegelin Society which is also a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 45-5508836). The Eric Voegelin Society, which publishes VOEGELINVIEW, can be supported through Nicholls State University by going here: https://nichollsfoundation.org/donate-now/

Make sure to write “Eric Voegelin Society” in the comments when providing a donation by credit card and “VoegelinView” if you wish your donation to go to the support of the journal. Or you can contact Dr. David Whitney at [email protected] for instructions of how to make a contribution by check.

Print