Category Archives: Words

We Need a Little Advent, Right This Very Minute

This is a preview of a commentary to be published soon in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. Also, check out my podcast interview by the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. This 2018 “Church Life … Continue reading

Posted in Prayer, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Propaedeutics: The Last Word in First-Class Learning

This commentary was also published in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. Universities often promise they will “prepare students to be leaders,” but it’s not clear how much progress either the teachers or the learners are making. How can we cultivate … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Prayer, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Oh, Grow Up! But How?

This commentary was published in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com on Oct. 30. Just as an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, we need to see the members of “Generation Z”—now in their teens and twenties—as products of generations … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Duty is Truth, Truth Duty

This commentary was published today in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. Please consider subscribing to that publication to support my work. Learn more about my multimedia content and career experience at billschmitt.substack.com/about. America’s mainstream news media cannot say “they didn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words, Writing | Leave a comment

Hold My Bier: It’s Boomer Time

This commentary was published today in “Phronesis in Pieces,” found at billschmitt.substack. “Generational theory” fascinates me. Think of it as sociological analysis that attempts to interpret America’s story by understanding the subplots interwoven over time by various age groups. These … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Fake Muse? Finding Allies in Voegelin and Cuomo

This discussion of philosophy–in ancient times and on the nightly news–appears in the current edition of “Phronesis in Pieces,” my Substack publication at billschmitt.substack.com. Eric Voegelin I want to point out a link I have added to the “Defining Phronesis” section of … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words, Writing | Leave a comment

Quoth Bob Dylan, We’ve Gotta Serve Somebody

“Ask what you can do for your country.” If a U.S. president said this today, as President Kennedy did in 1961, it would trigger a negative reaction in some circles. What would we call that reaction, clinically speaking? Depending on … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

12 Top Quotes from World Communications Days (2018-2023)

Listen to my conversation with Matt Swaim on the Son Rise Morning Show (5-22-23), discussing World Communications Day. Click here and jump to the 1:39 mark. This commentary was also published 5-21-23 in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. Today is … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Prayer, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Are We Becoming Infophobes?

This commentary is a preview of content that will appear later in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. “Phobia” is one of the many words which have been repurposed these days, as in “transphobe” or “homophobe.” So, appropriately, as I coin … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Spirit of communication, Words | Leave a comment

Collaring the Chatbot: Let US Pray!

Can a chatbot pray? I had a chance to converse with Bard, Google’s newest artificial-intelligence product for the masses. It asked me what I wanted, so I typed in a request: “Write a prayer asking God to give AI wisdom.” … Continue reading

Posted in Prayer, Spirit of communication, Words, Writing | Leave a comment