Dear friends,
I founded The Common Man about three years ago. Back then, I still had aspirations to become a professional journalist. I wanted to be famous, or at least infamous. I dreamed of the day when The Atlantic would drop my name in one of their hit-pieces about the young radicals of the New Right.
I don’t care about that anymore. My interest in politics has completely evaporated. I have no interest in the media whatsoever and no desire to write about politics, ideologies, “movements,” etc. So, having turned thirty this past December, I think it’s time to close this chapter of my life—and to begin a new one.
As of today, I will no longer be writing The Common Man. Instead, I’ll be writing a new Substack called Theologoumenalia. Later this week, I’ll transfer all of your subscriptions. Then on Friday I’ll publish my inaugural post. It’s on the spiritual dimension of anxiety. I hope you’ll like it.
Let me try to answer some questions you might be asking.
1. What’s a theologoumenalia?
It’s a portmanteau of theologoumenon (a private religious opinion) and marginalia (a minor or nonessential note).
2. But why?
I asked a few trusted friends and colleagues what they thought of the name, and most of them didn’t like it. One said it was pretentious. Another said it was too complicated. Folks won’t be able to pronounce it, let alone remember it. I’d never be able to create a buzz. Yet all the while my wife kept saying, “I think it’s funny, and your readers will too.” So, here we are.
3. What about the subtitle?
My friend Rod Dreher suggested I call the new newsletter “Yankee Athonite,” which is what my father-in-law calls me. So, I had to fit it in somewhere.
4. What will you write about?
Things too wonderful for me.
5. What about my paid subscription to The Common Man?
It will be canceled in a day or two.
6. Will you sell subscriptions to Theologoo-whatever?
No. If you did take out a paid subscription to TCM, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support. The money made a real difference to me and my family. We’re all deeply grateful to you. Truly—thank you. But whenever money changes hands, it creates certain expectations. I’d rather think of Theologoumenalia as friendly chat than a business transaction.
I’m sorry to you all for the disruption. I hope you’ll bear with me. But if you choose to go, may God grant you many years, and I hope we’ll meet again someday.
Yours in Christ,
Michael