Dear Reader,

“BFFs.” Facebook “friends.” The horrid “friends with benefits.” 

As with terms like “love,” the increasing prevalence of the word “friend” has corresponded to a steep decline in understanding what friendship truly is.

You and I know better. In The Four Loves, C. S. Lewis writes of friendship in a way familiar to many First Things readers. He asks of the friend: “Do you care about the same truth?”

Drawing upon rich classical and Judeo-Christian thinking about friendship, we recognize that genuine friendship is grounded in truth and virtue.

First Things seeks to guide readers toward a deeper friendship with God. We also strive to nourish an intellectual community of readers that shares a love for truth, goodness, and beauty.

Today I ask you to deepen your engagement with the First Things community. Will you help us continue to cultivate true friendship by supporting our 2022 Spring Campaign today?

Visit firstthings.com/donate to make your tax-deductible donation.

We live in a society where the commitments of friendship and community are profoundly countercultural. Yet you and I both know that these commitments form the basis for happiness and true flourishing. 

Thank you for participating in the community of First Things. I hope you’ll consider deepening that commitment by making a contribution to our 2022 Spring Campaign today.