With a freshman in high school, Amy and Christian Piatt are getting familiar with a whole new set of doubts. This got them thinking about how much doubt we're surrounded by every day. But a question keep nagging at them... Is our doubt getting worse? From AI mimicry to feel-good stories gone … Read more about Season of Doubt
Words at War
Words we use - or withhold - shape our culture, opinions and identities. From media and Church to the White House, our words are at war to claim attention more than ever before. We examine Trump's words (and silence) regarding Sen. McCain's death, the Vatican's response to recent abuse … Read more about Words at War
Blood and Soil: One Year After Charlottesville
It's been a year since the deadly "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville took place. What has happened since then? Amy and Christian Piatt reflect on the impact of last year's events, consider the recent "Unite the Right 2" rally in DC and consider MSNBC's recent "Breaking Hate" special … Read more about Blood and Soil: One Year After Charlottesville
The Moral Compromise of Supporting Trump
In this episode, Christian and Amy ask why white Evangelicals support Trump in such big numbers. As much as 77% of white Evangelicals support Trump. Why do they continue to support him? Do progressives share anything with Evangelicals besides the name Christian? They talk about the moral … Read more about The Moral Compromise of Supporting Trump
Modern Feminism and the Death Throes of Patriarchy
In this episode of the CultureCast, Amy and Christian talk about Jeff Sessions and Romans 13, Thai cave rescues and babies in cages, and free speech and feminism. You'll hear about how a political cartoon sparked a debate about the difference between the efforts to rescue the soccer team trapped … Read more about Modern Feminism and the Death Throes of Patriarchy
Police Violence Is The Exception
I had two conversations with friends yesterday who are very upset by the failure of the justice system to protect unarmed black men (and boys) from those who act on behalf of the law. I have not been blogging much as I am in preparation for my qualifying exams in the Spring. Part of my reading … Read more about Police Violence Is The Exception
#Swiftify, The Value of Art, and…Art as Minsitry??
I’ve been thinking a lot about the Taylor Swift vs. Spotify (#Swiftify) controversy lately. It brings up some really great questions. One of them is, ‘how should we think about the value of art?’ Most people I’ve talked to don’t feel too bad for Taylor Swift specifically, because they’re … Read more about #Swiftify, The Value of Art, and…Art as Minsitry??
A Song for Rubem Alves
While much of the US media concerned itself this weekend with the heightening conflict in the Gaza Strip, the questions surrounding another lost flight from Malaysian Airlines, and Weird Al's “Word Crimes,” the Brazilian world mourned the loss of Rubem Alves, a public figure in education, … Read more about A Song for Rubem Alves
FTE’s Christian Leadership Forum
June 4 – 7 I (Callid) will be spending my time with some of the most interesting and diverse people I know. Brought together by the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE), more than 200 folks will gather to consider the future of Christian leadership, theological education, and service. … Read more about FTE’s Christian Leadership Forum
Richard Falk on War, Water and The Wolf of Wall Street
Our guest today is Richard Falk - an international law and international relations scholar who taught at Princeton University for forty years. Since 2002 he has lived in Santa Barbara, California, and taught at the local campus of the University of California in Global and International Studies … Read more about Richard Falk on War, Water and The Wolf of Wall Street
The Only “Progress” Allowed: Techno-Utilitarians for Jesus
Years ago, Lutheran historical theologian Martin Marty participated in a decade long project exploring fundamentalisms worldwide . One of the most interesting (albeit paradoxical) of his findings was their extreme openness to technological advancements as tools. Cutting edge technology is openly … Read more about The Only “Progress” Allowed: Techno-Utilitarians for Jesus
Jihad v. McWorld: How We Imagine A Nation part 4
A Second Shift In the previous 3 parts we established that a significant shift took place in the late 19th and early 20th century. This initial shift in modernity has subsequently created the possibility of a second, more contemporary, move that I want to explore. Taylor provides the context of … Read more about Jihad v. McWorld: How We Imagine A Nation part 4