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??
Doing Theology in the 21st Century. or why Aquinas is a footnote
We are going to have to agree to disagree about some things. One thing that I would ask (in my generous orthodoxy style) is that we both acknowledge those things that we agree on as well as those we don’t. The reason that is important is because of something that Phyllis Tickle points out … Read more about Doing Theology in the 21st Century. or why Aquinas is a footnote
An Interview with the Pope… kind of
Pope Francis is awesome. Of course a progressive Protestant has long-standing issues with the RCC when it gets into certain waters but given a Pope is going to be a Catholic man, this one is the best kind Catholic. He recently published his Apostolic Exhortation to discuss the joy of the gospel … Read more about An Interview with the Pope… kind of
Go Heretical – in the good way
American Christianity needs to let therapeutic ‘believing’ die in order to move forward and impact the world. A therapeutic form of ‘believing’ is not about individual doctrines or particular answers to any of those age-old questions of existence or the faith. In fact one could be a therapeutic … Read more about Go Heretical – in the good way
Maybe the Mayans Weren’t Wrong
In all of the hub-bub surrounding the Mayan apocalypse that came and went without incident, it was tough to resist the funny one-liner on Facebook and Twitter. We have become so calloused against the doomsday predictions that have fueled the religious airwaves, TV broadcasts and book sales of the … Read more about Maybe the Mayans Weren’t Wrong
Is David Fitch right about the Church’s task?
This morning David Fitch tweeted this: "The biggest task of today's church is to undermine in its members the blase unexamined acceptance of secular assumptions for everyday life." I have been thinking about it all day. I'm not sure he is right on this one. Now just to let you know where I … Read more about Is David Fitch right about the Church’s task?
Hipsters and Zombies as the end of civilization
Last week I went down to Tripp’s office to work on some stuff for the podcast. I walked in while he was talking to Jordan and Christian from the Homebrewed Culture Cast. They were recording a segment about zombies and the Walking Dead series. The conversation was great - you will really enjoy … Read more about Hipsters and Zombies as the end of civilization
God is in charge of this economy?
I have always been suspicious that this was true. If you follow out the way that folks talk about an interventionist God who meddles, tinkers, intervenes and interacts with ‘His’ (always his) creation ... then it has to follow that some within that stream will think that God actually runs the … Read more about God is in charge of this economy?
A funny thing happened on the way to Pentecost
Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday in the liturgical calendar. As one who emerged from a charismatic evangelical background and is now employed at a mainline church, this is my favorite Sunday of the whole year! Here are just 3 funny things about Pentecost Sunday: Charismatics don’t celebrate it. … Read more about A funny thing happened on the way to Pentecost
May (the End of) Your Kingdom Come
I think that I might be done with the kingdom - not the dynamic of God’s power or God’s interaction with the world - just the word ‘kingdom’ and its imperial implications. It comes with too much baggage, it is so antiquated, and it is masculine in the way that is unhelpful.* Here are three … Read more about May (the End of) Your Kingdom Come