Pop Culture Piety
Pop Culture is everywhere. It is implicit in what we read, what we watch, where we shop, even our choice of what brand of coffee to drink. Given this, Christ’s call to be ‘in the world, but not of the world’ can sometimes seem daunting to us. This blog will explore various topics within Popular Culture, and how we are called to live out our faith and ministry in these murky and ever shifting waters.
Ministry or Publicity Stunt?
What is the difference between authentic church ministry and mere publicity stunts? What’s the difference between wanting to build community, and wanting to simply attract attention? These are thoughts I had when I heard about the “Seusscharist”. Continue reading
The magic of rest.
One of the hardest lessons for an amateur magician to learn is how to effectively include rest and non-action into the working of magical effect. The tendency is to rush through the moves and sleights in order reach the climax or revelation as quickly as possible. This cramming together of each move, without space in between, effectively robs the illusion its power and effectiveness.
When is a hat not just a hat?
What is a hat? Is it merely an accessory to wardrobe, an article to be donned or removed without any interior meaning? Is it a statement of personality and identity – the removal of which means the denial of one’s own story and self-understanding? Is it a tool for head-covering, governed by cultural, social, and religious rules that dictate when it should be worn, and when it should be removed? Continue reading
Theologizing Tragedy
From the death of a child to the flooding of communiites, how do we as faith leaders speak into the midst of tragedy? When people look to us for ‘God’s answer”, what do we say? Continue reading
Against Violence: An open letter to everyone.
I have just read about the violence committed against T.V. Food celebrity Nigella Lawson at the hands of her husband, Charles Saatchi. I am sick, and I’m angry. These stories seem to be too prevalent in our world; yet no matter how times media turns its attention to such things, you always know there are countless cases that go unspoken. Continue reading
Depth or Mockery? Theology in the “Man of Steel”
For many, the forced and over-the-top manner in which theological imagery was imputed into the movie is both ridiculous and absurd. After all, the Christian belief in Jesus is not a belief in a superhero.
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Dismantling Princessess
The culture’s sexualization of young women begins with the culture promoting the supremacy of the princess to young girls. Toddlers and Tiara’s is a prime example of this. Continue reading
Digital Faithfulness
Now, some may see that faithful online presence necessitates the endless quoting of Bible verses and praise-songs. But is that solely what it means to have a Christian presence online? Is our Christian presence simply limited to the times where we post some religious shtick? Continue reading
Card-Carrying Membership: Gold Status!
Now I am not suggesting that we start handing out Anglican Gold Cards, or enter into the process of ‘after 12 tithes you get the 13th free!’ Yet when is the last time that we offered a ‘thank-you’ for the individuals who attend our churches?
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Popular Distractions
if I see the times of worship, meditation and quietness as places where I miss out on the latest pop-culture gossip, then the opposite must hold true as well; Filling up my free time with these things means that I possibly miss out on the grand things of God which can be found in stillness and quietness. In the rush to social media and celebrity gossip, could I be effectually leaving myself deaf to God’s voice? Continue reading
