There is nothing new about the idea that Europeans and Americans in the nineteenth century tended to lose faith in the Bible as a literal or perfect record of historical truth. Generally, we attribute this to the growing evidence of just how old the world was, and also the impact of new ideas of evolution. We also point to the Higher Criticism, which tried to show how different Biblical books were constructed, and generally not by the people whose names... Read more
You ever wonder how historians create periodization? What gives them the idea to say this event or this year is more important than another? Kim Ghattas’ book Black Wave focuses on the year 1979 as crucial to understanding the Middle East. I wrote briefly of the Iranian protests last month (24th post!-hurray) so it has been a subject on my mind. This was a book that I simply could not put down. It is a history book that reads like... Read more
I have been working on a book on the history of Folk Horror, which represents such a powerful theme in modern popular culture. Today I discuss a book that is pure folk horror, but which absolutely departs from the standard assumption in two ways. It is by an American rather than a British or Irish writer, and it is by a familiar canonical author that we normally associate with very mainstream literature, namely John Steinbeck. The man who wrote Grapes... Read more
“Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership, you don’t defend leases.” (Mr. Trump as quoted in BBC Article from January 9, 2026) “When asked why he needed to possess the territory, [Mr. Trump] said: ‘Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success. I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do, whether you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing... Read more
“I wish I wasn’t White; I feel guilty for all the bad things that White folks have done in the past.” –this from a young White member of the British Commonwealth who asked me to help her search her family heritage, desperately hoping to find some evidence that she had ethnic heritage outside of Europe. This sentiment has provoked the ire of conservative parents and lawmakers across the country, resulting in a spate of regulations around the teaching of literature,... Read more
I originally published a version of this piece at this site some years back. I say that just in case you vaguely remember this essay about Groundhog Day, and begin to be concerned that you might be living the same day over and over again. If you have ever seen Bill Murray’s film Groundhog Day, you know that strange and wonderful things happen on February 2, when the boundaries between worlds become perilously thin. I will explain just how that... Read more
We are all living in an American horror story. As we navigate this era of The Great Deportation, it will serve us well to glean lessons from Ida B. Wells. Wells covered the Southern horrors of lynchings during The Great Migration. Lessons From Ida B. Wells’s Depictions of Southern Horrors By 1892, Ida B. Wells had become a widely known investigative journalist, who had covered many of the lynchings that occurred across the South. She was a co-owner and writer... Read more
Recently I posted on a remarkable new archaeological discovery in Britain, namely the find of a Roman villa site in Margam, Wales, which seems to be the precursor of a great medieval monastery. I promised then that I would reveal the secret identity of the family that owned the site, and I was semi kidding, but only semi. (These are topics I have been interested in for a great many years). Did it belong to Eternalis Vedomavus? That area of... Read more
You end up in unexpected places as a professor. Recently, a colleague asked me to participate in a discussion panel for students on the topic of Christianity and conspiracy theories. Even though conspiracy theories aren’t really my “thing,” I figured I would survey some of the literature and offer some general thoughts to our students, most of whom fall under the broad banner of “evangelical.” Of course, if you were paying attention between 2020 and 2021, you know that there... Read more
It was recently revealed in a Christianity Today article that Philip Yancey is “retiring from writing, speaking, and social media,” after having “disqualified [him]self from Christian ministry” on account of an eight-year extra-marital affair. As is the case with the exposure of any moral failures from a Christian, we should mourn the sin, seek justice and accountability, and pray for the transgressors and victims alike. In this case, we must pray for Philip Yancey, Janet Yancey, the woman in whom... Read more
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