I drive a Prius. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s a sexy car; the word “practical” comes to mind. It gets good mileage, is safe, and fits our family of four just fine in most cases. It’s gotten its share of dings and dents over the years, but it has been a very reliable and low maintenance way to get around town. Of course, what I really want is a Tesla. My son wants one too. There is a showcase for... Read more
I was asked by my friend, Audrey, at the GLAD Alliance (Gay & Lesbian Alliance of Disciples) to respond to the question in the subject line above. For some, the Church is the final bastion in the culture war to preserve the notion held by some of “traditional family.” For others, marriage is merely a civil contract, in which organized religion should have no part. I think both are wrong. Yes, the Church should care about marriage, but not in... Read more
The first time I heard the phrase “Nones” was from my friend Jim Wallis, who wrote about the release of a Pew Forum study documenting the growing number of people who responded “none of the above” when asked about their religious affiliation. As I wrote in a response back then, “Calling people ‘Nones’ is a mistake.” I’m even more convinced of this now — and I think it’s especially a mistake for Christians to adopt this moniker. Here’s why: 1. “Nones” are... Read more
Sometimes we just talk so damn much, there’s no time for an interview. This happens to be one of those weeks… With Sanjay Gupta re-upping his stance on Medical Marijuana, Vladimir Putin slignin’ his weight around in Ukraine, Millennials smashin cultural trends, Lent in full swing, tons of apps and shows to recommend and a big, juicy slab of horse meat on the table, what’s not to love about this show? Plus, Amy and Jess share an epic fear of... Read more
I was getting all self-conscious that my faith wasn’t big enough, but then God reminded me it’s how you use it that matters more than. Pssshhh! Yeah, whatever. Read more
Tony Kriz is, in many ways, the definitive postmodern Christian. He’s a Christian writer, teacher, and he even lives in intentional community with fellow Christ-seekers. He comes from an evangelical background, and, though he claims portions of the theology of his youth, he also continues to reinvent himself as he forges the path of Christ in his cultural context. Known first in the public eye as “Tony the Beat Poet” from Donald Miller’s bestselling book, Blue Like Jazz, he is a... Read more
I get asked questions sometimes that I feel are useful for a larger audience to consider and discuss. One such question was submitted to me by a reader a while back, which echoes the sentiments within many other similar questions I’ve received. Here’s the essence at the heart of those questions: What do I do if I’m not sure what I believe? First of all, don’t freak out. Most of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament is about... Read more
This week on the Homebrewed CultureCast Amy looks to Entertainment Weekly’s “Bulls Eye” for culture and then outs Philip’s deprived, candy-less upbringing. Andy Campbell sits in for Jordan and talks about pasta makers, bottling homebrew, and growing up with diabetic brothers. In the Echo Chamber, Christian offers his thoughts on reforming high school education and whether or not industry-specific training might lead to a renaissance of the career. Philip reflects on graduating from a vocational-technical school and Jess shares her experience as... Read more
I have great respect for religion writer Jonathan Merritt, even though we disagree on a lot of social and theological issues. He evoked a maelstrom about his article suggesting the Arizona law allowing businesses to deny service to LGBTQ people was less than Christian, and yet he stands behind his words. Basically, many prominent voices from the Baptist and Neo-Calvinist camps went berserk about his call for tolerance; never mind that he didn’t even take on the moral issues surrounding LGBTQ identity... Read more
Ahh nothing tastes better than your own foot when it comes to church signs… Read more
Christian Piatt
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