New “Hellbound?” Movie explores, Challenges Christian Doctrine of Hell

Last updated on: September 25, 2012 at 4:35 pm By Christian Piatt

I first heard about the movie “Hellbound?” (coming out this fall) at Wild Goose Festival. They were offering an advance screening of the movie, and although I was just passing by the tent at the time, the subject matter stopped me where I was. A thoughtful, well-researched, accessible discussion about the history, purpose and prospects of hell in Christian theology? I’m in! The film opens with reflections on September 11th, including a ten-year anniversary memorial event at the site. And... Read more

Did Jesus Get Married and Have Children?

Last updated on: September 24, 2012 at 4:35 pm By Christian Piatt

It’s amazing what a difference six words can make in our understanding of a figure as central as Jesus to the lives and faith of so many. Even historians and others who don’t claim Christianity personally are intrigued by the scrap of text recently discovered to contain, in Coptic, the sentence fragment: “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife…'” Was this Jesus of Nazareth? is it authentic? Did the author have an original source to pull from, or simply word-of-mouth legend?... Read more

Church Sign Epic Fails: Reader Submission Special Edition

Last updated on: September 23, 2012 at 4:05 am By Christian Piatt

Recently, I got a request from Thomas Nelson publishers to give away ten copies of “Red Letter REvolution,” the new book by Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne, through my various networks. What better way to give then away, I decided, than to solicit church signs from the public at large! And you guys came up with some beauties. I still have a few copies of the forthcoming book to give away, so if you think you can do better than... Read more

Libyan Ambassador Stevens’ Death Tragic, Hopeful, Ironic

Last updated on: September 20, 2012 at 5:35 pm By Christian Piatt

I’ve been reflecting on the recent events in Libya involving the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens, and every time, I arrive at a different feeling about it all. There’s the obvious tragedy of a life unnecessarily lost. By all accounts, Stevens was a humble, passionate man who had invested his life in the betterment of the infrastructure for the Libyan people. He was not, as some dignitaries or diplomats tend to be, resting on his credentials in an easy gig,... Read more

Romney Video Points to Heart of GOP Disdain

Last updated on: September 19, 2012 at 8:52 pm By Christian Piatt

Recently, the left-leaning news outlet, Mother Jones, reported a story about Mitt Romney that included several video clips taken of him (unknown to him) at a fundraiser. Most of the clips are fairly benign, with him hitting many of the fiscally conservative talking points. But in one clip in particular, he gets pretty personal and reveals what I’d call a deeper undercurrent of disdain shared by many of his Republican cohorts. Some folks have gotten into the gritty details about... Read more

Church Sign Epic Fails, Miraculous Mashup (Vol. 31)

Last updated on: September 15, 2012 at 8:50 pm By Christian Piatt

This week, we have a kind of mashup of kitsch, signs and other stuff I’ve collected recently that’s just too good to wait for a theme to share. So enjoy this Jambalaya-style dish of Church Sign Epic Fails… Church Sign Epic Fails: Holy Kitsch Edition Church Sign Epic Location Fails (Vol. 29) Church Sign Epic Fails, WTF Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 27 Church Sign Epic Fails: Faith vs Reason Throwdown Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 25 Church Sign... Read more

“Innocence of Muslims” Video Suggests a Fetish for Armageddon

Last updated on: September 13, 2012 at 6:16 pm By Christian Piatt

I finally sat down and watched the entire 11-plus minute video, “Innocence of Muslims,” which is at the heart of the recent outrage in Islamic countries in Yemen and north Africa. Suffice it to say that I lost a healthy share of brain cells in the process. The narrative – if you can call it that – is incoherent throughout, the sound is barely audible in places and the overall production values make the Annoying Orange series look like Scorsese.... Read more

Is the Dalai Lama Calling for the End of Religion?

Last updated on: September 12, 2012 at 11:23 pm By Christian Piatt

My friend, Doug, is not what I’d call a religious person. He grew up in church but has since taken to a combination of practicing martial arts, yoga and independent study, primarily of Buddhist philosophy. In a lot of ways, his journey is a familiar one for younger adults today (he and I are both 40 so we don’t really qualify as “young” adults any more). Doug is, like I am, an intellectually curious guy. He follows my work pretty... Read more

Where is God in 9/11?

Last updated on: September 11, 2019 at 5:33 pm By Christian Piatt

I was home sick on September 11th, 2001. Amy had left for her grad school classes, so I was a little bit annoyed when she burst back in and woke me up. “Turn on the TV,” she said. “Something bad is happening. Really bad.” While watching the replayed video of the plane colliding with the first tower, the second tower attack came. And then there were the reports of similar attacks at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. At that moment,... Read more

Church Sign Epic Fails: Holy Kitsch Edition

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 3:06 pm By Christian Piatt

After half a year of signs, I decided it was time to branch out and bring in some other items of holy fantabulousness. Christian humor (intentional or not), after all, is hardly limited to the signs outside the front door. Church Sign Epic Location Fails (Vol. 29) Church Sign Epic Fails, WTF Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 27 Church Sign Epic Fails: Faith vs Reason Throwdown Church Sign Epic Fails, Volume 25 Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol XXIV Church... Read more