Velázquez, Dwarfs, and the Contradiction of Graceful Painting

Last updated on: September 6, 2012 at 6:31 am By Daniel A. Siedell

The Spanish artist Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) is a contradiction. His disarming virtuosity, combined with an ambivalent attitude toward painting that borders on contempt, resulted in one of the most stunning and enigmatic careers of any artist in the Western tradition. He also produced some of the most graceful paintings in the history of art. Velázquez’s genius was obvious to his peers, who were jealous and resentful, and who responded by criticizing him for being merely a painter of portraits (private... Read more

Welcome to Cultivare, Kimberly Hyatt

Last updated on: August 30, 2012 at 9:34 am By Kyle Roberts

I’d like to take a moment today to introduce you all to a new blogger here on Cultivare, Kimberly Hyatt. She’s started off with a bang. Her first post, “Look at the Christians. See How Mean they Are”, generated quite the buzz. If you haven’t read it yet, take a chance to do so. Here is her bio: Kimberly Hyatt (MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Executive Director of the Cathedral Arts Project in Jacksonville, Florida, where she has served the past 10 years. She... Read more

Hooking Up and Hanging On

Last updated on: August 29, 2012 at 7:41 am By Daniel Harrell

As the father of a daughter, and a minister to boot, my fears of the fate of a pastor’s kid in high school and college escalate whenever I read about hookup culture. I’m not sure whether to be glad or sad to read Hannah Rosin’s latest (she of the upcoming book, The End of Men.) To wit: About 66 percent of women say they wanted their most recent hookup to turn into something more, but 58 percent of men say... Read more

Jesus+Nothing=Everything & Theology of Culture

Last updated on: August 29, 2012 at 12:00 pm By Daniel A. Siedell

When asked what he had learned from his years of studying the Bible, the great Swiss Reformed theologian of grace Karl Barth responded, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” The title of Tullian Tchividjian’s award-winning book, Jesus+Nothing=Everything, offers in similar Barthian fashion a reminder that the Christian faith is not a worldview, political philosophy, social program, or a family values agenda. It is belief in the promises of God fulfilled in the Word... Read more

Cure for Christendom

Last updated on: August 24, 2012 at 12:59 pm By Kyle Roberts

I’m getting some great questions relating to yesterday’s post, “You Don’t Need Adam to Need a Savior, You Just Need Sin” (some great discussion, both in the comments on this blog and on Facebook). I’m rushing to complete a draft of my forthcoming book on Kierkegaard and emergent Christianity, however, and I really don’t have time to address the comments/questions sufficiently. I will do that in the near future, however. In the meantime, if any of you would like to... Read more

You Don’t Need Adam to Need a Savior: You Just Need Sin

Last updated on: August 23, 2012 at 1:57 pm By Kyle Roberts

The issue of the “historicity of Adam” (and Eve–why do we always forget Eve?) is becoming a flashpoint in evangelical theology. Books are being published, conferences are being held, and major money is being doled out by grant funders like Templeton to deepen the conversation and pursue theological solutions to the vexing questions. It’s no surprise that the issue is generating such interest. One one side, conservatives argue that if you lose a historical Adam and Eve, you lose–all at... Read more

The Kingdom is Near. In Orlando.

Last updated on: August 21, 2012 at 12:44 pm By Daniel Harrell

Today’s post is by Dr. Heather Curtis, Associate Professor of Religion, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts. For most Americans, and especially for families with school-aged children, summer involves “vacation.” As a historian, I’m always struck by what a recent invention the practice of taking an extended hiatus from work, school, and ordinary occupations is. Like much of contemporary American life, vacations are the product of modernity – made possible (and perhaps necessary) by the industrial innovation, the rise of market capitalism, the... Read more

Piss Christ, Revisited

Last updated on: August 22, 2012 at 6:18 am By Daniel A. Siedell

The culture wars are back. And they seem to have a corporate sponsor that sells fried chicken sandwiches. With the Presidential election looming the political pundits are active, as are the Reformed and evangelical bloggers, girding themselves for battle, urging their minions not to retreat and fight for traditional middle American values in the face of those liberals on the coasts. The absurdity of this situation, in which the starting point for a discussion of cultural engagement is a Chick-fil-A... Read more

Breaking Bad: Why Society Still Needs “Sin” Language

Last updated on: August 16, 2012 at 12:35 pm By Kyle Roberts

Like a lot of folks, I’m hooked on “Breaking Bad”– the drama about Walter White, a middle-aged high school chemistry teacher turned meth manufacturer. When Walt learned he had a severe case of lung cancer, and was given only months to live, the scramble was on for a way to provide for his family. He fell in with Jesse, a former student turned meth dealer, and discovered he could apply his chemistry skills to make crazy powerful meth (and loads... Read more

Paul Ryan & Alex Keaton

Last updated on: August 14, 2012 at 10:58 pm By Daniel Harrell

A culture blog is the last place you want to talk politics (despite the role it plays in American culture), not to mention a culture and theology blog (despite the role theology plays in American politics). Nevertheless, did you read David Stockman’s critique Wisconsin Congressman and Vice-Presidential hopeful Paul Ryan’s budget plan? Stockman labeled Ryan’s plan “the same conservative empty sermon.” As a preacher, I’m offended. Why is it that when people want to belittle a public discourse they call it... Read more