Theologian and Christian apologist Francis Schaeffer believed that the arts (music, paintings, drama, movies, etc.) reflected the true inner philosophy and beliefs of a society. This being the case, it was not uncommon to find him lecturing in his Swiss L’Abri community not only on the teachings of Christ but on topics such as the metaphysics of the rock group Led … [Read more...]
World War Z
"The monsters that rose from the dead, they are nothing compared to the ones we carry in our hearts.” Patient Zero, a 12-year-old Chinese boy, was bitten by an animal. That much is pretty clear. The how and why of the spread of the virus that reanimated the dead is a story of human ineptitude, greed, misinformation, and tragedy. In the aftermath of the war, the UN … [Read more...]
"The Da Vinci Code" Critique – Part 3
(I continue my critique of Dan Brown's book - See Part 1 and Part 2) Brown’s second attack on Christianity is the claim that Jesus was not divine, nor claimed to be divine. Teabing alleges that in the 4th century Constantine, for business and political reasons, decided to adopt Christianity as the official church religion. He shifted the day of worship from Saturday to … [Read more...]
Incarceron and Sapphique: Escape Is Not Enough
“I spent centuries longing to escape, but who can escape themselves?” When Catherine Fisher's Incarceron begins (and continues in Sapphique), one hundred and fifty years have passed since the Years of Rage, after which all the criminals, undesirables, extremists, degenerates, and lunatics of the Realm were banished to Incarceron, a prison the size of a world. Seventy of the … [Read more...]
Theology's Limitations (And It's Greatest Strength)
The Ember Days' More Than You Think has not left my earbuds since I started listening to it a few months ago. It gets better and better with each listen. The entirety of the album contains some incredible lyrics, but there is one line in one of my favorite songs, "Real Jesus", that deserves to be written about, mainly because I can relate to the people who might be put off by … [Read more...]
A Love Stronger Yet Than Death
Arise my lover, awaken my bride Let us drink of love as wine In your kiss shall I abide Forever in eternity entwined … [Read more...]
"The Da Vinci Code" Critique – Part 2
(I continue the critique form Part 1) This brings us to the primary contention by Dan Brown taken from Holy Blood, Holy Grail – that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. According to Brown’s character Teabing, “the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is part of the historic record.”[i] His proof of this is two-fold. One, because Jesus was a Jew, the obligation was that he … [Read more...]
The Mortal Instruments
“The road to Hell is easy.” Cassandra Clare’s Young Adult bestseller City of Bones (coming to a theater near you on August 23) introduces us to Clary, a child of Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters trace their lineage back to the Nephilim of Genesis – well, if Genesis included humans drinking angel blood from the Mortal Cup so they could fight demons. And fight demons they do, as … [Read more...]
"The Da Vinci Code" Critique – Part 1
Note: Although I don't hear as much about "The Da Vinci Code" since its release several years ago, I do hear assertions derived from the gnostic gospels... this critique addresses both the book and gnostic sources, so I believe it is still relevant. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code begins with the murder of the curator of the Louvre museum in Paris, Jacques Sauniere. As he is … [Read more...]
Desperate Human Beings: The Walking Dead and Ethics
“Horror is not a glimpse into someone’s dark imagination, but a bridge into corners of everyday life most of us would rather not think about.” - Tauriq Moosa ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Walking Dead and Philosophy brings together a number of philosophers and ethicists to analyze … [Read more...]