October (Web-only) 2014

Top 10 Books on the Protestant Reformation
Top 10 Books on the Protestant Reformation
A Reformation Day list, picked by historians and theologians.
The Critics Roundup: 'St. Vincent' and 'Jane the Virgin'
The Critics Roundup: 'St. Vincent' and 'Jane the Virgin'
You know you love Bill Murray.
Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal does some of his best work in a weird, grotesque, disturbing tale of the mediated life.
The Streaming Roundup: November Shows and Indie Horror
The Streaming Roundup: November Shows and Indie Horror
Plus, more to watch this weekend.
Is Gospel Amnesia Creating a Third Great Schism?
Is Gospel Amnesia Creating a Third Great Schism?
Andrew Walker and Robin Parry seek wisdom from the Christian past to heal modern-day church divisions.
Day of the Dead Gets New Life
Day of the Dead Gets New Life
What does it mean for this Hispanic celebration to go mainstream?
Toward a Definition of 'Religious' Cinema
Toward a Definition of 'Religious' Cinema
A modest proposal, lowercase and capital.
Mark Labberton: This Is the Best of Times for Following Jesus
Mark Labberton: This Is the Best of Times for Following Jesus
The Fuller Seminary president sees the church’s moment of cultural exile as a moment of incredible opportunity.
Bright Lights, Big Cities
Bright Lights, Big Cities
Shifting demographics broaden opportunities for urban and suburban Christians.
When We Don't Get A Happy Ending
When We Don't Get A Happy Ending
Even when our lives don't go as we had hoped, not all hope is lost.
All My Children Are ‘My Own’
All My Children Are ‘My Own’
The theological significance of adoption language.
Pugilistic Pastors
Pugilistic Pastors
The fascinating documentary 'Fight Church' asks: Are Christianity and cage fights compatible?
My First American Halloween
My First American Halloween
Finding cultural nuance in the Christian trick-or-treating debate.
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New Poll Finds Evangelicals’ Favorite Heresies
New Poll Finds Evangelicals’ Favorite Heresies
Survey finds many American evangelicals hold unorthodox views on the Trinity, salvation, and other doctrines.
Beautiful Beyond Our Control
Beautiful Beyond Our Control
With so much pressure put on our looks, we forget what our bodies are for.
The Book of Life
The Book of Life
Visually splendid tale of myth and wonder, though not without some disappointingly modern conclusions.
White Bird in a Blizzard
White Bird in a Blizzard
The latest from YA-adaptation darling Shailene Woodley is disappointingly self-centered.
Bless This Tackle? Not a Prayer
Bless This Tackle? Not a Prayer
Christians’ misguided fight for football devotions isn’t working.
When Rural Traditions Get Hipster Cred
When Rural Traditions Get Hipster Cred
Food trends overlook the economic pressures of their origins.
What the Ebola Panic Reminds Us About Worry
What the Ebola Panic Reminds Us About Worry
Even faced with deadly disease, we can choose to live like God’s in control.
When Pastors Lose Their Swagger
When Pastors Lose Their Swagger
When pastors lose their swagger, they find the true heart of ministry.
Why Do We Still Need Women’s Conferences?
Why Do We Still Need Women’s Conferences?
Q cofounder explains the purpose behind gathering as women.
Antiheroes and Saints
Antiheroes and Saints
Where do we get the inclination to emulate or praise our protagonists?
Chasing the Christian Movie Audience
Chasing the Christian Movie Audience
The new art and science of reaching the fifth quadrant.
How Culture Shapes Scientists' Thinking About God's Planet
How Culture Shapes Scientists' Thinking About God's Planet
Former Harvard astronomer Owen Gingerich challenges the notion that religion and science inhabit separate spheres.
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School Prayer Doesn’t Need a Comeback
School Prayer Doesn’t Need a Comeback
Why this prayer-loving, evangelical mom won’t be joining the movement.
You Need a More Ordinary Jesus
You Need a More Ordinary Jesus
We are united with a Christ who seems not to have done much of note for most of his life.
The Pastor’s Wife Effect
The Pastor’s Wife Effect
Pastors' wives don’t need reverence. They need friendship.
The Streaming Roundup: Intellectually Engaged Christians and HBO Stand-Alones
The Streaming Roundup: Intellectually Engaged Christians and HBO Stand-Alones
Plus, they'll be there for you, starting in January.
How Love Leads Us to Worry
How Love Leads Us to Worry
When we love someone or something, we assume they’re ours to worry about.
The News Roundup: Superhero Casting and Harry Potter Spinoffs
The News Roundup: Superhero Casting and Harry Potter Spinoffs
Plus trailers and the (very familiar) 2015 Oscar host.
The Critics Roundup: 'The Best of Me' and 'The Flash'
The Critics Roundup: 'The Best of Me' and 'The Flash'
A faster superhero show and yet another forgettable Sparks romance.
One Chance
One Chance
The inspiring story of Paul Potts, the frumpy opera buff who won "Britain’s Got Talent."
Fury
Fury
What if war isn’t hell? What if it’s purgatory?
Birdman
Birdman
A tale told by an idiot, signifying everything.
How Boko Haram's Terror Is Changing Nigeria's Churches
How Boko Haram's Murders and Kidnappings Are Changing Nigeria's Churches
Leading Nigerian evangelical says Christians won’t abandon the North.
Preachers on the Web: 'Plant' and 'Leaving Eden'
Preachers on the Web: 'Plant' and 'Leaving Eden'
Two short-form web series explore the lives of ministers and congregations.
Mark Driscoll Resigns from Mars Hill
Mark Driscoll Resigns from Mars Hill
"I do not want to be the source of anything that might detract from our church’s mission."
What Does It Mean to Be Black-ish?
What Does It Mean to Be Black-ish?
How “exceptional” African Americans still bolster our stereotypes.
Really, It's Okay To Be Single
Really, It's Okay To Be Single
In order to protect marriage, we should be careful not to denigrate singleness.
Have We Told You How Pretty You Look Today?
Have We Told You How Pretty You Look Today?
How our instinct to praise each others’ looks might fuel an image-obsessed culture.
Embedded Sin and 'The Honorable Woman'
Embedded Sin and 'The Honorable Woman'
A show that explores the Middle East conflict, and a whole lot more.
Whiplash
Whiplash
A film about art, discipline, and the benefits of someone who cracks the whip.
The History We’d Prefer to Forget
The History We’d Prefer to Forget
Why we pass on pain to the next generation.
The News Roundup: More 'Meatballs' and An All-Female 'Ghostbusters'
The News Roundup: More 'Meatballs' and An All-Female 'Ghostbusters'
Plus a bunch of trailers and Yahoo! gets into TV.
The Streaming Roundup: All the Scary Movies and Kid Flicks
The Streaming Roundup: All the Scary Movies and Kid Flicks
Plus, keep up with The Flash and find Forrester.
The Critics Roundup: 'Gracepoint' and 'Men, Women & Children'
The Critics Roundup: 'Gracepoint' and 'Men, Women & Children'
A show and a movie about the evil lurking in every human heart.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
All of its characters are having the worst day, but the movie certainly isn't.
Dracula Untold
Dracula Untold
For Peter Pan filmmaking, it's not that bad.
The Judge
The Judge
Like watching the All-Star game: nobody cares who wins.
5 Guidelines for Living in a Pluralist Society
5 Guidelines for Living in a Pluralist Society
Protestant Christianity is losing the mainstream status it once enjoyed. How to model a winsome faith anyway.
The Deeper Draw of YA
The Deeper Draw of YA
Grown-up readers find a necessary reminder of our brokenness and vulnerability.
'Girls' and the Conservatives
'Girls' and the Conservatives
Lena Dunham might be more self-aware than some assume.
Missional Living Doesn’t Wait for Marriage
Missional Living Doesn’t Wait for Marriage
As for me and my house, we'll serve in our single years.
What Not to Say to a Dad With Four Kids
What Not to Say to a Dad With Four Kids
Generalize not, lest ye be generalized
Working Moms, On Screen and Behind the Camera
Working Moms, On Screen and Behind the Camera
Documentarian Laura Waters Hinson creates films to reflect the ultimate narrative.
Why Hong Kong Matters: More Than Politics at Stake
Why Hong Kong Matters: More Than Politics at Stake
Chinese control threatens the freedom, dignity, and happiness of millions.
Some Final Notes on 'Left Behind'
Some Final Notes on 'Left Behind'
Responding to some of the responses, and drawing lines in the sand.
Hot-N-Ready and Made With Love
Hot-N-Ready and Made With Love
Dinner’s about the act of serving, not what’s being served.
Fishing Without Nets
Fishing Without Nets
Seeing the Somali pirates from the other side.
The Critics Roundup: “How to Get Away With Murder” and “The Equalizer”
The Critics Roundup: “How to Get Away With Murder” and “The Equalizer”
Viola Davis and Denzel Washington get away with a whole lot.
The Streaming Roundup: “The Fault in Our Stars” and Getting Away With Murder
The Streaming Roundup: “The Fault in Our Stars” and Getting Away With Murder
And a lot more to watch, including a show about a futuristic King Kong.
The News Roundup: “Exodus” and a New Pixar Trailer
The News Roundup: “Exodus” and a New Pixar Trailer
Plus a long-lost Sherlock movie and more.
How Abortion Stories Overtook Life Ethics
How Abortion Stories Overtook Life Ethics
Anecdotes aren’t enough to determine morality.
New York Film Festival: “Whiplash” and “Maps to the Stars”
New York Film Festival: “Whiplash” and “Maps to the Stars”
A musical crowd-pleaser from a new director, and something else entirely.
Gone Girl
Gone Girl
Take a deep, deep, very deep breath.
The Boxtrolls
The Boxtrolls
They worked so hard on the animation that they forgot to write a good story.
The Good Lie
The Good Lie
A stirring tale about the Lost Boys of Sudan raises a good question: Is it ever OK to fib?
The Missionary India Never Forgot
The Missionary India Never Forgot
In just 13 years and a grand total of 250 converts, Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg changed the course of modern missions.
Ebola and the Clean Water Crisis
Ebola and the Clean Water Crisis
How Christian orgs in Africa are shifting from development to emergency relief to help fight the outbreak.

Top Story March 18, 2024

Died: Michael Knott, Christian Alternative Musician Who Helped Launch Tooth & Nail
Died: Michael Knott, Christian Alternative Musician Who Helped Launch Tooth & Nail
Knott wrote rock operas, sang with honesty and conviction, called out hypocrites, and bucked the norms of the Christian music industry.

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