Reviews

***This review of Stranger Things Season 5 contains major spoilers. Consider yourself warned.   It’s a new year, and the end of an era. Stranger Things , the wildly successful Netflix show, has officially concluded. I watched the show as a fan but also as one who is interested in the underlying worldview. No piece of media is completely neutral. In fact, the arts are meant to be an imaginative exploration of ideas. In story, you don’t just observe beliefs, you inhabit them a

As I sat down to write a review of Brandan Robertson’s book Queer and Christian (see review here: Queer and Christian Review ) I quickly came to the realization that I would need to choose between reviewing the book and refuting the arguments. While I addressed some of the arguments in the review I left much on the cutting room floor. However, given that Robertson declares that the arguments he offers in this book are, “…the best arguments to disarm the anti-queer interpreta

I first became aware of Brandan Robertson through TikTok. Brandan has over 250,000 followers on the platform and often goes viral for his takes on progressive theology. His following on Instagram (17+ thousand) and X (22+ thousand) is modest in comparison, but his influence on progressive theology is only increasing. Queer and Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table is currently the #1 new release on Amazon in the category of “Gender and Sexua

Dr. Alan Rhoda recently published a blog post listing seven serious objections to Molinism. While I respect Alan and appreciate his philosophical rigor, I believe that each of his objections either misunderstands core distinctions, rests on controversial assumptions, or misrepresents what Molinists actually affirm. In this response, I will address each of his seven critiques in turn, defending the coherence and theological power of Mere Molinism. 1. Internal Inconsistency? N

I joined the launch team group for William Lane Craig’s Systemic Philosophical Theology and was given access to a preview chapter as a reward. In joining the group, I agreed to buy a copy of his book and post a review on sites such as Amazon, Goodreads, and so on. So quite clearly at this point I’ve been adequately bribed, and my opinions and commentary are suspect. I’d originally intended to finish this a couple of weeks ago and post it before the book came out, but thanks

JAMES WHITE ON THE ATONEMENT & THEOLOGICAL DEFICIENCIES The recent debate on the extent of the atonement proved to be a passionate exchange of theological ideas, with both sides advancing defenses for their positions. The responses from James White and his co-debater were, at times, creative, particularly in their exegetical treatments of passages such as John 3:16 and 2 Peter 2:1. However, their approach ultimately faltered in the broader theological and historical context (

In this article, I will be reviewing the latest installment in the growing Studies in the Doctrine of God series published by Cascade Books: One God, Three Persons, Four Views, a debate book on the Trinity edited by Dr. Chad McIntosh. In terms of difficulty, I consider it to be lay-accessible, with some challenges. Prior volumes in this series were Lyonhart’s Space God (which is a study of God’s omnipresence) and Mullins’ Eternal in Love (which explores questions about how

“At every moment of consciousness, we are fated to wrestle with God.” (Pg. xxxi) Dr. Jordan Peterson is one of the most influential conservative voices in the world. Many Christians have actively tried to discern his theological positions. Does Peterson believe in God, if so, what does that mean? What does he think of Jesus? These questions have been bandied about online for years, most recently in Peterson’s admission to Alex O’Connor (internet atheist nonetheless!) that if

Every so often, a text is published that shakes the very foundations of biblical scholarship. Michael Licona’s book Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently (Zondervan, 2024) is such a work in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. After decades, yea centuries, of critical biblical scholars attempting to explain the differences in the Gospels, the theological world finally has a viable option in Licona’s work. Licona breathes life into th

In June of 2020 the ACLU published an article entitled Sex Work is Real Work and It’s Time to Treat it That Way . In it, the author makes this statement: “Sex workers deserve the same legal protections as any other people. They should be able to maintain their livelihood without fear of violence or arrest, and with access to health care to protect themselves. We can bring sex workers out of the dangerous margins and into the light where people are protected — not targeted — b

In the mid-1990s a Theology professor at Duke Divinity School wrote a book called The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation, A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics . That man’s name was Richard Hays. The book made waves in the Evangelical world because it was the first time a relatively liberal theological scholar took a definitive stance on the biblical sexual ethic. For decades conservative Christian scholars and pastors have cited H

2020 was a difficult year for many of us for a variety of reasons. By the end of 2020 I would be seeking new employment after over 12 years in youth ministry. There are many stories that could be told as to why that was the case, but that can be for another time . Suffice it to say that I am very sensitive to how innuendo, misrepresentation, and uncharitable readings of one’s actions can result in character assassination and reputational damage. So, when I read a book like M

This was not a review I wanted to write. I am still not finished with Megan Basham’s newly released book Shepherd’s For Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda . I wanted to review the book in totality before I finished it but the news cycle and reactions waits for no man and so, unfortunately, there are things to be addressed prior to the release of a broad overview of the book. (That review is forthcoming.) If you have followed along with the r

My wife and I went to see Deadpool & Wolverine on opening night. Wolverine was my favorite comic book hero during my middle school days and I loved Deadpool when he first appeared in Marvel Comics back in my Senior year of high school. The idea of a mutant ninja gunslinger resonated with me in my late teens and continues to do so today (I'm still growing up).   Deadpool reminded me of a mix between the ninjas from the G.I. Joe comics (Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow) and Boba Fe

Recently, on an episode of The Big Conversation from Premier Unbelievable? , the well-known Daily Wire host and political thinker extraordinaire Ben Shapiro debated against Oxford graduate of philosophy and theology, Alex O’Connor. The resolution of the debate was the question: "Is religion good or bad for society?" Ben Shapiro is a monotheist who believes that the Judeo-Christian worldview, in particular, is good for society, while a theist Alex O’Connor, the YouTuber form

This article has been updated with notes on recent events that lend further credence its thesis. Edits are marked within the article. Recently, I wrote a movie review about Sound of Freedom (See Here: Sound of Freedom ). The review received praise and push back. Which I welcomed. The problem, as far as I can tell, is partly because both sides fell into the partisan trap. This happens when we politicize something that ought not be politicized or assume something is being po

Edit 9/29/23 -  I can no longer recommend this movie in good conscience. For more, see my YouTube episode of FTMonthly released on 9/29/23 and read this article entitled the Ballard of Truth . Recently, I had the opportunity to watch the hot new film Sound of Freedom .  If you have not heard of this movie, you may be living under a rock of some sort as it has been making headlines since its release on July 4 th . A fairly low budget film that was completed five years ago bu

If you have followed Dr. Douglas R. Groothuis’ work through the years you will know him as an excellent philosopher and dynamic apologist.  His work in philosophy at Denver Seminary is among the best in the nation and his keystone work on Christian Apologetics released in 2022 is as well. Dr. Groothuis' most recent work, however, carries the most significance yet. I have taken a keen interest in racial issues and ideologies within the American historical framework for quit

As a pastor, I have primarily received formal training in the fields of Christian theology, biblical studies, and church history (BA: Christian Theology, SPU; MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary). Nevertheless, my theological studies have led me firmly to this conclusion: that a robust acquaintance with the tools and foundations of philosophical thinking is essential to doing clear, unconfused theology. As a result, both during and posterior to my graduate studies, I have sough

How often have you gone to the movies with high expectations, only to be let down? On the other hand, you might end up being pleasantly surprised when you go into the theater with low expectations. This past weekend, I had a rather unique experience. After a two-hour drive to Lincoln, Nebraska, I finally found a rare movie theater showing the film Nefarious . Nefarious, based on the 2016 novel A Nefarious Plot by Steve Deace, was written and directed by Chuck Konzelman and