Resident Theologian
About the Blog
Ranking drama series finales
Ranking the top ten series finales of TV dramas since the turn of the century.
Decline and its possibilities
Is decline possible? Not just for society, but for the church? How, in any case, should Christians write and think about it? A reflection occasioned by anti-declinist authors.
You can’t die for a question
A follow-up reflection on biblicism, catholicity, martyrdom, and perspicuity.
The great Christian divide
Hashing out the differences between a biblicist and a catholic approach to Scripture, tradition, and the Christian faith.
Every fantasy a comedy, every comedy a theodicy
A reflection on Osten Ard, fantasy writing, and theodicy within modern fantasy.
A.I. fallacies, academic edition
A dialogue with an imaginary interlocutor regarding A.I., ChatGPT, and the classroom.
A blurb, a reply, a review
Some links: an endorsement of a posthumous Jenson book; a reply to Radner and Trueman; a review of Jamieson and Wittman.
Young Christians (not) reading, 2
Further reflections on young Christians today and their reading habits (or rather, lack thereof).
Who are young Christians reading today?
What living authors are writing books that intellectually serious 15-25-year old American Christians are reading today? Are there any? Are they good? A failed attempt at an answer.
Defining “culture”
Responding to Alan Jacobs’ critique of my undefined and indiscriminate use of “culture” in my recent Mere O essay.
I’m in Mere O on church and culture
My latest essay, “Once More, Church and Culture,” is in the new issue of Mere Orthodoxy.
Mapping academic theology
Sharing and reflecting on John Shelton’s genealogical web of liberal mainline institutions, theologians, and ethicists in the wake of Barth.
To Osten Ard
A celebration of Osten Ard, the fiction world of Tad Williams’ fantasy trilogy—my favorite of the genre—in preparation for the sequel series, a tetralogy that concludes later this year.
I’m in First Things + on a podcast
Links to a new essay in the latest issue of First Things and an interview on a new podcast called The Great Tradition.
Prestige scholarship
My pet theory for academics and other writers who appear to be superhumanly or even supernaturally productive.
A new book contract! And other coming attractions
Happy news to share about a new book contract with Eerdmans! Plus a list of additional forthcoming writing projects: other books as well as essays and reviews.
Christians and politics
A reflection about Christians’ involvement in democratic politics, prompted by Richard Beck’s series on the subject.
Calvin, zombies, and the false faith of the reprobate
Edward Feser on the zombie problem, Calvin on the false faith of the reprobate, and the connection between them.
Publication promiscuity
Should writers be selective in where they publish, judging by ideology or other factors? I say no. Publish wherever you like, especially if they pay.
Two ways of reading
One way of reading something is to ask what’s wrong with it: what’s missing, what’s out of place. Another way of reading something is to ask what one might learn or benefit from it.