The long-time music project of a North Carolina songwriter finally came to fruition this past week with the release of his newest acoustic single, “Florence Bonfire.” Kyle Caudle is an ordained Baptist minister who serves as associate pastor for youth,…
The health case for church attendance
The most common argument for religion in modern times is a utilitarian one: People are social animals who need religion and mediating institutions for a happy and healthy social organization. For better or worse, the moral cause and classical arguments…
Documentary spotlights healing for ex-cons through arts
As a former public access TV producer, I have a certain affection for low-budget documentaries. Filmmaking often is an expensive medium, and high-profile documentary filmmakers use all the same tricks and tools as blockbuster directors to great ends. They can…
Unpacking the Catholic bishops’ statements on immigration
Conservative Catholics in the United States have had a rough week. From the openly gay ABC news anchor Gio Benitez being publicly confirmed in New York, to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops condemning the Trump administration’s immigration policies,…
Are women leading or leaving the church?
Having spent some time earlier this year meeting potential romantic partners through the popular Christian dating app Upward, I’ve been consistently confused by the state of Christianity among my generation. The Millennial and Zoomer profiles around my age, which I…
On being ‘just Christian’
A couple years ago, when I first moved to Wisconsin, I joined a local megachurch Bible study that wasn’t attached to my church. Despite attending a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation, I found Wisconsin was generally bereft of young folks…
Pete Hegseth’s leadership falls flat
In the three weeks since Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth suddenly called the military’s top brass to Quantico for an anti-woke stump speech, his leadership has fallen flat. His Quantico address has been thoroughly scrutinized in the weeks since he…
Is there a common source for the Ten Commandments bills?
As Republican-dominated states seek to require displays of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms, critics are noting some odd similarities in the language of the bills. It seems possible — even likely — the bills are originating from a common…
Court rules in favor of Amy Grant’s family claim on Nashville church
In downtown Nashville’s rapidly changing urban landscape, church buildings are among its most inert. The growing city — a veritable mecca of low taxes and bridesmaid parties — is peppered with ancient churches, many of which have seen better days….
Maybe Christian filmmaking is on the verge of a mainstream middle
This summer brought a curious announcement in the history of Christian filmmaking: 21 years after his hit biblical epic The Passion of the Christ became one of the most important touchstones in religious filmmaking history, Mel Gibson’s long-rumored sequel finally…
Why Trump proudly hates his enemies
Sunday’s memorial for the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk certainly was an interesting spectacle. The five-hour event in Glendale, Ariz., attended by thousands of supporters spread across two arenas, was hardly a somber funeral so much as a combined tent…
King of the Hill reminds us change can be good, too
In an age when politics overpowers all aspects of life, it isn’t surprising adult cartoons regularly embrace it for fodder. South Park’s new season drew White House acrimony after depicting Donald Trump as an egomaniacal devil-worshipping tyrant. And this was…