by John Ellis (As a head’s up: The footnotes in this article are important. You don’t want to skip them.) When 17 Kids and Counting – eventually 18 Kids and then 19 Kids and Counting – first began airing on TLC in 2008, it quickly became a hit in white evangelical circles. It was embraced … Continue reading ‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets’ Exposes the Darkness of Christian Fundamentalism (and Provides a Warning to All White Evangelicals)
Author: practicallyknowntheology
Critical Race Theory and Christianity Are Not at Odds
by John Ellis As I’ve continued to study Critical Race Theory (CRT), my appreciation and respect for the complex system of theories has deepened. As a Christian who believes in the Fall and the subsequent Curse, I understand that relationships between humans is now a gross perversion of God’s original design. Sin is malignant, and … Continue reading Critical Race Theory and Christianity Are Not at Odds
Ron DeSantis: Christian Nationalism’s Desired Prince for Their Faux New Jerusalem?
by John Ellis Are you familiar with The Turner Diaries by William Luther Pierce? For those old enough to remember the Oklahoma City bombing, muted memory bells may be sounding in your head. The book was published in 1978 and quickly became the bible for the growing white nationalist movement, including serving as inspiration (and … Continue reading Ron DeSantis: Christian Nationalism’s Desired Prince for Their Faux New Jerusalem?
Eschatological Ecclesiology: Christ’s Bride
by John Ellis (This the manuscript for the Equipping Hour - Sunday school - class I taught this morning. Normally, before posting these manuscripts here on this blog, I rewrite it a little bit. Not this time.) Good morning. Welcome to the last class in our series on Ecclesiology. Normally, during our series on topics … Continue reading Eschatological Ecclesiology: Christ’s Bride
I Haven’t Changed and Donald Trump Hasn’t Changed; Maybe You’ve Changed
by John Ellis Donald Trump was found liable of sexual abuse and defamation today. That's a stunning statement that has never been uttered before about a former President of the United States of America. A statement that should slam shut the door on his 2024 presidential bid, but it won't. As stunning and revolting as … Continue reading I Haven’t Changed and Donald Trump Hasn’t Changed; Maybe You’ve Changed
The Phenomenology of Teaghan
by John Ellis Nearing three months of age, our new daughter is entering a fun stage of development. All stages of a child’s growth are fun, to be sure, but there are certain stages that are extra interesting because those changes are not just physical but also existential and phenomenological. During her first few weeks … Continue reading The Phenomenology of Teaghan
The Inconvenient History of the USA: ‘Love in the Library’
by John Ellis As the world’s largest children’s book publisher, it is almost assured that everyone reading this is familiar with Scholastic. With Clifford the Big Red Dog as their mascot and holding the US publishing rights to the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series, Scholastic has helped lead the way in encouraging children to … Continue reading The Inconvenient History of the USA: ‘Love in the Library’
Is the Republican Party Cooking Its Own Goose?
by John Ellis The litany of heavy-handed (to put it nicely) tactics by Republican lawmakers around the country continues to pile up. In a chilling act of disenfranchisement, one of the more egregious examples was the expulsion of two Black state representatives from the Tennessee House this past week. There’s also Ron DeSantis’ ongoing and … Continue reading Is the Republican Party Cooking Its Own Goose?
Ecclesiology: Polity, Church Offices, and Church and State
by John Ellis (This is the slightly edited manuscript for the Equipping Hour – Sunday school – class I taught last week. It was written with the intention of being spoken and heard. Also, as I told the class last Sunday, I didn’t say everything that could be said about these topics. I was strategic … Continue reading Ecclesiology: Polity, Church Offices, and Church and State
Psalms: The Script for Our Journey of Faith
by John Ellis This is the slightly edited manuscript for an Equipping Hour (Sunday school) class I taught a few weeks ago. I edited it to make it a little easier to read. For those who attended the Church History class this past fall, you’ll remember that at the beginning of each class, we went … Continue reading Psalms: The Script for Our Journey of Faith
Practically Known Theology 