by John Ellis Introduction In 1994, Douglas Coupland, the unofficial spokesperson for Gen X, published Life after God. A collection of short stories, the book gave voice to the belief that my generation was “the first generation raised without God.” Beyond just seeing the release of one of Gen X’s seminal works of art, 1994 … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist: Introduction and Prologue
The Purity Culture’s Sins: Men Versus Women
by John Ellis Without any trace of shame, my friend turned on his barstool, looked me in the eyes, and complained, “I regret not having had sex before I got married. I only know what it’s like to have sex with one woman, and I feel like I’m missing out.” In the aftermath of his … Continue reading The Purity Culture’s Sins: Men Versus Women
Why Sex Outside of Marriage Is a Sin
by John Ellis Below in italics is my attempted re-creation of a story I haven’t read in at least three decades. No doubt, my blatant plagiarism contains some errors. My apologies to the author, whomever that might be. I’ve also attempted to remain true to the original story’s thematic tone and objective – a tone … Continue reading Why Sex Outside of Marriage Is a Sin
‘Dixie Highway’ and the Lingering Disgrace of Confederate Monuments
by John Ellis In a recent expose, The New York Times calls into question the validity of allowing stretches of roads in Florida to retain the name “Dixie Highway.” The highway system was originally envisioned in the early 20th century as an ambitious project to connect Chicago with Miami. As more states became involved, the … Continue reading ‘Dixie Highway’ and the Lingering Disgrace of Confederate Monuments
The Gospel and Poverty
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor.” Psalm 41:1 by John Ellis In 2011, successful Wall Street bond trader Chris Arnade walked into one of the Bronx’s worst neighborhoods. Prior to his foray into America’s world of poverty, Arnade was warned that “it was too dangerous, too poor.”[1] He didn’t care and went anyway. … Continue reading The Gospel and Poverty
The Gospel’s Relation to Social Justice and Mercy Ministries
by John Ellis I wrote and posted this article on my previous blog a few months ago (October 2019). It’s a topic that continues to concern me. And it’s a topic that exists within a larger cultural framework that prioritizes this earthly kingdom’s concerns over that of the Eternal Kingdom’s concerns. During a long phone … Continue reading The Gospel’s Relation to Social Justice and Mercy Ministries
The Necessity of Christ’s Active Obedience in Salvation
by John Ellis During membership interviews at my previous church, the elders ask the prospective member to briefly share the gospel. It’s not asked as a membership test; if you forget to include Jesus’ Resurrection, you don’t fail and aren’t prevented from joining the church. The question is asked because the gospel is central to … Continue reading The Necessity of Christ’s Active Obedience in Salvation
President Trump: ‘We Have God on Our Side’
by John Ellis Our President who has famously boasted that he doesn’t have any need to repent is now crowing that, “we have God on our side.” Presuming to speak for God, President Trump made his assertion to a crowd of his adoring worshipers at the inaugural “Evangelicals for Trump” event held at a megachurch … Continue reading President Trump: ‘We Have God on Our Side’
Death’s Unnatural Intrusion Into Childhood
(I wrote this in early 2016, and it remains one of my favorite articles that I've written.) by John Ellis Assuming normal physiology, humans don’t begin to taste deeply of physical death until sometime in their twenties. The day to day existence of children is punctuated by life. The brain is awakening – new sounds, … Continue reading Death’s Unnatural Intrusion Into Childhood
‘The Walking Dead’ and Christianity: Morality Did Not Evolve
“If we humans are simply biological bundles of phenomenally experienced pain and pleasure that constitute happiness and unhappiness, why be obliged to maximize general happiness?”[1] Christian Smith by John Ellis Herbert Spencer’s famed Darwinian maxim “survival of the fittest” has proven quite problematic for material positivists, not to mention problematic for the general well-being of … Continue reading ‘The Walking Dead’ and Christianity: Morality Did Not Evolve
Practically Known Theology 