by John Ellis Possibly the most famous conspiracy theory in history is connected to the heart of Christianity. First posited over two thousand years ago, many people still believe its destructive lie. Contemporary Christian apologists continue to use the eye witnesses’ testimony to refute the conspiracy concocted by the priests, elders, and soldiers who had … Continue reading 2020, Conspiracy Theories, and White Evangelicals Dangerous Faith in Donald Trump
Tag: Christianity
Donald Trump: An Absurdist Play for the Ages
by John Ellis In the years to come, several things will stand out in my mind about Donald Trump’s presidency. Two things, though, seem to encapsulate his absurdist, chaotic, and damaging four years in the White House. The first took place on the day of his inauguration. The second on the day the election was … Continue reading Donald Trump: An Absurdist Play for the Ages
A Secular Age: An Invaluable Book Christians Should Read
by John Ellis Sitting on the table next to my chair are ever rotating stacks of books that I’m reading. Two books, though, as their companions have moved back to their homes on my bookshelves to be replaced by new companions, remain constant: The Bible and A Secular Age. Over the last couple of years, … Continue reading A Secular Age: An Invaluable Book Christians Should Read
On Election Day, Which City’s Gates Will You be Defending?
by John Ellis I haven’t checked its veracity, so I won’t link to it, but this morning I read a tweet claiming that a professing Christian confessed to the author of the tweet that, “he would shoot me if I were trying to ‘take away his way of life’.” While I don’t know if that … Continue reading On Election Day, Which City’s Gates Will You be Defending?
The Anti-Gospel of ‘The Matrix’
by John Ellis In the spring of 1999, while sitting in Greenville, SC’s now extinct Haywood Road Cinemas, I contemplated the meaning of the red pill and the blue pill. In the weeks and months to follow, The Matrix’s philosophical puzzles posed interesting avenues that my burgeoning atheism was happy to travail. Vague and sophomoric … Continue reading The Anti-Gospel of ‘The Matrix’
With Your Vote, Are You Worshipping Religious Liberty or Are You Worshipping Jesus?
by John Ellis “There remains a fundamental tension in Christianity. Flourishing is good, nevertheless seeking it is not our ultimate goal.” Charles Taylor[1] Voting can be a sticky wicket for Christians. Rarely, at least on the national stage, are we presented with options that align comfortably with a conscience informed by the Holy Spirit, God’s … Continue reading With Your Vote, Are You Worshipping Religious Liberty or Are You Worshipping Jesus?
A Concise (short) and Cogent Reason for Not Voting for Donald Trump
by John Ellis A little over a month ago, a good friend posed a scenario to me: “If a family member or friend asks why you won’t be voting for Trump, how will you succinctly answer them?” Oddly enough, I had begun thinking about that very scenario a few weeks before our conversation and had … Continue reading A Concise (short) and Cogent Reason for Not Voting for Donald Trump
A Tribute to My Mom
My mom with her her precious grandkids a few weeks before she met Jesus face-to-face. by John Ellis Years before the most recent financial crisis turned “staycation” into a buzzword, my mom was planning our family’s staycations. As a Christian schoolteacher married to an independent, fundamentalist Baptist pastor, she turned resourcefulness into a finely honed … Continue reading A Tribute to My Mom
Rules Do Not a Good Boy Make: My Year as a Sixth-Grade Terrorist
by John Ellis Spelling is not a forte of mine. As a writer, red squiggly lines are my friend. Words like “Wednesday,” “indubitably,” and “cornucopia” are beyond my ability to remember how to spell correctly. One word I’ll never misspell, though, is obedience. The spelling of that word was drilled into me via multiple performances … Continue reading Rules Do Not a Good Boy Make: My Year as a Sixth-Grade Terrorist
A Christian Theatre Manifesto: Part 3
(Read Part 1 by clicking here and Part 2 by clicking here) by John Ellis To my slight frustration, many of the directors, teachers, and writers that I look up to seemingly only go so far in practice. Thankfully, in word they’ve shown me the aesthetic path that my theatre practice has taken. For example, … Continue reading A Christian Theatre Manifesto: Part 3
Practically Known Theology 