The Petty Meanness of the Trump Administration Is a Sinister Warning to Christians (fonts are the new front in MAGA’s War on Wokeness)

by John Ellis Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered the State Department to revert to the Times New Roman font in all official documents. His order reverses one his predecessor, Secretary Antony Blinken, made in 2023 requiring all official State Department documents be typed using the Calibri font. Secretary Rubio’s reason, as explained in … Continue reading The Petty Meanness of the Trump Administration Is a Sinister Warning to Christians (fonts are the new front in MAGA’s War on Wokeness)

Knowledge Is Not Neutral: or, How ‘Data Over Dogma’ Is Idolatrous

by John Ellis I’m currently reading – working through – Frederic Jameson’s A Singular Modernity. Jameson is probably best known as a Marxist literary critic, but his work crosses multiple avenues, notably political theory and cultural/societal criticism. I’ve been exposed to Jameson via various books by other authors, articles, and lectures[1], but A Singular Modernity … Continue reading Knowledge Is Not Neutral: or, How ‘Data Over Dogma’ Is Idolatrous

The Syncretism of American Mythologies and White Evangelicalism

by John Ellis Several years ago, while living in Arlington, VA, a church member approached me with a concern about my use of the title king for Jesus. It wasn’t so much the title as my near constant use of it. Whenever I prayed publicly, preached, taught Sunday school, etc., I made it a point … Continue reading The Syncretism of American Mythologies and White Evangelicalism

Constantine’s Christendom and Transhumanism Are on a Collision Course. I Don’t Think the Church Is Ready.

by John Ellis Prompted by a conversation about transhumanism with a friend yesterday, I revisited some of the books in my library by the likes of Nick Bostrom and William MacAskill. As I was rereading this morning, it hit me that the transhumanist/longtermist[1] agenda eerily parallels an anthropocentric reading of the Biblical creation story. In … Continue reading Constantine’s Christendom and Transhumanism Are on a Collision Course. I Don’t Think the Church Is Ready.

Our Gods Are Alive, and We Should Kill Them

by John Ellis In Rogues, his last book published during his lifetime, Derrida prophesied that his matrix of deconstruction requires of humanity “a certain unconditional renunciation of sovereignty.” It’s an opaque statement delivered by an intentionally opaque man. Demonized by many, atheist and Christian alike, Derrida remains a modern-day Gideon of sorts. The opaqueness of … Continue reading Our Gods Are Alive, and We Should Kill Them

Palestine and Israel, Introduction: Justice Is Rarely a Two-Way Street

by John Ellis On April 29, 1956, Ro’i Rotberg, regional commander of the security forces for the kibbutz Nahal Oz, was killed in a planned ambush. On horseback, Rotberg attempted to chase off a group of Palestinians from Gaza who were reaping wheat from the kibbutz’s field. He was shot by hidden assailants and then … Continue reading Palestine and Israel, Introduction: Justice Is Rarely a Two-Way Street

A Godless Fundamentalist Revisited 10 Years Later

by John Ellis It’s been 10 years since I began writing the first version of ‘A Godless Fundamentalist.’ It’s been 5 years since Crossway considered publishing it. At the time, over the 5 years as I spent writing, editing, rewriting, and editing some more, my objective acted as a framing mechanism calling me to downplay … Continue reading A Godless Fundamentalist Revisited 10 Years Later

Are You Allying with America’s Cows of Bashan?

“They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.” Amos 2:7 by John Ellis The elegance and dignity with which she entered my car stood in stark contrast to our surroundings. The difference was so pronounced, I found it jarring, unexpected.[1] The way … Continue reading Are You Allying with America’s Cows of Bashan?

More on Tim Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad, and ‘Sound of Freedom’

by John Ellis Sex trafficking is a serious issue. An issue that followers of Jesus should mourn while seeking justice for the victims. Unfortunately, it's an issue that is wildly misunderstood and that has been co-opted by self-serving, glory-seeking individuals and organizations. This past summer, the surprise hit movie Sound of Freedom propelled one such … Continue reading More on Tim Ballard, Operation Underground Railroad, and ‘Sound of Freedom’

A Post-Evangelical Journey of Faith, Doubt, and Shalom

by John Ellis Almost exactly four years ago, I shuttered my previous blog A Day in His Court. Over the upcoming weeks and months, I’m planning on writing more about what led me to transition away from my previous blog and start Practically Known Theology. For now, I simply want to note that by the … Continue reading A Post-Evangelical Journey of Faith, Doubt, and Shalom