The Sectarian Review: Recent Episodes
Danny Anderson
Cultural criticism, with an emphasis on art, politics, religion, and education. Discussion, opinion, and reviews.
Today, Danny talks with Dr. Frederick L. Downing, scholar and editor of a new book for Plough Books called The Inconvenient Gospel. The book is a collection of writings by Clarence Jordan, founder of the famous Koinonia Farm in Georgia. Downing was a pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement and ran into vitriolic opposition from his fellow Southern Christians. Downing discusses how Jordan's theology and activism was years ahead of his time and how mainstream Christianity has finally come around to his thinking on these issues.
More on the book as well as purchasing options, can be found here: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/community/intentional-community/inconvenient-gospel
Follow Danny Anderson's writing and podcasting at https://untaking.substack.com/
The 2022 Christian Humanist Halloween crossover is here! This year, Nathan Gilmour and Carter Smith-Stepper join Danny Anderson for a discussion of John Carpenter's under-rated classic Prince of Darkness. The film presents an alternative theological universe in which Satan has spent millenia as the prisoner of a secret sect of the Catholic Church. As he begins to stir, a group of academics, along with a priest, join together to try and stop him from bringing his father, an ancient dark god, back to Earth.
The film has heavy Lovecraftian themes and Carter, Nathan, and Danny have a spirited (and largely unresolved) theological debate about cosmic horror.
Update:
Danny's article "John Carpenter and the Origin of Evil" for Pop Culture and Theology: https://popularcultureandtheology.com/2022/10/31/john-carpenter-and-the-origins-of-evil/
Returning to the today is C. Derick Varn. This time he joins Danny Anderson to discuss the unique and incredible musical career of British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. Emerging out the British pub rock, punk, and New Wave scenes, Costello forged an almost unparallelled career of musical variation and experimentation. Varn and Anderson discuss what makes him so important.
Links
Varn Vlog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMuZYE1Q9yNpzn4dzsPtmcQ
To follow this podcast and the writing that Danny Anderson does, go to https://authory.com/DannyAnderson and sign up for a weekly newsletter update. It's free and Danny promises not to clutter up your inbox.
This week, Arthur Aghajanian joins the show for a fascinating discussion of mystical, contemplative traditions in Christianity. Part of the discussion is the role that liminality, or experiences at the margins, play in building a deeper, non-credal faith. A great discussion about liminality and filmgoing is included. A real treat, for Danny.
Links:
Arthur's twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtAghajanian
Arthur's website, Image and Faith: https://www.imageandfaith.com/
To follow this podcast and the writing that Danny Anderson does, go to https://authory.com/DannyAnderson and sign up for a weekly newsletter update. It's free and Danny promises not to clutter up your inbox.
This episode, we take another look at the power of comics for teaching. This time, Dr. Justin Martin, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Whitworth University, joins the show to discuss Black Panther and how comics can help us learn about moral development and civics education. A lot to unpack here and a lot to learn.
Links:
Dr. Martin's Academia.edu page
Justin's Twitter
R-Squared Comicz
To follow this podcast and the writing that Danny Anderson does, go to https://authory.com/DannyAnderson and sign up for a weekly newsletter update.
This week, historian and teacher Jonathan Wilson returns to the show to discuss Francis Schaeffer's influential documentary series How Should We Then Live? Long before the Benedict Option, Schaeffer offered Christians a grand narrative of societal decline and put forth a call for "Bible Believing" Christians to rescue society from decadence. In 2021, Dr. Wilson wrote a series of blog posts about the series, exploring its historical method and paranoid worldview. He joins us today to explain.
Links:
How Should We Then Live Bluebook Life series by Jonathan Wilson
How Should We Then Live? on YouTube https://labri.org/resources/how-should-we-then-live-series/
Sarah Edwards, "Sharing the Bad News: Regretting Francis Schaeffer's 'How Should We Then Live,' Forty Years On" https://thebaffler.com/latest/should-live-schaeffer-edwards
Barry Hankins, Francis Schaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6389/francis-schaeffer-and-the-shaping-of-evangelical-america.aspx
Frank Schaeffer, Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back https://www.dacapopress.com/titles/frank-schaeffer/crazy-for-god/9780306817502/
Edith Schaeffer, L'Abri (New Expanded Edition) https://www.crossway.org/books/labri-tpb/
L'Abri Fellowship International as it exists today https://labri.org/
This week's show is an interview with Greg O'Brien, author of On Pluto, and star of the new documentary Have you Heard About Greg?
Greg is an award-winning journalist who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 59 and dedicated the rest of his life to spreading the word about this tragic disease. In this interview, Greg discusses his family history with Alzheimer's, the toll it takes on him and his family, as well as the roles that humor and faith play in coping with the disease. It is a serious, yet humorous journey, and an honor to feature on the Sectarian Review Podcast.
Below are some links to various topics and resources covered in the episode:
On Pluto (Greg's website)
Remember, by Lisa Genova
Dr. Tanzi's "S.H.I.E.L.D" plan
Us Against Alzheimer's Brain Guide
Alzheimer's Family Support Center
To keep up with the show, as well as Danny Anderson's writing efforts:
https://authory.com/DannyAnderson
Joining the show today is educator, historian, and writer Jonathan Wilson to discuss his essay "The Conservatism of My Teaching: Seven Elements." The conversation is a fascinating exploration of some paradoxes embedded withing good, engaged teaching. The productive role of Grand Narratives in student learning. Conceiving education as a moral activity. These are just a few of the rather conservative ideas that liberal and left teachers often employ in their pedagogy. The conversation is filled with fascinating paradoxes and nuggets of wisdom about teaching, including during Covid pandemic.
Links:
"The Conservatism of My Teaching: Seven Elements:" https://bluebook.life/2021/04/16/the-conservatism-of-my-teaching/
Jonathan Wilson on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jnthnwwlsn
Knowing, Teaching, and Learning History: National and International Perspectives, ed. Stearns, Seixas, Wineburg https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED452140
The Journal of American History, March 2022 https://academic.oup.com/jah/issue/108/4?login=false
Back on the show today is C. Derick Varn. Danny rescues him from having to talk politics once again. This time, Derick discusses his new book of poetry, Liberation and All the Bright Etcetera. The discussion covers such topics as psychology, poetics, identity, movies, and is punctuated by a particularly profound reflection on caregivng for someone with cancer. In addition, the poet reads a few selections from the book. You can find the book at the following link: https://mysteriosobooks.com/ols/products/liberation-and-all-the-bright-etcetera-a-poetry-chapbook-by-c-derick-varn?fbclid=IwAR30dirZpwXLwkAm4-ZPipP-HNmOIk2MlR7Xax5BiW4eQI8gowCZZiZUIoM
Joining the show today is filmmaker and performer Jo Rou. Jo discusses her experience in comedy, theater, and independent filmmaking. Her latest short film, "Mary," depicts an insurance salesman with lingering guilty feelings about his late mother who encounters a client (on the anniversary of his mother's death) who may or may not be the ghost of his mother. Jo has a lot to say about art and life and you will absolutely enjoy this interview. Jo's work can be found at http://callmejo.com/.
By request from our beloved listener Elton! This week, Danny is Joined by long-time friend of the show Carter Stepper-Smith to talk about the role of physical space in worship practices. Carter is an Anglican priest and is currently restoring an old church building and has much to say on the subject. Feel free to comment by sending an email to danny.p.anderson@gmail.com
This week, Danny is joined by City of Man host Coyle Neal to discuss 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife. A great discussion about the film and the possibilities and limits of nostalgia. Have fun!
This week, Ivan Anaya and Brannon Hollingsworth join the show to discuss their new King David comic project, and a lot more. The conversation focuses mostly on becoming an artist and staying an artist while navigating the business side of art. A lot of great insight from two working artists here. Their new project can be located here - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/chronicles-of-faith-david-issue-02#/
This week, Danny Anderson is joined by Joshua Herring of the Optimistic Curmudgeon Podcast to discuss the insights about trends in Evangelicalism revealed by the Christianity Today podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. What does the tragedy of Mark Driscoll's church reveal about structural issues within American Christianity?
Retired Brethren Pastor John Eash joins the show today to discuss his new book, The Bible, The Bomb, The Burden, published by Christian Faith Publishing. Eash's book explores the ways in which more traditional theological language excludes the Church from important scientific and technological developments. How can the church remain relevant after the splitting of the atom? The wide-ranging conversation covers a lot of ground and Eash, still ministering into his 90s, brings a fascinating perspective on how much the world has changed since the 1940s and how the Church should respond. John's book can be found on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Bomb-Burden-John-Eash/dp/1098097904
Danny is joined by Carter Stepper to discuss Edgar Allan Poe's "Masque of the Red Death" for this year's installment of the annual Christian Humanist Radio Network's Halloween Crossover event! Class! Plague! A Sectarian Review greatest hits!
This week Charles E. Moore joins the show to discuss his new anthology for Plough Books. Following the Call examines the radical and graceful theology of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount from a wide variety of Christian traditions. Learn about why this text should be central to any expression of Christianity.
This week Danny is joined by Andrew Pessin (who previously came on the show to discuss his book The Jewish God Question) to discuss Andrew's new novel Nevergreen, or Acaementia. The novel is a campus satire that explores college culture wars through a Kafkaesque nightmare. Does Cancel Culture exist? How does anti-semitism play into this?
This week we have a very special episode of the Sectarian Review Podcast. Danny Anderson is joined by David Grubbs of the Christian Humanist Podcast to talk with Mark Matzke, a pastor who also happens to be an expert in Bigfoot, Mothman, and all things paranormal. Mark is a part of the independent production company, Small Town Monsters, which produces a variety of documentaries and television series about cryptids, UFOs, and the paranormal. He also co-hosts the Monsteropolis podcast with Seth Breedlove. Mark joins the show for a really engaging and educational discussion about how interest in such topics is consistent with the Christian faith. Listen and enjoy!
For our season finale, Danny is joined by network luminaries Katie Grubbs and Jay Eldred for one of the strangest episodes of the show. Think of it as a live therapy session in which Danny asks Katie and Jay to explain his feeling to him. The question at hand is why people's core identities shift over time - from Liberal to Conservative, from Conservative to Liberal, from Evangelical to Exvangelical, etc... Danny felt better at the end of this show and hopefully you will too.
This week, Danny is joined by Ed Simon to discuss his new book from Belt Publishing, An Alternative History of Pittsburgh.
Nathan Gilmour of the Christian Humanist Podcast joins the show to discuss whether or not student workloads have increased due to the expanded use of of technology during the Covid crisis. Inspired by Jody Greene's blog post, "The Strange Case of the Exploding Student Workload" at Just Visiting - https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/just-visiting/guest-post-strange-case-exploding-student-workload - Danny and Nathan have a friendly debate about the technocracy in action.
C. Derick Varn joins the show once again for another in our series about the films of Andrei Tarkovsky. This week, we discuss the Russian filmmaker's seminal Italian language film 'Nostalghia.' How does 1 plus 1 equal 1? Lots to unpack in this one.
In this episode, Danny is joined by Dr. Robert Erlewine to discuss his new collection of writings by the great 20th Century Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel, recently published by Plough Books. Learn about Heschel's contribution to how we think about God, and about how he synthesized a conservative theology with a radical, engaged politics, befriending and influencing major religious figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reinhold Neibuhr. Erlewine makes a compelling case for why Heschel is fantastically relevant to our contemporary world.
This week, Danny Anderson is joined by Rachel Pieh Jones to discuss her new book from Plough Publishing, 'Pillars: How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus.' Jones discusses her life as a Christian in the Horn of Africa and how living among followers of Islam gave her new insight into and appreciation for her own Christianity.
This week, Ross Benes joins the show to discuss his new book Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold. The book explores the intensifying conservative/liberal divide in America's heartland and explores the ways that liberal political strategy and rhetoric combined with Republican focus on core value issues have led to an increasingly red state.
This week, Ed Simon joins the show to discuss the academic snobbery the insists on "minimalist" styles of writing. What is the history of this groupthink? What does it get wrong about writing? What pleasures are there in the rich textures of "purple prose?"
This week, Brannon Hollingsworth of Brainy Pixel Productions and Ivan Anaya of MercyWays Studios come on the show to discuss their new collaborative effort, the comic book "Chronicles of Faith: David." Tune in for an enlightening discussion about Christian Art, the universal appeal of King David, and the creative capacity of comic books.
This week, composer and music professor Delvyn Case joins the show to discuss how secular music does some prophetic work in ways that sacred music often does not.
Recently the world lost Texas singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker, an vital figure in the Outlaw Country movement and all-around self-made enigma. This week, Michial Farmer and his dad, Mike Farmer, join the show to discuss Jerry Jeff's seminal 'live' album Viva Terlingua and it's lasting effects on Country Music.
This week, author and podcaster Peter Laws joins the show to discuss his journey from anti-Christian horror fan to Christian Pastor horror fan. What does horror contribute to the Christian walk?
Danny Anderson is joined by Coyle Neal of the City of Man podcast and Chris Maverick from the Vox Popcast (but not, oddly enough, given the episide title, Josh Altmanshofer) to discuss what exactly makes a movie a "Christmas Movie." Can the right argument make anything a Christmas movie? And why is Danny right that Children of Men is a great Christmas movie?
Andy Whitaker Smith discusses his new book 'Keeping Christmas: The Journey of Ebenezer Scrooge.' What can we learn about redemption, grace, and changing our lives by examining the life of Scrooge?
Danny Anderson returns to his wheel house. Joining the show today are David Grubbs and Jordan Poss to discuss the deep contours of the Ancient Astronaut Theory and its racist assumptions. This show was inspired by Jordan's recent blog post, which can be found here https://www.jordanmposs.com/blog/2020/11/6/im-not-saying-ancient-aliens-racist
This week, Danny Anderson interviews Charles Dickens scholar about her new collection from Plough Books, The Gospel in Dickens. Learn about the grand themes of sin and redemption in the work of the great Victorian novelist. A great start to the Christmas season!
For this year's entry in the Christian Humanist Halloween Crossover, Danny Anderson and Nathan Magee discuss M. Night Shyamalan's big comeback film, Split.
To get you in the mood for both Halloween and Church, this week's guest is Andy Whitaker-Smith, who discusses his book Universal Monsters and how the iconic creature of Universal Studios help us think about the Christian faith. The book can be purchased on Amazon and coincides with a small group discussion via Zoom with First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Florida.
Writer Jon Malesic joins the show this week to discuss his recent Commonweal essay, "Drinking Alone," which explores the difficulties of living an academic life in the Rust Belt. What conflicts arise when the life of the mind meets the a working class used up by Capital?
C. Derick Varn joins the show once again to discuss a wide range of topics, beginning with a book review by Michael Clune in the LA Review of Books about Martin Hagglund's This Life (Socialist Freedom and Capitalist Freedom). We discuss the value of judgement and discipline and apply it to various topics in politics and religion.
Join Danny Anderson, Katie Grubbs, and Jay Eldred as they discuss the classic sci-fi horror comedy, Tremors!
Description:In this big episode, Danny is joined by Michial Farmer of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Ben Crosby to discuss the recent New York Times article by Tara Isabella Burton, "Christianity Gets Weird," featuring Ben himself! Learn all about the ins and outs of an emerging practice of liturgical Christianity and how it differs from Rod Dreher's Benedict Option.
Travis Harris, AKA "Hood Scholar" joins the show for a scintillating discussion about Hip Hop and Christianity, Race in America, and how White Supremacy is built into institutions such as the Church, Policing, and Higher Education. This is one you will not want to miss.
In this episode Danny has a cohost! Will Rose of God Loves Geeks joins to interview Dr. Gregory Stevenson, editor of a new collection of essays called Theology and the Marvel Universe. Learn about the many theological conversations you can have by watching the MCU!
Chase Tibbs, organizer and host of the Faith and Capital podcast joins the show this week to discuss the intersections between Christianity and Left politics.
C. Derick Varn joins the show to discuss the curiously relevant Cynthia Ozick story, "The Pagan Rabbi." Part of the Coronavirus "Bunker Recording" series.
On this week's show, Danny Anderson is joined by Melissa Stough and Sara Klooster (of the Christian Feminist Podcast) for a discussion about the grooming charges against YouTube star Onision. How does celebrity and YouTube lead down a dark path?
Joshua Wise joins the show to discuss the Universalist-ish theology of George MacDonald and how that vision of God's love affects various apocalyptic pop culture narratives.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic situation, C. Derick Varn joins the show (at his request!) to discuss not only political failures but also cultural ones as well. What is the source of our failed imaginations?
A special episode. Todd Pedlar of the Book of Nature Podcast and Professor of Physics at Luther College joins the show to discuss the Coronavirus epidemic and its effects, long-term and short-term, on higher education.
Danny is joined once again by Adam Ray Adkins, also known as Dirt: Son of Earth, for a discussion about apocalyptic visions of artificial intelligence.
Danny Anderson is joined once again by C. Derick Varn for another discussion about a Tarkovsky film. Previously we covered Andrei Rublev and Stalker, and this week we discuss Tarkovsky's great 1972 sci-fi masterpiece, Solaris, the story of a sentient planet presents many philosophical problems and maybe even a Lenten meditative practice! Tune in for the fun.
Iowa resident and former Caucus participant, Todd Pedlar, joins the show to discuss the mechanics, the positives, and the negatives of the dreaded Iowa Caucus.
Recorded on September 26, 2019 at St. Francis University. Danny Anderson joins a panel discussion with Dr. Arthur Remillard, Dr. Lauri Chose, and Dr. Mark Buckwalter to discuss whether Batman should kill the Joker. Moderated by Kent Tonkin.
Danny Anderson is joined by two of his star students and The Book of Nature's Todd Pedlar to discuss Philip Roth's seminal 2004 novel, The Plot Against America and its relevance to the age of Trump.
Danny Anderson interviews Dr. Jason Carney about his new book 'Weird Tales of Modernity,' which places writers like H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard into a larger discussion about literary modernism.
Live from Charity Con 2019, Danny Anderson welcomes Chris Maverick and Wayne Wise of the Vox Popcast, as well as Chris Buckley and Andy Walsh to discuss how the multiverse contains multitudes of ethical dimensions. Just in time for the DC crossover event on CW.
C. Derick Varn joins the show again to discuss the classic Coen Brothers 2009 film 'A Serious Man.' What does this quirky comedy have to say about religion, Jewish Culture, and why mystery might just be more important to "facts and logic."
Just in time for November 2019 (when the events of Blade Runner were set), Danny and Nathan Gilmour discuss the classic 1982 film and its incredible sequel, Blade Runner 2049. Danny and Nathan discuss, among other things, postmodernism, epistemology, theology, feminism, and much much more.
Today’s episode is going to focus on a mini-controversy from early July, when Mere Orthodoxy published an essay by Brad East called “Against Pop Culture.” In the essay, East argues (or at least seems to) that Christians should not partake of pop culture as an essential part of their Christian practice. The piece was heavily commented upon in social media, including by Yours Truly, and became one of those “internet things” for a couple of days. The next day, East tagged me and others in a Twitter post that linked to a clarification he wrote and between the two essays, I think that there is a lot to talk about here at the Sectarian Review. Coyle Neal Joins the show to discuss.
A very special episode recorded live at the 2019 TheoCon held at Messia College. Danny Anderson is joined by Chris Maverick of the Vox Popcast for an in depth discussion of Jordan Peele's films 'Get Out' and 'Us.'
Danny Anderson is joined by Popular Culture and Theology's Matthew Brake to discuss season 1 of Titans just in time for Season 2. Is there an ethical issue with taking a teenager-based comic and making it VERY ADULT? How does the show engage with questions of theology and community? What makes Batman's work so morally draining for Robin? All this and much more. In addition, learn about an upcoming conference, TheoCon, about popular culture and theology. PLUS, head over and subscribe on Patreon for some bonus conversation about copyright and much more.
In the CHRN's new series, hosts from across the network dive into good books and take our time in them. In the series premier, Michial Farmer, Christina Bieber Lake, and Jay Eldred talk about the opening books of Homer's Iliad.
In this special episode, Danny interviews J.G. Michael of Parallax Views about Victor Salva, writer director of the Jeepers Creepers horror film franchise. The film has long been a favorite of Danny's but then recently he learned that Salva had been convicted in the late 1980s of sexually abusing a child on the set of his film Clown House. His victim, Nathan Forrest Winters, was the star of that film and is now working on a documentary about his experience. In this show, Danny and J.G. discuss the Jeepers Creepers films in light of Salva's crimes. Seen from this angle, Jeepers Creepers can be seen as a not-so-coded exploration of Salva's own pedophilia.
For the past couple of years, the #MeToo movement has built momentum and shed a cleansing light on sexual abuse perpetrated by powerful people on countless women and men. Entertainment, journalism, government, business, education. Seemingly no institution or industry has avoided scandal as more and more victims come forward. Joining me today is Mary DeMuth, who has written a book about how this movement has also challenged the Evangelical church and how the Church should respond. Mary is an author, speaker, and fellow podcaster who is passionate about helping people live what she calls a “re-storied” life. A survivor of neglect and sexual abuse, Mary was rescued by Jesus when she was 15, and has spent her life healing from trauma so she can help other not feel so alone. The book is called We Too: How the Church can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis and its published by Harvest House Publishers, coming out on August 13, 2019. And I am absolutely thrilled to speak with her today.
Today, we’re going quite a bit out of my depth and looking at a recent controversy that Taylor Swift found herself in. I’ve of course heard the name Taylor Swift before, but it’s a genre that has escaped me almost completely. But there is something underneath the situation we’ll be discussing today that really appeals to me and I think it’s perfect for the show because it will, I think, allow us to think about the intersection of political activism, celebrity, and commerce. So this is why I was delighted that Victoria Farmer of the Christian Feminist Podcast suggested we take an episode to explore this really weird moment in pop music.
Welcome to another episode of the Sectarian Review Podcast. Regular listeners will know by now that we tend to cover topics here that bounce around Religion, Politics, Pop Culture, Foreign Films, and many things in between. Today our topic is going to focus on a particularly unique institution that crosses a lot of those boundaries: Christian College. I’ve personally spent some time as a student and a professor in this world and I have...thoughts. First, I think that we’re going to have to wrestle with terms here a lot. What do we mean exactly when we say “Christian” for instance? That may sound simple, but it’s wildly complicated. Second, my own opinion is that the Platonic ideal of Christian College is probably without question the best form of education for me and my taste. The practice of creating these institutions, however, often results in troubling consequences.
Let me be clear here. Many people have been hurt by Christian Colleges, just as many people have been hurt by Christian institutions of other kinds. I am absolutely one of those people (I may or may not get into this during the show). Yet, there is something so wonderful about, to use an old warhorse slogan, “integrating faith and learning.”
Description:Danny Anderson returns from hiatus with an episode about why superheroes and horror just don't mix very well. Joining the show today is Dr. Sam Cowling who will discuss some of the philosophical foundations of horror and why they seem to be incompatible with superhero comics. Up for discussion today is Batman, Swamp Thing, Blade, Underworld, and so very much more. Also, there is a bonus discussion about the current boom in horror that is taken seriously by mainstream critics. That discussion is available to Patreon subscribers, who help make so much happen here. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/sectarianreview for more info on how you can get more content from the show.
Tune in and hear Danny Anderson chat about plans for the coming season, the podcast's new Patreon account, and other groovy things. (This copy comes to you from Nathan Gilmour, who did not listen to the episode before writing it.)
In this episode, Danny is joined by Dr. Angelo Letizia to discuss the usefulness of Batman's mythology for teaching civics in American classrooms. Letizia advocates for creative approaches to teaching civics and one of his assignments is having students adapt an image from Batman's oeuvre to a current political event or controversy. At stake in Letizia's approach is an ideological question of whether civic education should be a) about making responsible citizens, b) empowering citizens to participate, or c) created justice-oriented citizens. Comics, for Letizia, becomes a great medium to tap into this justice-centered goal, and Batman provides plenty of fertile soil for the political imagination.
Popular Culture is obsessed with apocalypse. Avengers: Endgame is the most recent pop drama that explores variations on eschatology, but it is by no means unique in doing so. Joining the show today to discuss this theological concern in pop culture is Joshua Wise, scholar, writer, and podcaster who has two books coming out that explore this very subject: No Avatars Allowed, and Eschatology and Pop Culture. Danny and Josh discuss such topics as Mad Max, the Fallout video game, Zombie Films, Kingdom Come, and much more.
Based on box office figures, everyone has seen Endgame by now. As required by law, every podcast must have an episode about it. Here is the Sectarian Review take. Our in-house pop culture theologians join the show to discuss the finale to the Infinity Saga. Nathan Gilmour of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Matthew Brake of Pop Culture and Theology help Danny discuss: how the the film completes its character arcs; theological analyses of the film's employment of sacrifice; and how the film's treatment of time travel poses potential ethical quandaries going forward. All this and much much more.
In this very special episode, Danny Anderson interviews John Warner (of Inside Higher Ed's "Just Visiting" blog) about his important new books Why They Can't Write and The Writer's Practice. Why They Can't Write dissects the underlying causes of why so much writing instruction fails in the American system and it provides tested, practical solutions for doing better. The book is more than a how-to-teach guide, however. It diagnoses several important structural problems in American education, including standardized testing, the allure of educational fads, the abuses of technology-driven solutions, and cruel working conditions for teachers. Warner discusses this and a lot more in this interview, which anyone interested in education will want to listen to.
As it prepares to enter its fourth season, here's a look at the hilarious and profound NBC comedy, The Good Place. The show, created by Michael Schur, follows four hapless souls who try to navigate the afterlife. Along the way, there are a lot of in depth philosophy classes, debating the merits of utilitarianism among many other things. And the show also explores the question of redemption as flawed characters learn to be better people, and even an demon (played brilliantly by Ted Danson) finds redemption in seeking the well-being of others. Joining the show to discuss is CHRN media liaison Kristen Filipic and Mount Aloysius College Theater professor Nathan Magee.
On April 12-13, 2019, Bowling Green State University held a conference in recognition of Batman's 80th anniversary. Danny joined forces with Coyle Neal (or is it Neal Coyle?) of the City of Man Podcast and Chris "Mav" Maverick of the VoxPopcast for a roundtable discussion about Batman's problem with race (see either City of Man or Vox Popcast to hear that discussion). Another show contributor, Pop Culture and Theology's Matthew Brake was also there and in this episode of Sectarian Review, the four join forces to talk about the conference and reflect on the perpetual significance of Batman.
The masterful YouTube series Cobra Kai is the focus of this week's episode. This week, Danny Anderson is joined by Nathan Gilmour of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Coyle Neal of the City of Man Podcast to discuss the shockingly good Karate Kid sequel series Cobra Kai. How does this series move beyond simple, destructive nostalgia and create something contemporary and vital? How does it employ Shakespearean storytelling devices? What political statement is this series trying to make in the age of the Alt-right and Donald Trump? All this and much much more!
Recently Weezer released an album (referred to as the "Teal Album") of faithful covers. The project began as a fan-generated joke (the cover of Toto's "Africa") and developed into a full-fledged dive into uncritical nostalgia. Adam Ray Adkins (Dirt, Son of the Earth) joins the show today to talk about how Mark Fisher's classic Capitalist Realism helps us understand and critique this album. What is laudable about Weezer's project? How is Capitalist Realism related to postmodernism? What can we gain by comparing Weezer and Kurt Cobain? All this plus an announcement about this summer's planned SR hiatus.
As May Day approaches, the Sectarian Review Podcast explores the classic pagan horror film, The Wicker Man. C. Derick Varn joins the show for a discussion about this fascinating and chilling religious horror film, pitting fundamentalist Christianity against a neo-Pagan cult off the coast of Britain. In this film, a stuffy, Christian, British cop gets called to a bizarre Pagan island off the coast to investigate the disappearance of a young girl and....blah blah blah....human sacrifice! What does this film say about religion? About secularism (is that just another form of religion?)? How does the movie connect with other Christopher Lee films, like The Devil Rides Out? A wonderful discussion of a truly great, truly disturbing film.
Recently President Donald Trump caused a minor stir by signing Bibles in Alabama. The reaction was swift and predictably driven by either outrage or defensiveness. In this episode Danny Anderson is joined by Nathan Gilmour of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Matthew Brake of Popular Culture and Theology to discuss the situation with some nuance. Some topics covered: what is so special about an autograph anyway? Is the bound book something sacred to be defaced in the first place? How much of this has to do with Donald Trump's moral character? If another, less odious president were to sign a Bible would the backlash have happened? All this and much much more.
Ack! Tentacles! In this episode, David Grubbs, Carter Stepper, and Danny Anderson discuss the horror subgenre, “Weird Fiction.” Typified by H.P. Lovecraft’s “cosmic horror,” the genre is low Modernism at its finest. What defines Weird Fiction? How does it subvert and challenge gothic horror? What challenges does it off the Christian reader? This episode focuses the discussion on three exemplars of the genre: M.R. James’ “Count Magnus,” R.E. Howard’s “Pigeons From Hell,” and H.P. Lovecraft’s “Pickman’s Model."
Danny Anderson welcomes back Matthew Brake from Pop Culture and Theology for another discussion. This time, we explore the ways in which comics offer occasions to theologize, or think about God. The conversation breaks down into three basic parts. First, what are some ways in which religion has been represented in popular comics? Second, how do comics address religious concepts or motifs through metaphor (i.e. Superman as Christ-figure). Finally, what are some primary theological concepts that are explored through comics? Along the way, look for discussions about Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Batman, the X-Men, eschatology and much much more. Links: Pop Culture and Theology G. Willow Wilson Frank Miller’s Holy Terror Peter Enns’ Inspiration and Incarnation X-Men God Loves Man Kills A. David Lewis’s Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books and Graphic Novels Alan Moore’s Saga of the Swamp Thing Grant Morrison’s Animal Man Neil Gaiman’s View from the Cheap Seats Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Batman Gothic Batman RIP Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come Walter Wink Carl Schmitt Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty
In this episode Danny Anderson interviews Stephen Waldron ad Ben Crosby of the new podcast "Theology and Socialism." Waldron and Crosby approach Christian Socialism from a much more traditional and even orthodox theological perspective than many Left Christians do and this gives their show a distinctive feel that makes them perfect guests for Sectarian Review. How does a traditional Protestant Christian arrive at socialist politics? How does the book of Exodus provide an understanding of the rest of the Bible? What is socialist Vacation Bible School? All this and much more.
This week, Danny Anderson is pleased to present a wide-ranging interview with Yahia Lababidi, an Egyptian-American poet, about his recent collection of aphorisms, Where Epics Fail. The aphorism is an ancient form of poetic wisdom, and we discuss what that form offers the modern world. In addition, Lababidi discusses his experiences an an Egyptian immigrant to America before an after the Trump presidency. Other topics include: the value of silence and solitude, how to be gracious and merciful while living in community with others, the challenges of social media, and the significance of alien invasion films! For full shownotes including links to Yahia's work, please visit www.sectarianreviewpodcast.com
Get out your red Swingline staplers, everyone. Danny Anderson is joined by Jordan Poss and Jeffrey Carter for a fun, lively discussion about the enduring appeal of Mike Judge's 1999 classic, 'Office Space.' What makes Judge's work so effective? (hint- it's all in the details). What was it about office life that this film captures? One of the most memeable movies ever turns 20 this week, and the Sectarian Review Podcast is there.
Very excited to present another entry in our artists and creators series! In this episode, Danny welcomes Adam Ray Adkins, who creates art under the name “Dirt: Son of the Earth.” In addition to learning about the creative process, listen for the following: the intersection between left politics and art, Andy Warhol’s failings as an artist, what Mark Fisher’s writing says about imaginative thinking and utopia, why depressed cities like Memphis can be productive for art and imagination, and making art in community. Plus some great insight into Jordan Peterson. Finally, if you are a creative type yourself and want to share your ideas with the world, feel free to contact the show at www.sectarianreviewpodcast.com
In this episode Danny Anderson interviews Andrew Pessin, Professor of Philosophy at Connecticut College and author of The Jewish God Question. Pessin’s book explores “what Jewish thinkers have said about God, The Book, The People, and The Land.” Divided into many micro-essays that condense difficult philosophical ideas into conversation-starting summaries, the book is aimed at bringing philosophy to the people. How has Jewish philosophy reacted to Western thought since the Greeks? What changed in the Enlightenment period? How did Spinoza upend centuries of Jewish philosophy? What have Jewish thinkers focused on in the Twentieth Century and beyond? In addition, we find out why it is so important to take philosophy out of the academy and into the general public. Plus, hear about Andrew’s recurring role on The Late Show with David Letterman!
Links: The Jewish God Question Andrewpessin.com
Discover how Goethe's Faust provides the template for the modern world. How does his version of the scholar who sells his soul to the Devil inspire and describe our world? Patrick Higgins joins the show this week to discuss the Faustian tale, theology, capitalism, Marxism, Evangelical Trumpism and ritual magic.
Danny Anderson is joined by Michial Farmer of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Michael Gruber (one of Farmer’s former students!). On tap this week is an exploration of the phenomenon we call “Rock Star Face.” Why is it that rock stars, particularly male ones, feel the urge to pose for pictures with ridiculously self-serious looks on their stupid faces? Taking the abominable Don Henley as a test case, the trio trace this tendency through jazz, the 1960s, and Romanticism. Bashing the Eagles all along the way, of course.
As part of the Sectarian Review New Year’s Resolution to interview working artists, this week Danny Anderson speaks to poet C.W. Buckley about his new collection of poems Bluing, from Finishing Line Press. Hear about the process for the poet who works full time in the tech industry, and learn what “Bluing” has to do with the poetic imagination. An archaic bleaching method, “bluing” becomes a metaphor for revealing meaning in the past, rescuing our memories from mere nostalgia, which Buckley sees as decay when used to simply prefer the past. There’s also a little conversation about the latest DC Comics film, Aquaman, as well as some theological rumination. Finally, no Sectarian Review would be complete without a discuss of Bigfoot, and Chris’s uncle once appeared on the great Leonard Nimoy show In Search Of to talk about it! And head to sectarianreviewpodcast.com for some really interesting links related to the conversation. And a note from Chris: “And of course, as with the podcast, if you find the work rewarding, please consider leaving a favorable comment or review on the publisher's site or on Amazon.”
Links:
Bluing, from Finishing Line Press From Amazon From IndieBound Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing Rock and Sling Journal Tiferet Journal Image Journal Chris’s Grandmother becomes Homecoming Queen at age 99 Chris’s Uncle talks Bigfoot on In Search Of! K-Tel Records commercial
Ed Simon returns to the show to discuss his new book America and Other Fictions, published by Zero Books. The collection of essays is subtitled “on Radical Faith and Post-Religion,” and the book explores a variety of subjects that explore the inherently religious nature of the American project, even its irreligious aspects. Danny and Ed discuss: the uses of relgious language for the Left, Bob Dylan as American prophet, and the dual nature of the American Civil Religion. In addition, Ed explains his influences and creative processes as a writer and explains why Pittsburgh is so instrumental in his development.
Happy New Year to all! We start the year off by exploring how Popular Culture can open up important theological conversations. Joining the show this week is Matthew Brake, founder and editor of Popular Culture and Theology, a book series from Lexington Books and Fortress Academic, and an accompanying blog. What is the importance for exploring theology in pop culture? Why is it controversial in some quarters? What are the limitations of academia? How can Sectarian Review listeners submit blog posts and article ideas? All this, plus Danny once again tries to defend Justice League!
Love actually is all around. A Christian Humanist couples-only episode about the ultimate couples movie. In this episode, Danny and Kim Anderson are joined by Victoria and Michial Farmer to discuss the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually. What is it about this film that makes it such a beloved holiday classic? How well have the films sexual and class politics aged? In answering these questions, our panel explores the various relationships depicted in the film and discusses why Emma Thompson is truly great in this film. All this and much more!
Merry Christmas 2018! This year’s celebration centers around our shared national obsession, Hallmark Christmas movies. Whether you love them or hate them, they are no doubt in your mind this season. For this particular episode, we generally trash them, but as always we try to find something redeeming about them as well. They clearly do reflect a desire for something good, but how much damage to the collective imagination is that worth? Joining Danny today is Kim Anderson, Jordan Poss, and Christopher Pipkin to share, reminisce, and theorize. Danny’s own argument in this show is that these films are not ‘lowbrow’ popular entertainment, but rather ‘middlebrow’ disposable art that perpetuates Capitalism’s most oppressive structures. But they are also rather fun, he supposes. Also in this episode, a “make a Hallmark story” game you can play with your family! If you’re going to watch these things, you might as well do something productive with them. Also, Chris Pipkin and his wife have created an online 12 Days of Christmas and everyone is welcome to check it out. Merry Christmas to all and check out the links in the shownotes!
Links:
“Hallmark Christmas Movies: Guilty Pleasures No More” “Made for TV Christmas Movies are Big Business for the Hallmark Channel” Deck the Hallmark Podcast “Hallmark Channel is Finally Producing Holiday Movies with Black Leads” “Why are Hallmark Movie Casts So White?” “Five Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Hallmark Holiday Movies”
Danny’s Article about Tom Waits’ “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis” Pipkin’s Twelve Days of Christmas Site (Highly Recommended!!)
This week, the Sectarian Review Podcast examines our second Andrei Tarkovsky film. A while back we looked at Andrei Rublev, and this week we take a deep dive into Stalker. In what has become SR tradition, C. Derick Varn joins the show to discuss another Soviet-era cinematic masterpiece. As with Rublev, however, this film also has massive theological implications. James K.A. Smith invokes the film in his work, so it’s good enough for us here at SR. What does this masterwork of World Cinema have to teach us about theology? What role do our desires play in dictating our lives? What the heck is that dog doing? Telekinesis? As always, Tarkovsky gives us a lot to talk about.
What might the radical Left gain by incorporating religious language into its arguments? Joining the show today is Ed Simon, whose article “A Gospel for the Left” asks just that question. What is it about theological language that speaks to the oppressed in ways that technocratic cultural studies jargon cannot? What can the Left learn from liberation theology? How does Liberalism operate as a kind of secular religion? And finally, is there a sincerity problem in Leftists utilizing sacred vocabulary? All this and much more.
Excelsior! In this mighty episode, Danny is joined by the Christian Humanist Podcast’s own Nathan Gilmour to talk about the cultural impact of the late Stan Lee. Lee, who died a few weeks ago, was a staggering figure in American culture, helping to create many of the icons that have captured the imaginations of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, the X-Men, Daredevil, and Dr. Strange all trace part of their roots back to Lee. In this episode, learn about: the social media response to Lee’s passing, Lee’s controversial history of collaborative artistry, Lee’s place in Jewish art, the political subtext of the Marvel universe, and much much more. Stan Lee helped provide a “superhero mythology in a religiously pluralistic world.”
Links:
“Stan Lee Built the World I Live In,” by Wayne Wise: http://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/notable-deaths/article/stan-lee-built-the-world-i-live-in
“Marvel Icon Stan Lee Leaves a Legacy as Complicated As His Heroes,” by Spencer Ackerman: https://www.thedailybeast.com/rip-stan-lee-the-man-who-sold-the-world
Description:A super-special episode for Thanksgiving and Black Friday! This week the show explores an episode of the Cartoon Network show The Amazing World of Gumball called “The Money.” The episode humorously shows how under capitalism, human beings effectively cease to exist without money. Making this episode extra-special, however is the fact that Danny is joined by his wife, Kim, and their two daughters, Nora and Ella. The whole Anderson family tackles the subject with humor and insight and the Anderson youngsters will blow you away with their brains and charm. Tune in before giving up Thanksgiving for Black Friday!
Joining the show today is Dr. Douglas E. Cowan, Professor of Religious Studies and Social Development Studies at Renison University College. Cowan has recently published a book for NYU Press called America’s Dark Theologian: The Religious Imagination of Stephen King. In the book, Cowan argues that King’s fiction represents a way of “doing” theology outside the traditional structures of historical churches. The argument has immense implications for both theology and popular culture studies. Tune in and learn how King’s work qualifies as theological and why academia too often dismisses the work of popular writers. Is academia its own kind of priesthood, guarding its own traditions? Also, what is the distinction between “answers” and “questions” in theology? How does King’s work challenge the idea of “safe” religion? What King’s work has to say about Ritual, Theodicy, and Cosmology? How does Pet Sematary model a comparative religions seminar? Many thanks to Doug Cowan for a fun, educational discussion.
Recorded live at the 2018 Mount Aloysius College Charity Comic Con! Join us for a very special episode in which Chris Maverick of the Vox Popcast rejoins the show to discuss a fascinating take on the Superman mythology. Mark Millar’s “Red Son” version of the Man of Steel posits the question: what if Superman landed in the Soviet Union rather than Kansas? From this premise, Millar’s comic revises major characters: Lex Luthor becomes the quasi-heroic President of the United States, Batman becomes a Russian dissident terrorist, and Green Lantern’s ring is an artifact of the Roswell UFO crash. Red Son also ponders philosophical and political questions; about the nature of Communism and Capitalism, Superman’s innate goodness, and freedom versus happiness. In addition, the book tackles difficult theological questions about the incarnation of God among humankind. All this and much more is covered in this extra-special episode of the Sectarian Review Podcast.
Recently, Netflix produced a documentary that told the little-remembered story of a cult and its misadventures in creating a city in the Pacific Northwest. The documentary, called Wild Wild Country, follows the expoits, controversies, and crimes of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his Rajneeshi cult as they create a city in the wilderness outside Antelope, Oregon. Led by the Bhagwan’s chief lieutenant, Ma Anand Sheela, the group created a remarkable city from scratch, but fell into conflict with the local community, leading to a series of events which culminated in several major crimes. Joining Danny for this episode is first-time contributor Christopher Pipkin of Emmanuel College, and Todd Pedlar of Luther College and the Book of Nature Podcast. Pedlar also happens to have lived near the Rajneesh community during the controversy and brings a personal reflection to the discussion about cultural and religious bigotry, the marriage between religion and capitalism, and the power of cults.
Welcome to the 2018 Christian Humanist Radio Network Halloween Crossover! This year each of the shows in the network are examining a different film from the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. Josh Altmanshofer (of Before They Were Live) and Carter Stepper join Danny Anderson to discuss the classic film Shadow of a Doubt. The film features Joseph Cotton as a serial killer named Uncle Charlie who preys on rich widows. Uncle Charlie visits his disturbingly well-adjusted suburban family in California where his niece (and philosophical double), also named Charlie, discovers her uncle’s dark nature. Listen to a discussion about this movie’s take on nihilism, feminism, and law and order. And as with any Hitchcock film, mothers are a disturbing symbol as well, of course. Nietzsche, Batman, Thornton Wilder, Jesus, economics, phallic symbols, trains, cops, serial killers, and mothers all work their way into this fun and engaging discussion of one of Hitchcock’s most entertaining and fascinating films.
C. Derick Varn joins the show again for a discussion about a current controversy in academia. Recently, three scholars, James Lindsay, Helen Pluckrose, and Peter Boghossian wrote and submitted 20 hoax-academic papers to journals the three identify as politically-motivated “Grievance Studies” outlets. Tune in to learn about the controversy among academics and pundits about the “Sokol Squared” controversy. Learn about original Sokol hoax and what role these projects might play in correcting academic excesses. Along the way, learn about the technocratic nightmare of the academic publishing industrial complex. And what does any of this have to do with the “intellectual dark web?” All this and much more. Hey don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes or your favorite pod catcher!
Inspired by our recent episode on Elon Musk, this show explores the nightmarish futuristic vision of the class Fritz Lang film, Metropolis. Learn all about the background of this film’s socialist politics and groundbreaking cinematography. Still stunning to look at 90 years later, this 1927 masterpiece has influenced countless science fiction films since its release. What does the film have to say about technology and the mechanization of mankind? Is it a transhumanist fantasy or nightmare? How does this film make use of religious imagery in order to make the case for its socialist politics? Is the heart the mediator between head and hands? Plus, sexy robots! All this and much much more. Todd Pedlar of the the Book of Nature Podcast and Micah Redding of the Christian Transhumanist Society join for this great discussion about an essential film.
Wizards and clerics rejoice! This episode explores the wonders and possibilities of the classic role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons. Joining Danny for this show is Nathan Gilmour of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Will Thomas-Clapp, a Baptist minister who organizes a game for other pastors. In the days since the Satanic Panic, how has DandD made such inroads to Evangelicals? What role do “theater of imagination” games like DandD play in the world of massive online gaming? How have misogyny and racism threatened to destroy gaming communities? What can playing such games do for the imagination and interpretive strategies for preachers? All this and much much more in this very special episode of the podcast.
Welcome to Banned Books Week 2018! For the third year in a row, the show honors Banned Books Week with a show about literacy. This time, Jay Eldred and Danny discuss the wonders and joys of indie bookstores. Plus a chance for you to give some love to your favorite independent bookseller (head to the Sectarian Review Facebook page and give us some links and memories). Why are small indie bookstores so important to our society? Jay and Danny discuss community-building, the act of slowness in a world of immediacy, and these stores’ role in resisting censorship and book-banning. Also, what is so aesthetically pleasing about a little cat in a bookshop? All this and more.
This episode explores the weird history and legacy of the John Birch Society. The conservative organization organized itself around a fervent anti-communisim and took its name from a missionary it saw as a martyr. The story of the real John Birch is told, and the show discusses how the Society that bears his name worships a false image of the man himself, who would have not agreed with the Society’s politics. How did the Birchers get kicked out of mainstream conservatism by William F. Buckley? Why did they hate Eisenhower? The episode also explores the conspiratorial nature of fringe politics in general and reflects on what the Birchers can teach us about Q anon, the Tea Party, and more paranoid styles of politics. Starring Jay Eldred and Jordan Poss!
For this episode, Danny is joined by Todd Pedlar of the Book of Nature Podcast and Micah Redding, of the Christian Transhumanist Podcast to discuss the enigma that is Elon Musk. Musk has been in the news lately for erratic Twitter behavior, corporate bullying, liberally using taxpayer money to fund his vision, and smoking giant blunts on podcasts. Is he Tony Stark or a Bond villain? Learn about Musk’s philosophical vision, his transhumanist imagination, and the ways in which he may represent the worst of Silicon Valley and it’s brand of capitalist vision-making. If a messianic project is built from capital, can it serve humanity?
Of course we had to cover Alex Jones's banishment from social media. Over the last few weeks, the conspiratorial chickens of Alex Jones's InfoWars have come home to roost. Jones, in one swell foop was banned from Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Facebook, Stitcher, and apparently even pornography channels. Joining the show today is our resident conspiracy enthusiast, Jordan Poss, veteran of these types of Sectarian Review episodes. Jordan and Danny discuss the background of the controversy and explore why they are so uncomfortable with Jones's fate. Jordan brings a conservative perspective, while Danny relies on a leftist critique of the banishment, but both end up drawing the same conclusions: how comfortable are we letting markets decide who has a platform? All this and much more.
In the third installment of our "Keywords" series with C. Derick Varn, we focus on a single term with a long and diabolical history: Cultural Marxism. The theory that truth-denying, postmodern Marxists are seeking to undermine society has been around for a while and most recently has been popularized by such intellectual luminaries as Jordan Peterson. What many people don't know, however, is the deeply anti-Semitic roots of this conspiracy theory. What are the historical roots of the term? How was a marginal conspiracy theory mainstreamed by people like Pat Buchanan? Why are conspiracy theories more prevalent on the right than the left? All this and more!
Danny and C. Derek Varn continue their exploration of language in part II of the ongoing series "Keywords: A Vocabulary of Barbarism and Stupidity." In this episode, Varn dishes on the following words: Intersectionality, Cultural Appropriation, Human Bio-Diversity, and Snowflake. Have any words for future episodes? Contact the show on Facebook, Twitter, or at www.sectarianreviewpodcast.com
The inaugural episode of a new, ongoing series called "Keywords: A Vocabulary of Barbarism and Stupidity." C. Derick Varn joins Danny to discuss a series of words that have become pervasive in our political discourse, yet have been divorced from their original meanings in many ways. The series will probably offend liberals, conservatives, and leftists alike at some point, but we at the Sectarian Review think it's important to be honest about our language. In this episode, Varn dives into the history and transformations of the following Keywords: "Woke," "Gaslight," "Privilege," and "Millennial."
A fun walk down apocalyptic memory lane. 30 years ago, Edgar Whisenant published 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. The short pamphlet was one in a long line of "save the date" apocalyptic literature, predicting that Jesus would return in September of 1988. While the date of Whisenant's prediction came and went and his book drifted into obscurity, he did publish and distribute millions of copies of his opus in churches all over America. For this episode, Coyle Neal of the City of Man Podcast and Nathan Gilmour of the Christian Humanist join Danny Anderson to discuss the history, theology, and rhetoric of conspiratorial prophecy like 88 Reasons. The book provides a template for how these fringe ideas operate and Danny tries to make a case for how that template applies to our political discourse as well.
Link: 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988
Since the 2016 election, a racial tension within white Evangelical churches has been made apparent. Donald Trump's election, for better or worse, has become a seismic event in American history. This episode explores how, since 2016 Race has emerged as perhaps the preeminent problem for Evangelicalism, to the point where we need to acknowledge that much of what we have called Evangelical Christianity is really better thought of as WHITE Christianity. Joining the show today is Tamara Johnson, who recently wrote a piece for The Witness titled "For Those Who Stay." In this essay, she recounts her own reasons for leaving her largely white church and returning to the traditions and social spaces of the Black Church. Johnson answers the following questions: "How did you find yourself in a largely white church and how did the events of 2016 affect you in that space?" "What is the scope and scale of this "Black Exodus?" "Why do white people, and not their black friends, bear the responsibility for educating themselves about structural racism?" "What role did Charlottesville play in your Exodus?" "How does abortion serve as a wedge issue when dealing with racial justice in the Church?" "Why the distinction between White Church and Black Church?" "How has MLK been misused?" "What is your advice to Black people who stay in White Churches?"
Links: "For Those Who Stay" "If You Love Me, Do Your Homework" "A Quiet Exodus" - NY Times "Pass the Mic" Podcast "Truth's Table" Podcast Cloak and Dagger on Hulu James Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree Michael Eric Dyson's Tears We Cannot Stop
Ed Simon joins the show again to discuss Trump, Putin, and Russiagate. Liberals, eager to find a way to impeach Trump have been focusing on the investigation in all its minutiae, valorizing the American intelligence community, and finding conspiracy around every corner. Leftists, on the other hand, have been largely dismissive of the story, accusing Liberals of losing sight of more tangible, more structural issues. This episode, while agreeing that Liberals have gone a bit over the top, questions whether the Left is too dismissive of possible collusion between Trump and Putin’s forces.
Topics: Ways in which the Left has a point about Liberal fixation on Russia. The Intercept, Glen Greenwald, and Lefty critiques. Why McCarthyism is a terrible word to use in this case. Is anybody really “running on Russia”? Why Left skepticism of the facts defies logic. But isn’t there a weird problem with this new “liberal patriotism” that valorizes the CIA and FBI?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UL-k-iURuv7xzkq5zW0I9Won16qH9dx3-MjntE3OsjQ/edit?usp=sharing
In this episode, Danny Anderson is joined by Rob Osborn to discuss a recent article in Comment by Rosalyn F.T. Murphy called “The Fellowship of the King: A Social Church for a Lonely World.” Murphy’s article, explores the growing problem of Loneliness, both in society and in the Church as well. Huge numbers of elderly and homeless people suffer from chronic loneliness with terrifying social and physical ramifications. But this problem affects people from all demographics as well. The article also explores the growing moving of “new monasticism” as a reaction against this social problem. Danny and Rob discuss the article and some of the ways in which the Church fails to provide community to people most in need of it. Also, how does our modern economy lead to alienation? Why Genesis 2 is about more than marital relationships. What is Danny’s plan for the Starbucks coming to his town? Plus, lots of listener feedback! All this and much more.
Links: “The Fellowship of the King: A Social Church for a Lonely World” The UK has a “Minister for Loneliness” Hidden Brain Podcast: “Guys, We Have A Problem: How American Masculinity Creates Lonely Men” Recovery Boys on Netflix
What does that even mean? Has Trump-thinking brought us to this? Can the Avengers Initiative be far behind? Find out today!
Today we’re going to be exploring, maybe reminiscing a bit, the long gone days of yore when if you wanted to watch a movie at home that wasn’t on television, you had to drive your lazy butt over to a video store and scope out your options. Blockbuster is of course the big symbol for this era, but there were tons of local places to go as well. Joining the show today is Seth Lancaster, who is a regular listener of the show and who sent me an email at sectarianreview@gmail.com with a link to an article by Kate Hagen called “In Search of the Last Great Video Store.” Some of what we’ll be doing today is romancing that era, but is there a lesson to be learned beyond the commerce of movie consumption? Has the American Church undergone its own for of Netflixization? What can the bygone days of video stores teach us about community, liturgy, and tradition? Links: “In Search of the Last Great Video Store” by Kate Hagan “Stop Trying to Make Church Cool” by Rachel Held Evans Jesus, Bread, and Chocolate by John J. Thompson Immeasurable by Skye Jethani Seth Lancaster’s “Wine and Vinegar” blog The Ritual on Netflix
Since its release last year, DC’s “Justice League” has been heavily maligned, with some critics going so far as to call it the worst superhero movie ever made. This show is meant to dispel that ridiculous claim. Joining Danny for this episode is Coyle Neal of the City of Man Podcast. Coyle suggested the show and Danny took him up on it, watching it twice in two days. Much to his surprise, Danny thought the movie was not only “not bad,” it was actually “quite good.” Why does this tale of Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman, and a resurrected-Superman not connect with critics and audiences as much as Marvel’s Avengers-based universe? Certainly the residual hatred of Batman Vs. Superman had something to do with this consensus, but Danny has a different thesis: “Everyone loves Marvel and everyone hates DC right now.The outsized adulation for Infinity War is even more galling when paired against the snarky dismissal of Justice League. My theory is that people love what Marvel is doing because it is perfectly in sync with our current liberal democratic ideological state. Marvel is, in Gramsci’s terms (or is it Althusser?), an ideological state apparatus, reflecting and perpetuating our shared values of equal rights for individuals and drone strikes for American military hegemony. DC, on the other hand is offering a decidedly pre-modern, even religious ideology. This is what the critics really hate about it.”
Agree? Disagree? Listen to the show for more. And don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes and other podcatchers. Plus, please go to Facebook and like the show there for much more content.
Alan Moore’s Watchmen forever changed the way we view superheroes. Ultimately, the argument of that graphic novel is that the superhero is an inherently fascist figure. Thinking about this got Danny to wondering what on Earth a socialist superhero might even look like. Well, to answer that question, Danny called on Wayne Wise and Chris Maverick from the Vox Popcast. Wayne and Mav both recommended that Danny read Alan Moore’s earlier exploration of this subject, Miracleman. In this podcast, we explore the really complicated publishing history of the most important comic you’ve never read, and then we dive into the book to find out what it is about superheroes that makes socialism a seeming impossibility. Plus, a discussion about postmodernism and Moore’s aesthetic, and the profound religious implications of Miracleman. Plus a major dose of comic book recommendations!
Finally, if you haven’t yet subscribed to the show, please do so and also leave us a positive review. Subscription info is available at www.sectarianreviewpodcast.com
Links: Vox Popcast
Recommendations: Stormwatch/The Authority Superman/Red Son An article on Coates’s Black Panther The October Faction The Ultimates The Vision: Little Worse Than a Man Mockingbird by Chelsea Cain East of West The Wicked + The Divine Giant Days
Fan favorite C. Derick Varn joins the show to discuss his new book of poetry, Apocalyptics, just released by Unlikely Books. Learn about how Varn’s Marxist politics and unique religious background come together in this collection of poems that “reveal.” Varn’s book is a fascinating adaptation of traditional religious themes and in this episode, he tells us about his process and the formal exploration of intersections between politics, history, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism. Links: Unlikely Books page for Apocalyptics Apocalyptics Facebook Page Symptomatic Commentary Zero Books
Description:On May 22, 2018, American Novelist Philip Roth died at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era in American literature, when “serious” fiction and popular celebrity were not entirely distinct, and “important” books had a broad cultural impact. This week, the podcast looks back at the career of one of America’s most important artists. What does Newark, NJ and American Jewishness have to do with Roth’s work? Should he have received that Nobel? What was distinctive about his style and subject matter? What exactly have we lost as a culture, and how might Roth’s approach to fiction help us find it? Michial Farmer of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Matthew Shipe, President of the Philip Roth Society join for this humorous, enlightening discussion about an seminal figure in American letters. Links: Philip Roth Society “Remembering Philip Roth: A Giant of American Literature,” by Adam Kirsch “The Day the Genius Died,” by Megan Garber “The Plot Against America,” by Chris Gehrz “What Roth Didn’t Know about Women Could Fill a Book,” by Dara Horn
One more dive into the philosophical and moral depths of Marvel’s Infinity War. For this episode Kristen Filipic and Kim Anderson join the show to discuss Thanos’s utilitarianism against the ethical and theological backdrop of Pope Francis’s encyclical about consumerism and the environment, “Laudato Si.” Tune in to hear: highlights from the first Infinity War episode, some context about “Laudato Si” and how it relates to consumption and Christian ethics, an exploration of the motif of self-sacrifice in the Avengers: Infinity War, the role of Wakanda in this moral play, the difficult realities of a truly “pro-life” politics, and some thoughts about Distributism. As always, please take the time to respond to what you hear!
Links:
Kristen Filipic’s “Perfect Balance” “Laudato Si” William Cavanaugh on Pope Francis and Economics at Saint Mary’s College Pope John Paul II “Centesimus Annus”
In 1988 John Carpenter, auteur of genre classics like Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, wrote and directed a powerhouse cult classic movie called They Live. Starring professional wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper, the film crossed the sci-fi, horror, action, and lowbrow comedy genres while making a potent political statement about Ronald Reagan’s America and capitalism in the late Twentieth Century. The film follows an unemployed construction worker who discovers sunglasses that reveal the subliminal messages in our advertising and the alien invaders who are manipulating mankind’s fate. Now, thirty years after its release, what does the film have to say about our world?
Links:
Zizek on Ideology and They Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVwKjGbz60k William Cavanaugh on Religious Violence - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2VVLpDyWE William Cavanaugh on Consumerism - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh22rJpL7zMt
Special thanks to the band They Live Exclamation Point: Find them and their stuff at the following links: Live show link: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/They_Live_The_Movie_The_Band/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/They-Live-Exclamation-Point-418270938256359/ Bandcamp: https://tempdomain17.bandcamp.com/
Recently the United States Congress has passed a law that mandates all podcasts to do an episode on Infinity War (Disney’s pernicious influence, no doubt).
So for this episode, good patriot Danny Anderson is joined by Nathan Gilmour and Kristen Filipic to discuss the biggest superhero movie of them all. Why is it that this movie has struck such a powerful chord with moviegoers? What are the theological questions it asks? What does death really mean in this universe? Plus, Pope Francis makes his way into this one!
In 2013, the late Mark Fisher wrote an essay that immediately became a lightning rod in Left politics. “Exiting the Vampire Castle,” took aim at a leftism which Fisher saw as replacing class interests with a moralizing, liberal identity politics. In many ways, the essay predicted the aftermath of Trump’s election and the Clinton/Sanders debates. More importantly, however, it offers us a chance to think about how political discourse is changed by social media. Joining the Sectarian Review Podcast for this episode is C. Derick Varn. In addition to his long history of being involved in leftist political debates, Varn has special insight into this particular essay, as he was one of the editors who originally commissioned it in the first place. Sit back and take a deep dive into a fascinating conversation about political discourse.
Links: “Exiting the Vampire Castle,” by Mark Fisher “Out of a Castle, Into a Pit,” by Derick Varn Russell Brand Versus Jeremy Paxman on the BBC
For this special May 1 edition of the show, Danny Anderson and Nathan Gilmour discuss a new book by Plough Publishing. In celebration of his upcoming canonization, Plough has published a series of homilies by Archbishop Oscar Romero called The Scandal of Redemption. Romero, who was assassinated in 1980 for his outspoken defense of El Salvador’s economically and politically oppressed citizens, was a divisive figure in Catholicism in his life. His political work, inspired in large part by the murder of his friend, Father Rutilio Grande, identified him with Liberation Theology for many Christians, who feared this movement’s association with Communism. The truth about Romero’s beliefs is much more nuanced and complex, however. Through his homilies (delivered as radio addresses to the nation’s poor), the truth about Romero’s political beliefs, and their intricate relationship to Catholic Theology, is revealed. The show wishes to thank Plough Publishing for providing exam copies of this wonderful book.
Also, don’t forget to submit a proposal to the upcoming Mount Aloysius College Conference on Teaching. If you want to learn more about effective teaching methods, this conference is a wonderful opportunity, and Danny Anderson would love to meet you in person! Proposals due by May 18 (see link below).
Links
The Scandal of Redemption, by Oscar Romero Torture and Eucharist, by William T. Cavanaugh The Ministry of Special Cases, by Nathan Englander Mount Aloysius Conference on College Teaching
Description: Happy Earth Day, 2018! For this special episode, Danny is joined by his brilliant wife, Kim Anderson for a conversation with Brett Chamberlin from the Story of Stuff Project. Founded in 2007 with Annie Leonard’s film of the same title, which has received more than 50 million views, the Story of Stuff Project seeks to provide educational and organizational resources for combating the damaging effects that consumerism has caused the planet and the economy. Included in the discussion: the deep problems our consumerist mode of capitalism causes to our planet; how Nestle is able to put untold millions of gallons of water into its plastic bottles; what citizens can do to break these destructive cycles; and what role Christians and other people of faith can play in providing better stewardship of the planet.
Links:
Story of Stuff Project website
Story of Stuff Video
Videos about the Nestle water extraction
Faith-based Program for Christian Teens
Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of Ernest Cline’s divisive 2011 novel is the subject of this episode. Jordan Poss of Piedmont Technical College and Nathan Magee of Mount Aloysius College join Danny for this discussion. Cline’s novel, though initially beloved suffered the scorn of critics in the wake of Gamergate. How has Spielberg’s adaptation addressed those concerns? What is it about the 1980s that fosters such nostalgia right now? What political position does this film take on consumerism and corporations? Exactly what kind of an artist is Spielberg and why is he obsessed with Stanley Kubrick? All this and much much more!
Constance Grady, “The Ready Player One Backlash Explained
Inkoo Kang, “Ready Player One Is a Feat of State-of-the-Art Pop Culture Navel-Gazing”
Yuval Leven The Fractured Republic
Warren Ellis Transmetropolitan
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If you’ve been following political news lately, you probably know that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has redrawn its congressional map after finding the previous version to be illegally gerrymandered. This was hailed as a victory for democracy in most circles, but lost in the celebration was the chaos that the decision brought to this year’s congressional races. Candidates who had been running for the better part of a year in one district were suddenly thrust into completely different districts just weeks before the primaries. Joining Danny to discuss this is Tom Prigg, Democratic candidate for Congress, who has lived this chaos first hand. Learn about Tom’s unorthodox background (neuroscientist, sniper, stuntman, iceberg climber), his motivation for running, and what the re-districting experience has been like for him and his campaign.
Links:
FiveThirtyEight on PA’s new districts
Controversial Politico article about Johnstown
Johnstown’s response to the Politico article
Tom Prigg’s response to the Politico article
Tom Prigg’s Campaign site
Listen to this episode to learn all about Chaim Potok's classic novel The Chosen. The book, which investigates the intricate tensions between religion, faith, and the intellect, follows the story of Danny Saunders and his move away from Ultra-Orthodox Judaism. What does this story have to say about faith and the life of the mind? Is there a way for the intellect to contribute to faith? How might post-Christendom Christianity think about these intersections? All this and much more on the latest Sectarian Review.
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An all-star lineup of geeks from the Christian Humanism Radio Network for this one. David Grubbs of the Christian Humanist Podcast and Charles Hackney of the Book of Nature Podcast both join Danny for a lively discussion about Quatermass and the Pit. The 6-part BBC miniseries aired in 1958/59 and has been an enduring classic in the sci-fi genre ever since. Furthermore, the influence of this series cannot be overstated, clearly inspiring artists like Stephen King and John Carpenter, and works like 2001, The X-Files, and a great deal of the “Ancient Alien” phenomenon. What makes this serial so effective? What are the philosophical and religious implications of its storyline? What are the connections with Dr. Who? What did Hammer Films do with these same tales? Are we all really just “Nazi Space Bugs” as Charles Hackney puts it?
Bonus: don’t forget to check out the upcoming Mount Aloysius College Teaching Conference! Details here: https://www.mtaloy.edu/teachingconference/
Links:
Quatermass and the Pit on YouTube
Euhemerism
The Book of the Damned by Charles Fort
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In this episode of the podcast, Danny is joined by Rob Osborn to discuss an essay called “Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker: A Scandal of Self” by Martyn Wendell Jones, which recently appeared in the Weekly Standard. By using the story of the Bakkers’ rise and fall, Jones introduces us a form of religious devotion called “Religious Enthusiasm.” Learn how the Bakkers’ PTL Club fits into a long tradition of Christianity which emphasizes personal experience over liturgy and theology. What does the Bakker story tell us about televangelism? How does the apocalyptic imagination of Jim Bakker’s new show help us trace a shift in Evangelical culture? Are there other ways in which “Religious Enthusiasm” lives on, unnoticed, today?
Links:
“Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker: A Scandal of Self” by Martyn Wendell Jones
Mount Aloysius College Teaching Conference info
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Description: Marvel Studios' latest film, Black Panther, has been a blockbuster of the highest order. A primarily black film, it has torched the box office and has started a great conversation about race, politics, and representation in cinema. Joining Danny to discuss this film is Chris Maverick, a comics scholar who works with such questions. Hailed as a revolutionary film, just how radical are the film’s politics? Does this film, like other Marvel ventures, simply argue for a more pleasant status quo? How important is the representation of black people in this movie? Danny and Chris discuss all this and much more. How did Iron Man set the tone for the typical Marvel cinematic plot? Has Iron Man’s political stance basically set the political agenda for all the films that follow it? Does Black Panther subvert historical colonial narratives? This is a big, fun-filled episode. Join in on the conversation!
Links:
Washington Post Video about Representation and Black Panther
Invite to the Mount Aloysius Conference on College Teaching
Quasi Duo Fantasias: A Straussian Reading of Black Panther - by Zizek
Kaila Philo: Fear of a Black Universe
Christopher Lebron: Black Panther is not the Movie We Deserve
Adam Serwer: The Tragedy of Erik Killmonger
Chris Maverick’s Blog
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Jumping back into the world of conspiracy theory, this episode of the show finds Danny and Coyle Neal discussing a book called Sacred Scroll of Seven Seals, by the pseudonomous author, Judah (link below). The book has a rock-hard prophetic Christian worldview (very reminiscent of "Rock Music Seminars" and End Times preachers. It constructs an all-encompassing theory of history as a Satanic plot by elites (called "The Order" here) to control and manipulate God's natural creation and order. The book shares much with secular conspiracy theory, but twists common conspiracy tropes into a peculiar religious box. The show explores the patterns of conspiratorial thinking as well as its connection to a prophecy-driven approach to Biblical exegesis. In what ways do prophecy-minded people share a conspiratorial style? Aren't we all susceptible to this type of thinking?
Danny's four qualities of the Conspiratorial Style: 1. Conspiracy as an instrumental reading of current or historical events. 2. Obscuratism in style (an insider's Gnosticism) 3. Research with an "outward trajectory." Rather than seeing a thing as in and of itself, the conspiracist will point outward to broader, global connections. 4. A twisting of logic and fact to suit an a priori conclusion.
Links: Sacred Scroll of Seven Seals
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Michial Farmer, of the Christian Humanist Podcast, joins Danny Anderson for a discussion about U2 and REM, two titans of American music. When considering the “Alternative Music” radio format of the 1990s, what role did these two bands play in shaping an immensely popular style of music? What relationship do these groups have with the punk movement of the 1970s? What archetypes do these bands establish for the Alternative music that would follow in their footsteps? Why does U2 seem like a superhero team, while REM embraces privacy? Is one better than another? All this and much more. And bonus coverage! Stay to the end to hear about Victoria Farmer’s personal encounter with REM!
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In this episode, Danny is joined by Chris Burlingame to discuss the politics behind the adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho. The novel, which follows Wall Street serial killer Patrick Bateman, included Donald Trump as a central figure. Mary Harron's film adaptation, however, completely eliminates his presence. What motivated such a decision? Listen and find out about how the film adapts the novel in order to tackle issues of structural inequality, sexism, and white privilege. What can this film teach us about Trumpism today? Plus, NEW THEME MUSIC! Thanks to the Blind Revelators for providing us with our new theme song. Find their music here: https://theblindrevelators.bandcamp.com/
Special thanks to Andrew Burlingame for providing the cover art for this episode.
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When Marvel Studios pulled the coup that belatedly brought everyone’s favorite web-slinger into its Avengers-heavy universe, fans cheered. Danny, a life-long Spider-man fan was elated and couldn’t wait to talk about the movie for the Sectarian Review Podcast. Nathan Gilmour of the Christian Humanist Podcast rallied to join in for this podcast, which for various logistical reasons is finally being released about 6 months after it was recorded. So our show may not be timely, but have a listen anyway! And as always subscribe to the Sectarian Review Podcast via iTunes or your favorite podcatcher. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
Topics:
Big Reveal! Why is the Christian Humanist Podcast called “the Flagship?”
Leaving the origin story behind. Nod to Ultimate and a recruitment story. Reworking mythologies.
Spoiler Alert!!! Sorry it’s late.
Donald Glover is also Childish Gambino, Anderson.
Salon.com goes behind a paywall (You pay with your soul)
Spider-man as a local rather than a global hero
Damage Control (an Easter egg for Gilmour)
The philosophical ramifications of withholding the “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” origin story.
Aristotle on greatness
Tony Stark as neoliberalism with arms and legs
Michael Keaton. Stunt casting at its finest.
The Vulture gets an origin
Vulture as a parallel to Tony Stark
Tony Stark as techno wizard with no production-line
Vulture in a gritty warehouse as a quasi-revolutionary
DC as myth/Marvel as material
What motivates the Vulture?
The suburbs implicated in the Vulture’s crimes
Solving problems in the city WITHOUT DESTROYING THE CITY
Where does Homecoming rank in Spider-man films?
Links:
Oikos and Idolatry in Spider-Man: Homecoming - Christ and Pop Culture
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This episode explores one of the most divisive movies in the Star Wars franchise. Upon its release, The Last Jedi has been superbly received by critics, yet reviled by certain members of the massive Star Wars fan base. What is behind these polarized opinions? Danny Anderson is joined by Nathan Magee, Director of Theater at Mount Aloysius College, and together these rebels seek answers from across the galaxy. What are the legitimate problems with this new take on the Star Wars formula? How do these reasonable complaints differ from the vitriolic reactions of “fans?” Plus, listener feedback, some astounding predictions for 2018 and our latest host-recommendations! Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and at sectarianreviewpodcast.com
Links:
“The Last Jedi Isn’t For the Fans” by Andrew Kahn
“Sense of the Faithful Says There’s Something Amiss About ‘The Last Jedi’” by Charlie Camosy
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Merry Christmas! And enjoy this funny and insightful critique of some truly Bad Christmas Songs. A super-sized panel (Jay Eldred, Jordan Poss, Carter Stepper, Megan Von Bergen, and Todd Pedlar) join Danny to discuss the following songs (and a few more):
“Wonderful Christmas Time”
“Last Christmas”
“Mary, Did You Know?”
“Christmas Shoes”
“Away in a Manger”
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
Our Criteria for judging bad Christmas songs:
Musical ineptness - bad melodies, production, performance
Hacky Nostalgia - making Christmas about happy memories of a time that never existed. The Thomas Kincade vision of the the good life.
Theology Armageddon - The “Mary did you Know debates”
Crass emotional manipulation - Using the holiday’s aesthetics as a weapon for gaining a cheap pathetic appeal.
Crass joke-making of the season - Grandma Got Run Over…
Perpetuation of Capitalism’s devouring of the sacred holiday - Chipmunk song? Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
Ear-Worminess
Plus, each host submits a recommendation for a GOOD Christmas song!
Links:
“Mary, Did You Know: A Mere Orthodoxy Symposium” Patton Oswalt on “Christmas Shoes” (Explicit)
The Bad Songs:
Wonderful Christmas Time
Mary Did You Know?
Last Christmas
Christmas Shoes
Away in a Manger (by the despicable Pentatonix)
Do They Know It’s Christmas?
The Good Songs:
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Original Version)
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming (English)
Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming (German)
Gaudete
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Please go to iTunes and leave a review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sectarian-review/id1031613670?mt=2
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A discussion about the all-time great Tarkovsky film Andrei Rublev. Learn about how Tarkovsky made a profoundly religious film in the Soviet system. How does this film reflect on the intersection between politics and religion? What special contributions to Christianity has the Orthodox tradition provided? Is Andrei Rublev the quintessential Christian Humanist film? C. Derick Varn returns for this enlightening discussion.
Topics:
Has the Radical Left finished cannibalizing itself?
Protestants and Radicals (not so different).
A plug for Andrei Rublev as a Christian Humanist ideal.
Tarkovsky’s career: a religious filmmaker in the Soviet system.
The structure of Andrei Rublev the film.
A plug for Derek’s forthcoming book of poetry.
A brief history of the formation of the Russian state.
Listener question from Twitter-follower Joe McClure.
The specificities of Orthodox Christianity.
There are several versions of this film and Martin Scorsese is involved.
Tarkovsky’s philosophical ideas: Art exists within imperfection, Experience and knowledge must be gained individually, polished art inhibits personal experience, Learn to love solitude.
Andrei Rublev’s plot
The tradition of the jester in pre-Russia.
Theophanes the Greek and the passing down of religious tradition
The Passion instantiates in Russia
An encounter with pagans
The Orthodox discomfort with wrath and punishment
“Oh my God, he made this under Khrushchev!”
Using the atheist state to perpetuate the Gospel
The Last Judgement
Parallels between Andrei Rublev and Game of Thrones
The Holy Fool enters and becomes Rublev’s conscience
A Monk draws blood
Theophanes challenging theology
In the midst of art, theology through chaos
Salvation through the Holy Fool
Kiril’s broken return to God
Difference between Bergman and Tarkovsky
Bell-making as a transcendent act of faith through art
Making art as a God-given role
The return of the Holy Fool
Cut to color and the actual work of Andrei Rublev
Kierkegaard as philosophical grounding
Redemptive work of art
That balloon scene!
Humans are both divine and fallen
How do you film “faith?”
Derek’s boredom with Leftism
Leftist Communion?
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A show for anyone interested in education. How much should “passion” dictate the path a student takes in their studies? Is Passion really enough? What about work ethic, logic, and pragmatics? Danny Anderson of Mount Aloysius College is joined by Todd Pedlar of Luther College and Nathan Gilmour of Emmanuel College to discuss a concerning trend in student psychology. Is “passion” merely a product of the College Admissions Industrial Complex and its resulting arms-race? Are there better terms we could use? All this and more on the latest Sectarian Review Podcast.
Topics: Genesis of the subject - What is “Passion-Driven Education” A Brief History of “Passion” Jane Austen and the Romantics Is College a natural fit for Passion-Driven Education Class issues, the “Selective College Arms Race,” and Cultural Capital “Being Radical for Jesus” at the CCCU College Passion at a “Jock School” Perverting our passions Curiosity trumps Passion The roots of the college major Twitter Questions The pursuit of passion as a quest for “Authenticity” When gifting and passion don’t match Vocation as service to others, passion as quest for self Why we read Plato, a soliloquy by Nathan Gilmour The Bruderhof as a form of living in community Is Reason pragmatic and instrumental or the grounds for a vision of the transcendent? Service as antidote to Passion A shout-out to one of Anderson’s students! Physics as part of the human experience The Luther College Mission Statement How institutions push against our ideals Twitter Questions Part II Am I weird if I have no passion? Calling as a marathon, not a sprint The difference between Passion and Vocation: called, or nuts? Doing a podcast for free (but if you want to give me money…) Martin Luther on marriage Gilmour gets BLEEPED! Teaching Malamud and Kafka “It’s all in Plato, it’s all in Plato” Having a multitude of callings
Quote from Werner Heisenberg that Todd left out of the show but wanted to share, "[w]hat we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning"...
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Recorded live at the 2017 Mount Aloysius Charity Comic Con, Danny is joined by Wayne Wise for a discussion about the history, ethics, and thrills of children in horror. Focusing on the recent remake of Stephen King’s It and Stranger Things, the conversation covers the many ways that children have inspired and consumed horror films. How do children defy rationality? What does Capitalism have to do with this? Why the current rabid nostalgia for the 1980s? All this and much more.
Introducing Wayne Wise History of children in horror Children possessing special knowledge that adults don’t have Mythology, fairy tales, and horror Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew, too The horrors of the 1970’s The 1980’s as an adventure-filled wonderland It and the search for community The problem of depicting violence against children Stranger Things unexpected success Conspiracy Theory’s hold over our imaginations 1980s nostalgia The sanitization of contemporary children’s entertainment Wayne’s book, King of Summer The enduring allure of King Arthur Danny’s theory of the “pre-modern” The moral function of violence
Questions from the audience: Satanic Panic? Reagan? Adam Walsh and America’s Most Wanted? Stand By Me? Taboo and subliminal fear of women?
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It’s that magical time of the year! Time for the annual Christian Humanist Radio Network Halloween Crossover. The Sectarian Review Podcast’s contribution features Katie Grubbs and Michial Farmer who join Danny to talk about the Universal classic The Wolf Man. Take a deep dive into the film’s story, background, and subtexts. Freud, Feminism, Class Struggle and more. Also, the team tackle questions about the film from listeners via Twitter. Plus, Danny makes an impassioned defense of the 2010 remake of the film.
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James Isenhower of the Everything is OK podcast joins Danny for a discussion about Christian culture’s reliance upon celebrity. What’s valuable and what’s pernicious about this practice? A quasi-sequel to our previous “Celebrity Liberalism” episode, we leave no stone (a few at the most) unturned in our exploration of Celebrity Culture’s invasion of the Christian imagination. Topics: All about the Everything is OK podcast Podcasting as “fluffing your own ego” Potential problems with celebritism in xtianity The poisonous effects of the American Dream and the elevation of the self What kind of celebrities are we talking about? Sports and Christianity (God wants Auburn to win) Christian Persecution Complex Zach Hoag on Celebrity Christianity Duck Dynasty Celebritism in Lefty Christianity as well Pastor as celebrity Rob Bell HGTV’s Joanna Gaines and Celebrity as sign of God’s blessing “Celebrity as an excuse to sanctify things that shouldn’t be sanctified” Celebrity as ambassador to systemic injustice “You want a country founded on Christianity” Q: Are we not celebrities? A: We are podcasters! Tony Hale as a better version of Christian celebrity Celebrities in their cars making cell phone videos Danny staying in the institutional church Sharing Pharoah Dave Ramses stories (H/T Nathan Gilmour) James destroys argument x on social media
When Celebrity Christianity Backfires http://ift.tt/2u5yfOj
Calling Out Celebrity Christianity and Counterfeit Justice http://ift.tt/2ulDmFr
Tony Hale talks about being a Christian in Hollywood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdJJg3dO03w
The Gathering Testimony: Joanna Gaines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7iPEDnqwm0
Celebrity isn’t just harmless fun – it’s the smiling face of the corporate machine | George Monbiot http://ift.tt/2hEWY4R
everything is ok http://ift.tt/2u7tZOD
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Before you make up your mind about “Free College,” have a listen to this episode. Danny Anderson is joined by Matthew Filipic, former VP of Business and Fiscal Affairs at Wright State University, for a detailed exploration of the context and history of an idea that Bernie Sanders’ campaign has recently thrust into the political spotlight.
Topics:
Richard Shatten and Ohio’s problems with educational attainment The historical importance of college in America: “The Rising Tide” Income gains lessen in the 1970s State withdraw of support for public higher education University of California system and City College of New York as prior examples of state support Higher education, “The Baumol Disease,” and the necessity of inefficiency The burden of Medicaid upon individual states Resistance to tax increases by the public Danny’s modest proposal: Single Payer Healthcare as solution to free college Current Free College proposals New York Proposal The problems for private colleges Oregon, Tennessee, and Rhode Island versions of “free college” Targeting money to populations that need it The Sanders plan versus the Clinton plan Avoiding “perverse incentives” in national funding of “free college” Free college and student motivation What we’ve lost as a society in neglecting higher education
Links:
Richard Shatten Bio http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20100524/FREE/305249995/richard-shatten
The Baumol Disease https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baumol%27s_cost_disease
New York's tuition-free college program sparks debates and defenses http://ift.tt/2psEJkG
New York Republicans have an alternative to Governor Cuomo's free tuition plan http://ift.tt/2lS9ErH
Most of Oregon's free-tuition dollars aren't going to poor students http://ift.tt/2mXikL4
The drawbacks to New York State's free college plan (essay) | Inside Higher Ed http://ift.tt/2qmyUYM
HOPE changes may mean fewer women, minorities at UGA http://ift.tt/2xfTQ82
HOPE Scholarship: The cons - Atlanta Magazine http://ift.tt/2xaIKAv
Free-Tuition Program Transforms a University http://ift.tt/2wNplDs
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For the annual Sectarian Review “Banned Books Week” show, Danny is joined by Jay Eldred and Megan Von Bergen to discuss the Christian Impulse to boycott or ban. What drives people of faith to avoid businesses and works of art in adherence to the faith? Are there occasions when this impulse is appropriate? As always the Sectarian Review gang try to take a nuanced approach to such questions.
Topics
Teaching controversial material at Faith-Based institutions Banning art versus boycotting companies Trigger warnings and teaching Alan Moore Moral Superiority and the motivation for avoiding art Translating Calvin and Ovid at the same time Pitching our Scandal of the Evangelical Mind episode Evangelical separatism and Bob Jones Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ The Lion King The Lego Movie Aladdin The gay Beauty and the Beast Procter and Gamble (thanks Brett Chase!) Faith-Driven Consumers! The trade-off between Christianity and capitalism The poor, oppressed Christian’s best defense? Discretionary income Avoidance of the uncomfortable The wisdom of Milton Danny sees your Milton and raises you a Matthew Arnold What things are worth avoiding? Why should Christians wrestle with Taxi Driver? Josh “bringin’ the” Feuerstein rails against Starbucks Paul and meat sacrificed to idols Is there an institutional solution to this problem? The role of unorganized fundamentalism. Alex Jones! Artistic Standards, doctrine, and Wonder Woman Chris Gehrz’s The Pietist Option Rod Dreher and idolization of the family Cleaning the outside of a dirty cup
Links:
The Faith-Friendly Companies Christians Can ‘Buycott’ This Christmas | The Daily Signal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_hUF76FQ-s
Some Dude Josh Feuerstein Goes Full Bonkers on CNN over Starbucks Cups https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti629wLy4vU
Christians Need to Stop Boycotting Stuff http://ift.tt/2fgY1J7
Conservatives Urge Boycott of Procter and Gamble http://ift.tt/2uuKb7T
Procter and Gamble Awarded $19.25 Million in Satanism Lawsuit http://ift.tt/2oSCCc2
History of Comics Censorship, Part 1 | Comic Book Legal Defense Fund http://ift.tt/ZWrSJe
Beauty and the Beast and Boycotts | Think Christian http://ift.tt/2v9ck6m
'Last Temptation' Views Still Coming In : Boycott of 'E.T.' Among Religious Reactions http://ift.tt/2fi1CXl
The Lego Movie: One of the most anti-Christian movies ever http://ift.tt/2wieeSg
Matthew Arnold’s Culture and Anarchy https://librivox.org/culture-and-anarchy-by-matthew-arnold/
Areopagitica https://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/areopagitica/text.html
Alex Jones as Bon Iver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEoCg4737LU
The Pietist Option, by Chris Gehrz and Mark Pattie III https://www.ivpress.com/the-pietist-option
In the same vein of “least Christian” movie, but on the flip side, there’s this: (H/T Christian Feminist podcast, which posted this to their FB page): http://www.marilettesanchez.com/marilettesays//wonder-woman-might-be-the-most-accurate-on-screen-depiction-of-biblical-womanhood-and-heres-why
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Authentication Code: 0123456 Join Danny and the Christian Humanist Podcast's Nathan Gilmour for a fun, angry rhetorical analysis of the internet's newest laughingstock, Verrit.com. Learn about Hillary Clinton sycophant Peter Daou, nephew of Fear of Flying author Erica Jong, and his Freshman Comp capacity for essay-writing. What's a "Daouist?" What do Kenneth Burke, Aristotle, and basic logical argumentation have to say about Verrit? Why can't Liberal rhetoric succeed outside the "serious middle?" Will Danny finally be able to enter polite society after purging his rage over the stupidity of Verrit? All this and more!
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Danny is joined by Coyle Neal (of the City of Man Podcast) and C. Derick Varn (of every other podcast in the world) for a discussion about Mark Noll’s seminal book Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. Rather than just discussing the book on its own terms though, the trio apply its analysis and conclusions to American Liberalism as well. The result is a sprawling, detail-rich episode, filled with plenty to consider as we think about the state of the American intellect in the Twenty-First Century.
Topics: Derick in Mormon-landia CHRN back online The listener contest concludes! The Scandal, sacred and secular Atheism tasting Protestanty Jonathan Edwards as godfather Proto-populism The Scottish Enlightenment Cultural Panic and the Nashville Statement Activism, Biblicism, Intuition, Populism Dispensationalism Broad Brush! Evangelical College vs. Evangelical University Patterns of Thought versus Participation in American Culture Separation of church and state and “Religious Deregulation” Rhetorical Revivalism Missionaries Political power over religion The Joel Osteenification of Christianity Applying Noll’s argument to the American Left and Right Manichaeism in Evangelicals and Liberals Ken Ham and “Thinking Correctly” through Intuition ugh Religion’s importance for politics Evangelicals and the Alt-Right The Evangelical withdraw into their own media spaces Urbanization and the Republic Art rejecting didacticism Can Democracy work? City of Man on Marxism Do Marxists accept original sin? The problems of Enlightenment
Links: Scandal of the Evangelical Mind https://www.amazon.com/Scandal-Evangelical-Mind-Mark-Noll/dp/0802841805
Nathan Hatch, The Democratization of American Christianity https://www.amazon.com/Democratization-American-Christianity-Nathan-Hatch/dp/0300050607
Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/weber/protestant-ethic/
Steve Bruce, God is Dead: Secularization in the West https://www.amazon.com/God-Dead-Secularization-Steve-Bruce/dp/0631232753
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Danny once again welcomes Coyle Neal from the City of Man Podcast to discuss that wiggly, squishy, zany concept of “Authenticity.” Learn about Jonathan Edwards and his concept of authenticity and the use and abuse of external standards. Was Emerson “the great villain?” Can you be “spiritual but not religious?” What does Sheryl Sandberg actually believe? Have postmodernists rediscovered truth in the Age of Trump? Lionel Trilling, Sincerity and Authenticity. Authenticity as performance. Is the House Church movement suffering from Authenticity overload? Coyle authentically begs listeners to write their prayers down. Authenticity that undermines art. Danny mangles Walter Benjamin. Stephen King’s writing advice and art. Danny can’t distinguish Foucault from Barthes. Donald Trump as the perfect embodiment of Authenticity. Obama versus Hillary: writer throw-down. What is the moral cost of insincerity? The fakeness of talk radio and the American media. All this and much more!
Links: Obama Bests Clinton At Craft of Writing - The New York Sun http://ift.tt/2uRmRmm
America’s First Postmodern President http://ift.tt/2uBFAly
This fake TED Talk about nothing might be the best you've ever seen http://ift.tt/25S3UiZ
Sheryl Sandberg: The Importance of Authentic Communication - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nRENaRCvLI
Jonathan Edwards: Religious Affections https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Affections
David Wells: The Courage to be Protestant https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Protestant-Truth-lovers-Marketers-Postmodern/dp/0802840078
Neil Cole’s ChurchPlanting http://www.churchplanting.com/neil-cole/#.WZ2ysiiGNPY
Daniel Franklin: Politics and Film https://www.amazon.com/Politics-Film-Political-Culture-United/dp/0742538095
Francis Schaeffer: The God Who is There https://www.amazon.com/God-Who-There-Francis-Schaeffer/dp/0830819479
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In another episode in the "Helpers" series, Danny is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Mansley, Criminology professor at Mount Aloysius College. Dr. Mansley discusses her work in local prisons, including hosting book clubs, and "Inside/Out" classes. Learn about some of the problems with the American penal system, and how bringing a touch of humanity addresses some of those problems. What can the humanities offer someone who is incarcerated? How does having college classes inside prison change the perspectives and lives of traditional undergraduates? How can someone get involved with serving the prisoners in their own area? All this and much more.
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Danny is joined by Rob Osborn and Kim Anderson for a discussion about the philosophy of Minimalism, a lifestyle of reducing one's possessions and overall footprint. Focusing on the 2015 documentary Minimalism, the trio discuss consumerism, a healthy materialism, spirituality, and class privilege. And bonus (!) listen to the first two submissions to the Sectarian Review fake ad contest. Get your submissions in by August 15!
Links:
The Art of Letting Go | The Minimalists | TEDxFargo How might your life be better with less? Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known to their 4 million readers as "The Minimalists," are the executive…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7rewjFNiys
Marie Kondo and the Ruthless War on Stuff J oy points upward, according to Marie Kondo, whose name is now a verb and whose nickname is being trademarked and whose life has become a philosophy. In April…
http://ift.tt/29oF8iZ
"Minimalism, Spirituality, and Why it Matters" by Joshua Becker Journey Church Meets Sundays @ 9 and 10:30 AM Liberty Auditorium http://ift.tt/zYaYLP video production by Jeff Cools Productions http://ift.tt/1usB3iZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2qIRr51zBo
Investopedia Video: Veblen Good Named after economist Thorstein Veblen, who introduced the term "conspicuous consumption," a Veblen good is one whose demand increases as its price increases…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56TIQ1rcHek
bush: go out and shop Find out why AnarchyEnsues Loading... Unsubscribe from AnarchyEnsues? Working... 14 Loading... Loading... Working... Want to watch this again later? Sign in to…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxk9PW83VCY
Story of Stuff (2007, OFFICIAL Version) From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM
The Century of the Self (Full Documentary) FAIR USE NOTICE These Videos May Contain Copyrighted (© ) Material. The Use of Which Has Not Always Been Specifically Authorized by The Copyright Owner.…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ3RzGoQC4s
How Much Cotton Does it Take to Make a Shirt? Cotton has been around for thousands of years, but it's drawing new interest these days with talk of sustainable clothing. That soft and comfy T-shirt you…
http://ift.tt/2vK1eod
Study: Child Laborers In Bangladesh Are Working 64 Hours A Week Babu, 8, works at a brick factory in Narayanganj, Bangladesh. KM Asad/LightRocket via Getty Images In Bangladesh, a new report finds, impoverished children are…
http://ift.tt/2gc0l3O
10% Happier
http://www.10percenthappier.com/mindfulness-meditation-the-basics/
McMansion Hell
http://mcmansionhell.com/
Project 333
https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/
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Danny Anderson is joined by Rob Osborn to respond to listener comments and questions. Topics covered include, Christian Dominionism, Faith-Based movies and music, authenticity, Jessica Jones, and much more.
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Of what use is the "Evangelical" label in the age of Donald Trump? Does it still maintain a theological meaning or has it devolved into, as Danny says, "Theocratic Libertarianism?" Coyle Neal, from the City of Man podcast joins Danny for a historical, philosophical, and political discussion about contemporary Evangelicalism. Is there still room for the "1910 Evangelical?" Also, listen for a major announcement at the beginning of the show!
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Danny Anderson, Jordan Poss, and Jay Eldred discuss the complicated, sometimes appalling legacy of Jack Chick and his "Chick Tracts." What theological tradition do these comic books participate in? Where do they go off the rails? Is there anything laudable about Jack Chick's bleak theology? Hang around for about the 1 hour 45 minute point to hear Danny's impromptu Alex Jones imitation!
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In this episode of the Sectarian Review Podcast, Danny Anderson is joined by Peter Mommsen and Veery Huleatt for a discussion about the Bruderhof, an Anabaptist tradition with communities throughout the world. Learn about how this faith community lives out its ideals and rejects many of the spiritual trappings of Modernity. Work without hierarchy, common ownership, and communal worship. Also, how does this expression of the Christian faith compare with Rod Dreher's Benedict Option? A fascinating look into a fascinating faith.
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Join Danny and C. Derrick Varn for an in-depth discussion of the the 1967 Soviet horror film, Viy (based on the Gogol short story). Danny and Derek talk about the cultural significance of Cossacks in Russian history, the Soviet film industry, Ideology, and Eastern Christianity. The film is freely available on YouTube if you want to watch beforehand, but this episode will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Soviet movies where witches terrorize seminary students who don't believe in God.
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Four perspectives about a film about four perspectives. Pretty meta, eh? In this episode, Danny welcomes Todd Pedlar, Carter Stepper, and Michial Farmer for a discussion about Akira Kurosawa's groundbreaking 1950 film, Rashomon. Why is this film so revered in the history of cinema? How does Kurosawa's technical mastery contribute to the existential philosophical questions Rashomon poses? How does this film's famous exploration of subjectivity speak to our current "Post-Truth" moment? All this and a new intro!
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In this episode, the Sectarians talk about Dante's Inferno, but not in a conventional way. Imagine reading a poem about Hell while engaged in war. Joining the show for this episode is Neil Gussman, who led a reading group of American soldiers who were fighting in Iraq. What is it like reading Inferno in 130 degree heat? What does Dante have to say about war? How does the experience of reading the great work of Western Canon change when it is ripped from institutional education and placed in the battlefield? Also, contest announcement!
A frank and critical discussion about the Wall Street public art statue Fearless Girl, which stands heroically opposed to the spectacular testacular Wall Street Bull. Danny is joined by Megan Von Bergen and the Christian Feminist Podcast's Victoria Farmer. The trio talk about the history of corporate feminism and contemporary liberalism's problems with giving itself over to the very institutions it attempts to oppose.
A special episode recorded at the 2017 Pennsylvania College English Association Conference. Danny Anderson, Christopher Burlingame, and Jessica Jost-Costanzo each deliver a short academic paper about trigger warnings, safe spaces, and teaching violent graphic novels. What are the powers and limits of teaching violent graphic literature?
For this episode, the Sectarians strap on their tool belts to talk about Matthew Crawford's book Shop Class as Soulcraft. What is wrong with work today and how can we re-establish a connection to the materials of our world? Why don't we value the trades and what problems have arisen from this ethical decision? Most of all, how can we take back the ownership of our labor? All this and more.
Danny is joined by Micah Redding, host of the Christian Transhumanist Podcast for a discussion about technology, artificial intelligence, and the coming "singularity." Inspired by a recent article by Jonathan Merritt called "Is AI a Threat to Christianity," the conversation probes into the material and spiritual implications of mankind's technological advancement. Particularly enjoy Danny's probing question, "will my vacuum cleaner need salvation?"
Crossover time! Danny welcomes Josh Mozug and Calvin Holloway, hosts of the Let god Die podcast. Introduced by mutual friend of the shows Chris Bernstorf, Danny, Josh, and Calvin discuss podcasting as kind of ministry. What prejudices and pre-conceived ideas limit our relationship with God? How do other peoples' stories impact our faith? What are the limitations and dangers of storytelling? How does podcasting serve others? These questions and more!
At the end of last year, Elizabethtown College hosted a travelling copy of Shakespeare's First Folio. Danny happens to be college buddies with the librarian who directed that project and is excited to welcome Josh Cohen to talk about it. What is the origin of this text? How did 82 copies come into the hands of Mr. Folger and end up in the Folger Library? How does capitalism and culture intersect in such cultural objects? Can Danny set aside his class envy long enough to appreciate the legacies of Robber Barons? Listen for this and a lot more.
Danny is joined by first-time contributor C. Derick Varn for a frank discussion about liberalism's reliance upon celebrity spokespeople. What are the roots of this form of politics, and what are the consequences?
Danny and Jay sit down with the prominent historian John Fea for a discussion about History, Ethics, Trump, Evangelicals, and Bruce Springsteen. Listen to one of Christianity's most prominent scholars share his thoughts on our troubled moment.
Danny Anderson sits down with some Mount Aloysius Students from Saudi Arabia to discuss their charitable work in Western Pennsylvania.
Danny Anderson talks with Jordan Poss and Nathan Gilmour about the origins, academic life, and current prominence of political correctness.
Danny Anderson and crew talk about a Christian vision of economics called Lazarus at the Gate.
Danny Anderson and Megan Von Bergen dig into science fiction's relationships with theologies of creation.
In this special episode, timed to celebrate Banned Books Week 2016, Danny and Jay discuss the importance of books and culture. Why are books so precious, and why should we be vigilant about keeping them with us? What are the motivations of those who would ban and burn books? These questions and a lot more, including recommendations to help the listener celebrate this important yearly event.
In an episode from beyond the universe, Danny is joined by Carter Stepper for a stellar discussion about science fiction and its role in social critique. Our intrepid explorers discuss the genre’s history of social criticism, and aim their blasters at the work of such mind-bending authors as H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, and Philip K. Dick. In addition, find out what Dune has to say about messianic authoritarianism and learn about what we can learn about our own current flirtations with authoritarian politics. Plus, Uhura! And stay to the end for some recommendations from across the galaxy!
In this, the second of two episodes about cultural monuments, Danny Anderson is joined by Jay Eldred and Jordan Poss. The three discuss the indeterminacy of symbols in collective memory. From the Confederate Flag to the erasure of dissent in Stalin’s Soviet Union, we explore the controversies inherent in our cultural monuments.
In this, the first of two episodes about cultural monuments, Danny Anderson is joined by Jay Eldred and Jordan Poss. The three discuss the indeterminacy of symbols in collective memory. From the Confederate Flag to the erasure of dissent in Stalin’s Soviet Union, we explore the controversies inherent in our cultural monuments.
At the 2016 Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, NC, Danny Anderson had the opportunity to sit down with the Rev. Julian DeShazier, who is also a hip hop artist performing under the name J. Kwest. In addition to discussing J. Kwest's latest album, Lemonade, the discussion built on the Sectarian Review Wild Goose theme of Hipness, applying it to a specific performer and the philosophy and ethics driving his art. J. Kwest discusses the ethics and theology of occupying the margins in his art and his ministry. In addition, this interview was recorded the day after the shooting of another African-American man by a police officer. In the shadow of that tragedy, Danny and Rev. DeShazier discuss race, the possibilities and problems with progressive Christian politics, and art. Download or stream for an powerful conversation with a Christian artist working our God's will in the margins.
Wild Goose 2016 has come and gone. Danny Anderson and the Sectarian Review had a great (if not always comfortable) experience. For this special episode, Danny is joined by the Christian Feminist Podcast's Carla Ewert and also by Michael Kimpan of the OPEN Initiative. The subject is hipness and hipsterism; not as a form of cultural elitism, but rather as an ethical decision to stand at the margins of society and its institutions. Is there something about the edges that offers us a chance to critically engage culture, not escape it? The OPEN initiative offers a fascinating example of what this vision of hipsterism may look like in practice. Join us for a great discussion and stay tuned at the end for a surprise question from our studio audience! Yes a real live studio audience!
The Christian Humanist Podcast's Nathan Gilmour joins Danny Anderson for discussion about the Theological and Philosophical underpinnings of Marvel's Netflix series' Daredevil and Jessica Jones.
Join Danny as he welcomes Jay Eldred back to the show for Part 2 of our mountaineering expedition. Here we pick up where episode 1 left off.
Defined broadly, Dominionism is the ideology that Christians need to infiltrate and control the 7 "Mountains" of secular social institutions: Family, Religion, Education, Media, Entertainment, Business, and Government.
[Joe Carter, writing at First Things], has suggested that the very concept of a Christian Plot against America (I love Philip Roth) is conspiratorial nonsense. To the degree that there is an organized, concerted effort to enact a specific agenda, I agree with Carter. What his claim misses, however, is the fact that these Dominionist ideas are at their most dangerous not when they are attached to an organization, but when they manifest as un-examined theological beliefs within Christian popular culture. This episode explores that aspect of Dominionism.
Join Danny as he welcomes Jay Eldred back to the show. Jay first brought up the subject of Christian Dominionism in our previous episode about David Barton. That topic seemed to warrant its own show, so here we are.
Defined broadly, Dominionism is the ideology that Christians need to infiltrate and control the 7 "Mountains" of secular social institutions: Family, Religion, Education, Media, Entertainment, Business, and Government.
[Joe Carter, writing at First Things], has suggested that the very concept of a Christian Plot against America (I love Philip Roth) is conspiratorial nonsense. To the degree that there is an organized, concerted effort to enact a specific agenda, I agree with Carter. What his claim misses, however, is the fact that these Dominionist ideas are at their most dangerous not when they are attached to an organization, but when they manifest as un-examined theological beliefs within Christian popular culture. This episode explores that aspect of Dominionism.
Join Danny Anderson and Jordan Poss as they break out their tin foil hats for part 2 of their exploration of conspiracy theories and conspiratorial thinking. Topics include anti-semitism, aliens, Sandy Hook, Crisis Actors and other aspects of the paranoid style. Also, the Sectarians discuss the importance of viewing conspiracy theorists generously. Download and join in on the fun! And keep this under your hat, but this episode contains a cameo by the Christian Humanist Podcast's own Nathan Gilmour!
Also in this show, Danny has an important announcement about the 2016 Wild Goose Festival, which the show has been invited to participate in. Tune in for details.
Join in for the first of a two-part episode that is both depressing and fun. Danny Anderson is joined once again by Jordan Poss for a discussion about conspiracy theories. Jordan’s expertise in history provides an illuminating (not illuminati) framework and taxonomy for a great discussion about conspiracies past and present. From Nero to 9/11 Trutherism, conspiracy theorists have always been with us. What can we ignorant sheeple learn from our enlightened brethren as we seek to understand the paranoid style of the conspiratorial mind?
Danny Anderson is joined by In this episode Danny Anderson speaks with Jay Eldred about the evangelical historian, David Barton, once named by Time as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. Danny and Jay talk about Christian Nationalism, Seven Mountain Dominionism, and the ethics of historical scholarship. Why does a significant segment of American Christians believe the United States has divine origins? What is at stake in this ideology?
Special thanks to Crazy and the Brains for allowing us to use their song "It's Alright" as our new opening. Check them out at crazyandthebrains.com.
Links:
Chris Gertz: "What it is Christian Historians Do" https://pietistschoolman.com/2016/04/11/back-to-basics-what-it-is-christian-historians-do/
John Fea: The Way of Improvement blog https://thewayofimprovement.com/
Terry Pratchett: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchett
Danny Anderson is joined by the Christian Humanist Podcast's Michial Farmer and are joined by special guest....Mike Farmer, Michial's dad! Join in for a nostalgic discussion about a true American master, the late, great Merle Haggard.What exactly made this former criminal and hobo a musical genius? Listen for some answers.
Join Danny Anderson, Ed Simon, and new contributor Jordan Poss as they fret over the disturbing rise of Donald Trump. What does the rise of Angry White Populism mean for a post-Trump America? Are there historical precedents for this moment? What might a political realignment look like in America's winner-take-all electoral system? Two English and Cultural Criticism types are joined by a historian to hash it all out. Please enjoy, and don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes.
Join Danny Anderson for the first episode of "Sectarian Seconds," a new series of occasional mini-episodes for Sectarian Review listeners. Listen as Danny interviews and profiles Chris Bernstorf, a spoken-word poet touring in the underground Christian hardcore scene. In addition to a sampling of Bernstorf's work, Danny and Chris discuss the roots of the Christian underground music scene, the role of the Holy Spirit in an anti-commercial endeavor, and the meaning of community.
Danny Anderson, Nathan Gilmour, and the Book of Nature's Todd Pedlar dig into the strange world of "praise movies," films made to save souls, and the range of possibilities as Christians think about the film industry, the evangelical subculture industry, and all the places that Kirk Cameron stands with one foot in each world.
Join Danny Anderson, Drew Van'tland, and the Book of Nature's Todd Pedlar for a discussion about the American (and the Christian) obsession with football. Is it idolatry? A socialist conspiracy? Danny, Drew, and Todd talk about these issues and more in an episode meant to pour some cold water on your Superbowl watch-party.
Danny, Ed, and Drew discuss the antiheroic antics of butt-kicking bad girls and bad boys, weighing the aesthetic and ethical merits of vicious realism in television's Second Golden Age.
Victoria Reynolds Farmer, along with other CHRN hosts and listeners, talks turkey and explores one holiday in which food is what human beings do well.
In this Godzilla-sized episode, Danny Anderson and Drew Van'tland are joined by Ed Simon to talk about the intersections between horror, religion, and ethics. This month's Sectarians talk horror films, Nietzsche, H.P. Lovecraft, Flies, Babadooks, and, James Robertson's The Testament of Gideon Mack. Also, Danny interviews Dr. Jamie McDaniel of Pittsburg State University about horror, liminality, and Disability Studies. Also listen for a couple of aural surprises!
In the latest episode of Sectarian Review, Danny Anderson chats with Mark Trump and Thom Dawkins about "Voice in the Age of Mansplaining." This month's Sectarians talk a little politics, a little poetry, a little theology, and a little punk music. Also in this episode is an interview Danny conducted with Kierstin Muroski, Director of Mount Aloysius College's American Sign Language Interpreting program, in which we learn about how an abstract concept like voice manifests in the deaf community and deaf culture. Check out the Sectarian Review's Facebook page for links, and email us at sectarianreview@gmail.com
Danny, Allison, and Drew delve into the notion of vocation, its strange professionalization in the contemporary college, and some alternatives for interesting thought.