Christian Piatt's Blog, page 69

Driscoll, Piper, Calvin and God’s Gift of…Racism?

I’ve had a number of interesting discussions with various people lately about the notions of hell, salvation and who goes where. It’s a rhetorical exercise for the most part, since no one really knows. But there are plenty of real-life implications, particularly in the sphere of religion. For some, the understanding of what happens to us [...]

AJ Jacobs and Internet Trolls: Homebrewed CultureCast #12

In what may be their biggest get thus far, the CultureCast welcomes author, NPR contributor, and Esquire editor-at-large A.J. Jacobs to the show. On topic: A.J.’s newest book, “Drop Dead Healthy,” in which he chronicles the vastly different ways humans can bring their bodies to peak health, and how it feels to be the father of a cottage [...]

Is Democracy Dividing Us?

I’ve watched with some fascination as the projected electoral map takes shape, with great swaths of red across the heart of the nation, with blue surrounding on the left and right perimeters. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, we’re a polarized nation, at least according to the maps the media present. Day [...]

Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol. (x = 40-3)

If’n you cant figger out the title of this here post, you done skipped algebra… Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol. 36 Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol. XXXV Church Sign Epic Fails, Birthday Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Reader Submissions (Part 2) Church Sign Epic Fails: Reader Submission Special Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Miraculous Mashup [...]

Five New Christian Cliches to Avoid

I was pretty amazed by the popularity of the first lists of Christian clichés I created (linked at the bottom of this article). I think it was because so many Christians saw themselves somewhere in the list and others (maybe even some Christians!) have been on the receiving end of these clichés and resonated with [...]

Daddy’s Top Ten Childbirth Freak-Outs (pt. 2 of 2)

Yesterday I posted part one of this story. Click here to read that first if you haven’t already. These posts came from my first memoir/humor book published called “PregMANcy: A Dad, A Little Dude and a Due Date,” published by Chalice Press. The book follows my wife second pregnancy with our daughter, Zoe (now 3 years old) [...]

Getting to Know the Core of Johnny Appleseed

  I, like most kids in the United States, learned about Johnny Appleseed in ways that made him seem more like the Tooth Fairy or Batman than an actual historical figure. There’s at least as much myth about the man, born John Chapman, than there is recorded historical fact. But his impact on the emerging [...]

Daddy’s Top-Ten Childbirth Freak-Outs (Pt. 1 of 2)

Earlier in 2012, I had my first memoir/humor book published called “PregMANcy: A Dad, A Little Dude and a Due Date,” published by Chalice Press. The book follows my wife second pregnancy with our daughter, Zoe (now 3 years old) from conception (more or less) to birth. Suffice it to say I was less than [...]

Rev. Phil Snider, LGBT Rights and Going Viral (CultureCast)

Over the weekend, our friend Phil Snider had the unexpected pleasure of going viral. Not him personally, really, but a video he appeared in this past August snatched more than 2.5 million views after Gawker picked it up. Phil is a Disciples of Christ pastor in Springfield, MO, and he was speaking on behalf of LGBT rights [...]

Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol. 36

I have nothing clever to say this week, so…Ta daaaaaa! Church Sign Epic Fails, Vol. XXXV Church Sign Epic Fails, Birthday Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Reader Submissions (Part 2) Church Sign Epic Fails: Reader Submission Special Edition Church Sign Epic Fails, Miraculous Mashup (Vol. 31) Church Sign Epic Fails: Holy Kitsch Edition Church Sign [...]