Another week, another round of great reading served up for you, dear readers. I’m writing this in the midst of getting 4-6 inches of snow (it’s already at 3, and not showing signs of slowing…), so I can’t help but feel a little bit like throwing in a Christmas movie today and sipping some cocoa. Oh well! It also made me think of the movie “Frozen.” The topics this week are Disney’s “Frozen,” the conversion story of a French atheist, “Street Epistemology,” the sign of Jonah and world religions, something we can learn from atheists in the “Bible Belt,” and evangelicalism and liturgy.
Disney’s “Frozen” might be the most Christian movie lately– I found this article on the movie “Frozen” to be quite insightful and interesting. I highly recommend the movie as well as this article.
How God turns a French atheist into a Christian theologian– I found this conversion story simply fascinating for how God works in people’s lives. The insights from this theologian are profound, and they speak volumes for the importance of a reasoned faith.
A Look at the New “Street Epistemology” Movement– Eric Chabot analyzes the “Street Epistemology” movement forged by Peter Boghossian for creating atheists. Chabot’s approach is fairly unique in that he explores the movement through means of certitude and doubt–a primary weapon for Boghossian.
Bible Belt Bubble Burst? Wisdom from an atheist friend– The importance of a reasoned faith is shared eloquently here through reflection on a conversation with an atheist friend in the “Bible Belt” of the United States. Highly relevant.
The Sign of Jonah– Winfried Corduan is a major scholar of world religions. In this blog post, he offers up a video of how world religions are impacting the United States alongside a commentary on the “Sign of Jonah” which Jesus says will be given to his contemporaries.
Evangelical conservatives vs. Liturgical conservatives– Is it true that one can be either evangelical or liturgical? Is there such a thing as a perfect blend and harmony of evangelical conservatism and liturgy? Look no further than Lutheranism. Check out this post with some interesting insights.
J.W. Wartick - Reconstructing Faith 
“I found this article on the movie “Frozen” to be quite insightful and interesting. I highly recommend the movie as well as this article.”
Which is funny, because it’s also a wonderful metaphor for coming out homosexual.
Which isn’t to say it can’t be both, especially when you fall into the world of metaphor.
Love the movie, either way.
Posted by NotAScientist | January 31, 2014, 7:55 AMThanks for pointing out that article about “Frozen.” I like it. As great a song as “Let it Go” is (and, let’s face it, it’s a great song), I appreciate how the professor judges it from a Christian perspective without being judgmental, if that makes sense. Messages of self-affirmation and empowerment are important (especially, I think, where young girls and women are concerned, because our culture, including the church, often conspires to disempower them); but all that has to be balanced with proper humility, responsibility to others, etc. Also, I think Elsa recognizes and laments her isolation more than Satan; but I think, with the proper nuances, there are some equivalences. Anyway, interesting food for thought.
Posted by Michael Poteet | January 31, 2014, 9:24 AMRight! Well as you pointed out, any metaphor is bound to break down when examined closely.
Posted by J.W. Wartick | January 31, 2014, 6:31 PM