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Calvin events climate change cultural commentary review

Incandescence and Despair: Further Thoughts on First Reformed

But neither Toller’s problems nor religious despair in general are particularly Calvinist, nor do I think that’s what Schrader means to suggest. Schrader has long thought about what it means to capture the holy in art, and a portrait of despair is one stunningly effective…

Debra RienstraJune 9, 2018

cultural commentary politics silly

The Semiotics of Protest: A New Primer

Since we have entered the Age of Resistance, it’s important to keep one’s protest muscles well-toned. With all the marching, kneeling, standing, sitting, walking out, gesturing, and pumping of hand-lettered placards up and down—not to mention furious typing on Twitter—ordinary citizenship in the United States…

Debra RienstraMay 26, 2018

Calvin events cultural commentary

Postcards from Festival 2018 (So Far)

This is just a tiny sampling, and I’m only one person. I’m scribbling in my notebook as fast as I can, and I’m not even telling you all the clever jokes and tender stories and dear human connections I am witnessing in this extraordinary space.

Debra RienstraApril 14, 2018

cultural commentary politics

Can We Retire the Word “Bias”?

Here’s how it works. If you don’t like what a person or news article or books says, you pronounce it “biased,” and you’re done. You have destroyed the person or source’s credibility. No need to consider what is being said on its own terms. End…

Debra RienstraJanuary 6, 2018

cultural commentary politics theology

I Never Was An Evangelical, and I Never Want to Be

In any case, Evangelicals of the contemporary American variety have always felt to me like the cousins my family visits only once a year for a day or two on out-of-state road trips. We are related, of course, but when we get together our differences…

Debra RienstraSeptember 23, 2017

cultural commentary pop culture review

Any Tenderness?

The show’s title makes it sound like one of those silly British slapstick comedies, but no. I would describe it as an historical drama with a loving heart. It has the same historical-immersion appeal as Mad Men, except with wholesome values, lots of babies, and…

Debra RienstraAugust 26, 2017

cultural commentary

Monday at the Center of the Universe

This past Monday, I peered into the humming center of the universe. I’m talking about Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

Debra RienstraAugust 12, 2017

climate change cultural commentary pop culture silly

Preparedness is Key

With everything going on in the news this week, we might as well come right out and discuss what we’re all thinking about anyway: the apocalypse.

Debra RienstraMay 20, 2017

cultural commentary memoir pop culture

Bonne Bell Takes Me Back

The first issue arrived in November. I remember being so excited, I brought it along to catechism class on a Wednesday afternoon. How I gazed at the beautiful older girl on the cover—perfect teeth, clear skin, gorgeous late-70s hair. I opened to the first page…

Debra RienstraMay 5, 2017

cultural commentary pop culture review

Dark Vocation

Watson basically teaches Sherlock how to be in a human relationship, and unlike previous Sherlocks, this one slowly concedes that following a life philosophy other than “everyone must serve my genius” might actually be a wiser way to live.

Debra RienstraApril 21, 2017

cultural commentary

Incandescence and Despair: Further Thoughts on First Reformed

The Semiotics of Protest: A New Primer

Postcards from Festival 2018 (So Far)

Can We Retire the Word “Bias”?

I Never Was An Evangelical, and I Never Want to Be

Any Tenderness?

Monday at the Center of the Universe

Preparedness is Key

Bonne Bell Takes Me Back

Dark Vocation

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