Christianity Today

A collection of 73 posts

On Movies & Media

It Came Upon a Big Screen Clear: An examination of overlooked, underrated Christmas films

Here's the latest installment in the Through a Screen Darkly series at Christianity Today... It Came Upon a Big Screen Clear Holiday movies don't often depict the real Christmas story, but when they do, it's a light shining in the darkness.

On Movies & Media

And the Slater Award goes to...

On Christianity Today's "Feedback" page, you'll see a wide range of responses to Peter T. Chattaway's review of the film Save Me. Read the review. Then read the responses. Quite a variety of responses there. Some show evidence that the writers actually

On Movies & Media

Through a Screen Darkly 2: Even Darklier

The curtain just went up on my new monthly column at Christianity Today Movies. It's named after my "memoir of dangerous moviegoing." Enjoy!

Christianity Today

Looking Closer Breaks New Ground in September

In September, I'm rearranging my weekly schedule to find a better balance. Friends have begun to point out that I'm wearing myself out. If I keep up this pace of office work, review writing, and book writing, I'm headed for serious trouble with my

Christianity Today

By the Way, God is Not Dead Yet.

I just received the latest issue of Christianity Today in the mail. The cover story: God is Not Dead Yet. You can read it here. Plus: A list of recommended reading on the existence of God. Also in this issue, you'll find a review of Sam Phillips'

On Movies & Media

An Open Letter to Employees at Focus on the Family and Boundless

Focus on the Family has yet to apologize for, or express affirmation for, the misleading headline at its Boundless blog: "Christianity Today Relishes Sexual Perversion" If you're tired of reading about this — and I wouldn't blame you, I'm certainly sick of thinking

On Movies & Media

Christianity Today Relishes Trash, Waste, Environmental Destruction, and Obesity

In other words... Christianity Today film critic Josh Hurst loves WALL-E! And it is absolutely not a political movie, no matter how hard a small faction of political bloggers might try to pin it as one. But even more than a great work of sci-fi, this is a great work

On Movies & Media

Christianity Today's Mark Moring interviews Andrew Stanton

In an excellent interview, inspiring excellent answers, Mark Moring talks with Andrew Stanton. I saw the film last night, and I was not prepared for its magnificence. Stay tuned, I'll have much, much more to say. But also, brace yourselves. A lot of people aren't going

Christianity Today

Browser, 6/19: Veith on the Sex & the City hubbub; Image and the Diving Bell; New World quesadillas!

The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. * Gene Edward Veith weighs in on the Sex and the City hubbub Gene Edward Veith, after raising questions that threw fuel on an already vigorous conversation (debate? brouhaha? hubbub?) over Christianity Today's review of Sex

Reader Mail

Reader Mailstrom, 6/18: "Your reviews are no longer of value to the Christian community."

I'm starting a new column, chronicling stand-outs from the daily maelstrom of Looking Closer email. Most of these letters are real. Some of them are amalgalms of a variety of messages. Some of them are what I read between the lines of the things readers really wrote. Each

On Movies & Media

Reader Mailstrom, 6/17

I'm chronicling memorable messages from the daily maelstrom of Looking Closer email. Most of these letters are real. Some of them may be amalgams of a variety of messages. Some of them are what I read between the lines of the things readers really wrote. Each installment of

On Movies & Media

Focus on the Family's Ted Slater Tells Christianity Today to "Repent"; Peter Chattaway Responds.

Same song, second verse. The following has been revised and "clarified" by request: Slater's still going on at Focus on the Family's Boundless.org about how Christianity Today needs to "repent" for "enjoying" "soft-porn." I'm embarrassed

Christianity Today

Focus on the Family says "Christianity Today Relishes Sexual Perversion." Call That What It Is: A Lie.

Once a month, I talk with Kim Ketola about movies, faith, and culture on her "Along the Way" radio program. She runs a great show, and isn't afraid to ask tough questions. This week, Kim and I talked about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the

On Movies & Media

"You reviewed WHAT??"

Mark Moring responds to a chorus of angry readers regarding why Christianity Today Movies bothered to post a review of Sex and the City. Mark's response is calm and thoughtful, which is the best way to respond to hysteria and outrage. (And this isn't the first

On Movies & Media

Sex and the CT

Camerin Courtney, a film reviewer for Christianity Today, gave Sex and the City3 stars (out of four). And instantly, the CT Movies mailbox exploded. Here's a keeper: This movie is nothing more than pornography for women. Women used to be the moral compass of humanity. Forty years ago

Christianity Today

"Civilians" Appear in Christianity Today

Look for my review of Joe Henry's Civilians. on page 83 of the March 2008 issue of Christianity Today. I promised I'd post one a long, long time ago, and now it's finally out, but in print. (It'll probably pop up online

On Movies & Media

CTMovies: The Top 10 Most Redeeming Movies of 2007

Okay, here's the first of CTMovies' two annual movie lists... The Top 10 Most Redeeming Movies of 2007! What do you think? What did the ten participating critics* miss? What did we get right? *The ten voters are part of this diverse group of moviegoers.

Christianity Today

Barack Obama Sets the Record Straight at Christianity Today

Barack Obama, interviewed at Christianity Today: I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. But most importantly, I believe

On Movies & Media

It's back: My Original Post on "The Golden Compass" is Up (and Abridged) at CTMovies

Today at Christianity Today Movies, you'll find an abridged version of my original response to questions about The Golden Compass controversy. If you have comments or questions, please email them to me at joverstreet [at] gmail [dot] com. But be advised: I will post those responses either in

Christianity Today

"The Iraq war calls for some serious rethinking by Christians..."

David P. Gushee at Christianity Today considers "Our Teachable Moment." Such deep public distress about the war makes this a teachable moment for all of us, as Christians and as Americans. It's not enough to find a way out of this war honorably and soon. We

Church

And God Was Not in the Spectacle...

Mark Galli on breaking our addiction to spectacle. ...we try to bring earthquake, wind, and fire to church. God is the god of life, after all. We should feel it, no? This, of course, is one of the draws of megachurches, which, because of their size, can do mega-things. Bumper-to-bumper

On Movies & Media

So it continues: Are Christians a niche audience?

Readers are responding to my recent article at Christianity Today Movies: Christians as a Niche Market? And, as you might expect, their perspectives vary.

On Movies & Media

"Have We Lost Our Minds?" Readers Say "No!"

My blog post about CT Movies' reviews and the Christian perspective that informs them was republished (in an abridged, revised form) at CT Movies. And now, readers are responding. Perhaps CT Movies is not so out of touch with its Christian audience after all. Check out the letters marked

On Movies & Media

Have We Lost Our Minds?

If you've been reading the CT Feedback page and reading this blog, you've seen a lot of recent criticism, and read a lot of accusations, regarding the philosophy of CT Movies reviewers. Well, my blog post describing our "philosophy" inspired an invitation to share

Christianity Today

"Through a Screen Darkly" - on CT's front page today!

Through a Screen Darkly is front-page news at Christianity Today right now ... ...and it looks like Rob Moll must have interviewed me somewhere along the way. Sneaky fellow! (Note: You can post comments at the bottom of the interview... and at the bottom of the review as well!) They'