Author Archives: Matt

About Matt

Software engineer by trade; lay theologian by nature; Lutheran by grace.

Ending the Real Rape Culture

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Matt

Struggling to Define Rape Despite the common pretenses of relativism and moral uncertainty among Americans, there yet remain certain moral touchstones that none of us are at all uncertain about. One of these is, of course, that Hitler was evil. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chastity, Ethics, Feminism | Leave a comment

Keeping the “Free” in “Freedom”

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Matt

Is it heresy for Americans to try and keep Christ in Christmas? That’s the charge made by Stephen Ingram in a recent blog post. His hometown of Piedmont, Alabama has recently run into some trouble with the Freedom From Religion … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humanism, Politics | 1 Comment

Some Words are Too Bloodstained to Reclaim; “Feminism” is One of Them.

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Matt

Can conservatives “reclaim” the word Feminism from the liberals and radicals who have done so much harm in its name? Leslie Loftis urges us to try in a recent piece at the Federalist. Now, I put scare quotes around “reclaim” … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism | 1 Comment

A Change I Can Do Without

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Matt

“What if Three Weekends Can Change Your Life?” That’s the bold question asked by a postcard I received last week announcing a local church’s grand opening.  Because I think curiosity should be punished, I decided to read the details on … Continue reading →

Posted in The Modern Church | 1 Comment

Virginity and Faith: When Sexual Experience Sires Religious Illusions

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Matt

In his Critique of Pure Reason, Immanuel Kant wrote, “For as regards nature, experience presents us with rules and is the source of truth, but in relation to ethical laws experience is the parent of illusion, and it is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Chastity, Christian Youth, The Modern Church, Theological Liberalism | 6 Comments

We Proclaim; We do not Include

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Matt

 Among theological liberals desperate to “fix” Christianity lest it die in obscurity and obsolescence (say, how is membership in liberal “churches” doing again?) one of the key goals is to make Christianity more inclusive. Why are American congregations so white? … Continue reading →

Posted in The Modern Church, Theological Liberalism, Theology | Leave a comment

Yes, the Problem is Clearly “Religious Extremism”

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Matt

That, at least, is the main cause of terrorism according to The Guardian;  and there’s no possible way they could have been any more precise. Religious extremism has become the main driver of terrorism in recent years, according to this … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

The Other Shirtstorm

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Matt

Feminists just can’t stop talking about clothes these days, and not just when it comes to scientist Matt Taylor. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently explained his penchant for simple gray t-shirts: I’m in this really lucky position where I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism | Leave a comment

Catcalling and the Criminalization of Social Ineptitude

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Matt

By now, most everyone has heard of the video of a model being catcalled as she walked down the streets of New York. Under the guise of raising awareness about this casual form of alleged misogyny, it has served mainly … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Ethics, Feminism, Law | Leave a comment

No Reason to Get Excited

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Matt

So America’s latest round of Choose the Form of the Destructor is over.  I must confess that I did feel some genuine pleasure at seeing the Democrats losing so badly in last night’s elections.  I shouldn’t have.  Not because it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment