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Our annual Halloween show applies a theological lens to horror both new (James Wan’s Malignant) and old (1931’s Frankenstein). Josh, JR., and Sarah discuss what Christians might appreciate about movies designed to scare us.

Love thy neighbor? The four narcissistic New Yorkers on Seinfeld, coming soon to Netflix, weren’t exactly known for looking out for others. What about Tammy Faye Bakker, whose television ministry with husband Jim Bakker began with good intentions but ended in scandal, as dramatized in the new movie The Eyes of Tammy Faye? Josh, Aarik, and Abby consider the show and film in light of the parable of the Good Samaritan.

“Wellness” has both spiritual and physical connotations — connotations explored in the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers and the new album from Lorde. What is Christianity’s place in a world of smoothies, meditation, and sun salutations?

For the first edition of the TC Movie Club, we’ll discuss where four Coen brothers films fall within an Old Testament-New Testament framework: Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, and True Grit. We’re eyeing the evening of Oct. 22 as the date of our first virtual gathering. You can join the club at thinkchristian.net/movieclub.

Josh, Claude, and Joe consider biblical heroism in the light (or shadow) of two new antihero movies: The Suicide Squad and The Green Knight.

In Loki, events are erased from the “sacred timeline.” In the music documentary Summer of Soul, discarded history comes to light. What are Christians called to remember across the ages, and why?

Nostalgia - fondly remembering the way things were - can trap us in the past, but sometimes it can point toward the future. Josh, Abby, and Aarik discuss the nostalgia at work in In the Heights and Lucy Dacus’ Home Video, considering how both compare to a Christian understanding of reminiscence.

What part can solitude and silence play in the devotional life of the Christian? How might signature moments in A Quiet Place Part II and The Underground Railroad exemplify the spiritual value of stillness? Kathryn and Sarah join Josh to discuss.

Michelle joins Josh to discuss the multicultural animated adventure Raya and the Last Dragon in the context of her new book - Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Can Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures.

A rash of gun violence in the first half of 2021 has us wondering about the depiction of weapons in pop culture - particularly in Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Jason Statham’s Wrath of Man. How can we reconcile the prevalence of weaponry in our films and television with the weapon-less vision of Isaiah 2?

Every Christian falters in their faith. The late rapper DMX did so publicly; in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes does so symbolically. Josh, Claude, and JR. discuss what both say about slippin’.

Are there such things as holy monsters? To celebrate her new book, Becoming Alien, Sarah joins Josh to discuss the new Godzilla vs. Kong, the leviathan of the Bible, and how both relate to the Alien film series.

When Christians pray “Your kingdom come . . .” what do we mean? Josh, Claude, and Joe look to two kingdom-concerned pieces of pop culture — Eddie Murphy’s Coming 2 America and Marvel’s Empyre — for answers.

Josh fulfills his promise to JR. to watch and discuss The VelociPastor. They’re joined by Abby, who brings along a slightly more respected movie featuring a clergyperson: 1955’s The Night of the Hunter.

The notion of family is crucial to the Christian story, from God’s calling of Abram’s clan to our experience of God as Father and Son. How might the Marvel series WandaVision and the independent film Minari - two very different types of family dramas - help us think about the role of family in the Christian life? Sarah and Michelle join Josh to discuss.

The entire podcast team gathers to celebrate our favorite movies, TV, and music of 2020. From Soul to Ted Lasso to Phoebe Bridgers, some good stuff actually happened last year.

We all know the carols and hymns. How might secular Christmas songs - of which we get more each year - also reflect the religious significance of the season? Josh, Kathryn, and Michelle give a listen to Mariah Carey’s classic, “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and a new holiday song from the Jonas Brothers.

What did Jesus mean when he said we must be born again? Josh, JR., and Aarik look to the final season of Schitt’s Creek and Sufjan Stevens’ The Ascension for possible answers.

On the eve of another Halloween, Joe George and Abby Olcese join Josh once again to discuss a Christian approach to the horror genre, this time focusing on 1992’s Candyman and the recent Australian film Relic.

Josh, Sarah, and Aarik discuss a few of the essays in our latest ebook, Pop Psalms: How our favorite pop, rock, hip hop, and country songs echo the wisdom literature of the Bible. Get your free copy at thinkchristian.net/poppsalms.