Listen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Fuller Seminary’s Elijah Davidson lead a conversation with Movie Club members about the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki. SHOW NOTES Join the TC Movie Club - https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub Elijah’s book, Hayao Miyazaki: Lifted - https://elijahdavidson.com/books/icons-of-cinema/hayao-miyazaki-lifted-ebook/ Josh’s video essay on ‘What Miyazaki and Christianity Have in Common’ - https://thinkchristian.net/what-miyazaki-and-christianity-have-in-common Josh on ‘Ponyo and the Challenges of Multiculturalism’ - https://thinkchristian.net/ponyo-and-the-challe ..read more

What can Christians take from a series that is rooted in Eastern spirituality? Josh, Claude, and Roslyn find a lot in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, from the way wisdom is shared across generations to the contrasting of fear with love to an appreciation for the “thin places” where the spiritual realm breaks into ours. SHOW NOTES Sarah Welch-Larson on “Avatar: The Last Airbender and Spiritual Gifts” - https://thinkchristian.net/avatar-the-last-airbender-and-spiritual-gifts TC podcast on Netflix’s One Piece - https://thinkchristian.net/podcast/one-piece-come-foll ..read more

Josh, Kathryn, and Sarah each bring a Best Picture nominee to the table, resulting in conversations about biblical justice in the context of Oppenheimer and personal conviction as it relates to The Zone of Interest. They also spend way more time than they anticipated singing the praises of Lorraine, a supporting character in American Fiction who quietly mirrors the gracious love of God. SHOW NOTES Roslyn Hernández on ‘Barbie and Our Reason for Being’ - https://thinkchristian.net/barbie-and-our-reason-for-being Previous podcast on The Holdovers as an Advent movie - https://thinkchristian.net/po ..read more

Can JR. and Abby bring Josh around on Fargo Season 5? They discuss the Coen brothers-inspired series — including the theology-soaked season finale. SHOW NOTES Josh Pease on Fargo Season 2 - https://thinkchristian.net/fargos-faith-in-little-green-men David Kern on Fargo Season 3 - https://thinkchristian.net/fargo-seeking-harmony-in-the-face-of-discord Josh’s video essay on 1996’s Fargo - https://youtu.be/qaRRXpfTyfU?si=U3knjwTTNIvpxid9 Abby on ‘Five Films for Lent' - https://thinkchristian.net/five-films-to-help-you-observe-lent-at-home JR.’s Substack newsletter - https://substack.com/@jrforast ..read more

How do we sense God’s presence? Through voice, touch, mystery? Josh, Claude, and Roslyn each bring a favorite 2023 film for discussion, only to realize their picks all circle around this question in some way. They cover Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, The Boy and the Heron, and All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt - while listener choices bring a handful of other titles to the table. SHOW NOTES Isabel Bishop on “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and Listening for God’s Still Small Voice” - https://thinkchristian.net/are-you-there-god-its-me-margaret-listening-for-gods-still-small-voice Join t ..read more

According to Josh, Kathryn, Abby, and Aarik, the best music of the year echoed our anxieties, while also offering eschatologically tinged consolation. They discuss The National, Sufjan Stevens, Cleo Sol, and more. SHOW NOTES: Master list of our favorite 2023 music - https://thinkchristian.net/best-music-of-2023 Joel Mayward on “Sufjan Stevens’ Piercing Javelin” - https://thinkchristian.net/sufjan-stevens-piercing-javelin Aarik’s poem, “Notes On a Concert by The National” - https://feversofthemind.com/2023/09/30/poetry-coming-soon-to-fevers-of-the-mind-print-inspire-me-from-several-poets-artist ..read more

Think of it as an Advent wreath, but with movies on it instead of candles. Josh, Roslyn, and Abby discuss a handful of films that will help you mark the Christmas season, including the recent release The Holdovers, the 2019 documentary For Sama, and the Satoshi Kon anime Tokyo Godfathers ..read more

Wilco’s latest album makes ample space for sadness, while also encouraging a beautiful belief in something more. Josh, Aarik, and Sarah discuss the eschatological echoes of the band’s music, delving deeply into tracks like “Pittsburgh,” “Sunlight Ends,” and “Infinite Surprise.” SHOW NOTES Aarik’s TC post on Wilco’s Ode to Joy - https://thinkchristian.net/considering-wilcos-joy John J. Thompson’s TC post on Wilco’s “All Lives You Say” - https://thinkchristian.net/all-lives-you-say-wilco-and-psalm-139 Sarah’s Seeing & Believing newsletter - https://seeingandbelieving.substack.com/ Aarik’s “B ..read more

Listen in as TC’s Josh Larsen and Fuller Theological Seminary’s Kutter Callaway lead a TC Movie Club conversation considering “Horror — What Is it Good for?” They and club members talk biblical fear, horror subgenres, and the particular brand of scares offered by Jordan Peele. (To join the club, sign up at https://www.thinkchristian.net/movieclub) SHOW NOTES Kutter’s limited series podcast, Be Afraid - https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/be-afraid/ Josh’s book, Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies - https://www.amazon.com/Fear-Not-Christian-Appreciation-Spirituality-eb ..read more

As touching and hilarious as it often was, the Hulu series Reservation Dogs was also clear-eyed about the awful, historical realities indigenous people faced (and still contend with) in North America - including a complicated relationship with Christianity. Josh, JR., and Roslyn consider this in light of the series’ finale, while also sharing which of the four teens at the show’s center they’ll continue to think about in the years ahead. SHOW NOTES Christian Reformed Church in North America report on indigenous residential schools - https://www.crcna.org/news-and-events/news/initial-report-us ..read more