Jeffrey C. Pugh is the Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University in Elon, NC. He is the author of several books including his latest, Devil’s Ink: Blog from the Basement Office. Despite allegations that I am his illegitimate son stemming from a torrid love-affair with Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio (a vicious […]
Years of interviews with various ‘soldiers of God,’ way too many late-night shenanigans with some sketchy shamans, and trying to locate just one hot spiritual warrior to exorcise my demons have finally come to fruition. The Devil Wears Nada: Satan Exposed! is now available for your consumption. If you’re curious as to what Satan has […]
I have to get out of this bad habit of taking on too many books at once. I get all gung-ho about reviewing anything that appears interesting to me–well, as gung-ho as a Mennonite can get (I’m lapsed, so it’s pretty damn easy)–and then I realize I’m behind on about two dozen book reviews. In this case, however, […]
Jim Rigby recently wrote an article titled Five Scriptures You Won’t Hear at Rick Perry’s Prayer Event that describes a number of passages that will most likely be ignored in Perry’s tribute to the tribal deity bound by the borders of this particular nation-state. While they were pretty good (I especially enjoy the “go to your […]
Go ahead, just fill in the blank: ________ for Jesus. I’ve seen Karate for Jesus, Surfing For Jesus, Punk Rockers for Jesus, Dumpster-Diving for Jesus (props!), Homeschooling for Jesus, Killing Osama Bin Laden for Jesus (He says, “Thanks for listening to me, assholes.”), CEO’s for Jesus, Riot Grrrls for Jesus (that’s not true, but I […]
I’m enthralled by the recent claims of some evangelicals in Canada and the United States that they are in a state of persecution. I’m not quite sure how they are being persecuted–they all still seem to have their lovely houses, multiple cars, TV’s, DVD players, and addiction to bad diets and poor hair-stylists. They also […]
You should buy this book based on the title alone. My only question is, How could they pass on a triple ‘t’ alliteration? Just add ‘torture’ to the mix and you got it. It’s kind of all the rage these days. Herald Press was kind enough to send me a copy to review, so that’s […]
I have little to add to this one. It speaks volumes without my inane commentary. It is an advertisement for an inclusive church that addresses the needs of gay Christians. Read that first line carefully. Even if “Christ is spirituality” the services appear to be quite physical. [Many thanks for the title to West Coast […]
One should never review a book they have yet to read–as I tell my students, that’s immoral. Of course, my students don’t care and I like to fail them anyway, so no loss. This, however, is not a review; it’s just my inability to get beyond an endorsement of a book I was once interested […]