Skip to main content
Biblical StudiesEssay

Birdman: A Secular Parable

Birdman, the 2014 winner for best picture, tells the story of a washed up former super hero actor trying to make a come back by directing and starring in a broadway play. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu—who directed the trilogy 21 Grams, Amores Perros, and Babel—the film…
Jason Lief
May 8, 2015
Essay

Is This All There Is?

Five more episodes—that's all that's left for Don Draper. It's been a magical ride through the 1960's as Don's meticulously constructed life has been woven into the significant events of the decade. The first half of the last season ended with the moon landing—a hopeful end…
Jason Lief
April 24, 2015
Essay

The Birds, the Bees, and a Herd of Deer

5th grade at our house always makes for interesting conversation. It's in the 5th grade that students first get the talk. "5th grade science" has a reputation in these parts—it's when my kids first learn about sex. When I say "learn" I mean it's the…
Jason Lief
April 10, 2015
Biblical StudiesEssayTheology

Augustine and Hannah

Two pieces of my work this semester couldn't be further apart--or at least they seem to be disconnected. I'm writing a book on Heavy Metal music. It's a positive treatment that brings Slavoj Zizek, Jurgen Moltmann, and Michel de Certeau together with Led Zeppelin, Gorgoroth, and Mastodon.…
Jason Lief
March 27, 2015
Essay

When Birds Laugh

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them." This week is spring break out here in Northwest Iowa. It's been beautiful with temps in the high 60's and…
Jason Lief
March 13, 2015
Essay

Getting Liturgical Prayer

This semester I'm teaching a course on Spiritual Formation. Most of the students are theology majors interested in youth ministry or worship arts, and it's safe to say that none of them consider themselves liturgical. I began the class with a modified morning prayer taken from…
Jason Lief
February 27, 2015
Biblical StudiesEssay

Why we need some secularity

The horrific events in France this past week raise some questions: How do we affirm democracy and freedom in the face of those who want to kill and destroy? How does the West keep this from becoming a "holy war" directed against Muslims--or any group of people who…
Jason Lief
January 16, 2015
Essay

A Material World: The Smell of Vinyl

I became infatuated with vinyl records as a kid. My dad would buy little 45 singles and my brother and I would listen to them upstairs on a portable record player. Back then it was The Oakridge Boys—Elvira was the anthem of my childhood. What I remember…
Jason Lief
December 19, 2014