The Archive

Every essay.

Jake Meador

The Therapeutic, Ctd. - Commonplaces

Last year we raised a number of concerns about the ubiquity of therapeutic discourse within the evangelical movement. In particular, a number of writers associated with Mere O, including myself, are alarmed by two things in particular: First, the ways in […]

Jake Meador

The Therapeutic, Ctd. - Commonplaces

Last year we raised a number of concerns about the ubiquity of therapeutic discourse within the evangelical movement. In particular, a number of writers associated with Mere O, including myself, are alarmed by two things in particular: First, the ways in […]

Christopher MyersFeatured

Reverence - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

Though lesser known than some of the luminaries of 20th century Catholic thought, like Balthasar, de Lubac, and Ratzinger, Dietrich von Hildebrand’s life and work are no less worthy of our attention. He was not only a remarkable thinker, but […]

Rhys LavertyFamilyFeaturedEconomics and Business

The World that Money Makes Go Round - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

“Stick man lives in the family tree With his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three.” So begins Stick Man—my son’s favourite bedtime story. Parents of a certain age will know it well. Julia Donaldson (of The Gruffalo fame) spins a lovely […]

Jake MeadorFeaturedTelevision

Mandalorian Dogma - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

Zealots do not ordinarily fare well in popular American entertainment. The High Sparrow of Game of Thrones was routinely shown to be cruel, power hungry, and devious. His true believer identity turned out merely to be a front, the pathway […]

Paul Frank SpencerFeatured

All Alone, After God - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

Lament is difficult to do corporately. The publicity of it tends to belie sincerity, or at least, to undercut it. If not precipitated organically from some horrible regional or global event, lament usually feels most true when expressed by one […]

Jacqueline WilsonFeatured

The Death and Immortality of Mortal Men in "The Lord of the Rings" - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

In a letter addressed to Dr. Rhona Beare, on October 14th, 1958, J.R.R. Tolkien states that The Lord of the Rings, “is mainly concerned with Death, and Immortality.”[1] He also notes in a letter to Robert Burchfield on December 2nd, […]

Elizabeth SticeFeaturedEvangelicalism

Deconstructing with Silas Marner - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

In the early pages of Silas Marner, a devout young weaver falls asleep at a sick man’s bedside and is accused of having robbed the dying man. His religious community resolved on praying and drawing lots… Silas knelt with his […]

Jake MeadorChurch

On Actually Reading What People Actually Say - Commonplaces

Here are excerpts from interviews or brief writings on issues of sexuality, sin, and concupiscence from three pastors: Pastor A: Interviewer: It sounds like you’re saying that original sin is culpable sin, but then it produces something that is not […]

Jake MeadorChurch

On Actually Reading What People Actually Say - Commonplaces

Here are excerpts from interviews or brief writings on issues of sexuality, sin, and concupiscence from three pastors: Pastor A: Interviewer: It sounds like you’re saying that original sin is culpable sin, but then it produces something that is not […]

Nadya WilliamsFeaturedCulture

The Fears and Hopes We Sing in Lullabies - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

When you fall asleep, dear little one, a grey wolf will emerge from the wild forest and will grab you straight from your bed. Back to the forest he will drag you and will deposit you under a willow tree. […]

Jake MeadorChurchBook Reviews

How to be an Evangelical Influencer (Apparently) - Commonplaces

Endorse a book you didn’t actually read. Capitulate to a Twitter mob demanding you retract your endorsement for the book that you didn’t actually read. Call the book’s argument, which is almost identical to things you’ve said in your own […]