This reflection on the themes of Solo: A Star Wars Story tries to avoid spoilers, but as always feel free to wait until you've seen the movie if you want to know nothing about it when watching. "Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?" "It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs." With those lines, Han Solo and ultimately George Lucas stirred up a controversy still brewing 40 years later. Han's boast sounds impressive, but when you find out a parsec is a unit of distance, not … [Read more...] about Science in Review: Just Gotta Get Right Outta Here
movies
Science Corner: Sympathy for the Bedeviled
Last week's post on Avengers: Infinity War generated interest in a follow-up, so we're returning to the Marvel universe. Again, I've avoided spoilers, but I'll understand if you want to play it safe and wait until you've seen the film. It's perhaps a strange thing to say about a 2 hour 40 minute movie so full of stars it threatens to collapse into a black hole, but I feel Avengers: Infinity War was missing something. Both earlier Avengers films made time to consider the plight of folks who don't have alliterative … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Sympathy for the Bedeviled
Science in Review: Thor, Thanos and Theology
The following is a reflection on superhero storytelling inspired by Avengers: Infinity War. I have done my best to avoid spoilers, but if you know nothing about the film's story and want to keep it that way until you see it, you may wish to save this for later. What does it look like to have a theology but not a religion? The answer may now be showing at a theater near you. Avengers: Infinity War, the 19th and latest installment in Marvel's ambitious serial storytelling project, advances the metaphysical aspirations … [Read more...] about Science in Review: Thor, Thanos and Theology
Science in Review: A Strange Prescription for Reconciling Faith & Science
Note: The following is a discussion of themes in Doctor Strange which touches on some plot points. There is no forbidden knowledge ... only certain practices. So cinema's greatest action librarian Wong informs Dr. Strange when he inquires about certain magic tomes. If Strange were studying at Hogwarts, those books would occupy the restricted section. Instead he is a novitiate at Kamar-Taj, more a dojo of the mystical arts than a magic academy within the Marvel superhero film universe. This more libertine policy … [Read more...] about Science in Review: A Strange Prescription for Reconciling Faith & Science
Book Response: Hollywood Worldviews, by Brian Godawa
As part of his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Ministry to Emerging Generations (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), Tom's written a number of book responses and given several short presentations (personal and group). In this series he not only "shares the wealth," but also looks forward to your feedback as he refines his project: An argument for vocational discernment for graduate studies in the context of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Stay tuned to learn more!). Earlier posts on the program: Ministry to Emerging … [Read more...] about Book Response: Hollywood Worldviews, by Brian Godawa