Tag: John Fea

Lindbergh Updates: Reader Reviews, First Podcasts, and a Sept. 14 Book Talk

September 6, 2021

It’s been almost three weeks now since my biography of Charles Lindbergh hit shelves, and it’s been a pleasure to read the first reader reviews — all of which have been stellar. I was particularly tickled to find this plaudit from historian-journalist Daniel Silliman, who is currently writing a religious biography of Richard Nixon for … More Lindbergh Updates: Reader Reviews, First Podcasts, and a Sept. 14 Book Talk

That Was The Week That Was

July 24, 2021

This week I asked how Pietists follow Jesus and celebrated the life of theologian Clarence Bass. Elsewhere: • The formal release date isn’t until mid-August, but copies of my Charles Lindbergh biography are starting to be delivered… • “Religion still matters to many modern Olympic athletes,” wrote Kelsey Dallas, “but its influence on the Games is harder … More That Was The Week That Was

That Was The Week That Was

March 13, 2021

This week I celebrated the value of scholarly citation (really) and told the story of a rather enterprising Catholic priest who lamented the rise of what we now call “religious nones” at the end of World War II. Elsewhere: • Bob Smietana broke the story of popular speaker-writer Beth Moore leaving the Southern Baptist Convention. • If … More That Was The Week That Was

That Was The Week That Was

October 31, 2020

This week I wrote about the difference between Swedish and American evangelicalism. And while I didn’t quite keep up my daily devotional pace to end October, I did reflect on Jesus as Messiah, the challenge of perfection, and the political implications of Martin Luther’s least favorite epistle. Elsewhere: • The “state of a polarized nation” … More That Was The Week That Was

That Was The Week That Was

May 16, 2020

This week I engaged in some hopeful thinking about the future of the humanities, announced my first online adult ed course, recruited some Anxious Bench colleagues to join me in identifying non-religious turning points in religious history, and recorded podcasts about math and e-sports. Elsewhere: • Another week, another inspector general fired after he tried to … More That Was The Week That Was

1934 painting on the wall of Fenway

That Was The Week That Was

May 9, 2020

This week I curated some advice from fellow historians about how parents can help their home-bound kids learn history, reflected on the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, and recorded podcasts about sports journalism and the psychology of pandemics. Elsewhere: • I haven’t formally announced it until now, but I don’t think it will surprise anyone … More That Was The Week That Was

That Was The Week That Was

December 22, 2019

I considered whether I was an evangelical, responded to an astonishing editorial by evangelicalism’s flagship publication, and considered how religion factors into two British institutions: the monarchy (kind of) and the Premier League. Elsewhere: • A handful of the many other responses to that Christianity Today editorial calling for Donald Trump to be removed from office: Michael Wear … More That Was The Week That Was

Nichols, Death of Expertise

I’m a Historian, Not an Expert

December 20, 2018

I’ve only half-followed the recent Twitter dust-up between historians Thomas Kidd and John Fea and journalist Jonathan Merritt. You can get caught up to speed with this morning’s Anxious Bench post from John Turner. Throw in editor John Wilson (who rose to the historians’ defense), and you’ve got several of my favorite Johns/Jonathans sparring over what it meant … More I’m a Historian, Not an Expert