Randal Rauser

Latest

  • Screwtaped: On the misguided Christian boycott of Netflix

    Screwtaped: On the misguided Christian boycott of Netflix

    I learned that a boycott of Netflix was trending on Twitter spurred on by Christians outraged at a new comedy show featuring a gay Jesus. I’m going to enumerate three problems with these misguided boycotts.

  • John Crist sinned, but did he also commit sexual assault?

    John Crist sinned, but did he also commit sexual assault?

    Sin is serious business, but so is the violation of the law. And if Mr. Crist has violated the law, he must be held accountable.

  • Open our eyes to the saints in our midst

    Open our eyes to the saints in our midst

    The Book of Hebrews refers to “a great cloud of witnesses,” faithful servants who have gone before us and who can offer inspiration and direction.  The fact is, however, that the quiet and faithful service of these saints is often carried out far from the spotlight.

  • When conservative Christians confuse their interpretation of the Bible with the Bible

    When conservative Christians confuse their interpretation of the Bible with the Bible

    Many Christian conservatives profess to defend the inerrancy of Scripture when, in fact, they are defending the inerrancy of their interpretation of Scripture.

  • Pepe Le Pew stinks: The sexual violence of Looney Tunes in a #MeToo age

    Pepe Le Pew stinks: The sexual violence of Looney Tunes in a #MeToo age

    I found myself contemplating another disturbing expression of violence in Looney Tunes, in this case, the sexually aggressive stalking behavior of everybody’s favorite amorous skunk, Pepe Le Pew.

  • Your media is biased

    Your media is biased

    It doesn’t matter whether you get your information from Rush Limbaugh or NPR, Fox News or the BBC, Al Jazeera or RT: your media intake is, to some degree, biased.

  • Netflix's 'Unbelievable': True crime redeemed

    Netflix's 'Unbelievable': True crime redeemed

    I’m not one of those people who is prone to binge-watch the latest big series on Netflix. But lo and behold, this past weekend my wife and I were mesmerized by the critically acclaimed new cop-investigation drama "Unbelievable."

  • On throwing the first stone: Thoughts on Trudeau and blackface

    On throwing the first stone: Thoughts on Trudeau and blackface

    I am not inclined to have sympathy for Trudeau. I think he is lacking in depth and character. Having said that, I can’t help but point out that many of Trudeau’s harshest critics today likely would not have batted an eye about blackface/brownface twenty years ago.

  • Christianity is a religion, not a relationship

    Christianity is a religion, not a relationship

    It’s a common refrain among some Christians. Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship. But is that true? 

  • God and the tooth fairy

    God and the tooth fairy

    Every time I hear an atheist compare belief in God to belief in the ‘tooth fairy’ I get more evidence for my observation that atheists don’t even understand what they are rejecting.