Believe To See

To celebrate the Anselm Society’s upcoming Imagination Redeemed conference, we’re sharing highlights from our past speakers. This first one is author Lanier Ivester’s 2018 talk, “The Magic of Rivendell.”

Glenn McCarty is the author of Junction Tales and The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson. He’s also a big believer in middle grade. He joins the table to discuss the importance of giving kids good books, and the influence of classics like Tom Sawyer on his imagination. PS: Glenn’s latest book, Dead-Eye Dan and the Cimarron Kid, is now available. Check it out! http://www.glennmccarty.com

Painter Josh Tiessen joins the table to discuss his new collection, “Streams in the Wasteland.” These paintings are both hyper-realistic and surrealistic. They feature exotic animals, Old Testament motifs, and a message about the human condition and our ecological crisis. Seriously, check these paintings out straight away! Here’s a link to Josh’s website, where you can find more info on Streams in the Wasteland: joshtiessen.com. Artwork by Josh Tiessen

Are the Classics just something for privileged nerds? Dr. Anika Prather doesn’t think so. She joins the table to explain the importance of the Classics in African American thought, the importance of Africa itself in the classical world, and why we could all benefit from studying the Classics. Photo: Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water) depicting an African serving boy, late Classical, ca. 360–350 B.C., Rogers Fund, 1950, Accession no. 50.11.4. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Why are dragons everywhere in world literature, and why do we still find them so fascinating? Dr. Junius Johnson joins the table to explain. He’s both an Anselm Fellow and a multi-talented scholar—and he happens to be teaching a new online course all about dragons.

Is Disney a force for good in the film world, or a corporate monster destroying everything in its path? Maybe a little of both? Anselm author Hudson Jungck joins the table to discuss the many pros and cons of Disney. And also to debate Matt about the Marvel MCU… Photo by Dave Hogg

Karen Swallow Prior joins the table to discuss her new series for reading and reflecting on classic books, and to explore the importance of reading well. Photo from Karen Swallow Prior

What’s the best way to listen to sacred music? Come to think of it, what even is sacred music? Delvyn Case joins the table to help. He’s both a music professor and the founder of Deus Ex Musica, an ecumenical organization that engages church communities with sacred music. Photo by Steven Miscandlon

Are Godzilla movies just silly fun, or can they tell serious stories? Matt brings his brothers and cousin to the table to find out. They’re all huge fans, and they have strong opinions on who should have won the fight between Godzilla and Kong...

Jonathan Jackson has written an epic poem about the Harrowing of Hell. He joins the table to discuss the doctrine of the Harrowing of Hell, his poetic approach to the subject, and why it’s such a rich source for Christian artists. Image: Christ's Descent into Limbo, woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, c. 1510

You’re bad at prayer too, right? Theologian Kyle Strobel joins the table to help us all out. He’s written a new book about prayer, and the title says it all: “Where Prayer Becomes Real: How Honesty with God Transforms Your Soul.”

Ever notice that artists who are good at comedy are also good at horror? Author Luke T. Harrington joins the table to explain why. He describes the unexpected connections between the two genres, and how he uses both in his new book, Murder-Bears, Moonshine, and Mayhem.

Hannah and Nathan Anderson join the table to discuss their new book, Turning of Days. Hannah wrote the essays on finding Christian truth in the natural world, while Nathan created the book’s nature illustrations. They talk about collaborating on art as a married couple, and the lessons we can draw from attending to nature.

Peter Atkinson is the founder and CEO of The Merry Beggars, an amazing theater organization based out of New York. He joins the table to discuss the work he does supporting actors, and his radio theater project, The Quarantine Plays.

Ever wish we had more classical buildings? Erik Bootsma agrees. He’s an architect who specializes in classical architecture. He explains the benefits of classical architecture, the shortcomings of modernist architecture, and what we can do to get more classical buildings.

Ever get frustrated by all the great books that the publishing industry ignores? Are you an author whose book is too Christian for standard publishers, but not Christian enough for Christian publishers? Bandersnatch Books is here to help. The founders of this new publishing house join the table to share their vision for finding and publishing overlooked books.   Photo by Sam Churchill

Yeah, Christmas Day is over. But don’t worry—we’re still in the middle of the 12 days of Christmas. That means it’s the perfect time for Matt, Mandy, and Evangeline to debate which film adaptation of A Christmas Carol is the best. Image from The Avocado

Why does The Mandalorian work so much better than the newest Star Wars movies? Michael Morea from the Reel Perspective podcast joins the table to explain. The table also discusses the influence of Western and Samurai films on The Mandalorian series. Photo by Francois Duhamel /Lucasfilm Ltd.

Ever wonder why some children's books are disposable, while others feel like lifelong friends? So has Ben Keiser. He's made a special study of children's books from the early 1900s. He joins the table to discuss how children's literature has changed over the decades, and why the classic works have endured. Photo by Juan Antonio Segal

Ever wonder why there are so many books about the Amish? Author Elizabeth Byler Younts joins the table to help explain. She writes literary and historical fiction books that feature Amish people, but aren't "Amish Fiction." She also grew up in an Amish family, and shares her insights on the people behind the genre. Photo by Ann Barker