To say the pop culture year is winding down would be an understatement, as new music and book releases have slowed to a trickle. And, tomorrow is the end of my official 'reading year', as I dedicate the last two weeks of the year to holiday books and re-reading old favourites. Today I'll do my … Continue reading Culture Roundup (December 13, 2025): Beyond the ‘Christmas Canon’
This week I'll do my usual roundup of what I've been listening to and reading before letting you know about a new side-project I've been working on that may be of interest for those who are enjoying these pop culture posts. Roundup Music New music releases are seriously drying up for the year. The only … Continue reading Culture Roundup (November 29, 2025): A New Side-Project
If there’s one thing that’s stuck out to me in my years being in the queer community it’s how many LGBTQ2S+ folk carry deep, deep baggage surrounding religion and faith. We all handle it very differently — some (like me) spending years or decades in intentionally traditional environments, others jumping headlong into progressive Christian spaces, … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: Ordinary Saints on Contrasting Worlds
Even in our Western democratic societies that have preached the value of being able to do and be whatever one wants in life, there are some choices that are seen as being better than others. One of the most maligned choices, perhaps surprisingly, is to lead a simple, quiet life. We applaud those who take … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: Leonard and Hungry Paul on Simple Lives
There’s a famous moment in the classic ‘nineties movie A Few Good Men when a military leader, played by Jack Nicholson, screams “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” As much as that character is an antagonist in the film, he hit on something true. We all say we want openness, honesty, and … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: The Nimbus on the Uncanny and Transcendent
Matthew Root 