Citizens of Babel: Antisociality and Dystopian Cities
The Tower of Babel is one of our oldest dystopias.
Joshua Polanski graduated from Calvin in 2020 with a degree in strategic communication and religion. He now lives in Boston, MA and is pursuing a masters in theological studies at Boston University. One day he hopes to write about religion and get paid for it.
The Craziest Things I’ve Seen Teaching Kids to Ice Skate
I never found out if the kid’s shenanigans were purposeful.
Thoughtful Streaming on a Budget
You’ll find mid-budget Dad-tier sci-fi films you forgot about, and you’ll come across Chinese war movies that you’ve never heard of; there’s something for everyone here.
Christmas Eve, Anticipation, and Alexander Ovechkin
There’s something about Waldorf, Maryland that just screams “mundane!”
I’m Thankful for Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is one of the most erotic artists in the pop-music industry. Let me explain.
House of the Dragon: Season One
The first season, while still fresh off the press, is right up there with the best of Thrones.
The Mice in My Kitchen and Holy Envy
The trap I placed committed a horrible violence on such a precious creature.
Rotterdam Is Always Burning
Something will always need repaired, reformed, repented of, or redeemed.
A Sad Lesson from Pitching Articles
We live in a world so flooded by “entertainments” that the “novels” are drowning.
Sex Ed and More with the Saints
Lesson learned: don’t castrate yourself for God or all of your friends might find out.
Our Alma Mater and the Year of the Event
The Event creates a new subject, a new person.
A Theology of Doomscrolling
Twitter is a cruel place where blatant vengeance rather than restoration is the norm for public sins.
Scrambled Lenten Reflections: The Books I Haven’t Read
What can you know about me through my unread books?
My Evolving Coffee Palate: A Timeline
I distinctly remember drinking an entire pot one night.
The (Non-)Contradiction of Belief and Unbelief
Doubt and faith, though mutually contradictory, can be gently held together.
All Kids Should Have a Talking Globe: The Best Christmas Present
The world I knew was only one of the worlds contained within my little globe.
A Korean Movie Starter Pack (For Americans)
The Man From Nowhere is the kind of movie that can make your anxiety nearly incarnate.
The Tortoise Trainer and ‘Sleepy’ Joe Biden
Apparently, the past was attractive.
Simplicity and Music Theory: An Interview with Indie Artist Dashiel
“I find solace in letting things go, letting things be silly and not perfect. “
Arctic Survival Stories and the Conclusion of the Anthropocene
We are doomed and we know it.
My Calvin Degree, One Year Later
As my peers panicked over the midterms, I instead found myself concerned with my lack of concern.
Salman and Me
Narrators can’t be trusted, the combination of “mere” and “trifle” isn’t redundant, not every list requires an “and” before the final noun phrase.
Glue that Holds ‘Game of Thrones’ Together: Masculinity and Eddard Stark
The non-traditional masculinity is dependent on the traditional.
Not a “Real” Academic
In my rare free time, I felt as if I had to be doing “academic” things to help advance my career.
The Monsters We Create
The mosquito as monster highlights the threat to community that most predators lack.
Dreaming of the Platform of Henry A. Wallace
He foresaw the ways crumbling capitalism morphs into fascism—and for that alone, his platform is worth revisiting.
In Defense of Brutalism
Brutalism just deserves some sympathy.
Re-enchanting Christmas with St. Nicholas of Myra
As many Christians and non-Christians around the globe come to terms with one of the most difficult holiday seasons of their lifetimes, revisiting the life of this particular saint may help re-enchant our disenchanted year.
Under the Influence of Saturn
“According to Ptolemy, “Saturn will generally produce cold in the bowels, excessive phlegm, rheumatism, emaciation, sickliness, … [and/or] cough.” Seems about right.
The Presidential Debate, a Cat Named “Grudge,” and Star Trek: Discovery
I should have known I couldn’t escape politics by watching Star Trek, the first major American show to show an interracial kiss.
