Daniel Silliman
@danielsilliman.bsky.social
Journalist. Historian. Church deacon. Raising cats, chickens, and bees in Appalachia.
Pinned
“Let the transient things be the ground on which my soul praises you, God creator of all.” —Augustine, *Confessions*
The movie Roofman was fun.
But friends, that was not a Presbyterian church.
But friends, that was not a Presbyterian church.
November 27, 2025 at 2:09 AM
The movie Roofman was fun.
But friends, that was not a Presbyterian church.
But friends, that was not a Presbyterian church.
Regular volunteers are something to behold.
A thing that I hope comes through in this report: the level of organization here — speaking of the various groups and efforts this family is involved with — is something to behold.
Near as I can tell, the average volunteers are regular people — but dadgum are the organizing.
Near as I can tell, the average volunteers are regular people — but dadgum are the organizing.
NEW: Earlier this month, I spent the day with the Luhmanns — a family rooted in theologically conservative Christianity.
In the morning, the homeschooled teenage sons tracked ICE.
In the afternoon, the mother aided an immigrant mother whose partner was deported. religionnews.com/2025/11/25/h...
In the morning, the homeschooled teenage sons tracked ICE.
In the afternoon, the mother aided an immigrant mother whose partner was deported. religionnews.com/2025/11/25/h...
November 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Regular volunteers are something to behold.
Really loved the movie Train Dreams. Maybe my favorite this year. Like Terrence Malick's Tree of Life, but simpler and beautiful for it.
November 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Really loved the movie Train Dreams. Maybe my favorite this year. Like Terrence Malick's Tree of Life, but simpler and beautiful for it.
Today in the life of my Appalachian church, a baby was passed through two full pews.
A third was overcome with jealousy.
A third was overcome with jealousy.
November 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Today in the life of my Appalachian church, a baby was passed through two full pews.
A third was overcome with jealousy.
A third was overcome with jealousy.
This happened a lot in American frontier revivals. If everyone has access to God, then the testimony and preaching of a child or anyone without theological training can be powerful—and proof of what God will do.
But it also opens up all kinds of questions about manipulation and abuse
But it also opens up all kinds of questions about manipulation and abuse
November 23, 2025 at 1:07 PM
This happened a lot in American frontier revivals. If everyone has access to God, then the testimony and preaching of a child or anyone without theological training can be powerful—and proof of what God will do.
But it also opens up all kinds of questions about manipulation and abuse
But it also opens up all kinds of questions about manipulation and abuse
What a mess www.artnews.com/art-news/new...
In New Filing, Philadelphia Art Museum Accuses Ex-Director Sasha Suda of Theft
Earlier this month, Sasha Suda filed a civil suit against the Philadelphia Art Museum. On Thursday, the museum filed its response.
www.artnews.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:56 AM
What a mess www.artnews.com/art-news/new...
My talk on non-creedal evangelicals adopting Nicaea, and why
November 19, 2025 at 6:38 PM
My talk on non-creedal evangelicals adopting Nicaea, and why
Really getting the full range of the Evangelcical Theological Society today: Christian Nationalist panel in the morning, women in leadership in the early church in the afternoon.
November 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Really getting the full range of the Evangelcical Theological Society today: Christian Nationalist panel in the morning, women in leadership in the early church in the afternoon.
Discussion of the problem of the experience of the Trinity at Tremont Temple Baptist Church with Adonis Vidu, Matthew Barrett, and Lewis Ayers.
November 18, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Discussion of the problem of the experience of the Trinity at Tremont Temple Baptist Church with Adonis Vidu, Matthew Barrett, and Lewis Ayers.
Augustine’s advice to people preaching: “It is by no means pointless to repeat things that are known, both to instruct those who don’t know them and encourage those who do.”
Augustine’s advice to people listening to sermons: “Look not at the preacher but at the one preached.”
Augustine’s advice to people listening to sermons: “Look not at the preacher but at the one preached.”
November 16, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Augustine’s advice to people preaching: “It is by no means pointless to repeat things that are known, both to instruct those who don’t know them and encourage those who do.”
Augustine’s advice to people listening to sermons: “Look not at the preacher but at the one preached.”
Augustine’s advice to people listening to sermons: “Look not at the preacher but at the one preached.”
A personal note: I am leaving CT.
November 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
A personal note: I am leaving CT.
"As fate would have it, Cage had already read the Infancy Gospel of Thomas years ago"
Yeah I guess that makes sense.
Yeah I guess that makes sense.
November 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"As fate would have it, Cage had already read the Infancy Gospel of Thomas years ago"
Yeah I guess that makes sense.
Yeah I guess that makes sense.
Chariots of Fire but make it Mormons and pickleball
November 12, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Chariots of Fire but make it Mormons and pickleball
Appreciated this—an important book about the mounting legal attacks on free press.
November 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Appreciated this—an important book about the mounting legal attacks on free press.
Supreme Court decides to pass on opportunity to revisit the constitutional protection of same-sex marriage.
November 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Supreme Court decides to pass on opportunity to revisit the constitutional protection of same-sex marriage.
Thomas Cranmer’s advice on preaching, around the time he became Archbishop of Canterbury: Definitely keep it under an hour and a half.
November 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Thomas Cranmer’s advice on preaching, around the time he became Archbishop of Canterbury: Definitely keep it under an hour and a half.
A breathtaking organizational collapse
(Probably some lessons here.)
(Probably some lessons here.)
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A breathtaking organizational collapse
(Probably some lessons here.)
(Probably some lessons here.)
Doesn’t look good
“While on staff, Gross said, he heard a “credible report” that Wood and Sutton had a conversation about a possible presentment…they were “floating the possibility” of a “bishop-friendly” Board of Inquiry…stacking [it] with clergy and parishioners deferential to senior leadership.”
wapo.st/43Obygs
wapo.st/43Obygs
Second woman says U.S. Anglican Church archbishop sexually harassed her
A new allegation adds to a crisis facing the denomination founded by conservatives who split from the Episcopal Church in the early 2000s over an openly gay bishop.
wapo.st
November 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Doesn’t look good
Back when religious conflict came with limericks
November 5, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Back when religious conflict came with limericks
Love a good opening line.
Finally, @danielsilliman.bsky.social in Christianity Today, with the best opening line of any review I've received:
"I first heard of Thomas Jefferson’s Bible as a warning."
www.christianitytoday.com/2020/12/jeff...
"I first heard of Thomas Jefferson’s Bible as a warning."
www.christianitytoday.com/2020/12/jeff...
Thomas Jefferson Tried to ‘Fix’ the Bible. He Only Succeeded in Making It Sad. - Christianity Today
The third president’s attempts to revise Scripture offer a warning about our own tendency to “edit” the truth.
www.christianitytoday.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Love a good opening line.
When newspapers couldn't just link the documents
November 3, 2025 at 3:56 PM
When newspapers couldn't just link the documents
The power of positive Peale
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The power of positive Peale
Hard times www.11alive.com/article/news...
Woman sits in car for 14 hours to get food during New Birth Baptist church food giveaway
More than 2,000 people waited in their cars in line Saturday morning in order to receive food.
www.11alive.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Hard times www.11alive.com/article/news...
Whatever the best theological explanation of the mechanics of salvation—how it works that Christ’s death works—a good account should start with the fact it works *for you.* It should include the prepositional power of the crucifixion.
November 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Whatever the best theological explanation of the mechanics of salvation—how it works that Christ’s death works—a good account should start with the fact it works *for you.* It should include the prepositional power of the crucifixion.
Books the algorithm thinks I might find interesting, correctly
October 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Books the algorithm thinks I might find interesting, correctly