This site is designed to be a source of serious, cerebral Christian knowledge that stands in contrast to the many sources of trivial, emotional content one encounters in this new digital age. As others have noted before, while our current access to information and data is unparalleled compared to previous generations, our current generation so often lacks a holistic, comprehensive understanding of important bodies of knowledge, and also lacks the requisite wisdom and insight to implement this knowledge in a virtuous manner.

Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge and wisdom is not unique to pagans, but is shared among Christians as well. Christians rightfully desire monumental men and women of faith who give us excellent examples of knowledge, piety, and devotion. But we should not expect men and women of this caliber to arise if we don’t read our Bibles, don’t catechize our children, and don’t educate our pastors. Furthermore, if the next generation is dogmatically catechized by the pagan culture, as it often is today, or half-heartedly and incompetently catechized by the Christian culture, as it often is today, then we are foolish to expect that many will possess, let alone retain, a vibrant faith in Christ.

One major reason so many have a shallow and narrow knowledge is that we have not consistently utilized the right media in our communication of theological or philosophical truth. In other words, while former generations were educated on a meat-based diet of complex monographs and intellectual lectures, recent generations have often been educated on a milk-based diet of YouTube clips, Twitter aphorisms, and TikTok stories. These media may occasionally work well for a punchy explanation of the Gospel or a concise definition of metaphysics, but the insistence of clickbait thumbnails, noncontextual arguments, and ADHD speech patterns makes it improbable, if not impossible, that any cohesive, orderly understanding of deep subject matter can be obtained.

There are exceptions to the rule, of course. For example, a 30 minute R C Sproul lecture or a 1 hour Jordan Peterson interview on YouTube can be very beneficial. But YouTube wants you to be distracted. Videos of much less substance and depth are only a few clicks away. This isn’t to say that media like YouTube and Twitter don’t have their place. It is to say that their place is not the communication of substantive truth. I have no problem using YouTube or Instagram for musical or artistic pursuits; music and art are primarily emotional, so media that capitalizes on our emotional side is well suited for music and art. I am much more hesitant, however, to use these media in the pursuit of truth.

This emphasis on media is why this site is called “Postman’s Theologian.” Neil Postman, in his great work “Amusing Ourselves to Death,” awakened me to the reality that each medium has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and communicates certain things in better or worse ways. Books are great for rational discourse. Television (and its recent permutations, YouTube and TikTok) are great for entertainment. As Postman makes clear, the problem is not that we have entertainment; the problem is that we have entertainment that claims to be rational discourse, whether it is the 24 hour news cycle or the presidential “debates.”

Christianity is a demanding and serious religion. But if our main diet of learning Christian truth consists of media that emphasizes aesthetics, humor, and excitement, then we shouldn’t be surprised when our expression of Christianity becomes easy and lighthearted. 200 years ago, serious reading was one of the only pastimes available, so objective, rational discourse more naturally permeated American culture. It is not my intention to have us return to that technological state, but rather for us to be careful and deliberate in how we use the many types of media available to us. Consequently, I hope the writing on this site serves as a consistent push toward rational and objective Christian thinking. The development of the intellect is certainly not the only component of the Christian life, but it is an essential component that is often neglected in this day and age.

Lincoln Keller

“Behold the melancholy reign of ignorance and vice. Contemplate the learning, the boldness, the industry of heresy on every side. Mark well the prevalence, the unwearied diligence, and the eloquence of infidelity. Think how much able writing, as well as skillful and powerful preaching, is called for by the shrewd and hostile millions within our widely extended territory … if your spirits are not stirred within you at the sight, to take high aims in preparing for your work, to aspire to elevated attainments in knowledge, and in piety, you are but ill fitted for this age.” (Samuel Miller, The Importance of Mature Preparatory Study for the Ministry: An Introductory Lecture, Delivered at the Opening of the Summer Session of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, July 3, 1829)