Author Archives: davetcourt

“Throughout the Gospel, Mark has warned that signs, miracles, and portents do not evoke faith… Along with early Christianity as a whole, Mark is interested in faith in the resurrected Jesus, not in proofs of his existence. It is an encounter with the resurrected Lord, not the empty tomb, that produces faith.” (Edwards, The GospelContinue reading “Why Do I Believe in the Resurrection? Thoughts on Text, History, Faith, Words and Context in Conversation With The Gospel According To Mark”

In the book Glimmerings: Letters on Faith Between a Poet and a Theologian by Miroslav Volf and Christian Wiman, Volf references Scheler’s Ressentiment in referencing Scheler’s particular critique of Nietzsche “wrongly lumping” modern western morality with Christian morality. In his view, one cannot understand the Christian narrative apart from understanding the ways in which loveContinue reading “Love As That Which We Attain or That Which We Are Gifted: Navigating The Difference Between the Modern Narrative and the Christ Narrative.”

Some Good Friday reflections: “This, then, is not a resume of advancement, but of downward movement… these two acts of incarnation and death are actually part of a larger story.” (Michael Gorman) “What is interrupted- in this case, the old age- does not cease to exist. At the same time, however, what is interrupted doesContinue reading “The Story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Learning How to Distinguish Between Death and Life”

Before I was born, both of my parents left the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) for Winnipeg, leaving the rest of my extended family behind. Being the only ones not living in the GTA, at least until my later years when we were joined by one of my cousins, meant that we grew up somewhat distancedContinue reading “My Life Story: Chapter 8”

First quarter check in at the movies, 2026 In many respects, the first quarter of 2026 has demonstarted itself to be a relatively strong start to the year. As per usual, made stronger by the usual slate of awards contenders finally seeing wide release over the course of January. I am thinking of the likesContinue reading “First quarter check in at the movies, 2026”

Alberta Number One (Alexander Carson)- An experimental film from a Canadian director that blends travelogue with art with documentary, exploring the boundaries of genre and bringing to life our deep connection to a sense of place Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert (Baz Luhrmann)- From the same hand that gave us the recent biopic, one ofContinue reading “My Monthly Watches: March”

*this is part of an ongoing project of working on my life story. Posting some very rough drafts of portions of that exercise over the course of this year is a way to hold myself accountable to keep pushing forward with it. Having it in a public space is a small step towards that end.Continue reading “My Life Story: Chapter 7”

I wrote and reflected on my experience with Rowan William’s Discovering Christianity: A Guide For the Curious, Henry Cloud’s Why I Believe: A Psychologist’s Thoughts on Suffering, Miracles, Science, and Faith, and Christopher Beha’s Why I Am Not An Atheist here. Thus I figured I would focus on my other reads in this end ofContinue reading “My Month in Reading: March”

“I don’t know what faith means anymore.” This is how the conversation begins in the new book, Glimmerings: Letters on Faith Between a Poet and a Theologian by Miroslav Volf and Christian Wiman. The words come from Wiman, posing a statment (as a question) to Volf based on the following observation: “I fear those bigContinue reading “Why I Believe: Where The Glimmerings Meet Experience, Desire, and Philosophy”

Watching, conversing and writing about film has been a hobby of mine for a long while. Ever since I first graced the screens, which was a re-release of Lady and the Tramp back in the 80’s, I have been drawn to the allure of this mode of storytelling. This unique artform. Over the years thisContinue reading “Project Hail Mary and The True Patterns of Hope”