Celebrating the AncientsFrom before the time of Christ, pagan philosophers and storytellers have been influencing thought and shaping culture. In this issue dedicated to the ancient philosophers that...

The Abolition of Man is a masterful commentary on objective truth and the dangers of relativism by the British scholar and apologist, C. S. Lewis. Composed in the middle of a world wracked by war and...

The Power of ImaginationOur imaginations are often treated as relics of our childhood. We are told to grow up and leave that sense of awe and wonder behind. What if these modernistic tendencies were entirely...

What is it about a story that has the power to change a person, through a person a society, and through a society the world?It is that through story and the faculty of imagination, we connect and engage...

Mystery: Detecting Truth in the DarknessA good mystery brings the reader into the mind of the detective: searching for clues, questioning suspects, and coming to conclusions. We like to play along, hoping...

A Garden of Medieval MindsThe medieval period was a time of greats: great courage, great words, great light, and great darkness. The writers, philosophers, and artists of the time still touch and influence...

Where would a culture be without its heroes and their acts of courage? How can a society survive without strength and hope?It is in the dark times and in moments of weakness that stories of courage and...

Dragons: History, Myths, and LegendsGreedy, wicked, vengeful, powerful. Dragons occupy a powerful position in cultural imaginations across the world and across the years. From C.S. Lewis's boy who almost...

Venturing to Worlds UnknownScience fiction writers are our modern seers of sorts. Creating worlds that are not our own, they inspire us to look beyond and imagine "what if?" The summer edition of An Unexpected...

Celebrating the Works of George MacDonaldGeorge MacDonald inspired the imaginative visions of C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and so many others. He presents the reader with an enchanted...

The imago Dei: Man as God's Image Bearers"Let us make man in our image," so begins the relationship between God and his image bearers, beings made in his own image. What does it mean to be God's image...

Celebrating the Living Witness of People and Places of the Christian Faith Saints and sanctuaries are critical parts of the Christian experience. We learn from those who have gone before or walk alongside...

G. K. Chesterton seemed to have something to say about almost anything. A cultural critic and writer of the highest degree, he utilized both wit and paradox as he sought to not only to challenge bad philosophy...

J.R.R. Tolkien was the British author who fired the imagination of a generation with his beloved works: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.In this collection of essays, short stories, and poems, we...

From the 17th century's self-styled Enlightenment to the shell shock of the 20th century's Great War, the conventions and attitudes known as Modernity held significant sway over the Western mind. Long...

It is in the deepest darkness that light shines most brightly. For this reason, dystopian stories are often an effective channel to communicate the good news of the Gospel. Our worst failings illustrate...

When Michael Ward's Planet Narnia emerged a decade ago, myriad things were pulled into its orbit: The immense gravitational force altered the field of C.S. Lewis studies, to be sure, but the discovery's...

What Makes a Superhero? Superheroes captivate our cultural imagination. From reading comic books in our childhood bedrooms to watching the latest blockbuster on the silver screen, we long to see the champion...

Film and music are the language of modern culture. What messages are being conveyed in the movies and songs we love? An Unexpected Journal explores the truths embedded within popular media.Contributors"Serenity...

Planting the Seeds of Imagination Holly Ordway has established herself as one of the preeminent voices in the field of cultural apologetics. Her ability to engage with the imagination is clearly demonstrated...