Back in the Nineties, Joseph Hatcher experienced Francis Schaeffer–style cognitive dissonance between his newfound Fundamentalist faith and the pop culture he loved. This struggle led him to found Wonder magazine. That magazine's defense of wonder-filled culture uncovered a certain sacramental logic. This eventually would lead many of its staff to take a good hard look at Rome. Hatcher's books include The Magic Eightball Test, in which he attempts to parse his own love of spooky culture, and She Might Be Hungry, a novel that pits Primitive Baptist vampires against a Catholic priest who doesn't believe in the Creed — much less in the undead.
Author: Joseph Hatcher
Pandemic Policy: Singing Banned in CA, Catholic Victory in NY
While California officials applaud public protests involving tens of thousands of not exactly COVID-mindful individuals, the same officials have informed “houses of worship” that due to the risk of spreading the virus their members are banned from singing or chanting. …
The Kitsch Council
Back in 1994, my inquiry into the claims of the Catholic Church took a decisive turn. I transitioned from reading books in the safety of my own home to visiting actual parishes and signing up for RCIA. At this point, …
Mrs America and the Truth about the Women’s Movement
It’s one thing to take a saintly cultural icon like Mister Rogers and bring him down to earth. It’s quite another — and, apparently, the sign of a really daring and accomplished actor — to take a despised public figure …
Mass with the Phantom Stranger
A few Sundays ago, quite against my will, I woke up around 4:30 AM. I found that I could not go back to sleep, and I realized that if I got myself together, I could make the two-hour drive up …