Daniel Silliman
@danielsilliman.bsky.social
Journalist. Historian. Church deacon. Raising cats, chickens, and bees in Appalachia.
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.
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.
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
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
A very Andrei Rublev-style seating arrangement. Maybe not intentional. But maybe?
November 18, 2025 at 1:15 AM
A very Andrei Rublev-style seating arrangement. Maybe not intentional. But maybe?
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.
A personal note: I am leaving CT.
November 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
A personal note: I am leaving CT.
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.
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.)
From my latest substack, a story about strange sanctification: danielsilliman.substack.com/p/dodge-the-...
November 5, 2025 at 12:20 PM
From my latest substack, a story about strange sanctification: danielsilliman.substack.com/p/dodge-the-...
Back when religious conflict came with limericks
November 5, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Back when religious conflict came with limericks
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
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
Funny but France is also kind of making a powerful point about rule of law right now:
October 21, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Funny but France is also kind of making a powerful point about rule of law right now:
From the archives, the evangelical "Mount Rushmore," per 1970s @christianitytoday.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
From the archives, the evangelical "Mount Rushmore," per 1970s @christianitytoday.com
Classic cover from the @christianitytoday.com archives
October 2, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Classic cover from the @christianitytoday.com archives
Last year I looked at why Huffman was different than the other ministers around Nixon. You can read that (unlocked) here: www.christianitytoday.com/2024/07/rich...
September 30, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Last year I looked at why Huffman was different than the other ministers around Nixon. You can read that (unlocked) here: www.christianitytoday.com/2024/07/rich...
I first discovered John Huffman, the one minister around Nixon who told the president he should publicly confess to Watergate, in the digital archives of old newspapers.
Only later did I realize he was connected to @christianitytoday.com, was still alive, and I would one day write his obit.
Only later did I realize he was connected to @christianitytoday.com, was still alive, and I would one day write his obit.
September 30, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I first discovered John Huffman, the one minister around Nixon who told the president he should publicly confess to Watergate, in the digital archives of old newspapers.
Only later did I realize he was connected to @christianitytoday.com, was still alive, and I would one day write his obit.
Only later did I realize he was connected to @christianitytoday.com, was still alive, and I would one day write his obit.
Today in the life of my Appalachian church, we remembered the hurricane that hit a year ago, prayed for a family whose daughter has died, for a family whose daughter is having emergency brain surgery, and for a minister who has returned home to a country at war.
Also, Scripture, singing, a potluck.
Also, Scripture, singing, a potluck.
September 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Today in the life of my Appalachian church, we remembered the hurricane that hit a year ago, prayed for a family whose daughter has died, for a family whose daughter is having emergency brain surgery, and for a minister who has returned home to a country at war.
Also, Scripture, singing, a potluck.
Also, Scripture, singing, a potluck.
Popular Trinitarian beliefs not adding up, per the latest Lifeway study.
September 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Popular Trinitarian beliefs not adding up, per the latest Lifeway study.
From America's next poet laureate:
September 16, 2025 at 11:06 AM
From America's next poet laureate: