Terry Mattingly -- Rational Sheep
@tmattingly.skystack.xyz
Substack and podcast(s) about mass-media culture, with an emphasis on the church and the family in the age of "screen culture"
This is an automated Substack Account of https://tmattingly.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
This is an automated Substack Account of https://tmattingly.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
Guilt: The screens-life reality for many parents • Truth is, there's no easy way to avoid tensions and conflicts about these devices
Guilt: The screens-life reality for many parents
Truth is, there's no easy way to avoid tensions and conflicts about these devices
tmattingly.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Guilt: The screens-life reality for many parents • Truth is, there's no easy way to avoid tensions and conflicts about these devices
Thinking about Ozzy and Southern Baptists • A meditation on the Prince of Darkness was top Baptist Press story of 2025
Thinking about Ozzy and Southern Baptists
A meditation on the Prince of Darkness was top Baptist Press story of 2025
tmattingly.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Thinking about Ozzy and Southern Baptists • A meditation on the Prince of Darkness was top Baptist Press story of 2025
Crossroads -- Yancey is an "evangelical," but what kind? • The popular writer was a major force at Christianity Today and in Christian academia
Crossroads -- Yancey is an "evangelical," but what kind?
The popular writer was a major force at Christianity Today and in Christian academia
tmattingly.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Crossroads -- Yancey is an "evangelical," but what kind? • The popular writer was a major force at Christianity Today and in Christian academia
Merry Christmas to the NBA's brightest star • Does it matter that many athletes, like Nikola Jokić, are Christian believers?
Merry Christmas to the NBA's brightest star
Does it matter that many athletes, like Nikola Jokić, are Christian believers?
tmattingly.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Merry Christmas to the NBA's brightest star • Does it matter that many athletes, like Nikola Jokić, are Christian believers?
One of the painful mysteries of social media • What does it mean when a writer digs deep in print, yet draws little response?
One of the painful mysteries of social media
What does it mean when a writer digs deep in print, yet draws little response?
tmattingly.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:15 PM
One of the painful mysteries of social media • What does it mean when a writer digs deep in print, yet draws little response?
Thinking about conspiracy theory theories • Help! tmatt needs URL for a tweetstorm on (accurate) conspiracy theories
Thinking about conspiracy theory theories
Help! tmatt needs URL for a tweetstorm on (accurate) conspiracy theories
tmattingly.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Thinking about conspiracy theory theories • Help! tmatt needs URL for a tweetstorm on (accurate) conspiracy theories
Bonus podcast: It's true -- some churches are growing • And this is true: Many others -- often in the same denominations -- are shrinking
Bonus podcast: It's true -- some churches are growing
And this is true: Many others -- often in the same denominations -- are shrinking
tmattingly.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Bonus podcast: It's true -- some churches are growing • And this is true: Many others -- often in the same denominations -- are shrinking
Yes, kids, there is a Saint Nicholas • Was I a Grinch when I told our children that the saint was the real deal?
Yes, kids, there is a Saint Nicholas
Was I a Grinch when I told our children that the saint was the real deal?
tmattingly.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Yes, kids, there is a Saint Nicholas • Was I a Grinch when I told our children that the saint was the real deal?
It happened again: Why edit "It's a Wonderful Life"? • Maybe churches should encourage the faithful to dig deeper into this parable
It happened again: Why edit "It's a Wonderful Life"?
Maybe churches should encourage the faithful to dig deeper into this parable
tmattingly.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
It happened again: Why edit "It's a Wonderful Life"? • Maybe churches should encourage the faithful to dig deeper into this parable
Lessons learned from Christmas movies past • Readers: Do you have the time to "react" to a classic you may not have seen?
Lessons learned from Christmas movies past
Readers: Do you have the time to "react" to a classic you may not have seen?
tmattingly.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Lessons learned from Christmas movies past • Readers: Do you have the time to "react" to a classic you may not have seen?
Crossroads -- New pope was top 2025 religion-news story! • Of course he was. Did you think it would be an assassinated evangelical hero?
Crossroads -- New pope was top 2025 religion-news story!
Of course he was. Did you think it would be an assassinated evangelical hero?
tmattingly.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Crossroads -- New pope was top 2025 religion-news story! • Of course he was. Did you think it would be an assassinated evangelical hero?
Have a dizzy Vanity Fair holiday movies list • What is included? What movies were ignored or all but ignored?
Have a dizzy Vanity Fair holiday movies list
What is included? What movies were ignored or all but ignored?
tmattingly.substack.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Have a dizzy Vanity Fair holiday movies list • What is included? What movies were ignored or all but ignored?
Christmas flicks: Sir Michael Caine get the nod • Plus other worthy classics. Yes, I get chills when Linus says, "Lights please"
Christmas flicks: Sir Michael Caine get the nod
Plus other worthy classics. Yes, I get chills when Linus says, "Lights please"
tmattingly.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Christmas flicks: Sir Michael Caine get the nod • Plus other worthy classics. Yes, I get chills when Linus says, "Lights please"
Scared of AI becoming "too good"? • Tmatt worries: The need for paid subscribers; the allure of "effective" AI content
Scared of AI becoming "too good"?
Tmatt worries: The need for paid subscribers; the allure of "effective" AI content
tmattingly.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Scared of AI becoming "too good"? • Tmatt worries: The need for paid subscribers; the allure of "effective" AI content
Crossroads -- Ignoring the risky faith of Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai • An outspoken Catholic convert, the billionaire media magnate is sent back to prison
Crossroads -- Ignoring the risky faith of Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai
An outspoken Catholic convert, the billionaire media magnate is sent back to prison
tmattingly.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Crossroads -- Ignoring the risky faith of Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai • An outspoken Catholic convert, the billionaire media magnate is sent back to prison
A Jane Austen guide to preparing for Confession • It would be wise for Christian educators to pay more attention to this literary genius
A Jane Austen guide to preparing for Confession
It would be wise for Christian educators to pay more attention to this literary genius
tmattingly.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A Jane Austen guide to preparing for Confession • It would be wise for Christian educators to pay more attention to this literary genius
Readers: What would pull you into theaters? • A topic for Christian higher education: How not to write "Christian" screenplays
Readers: What would pull you into theaters?
A topic for Christian higher education: How not to write "Christian" screenplays
tmattingly.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Readers: What would pull you into theaters? • A topic for Christian higher education: How not to write "Christian" screenplays
Bonus podcast: Why are growing faith groups news? • Yes, politics has a lot to do with elite editors being interested in this topic
Bonus podcast: Why are growing faith groups news?
Yes, politics has a lot to do with elite editors being interested in this topic
tmattingly.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Bonus podcast: Why are growing faith groups news? • Yes, politics has a lot to do with elite editors being interested in this topic
Crossroads -- Is America experiencing revival? • The answer is "no," since some are seeing revivals, while others face funerals
Crossroads -- Is America experiencing revival?
The answer is "no," since some are seeing revivals, while others face funerals
tmattingly.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Crossroads -- Is America experiencing revival? • The answer is "no," since some are seeing revivals, while others face funerals
Tough love: Pour time into (real) community life • In a troubled age, all kinds of thinkers are waking up to the icy conditions around us
Tough love: Pour time into (real) community life
In a troubled age, all kinds of thinkers are waking up to the icy conditions around us
tmattingly.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Tough love: Pour time into (real) community life • In a troubled age, all kinds of thinkers are waking up to the icy conditions around us
Fact: Conan now has another talk show • Why pay attention to late-night revolution? It's a sign of post-TV culture
Fact: Conan now has another talk show
Why pay attention to late-night revolution? It's a sign of post-TV culture
tmattingly.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Fact: Conan now has another talk show • Why pay attention to late-night revolution? It's a sign of post-TV culture
Jonathan Haidt chats with an AI Devil • What would a digital demon suggest as the best ways to ruin millions of children?
Jonathan Haidt chats with an AI Devil
What would a digital demon suggest as the best ways to ruin millions of children?
tmattingly.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Jonathan Haidt chats with an AI Devil • What would a digital demon suggest as the best ways to ruin millions of children?
Crossroads -- Gray Lady examines those Orthodox converts • Yes, I have personal reasons for knocking Times report, but I can also praise much of it
Crossroads -- Gray Lady examines those Orthodox converts
Yes, I have personal reasons for knocking Times report, but I can also praise much of it
tmattingly.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Crossroads -- Gray Lady examines those Orthodox converts • Yes, I have personal reasons for knocking Times report, but I can also praise much of it
What is the "signal" in "Silence of the Lambs"? • Yes, every now and then, essential Rational Sheep concepts need to be clarified
What is the "signal" in "Silence of the Lambs"?
Yes, every now and then, essential Rational Sheep concepts need to be clarified
tmattingly.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:14 AM
What is the "signal" in "Silence of the Lambs"? • Yes, every now and then, essential Rational Sheep concepts need to be clarified
"Fargo" and the reality of evil and human choice • How do you handle important "signal" movies that contain hard "R" content?
"Fargo" and the reality of evil and human choice
How do you handle important "signal" movies that contain hard "R" content?
tmattingly.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
"Fargo" and the reality of evil and human choice • How do you handle important "signal" movies that contain hard "R" content?