Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Rene and Georgette Magritte and I miss Warren Throckmorton

Rene and Georgette Magritte and I miss Warren Throckmorton

Last updated on: June 6, 2018 at 12:23 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

Rene and Georgette Magritte and I miss Warren Throckmorton 2018-06-06T12:23:02-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I love the song Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog after the War.

Two nights ago, I heard Paul Simon tell how a picture’s awkward title inspired a song. Great genius inspires great genius. The artist Rene Magritte never stops making me laugh and think. Magritte’s work was absurd, in one way obvious to the point of heavy-handedness, but always backed up with a smile.

It was the smile that tormented the powerful, laughed at them, and made them realize they were wrong. Paul Simon added insult to injury by writing a brilliant song using a title from a picture book: absurd about absurdity.

How Warren Throckmorton is like Paul Simon

It is for all these reasons that Patheos and Patheos Evangelical need Warren Throckmorton. He is a scholar with a light touch, but one who sees the absurdity of the powerful. He has the temerity to keep telling the truth until the truth, absurd in our particular era, makes you laugh. It is obvious now that someone like David Barton was a fraud, but Throckmorton recognized it first.

His targets? They are many, but his humor and good will are true, start to finish. He is right again and again and when he is wrong he is sorry.

Alleluia!

I began so badly in my life that I lack the confidence Warren showed weekly. He just kept painting the absurdity of crooks, con men, and fake Christians. Lie to Warren and he will not take joy in exposing the lie, but in loving the truth. That is a rare thing: the happy prosecutor intent on truth.

Why I Miss Warren Throckmorton

I love writing here at Patheos. I am thankful to do so. Nobody will ever confuse me with a leftist—I love free people and free markets. I am also a traditionalist: Trollope with an analytic philosophy degree.

Of course a private company can pick their writers and of course they can change directions. I simply miss Warren Throckmorton. I miss him the way I already miss last weekend’s Paul Simon concert: searing honesty combined with jollity. I miss Warren Throckmorton the way I miss a press that never bows the knee to power.

If you have ever been disillusioned by an abuse of power, Throckmorton understands. He knows it is absurd to marry Jesus to power.

Why Patheon Needs Warren Throckmorton

Here is a thought: the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. He also takes away and then gives back. Maybe Patheos made a mistake and could bring Warren Throckmorton back. After all, American Church culture needs some jolly souls invested in truth, goodness, and beauty. As the American church, we need fewer grifters, liars for Jesus, who are so narrow they can see down a straw with both eyes.

Bring him back Patheos:

The easy stream of laughter
Flowing through the air
Rene and Georgette Magritte
With their dog apres la guerre

Rachel Motte edited this essay and added the sub-headings.

Previous Post

June 5, 2018

Look for Truth Yourself (Summer in the Republic 2)

Next Post

June 7, 2018 How Democracy Dies (Summer in The Republic 3)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the last apostle to die?

Select your answer to see how you score.

James John Paul Peter

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »