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
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This is an automated Substack Account of https://tmattingly.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
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?
Anyone doing some shopping these days? • Hey! Don't buy plush toys with AI programs that plug munchkins into the Internet!
Anyone doing some shopping these days?
Hey! Don't buy plush toys with AI programs that plug munchkins into the Internet!
tmattingly.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Anyone doing some shopping these days? • Hey! Don't buy plush toys with AI programs that plug munchkins into the Internet!
Crossroads -- Prayers, please, for the Kievan Lavra • A flashback for all who are carefully watching the tortured peace process
Crossroads -- Prayers, please, for the Kievan Lavra
A flashback for all who are carefully watching the tortured peace process
tmattingly.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Crossroads -- Prayers, please, for the Kievan Lavra • A flashback for all who are carefully watching the tortured peace process
Thanksgiving vs. "Friendsgiving" 2025 • Where was I when the media created a kind of "Chrismukkah" take on this feast?
Thanksgiving vs. "Friendsgiving" 2025
Where was I when the media created a kind of "Chrismukkah" take on this feast?
tmattingly.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Thanksgiving vs. "Friendsgiving" 2025 • Where was I when the media created a kind of "Chrismukkah" take on this feast?
Theological questions (#gulp) about AI music • If computers can write "Walk My Walk" and generic sermons, how about worship songs?
Theological questions (#gulp) about AI music
If computers can write "Walk My Walk" and generic sermons, how about worship songs?
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Theological questions (#gulp) about AI music • If computers can write "Walk My Walk" and generic sermons, how about worship songs?
Crossroads -- Christian colleges vs. Turning Point? • Covering these fights will require reporters to discuss (#OhNo) doctrine
Crossroads -- Christian colleges vs. Turning Point?
Covering these fights will require reporters to discuss (#OhNo) doctrine
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Crossroads -- Christian colleges vs. Turning Point? • Covering these fights will require reporters to discuss (#OhNo) doctrine
Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair • Once "liberal," now some blue ZIP code folks worry that this look is "traditional"
Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair
Once "liberal," now some blue ZIP code folks worry that this look is "traditional"
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair • Once "liberal," now some blue ZIP code folks worry that this look is "traditional"
Why the Doctor Who-Disney+ flop matters • Will the BBC powers that be learn any lessons from the crash of this legendary franchise?
Why the Doctor Who-Disney+ flop matters
Will the BBC powers that be learn any lessons from the crash of this legendary franchise?
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Why the Doctor Who-Disney+ flop matters • Will the BBC powers that be learn any lessons from the crash of this legendary franchise?
Thinker: The Free Press dips into the virtues of J.K. Rowling • However, there's a rather important hole in that "Things Worth Remembering" feature
Thinker: The Free Press dips into the virtues of J.K. Rowling
However, there's a rather important hole in that "Things Worth Remembering" feature
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Thinker: The Free Press dips into the virtues of J.K. Rowling • However, there's a rather important hole in that "Things Worth Remembering" feature
Crossroads -- "Good" vs. "bad" bishops in the news (again) • Journalists affirm that the new USCCB leader is a "conservative culture warrior"
Crossroads -- "Good" vs. "bad" bishops in the news (again)
Journalists affirm that the new USCCB leader is a "conservative culture warrior"
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Crossroads -- "Good" vs. "bad" bishops in the news (again) • Journalists affirm that the new USCCB leader is a "conservative culture warrior"
Allow me to ask my Tolkien-hate question again • The creator of Middle Earth was a traditional Catholic, which means he was a complex man
Allow me to ask my Tolkien-hate question again
The creator of Middle Earth was a traditional Catholic, which means he was a complex man
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Allow me to ask my Tolkien-hate question again • The creator of Middle Earth was a traditional Catholic, which means he was a complex man
Concerning Charlie Kirk and online gladiators • Do we have choices now about what we can see and what we cannot unsee?
Concerning Charlie Kirk and online gladiators
Do we have choices now about what we can see and what we cannot unsee?
tmattingly.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Concerning Charlie Kirk and online gladiators • Do we have choices now about what we can see and what we cannot unsee?