Laura Turner
Laura Turner is a writer and editor living in San Francisco. In addition to being a regular contributor to Christianity Today’s “Her.meneutics” blog, she has also written for publications such as Books & Culture and The Bold Italic. She is interested in the intersection of church and culture.
All Stories by Laura Turner
Jesus: I’m too sexy for my cross
By Laura Turner — February 27, 2014
Any portrayal of the person of Jesus Christ will be culturally bound. But what do we do when Jesus is just plain sexy?
Whither Christian horror?
By Laura Turner — February 26, 2014
You won't see this genre represented at the Oscars, but Christian horror movies are proliferating in recent years. Is that a good thing?
Best moments in religion and film
By Laura Turner — February 25, 2014
Religion and Hollywood don't always mix. Here are a few films that got it really (mostly) right.
Why I love the Oscars, and you should too
By Laura Turner — February 24, 2014
The Oscars are narcissistic, indulgent, and a ridiculous waste of time for any serious-minded person. Except when they're not.
Tonya and Nancy: 20 years later, can we expect forgiveness?
By Laura Turner — February 21, 2014
Olympic ice skating brings back the memory of the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan debacle in 1994, and a new special set to air this week will address the incident again. Can we expect forgiveness, or is that too much to ask?
Jamie Coots’s death and what we don’t understand about snake handling
By Laura Turner — February 20, 2014
Jamie Coots, a southern pastor, died Saturday as the result of a snake bite sustained during a church service. What do we not understand about why sane people handle snakes in the name of God?
Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ and whitewashing the Scriptures
By Laura Turner — February 19, 2014
Darren Aronofsky's "Noah" has caught a lot of flak for being too true to the Bible story it depicts. Why do we insist on whitewashing Scripture?
When Olympic heroes fail, why do we care?
By Laura Turner — February 14, 2014
We don't know them, but we feel the pain when our Olympic heroes don't win a medal. Why do we care so much?
Shirley Temple Black is relieved
By Laura Turner — February 11, 2014
Shirley Temple Black died yesterday at the age of 85. She was the rare kind of celebrity who understood the fleeting nature of fame.
Valentine’s Day isn’t what you think it is
By Laura Turner — February 10, 2014
St. Valentine's day is not what you think. Now that you know the truth, check out one of these romantic movies to make the most of this special day.
The Solipsism of ‘Her’
By Laura Turner — February 6, 2014
The movie "Her" is meant to be a sweet portrayal of a sensitive man in the not-too-distant future. Why I think it fails on most all counts.
Joni Eareckson Tada: “This is no time to be wagging our finger”
By Laura Turner — February 4, 2014
The title song from the film "Alone Yet Not Alone" was nominated for an Oscar and then, in a move done only three times before in the Academy, the nomination was rescinded. Joni Eareckson Tada, a Christian speaker and the voice behind the song, talks about what it's been like.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: ‘Were Jesus alive today, he would be causing havoc’
By Laura Turner — February 3, 2014
Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of Hollywood's strangest and most remarkable talents. His death from a heroin overdose at 46 is a tragic loss for those who knew him as a friend or just from the screen.
Why we can wish Natalie Grant hadn’t left the Grammys
By Laura Turner — January 30, 2014
Christian singer Natalie Grant was nominated for two Gospel Grammys on Sunday night. She objected to some of the performances and left the ceremony early. Here's why I wish she would have stayed.
Pete Seeger’s legacy of peace and justice through music
By Laura Turner — January 29, 2014
Pete Seeger, who died Monday at 94: "I used to say I was an atheist. Now I say, it's all according to your definition of God."
