Ryan Hamm
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Writer, editor, podcast co-host. Anglican. Bad jokes. Grumpy opinions. Family sentimentalist. No one is to blame for my opinions but me.
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Articles by Ryan Hamm
Marilyn Manson, Ye and the art of the troll
(RNS) — It’s been a long time since the Kanye West Experience was primarily about the music. And there’s been a lot of music. But this weekend, at the latest iteration of his gospel music Sunday Service events, West (now legally known as Ye) reminded everyone via a set of Twitter posts that his main thing of late has been trolling. Flanked by the usual Sunday Service crowd of choristers wearing all white, he was also joined by Justin Bieber, Roddy Ricch and … Marilyn Manson.
Patriotism and Christianity
Patriotism and Christianity What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism? Ryan Hamm For American Christians, there might not be an issue more complicated or wrapped in history and politics than patriotism. Even saying the word patriotism in a gathering of Christians is likely to garner as many responses as there are people. A love for one's country is looked on with both reverence and revulsion by Christians … and both sides seem to have good reasons.
Happy Dyngus Day!
For most people, April 5 is just another Monday. In Cleveland, it’s a high holy day. Dyngus Day is always Easter Monday, the first day of the week after Easter and—importantly—the first weekday after Lent. It’s an Eastern European holiday, with deep roots in Poland. But in some American cities, including Cleveland, Buff…
Why Midwestern Church Potlucks Matter
Midwestern church potlucks are eerily similar. It doesn’t matter much what state you’re in, or even what denomination you belong to. I’ve figured that out over the years. I’ve probably been to hundreds of them—in small towns and cities, at churches of all sizes, from Minnesota to Nebraska to South Dakota to Iowa to Ohio.
Why Lent Matters
If you’re like me, you grew up without much familiarity of the church calendar. You’d probably heard of Advent (or even celebrated it), and you’d probably heard of Lent, even if it just meant your Catholic friends couldn’t eat meat on Friday. But then there was that one day, usually in February or March, when you’d see people all over town with little black smudges on their forehead. What was that about?
How to understand news-and “news”-in 2020
There are a lot of things that have annoyed me in 2020. We had a baby, were immersed in a pandemic like the rest of the world, have a first-grader doing virtual school, and sold and bought a house, so the list of grievances, petty or otherwise, is long. But maybe my biggest pet peeve of 2020 is when people talk about “the media.” This is annoying for many reasons.
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison If you’re into comics at all, chances are you’ve got strong opinions about Scottish comic book writer Grant Morrison. Widely loved for his work on JLA, The Invisibles, We3, and All Star Superman, and widely panned for his work on Final Crisis and Batman R.I.P., Morrison has become something of a measuring stick for comic fans: If you love him, you really love him, and if you hate him, you really hate him.
Shanghai Red
Shanghai Red Image Apr 01, 2019 Issue #65 - Mitski and boygenius By Ryan E.C. Hamm Shanghai Red, written by Christopher Sebela, with art by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and Joshua Hixson, is a bloody revenge story set in 19th century Portland. Red, the main character, has been shanghaied—kidnapped and forced to work on a ship for her freedom—and she's out to ruin those responsible.
The Many Lessons of Ash Wednesday
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2010. If you’re like me, you grew up without much familiarity of the church calendar. You’d probably heard of Advent (or even celebrated it), and you’d probably heard of Lent, even if it just meant your Catholic friends couldn’t eat meat on Friday. But then there was that one day, usually in February or March, when you’d see people all over town with little black smudges on their forehead. What was that about?
Mitski: Be the Cowboy (Dead Oceans) Review
Mitski Miyawaki has a hard task: She has to somehow produce a follow up to her 2016 album Puberty 2, a master-class of indie-rock with punk and balladeer edges that touched on identity, love, and rage. Mitski's new album, Be the Cowboy, doesn't quite reach those but it almost feels unfair—if this wasn't following up such a monumental album, it would a great achievement.
How the 'Good Samaritan' Story Teaches Us About Racial Empathy
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. –Luke 10:31-32 When it comes to black history, who has played the role of priests and Levites? Who, after seeing black people in dire need, has passed by on the other side? Let’s begin in 1852, at the height of slavery.
You Need to Hang Out With People of Other Faiths More
The history of religion, especially the proverbial “trinity” (see what I did there?) of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, is generally a story of conflict. Although these Abrahamic traditions share a lot in common, from their stories of shared ancestries, to their patriarchal roots, to various figures and prophets like Jesus, Moses, the Angel Gabriel, and so on, many understand these faith traditions as rivals.
The Anglican Church Is Asking Members to Give Up Plastic Products for Lent
The Lenten season is about giving up indulgences and sins, especially. This season, the Church of England is taking it a step forward and asking people to give up the indulgence of plastic consumer products, which wreak havoc on the environment.
The Many Lessons of Ash Wednesday - RELEVANT Magazine
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2010. If you’re like me, you grew up without much familiarity of the church calendar. You’d probably heard of Advent (or even celebrated it), and you’d probably heard of Lent, even if it just meant your Catholic friends couldn’t eat meat on Friday. But then there was that one day, usually in February or March, when you’d see people all over town with little black smudges on their forehead. What was that about?
Are Certain Prayers Just a Waste of Time?
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You’re sitting in your car waiting for the police officer to come back with your license and registration. Whether or not he gives you a ticket is a toss-up. At the moment, based on the fact that he didn’t smile when you attempted a small joke, odds are you’re getting a ticket. You look in your rearview mirror, the lights are still flashing, you see the officer typing something into his computer, and that’s when it happens: You decide to pray.
Brewhaha: A Definitive Ranking Of Cheap Beer.
This weekend, America turns 240. It’s a chance to honor the best of America and hopefully gather with family and friends, turn up Bruce Springsteen as loud as legally possible, and spend your day watching baseball and fireworks. Oh, and of course, drinking beer. We’ve already covered the best beers to take to a cookout — if you’re invited over for some grilling and fireworks, that list will work just as well for the Fourth.
The Myth Of The Lesser Evil
You’ve seen it all over your timeline and feed: “The 2016 election is a choice between two awful decisions.” “Time to hold your nose and vote for the least bad option.” “The 2016 presidential election really scrapes the bottom of the barrel.” Whether your friends or people you follow are on the right or on the left, you’ve seen these posts.
Brewhaha: Make That Memorial Day Party A BEER-B-Q.
Can you feel it? That wonderful sense that spring is finally here? If you don’t believe me, breathe in the scents (if you even can — allergy season is brutal this year). What’s that you smell? Cherry blossoms, certainly. Probably some freshly cut grass. And what’s that smoky scent just on the edge? Oh yes: barbecue season is officially upon us. That also means that the federal holiday of barbecuing, Memorial Day, is right around the corner.
Brewhaha: A Beer For All Saisons
Ah, Saisons. A beer for all saisons. I promise that is the last time I will use that pun, but we can all agree, it needed to be used at least once. Shortly after I left college, I lived in Chicago — I loved (and still love) the city, and it a was a great place to try to figure out how to be an adult with a bunch of friends. But one of the things I found living in a city that tended to be transient was that my friends all moved a lot.
Brewhaha: How IPAs Became America’s Go-To Craft Beer Style
Ah, spring time: One week you find yourself whistling while you stroll along a sidewalk, warmed by the sun, birds chirping behind you. The next week, you’re huddled under a winter coat, feet soaked by sleet, and your car once again covered in that liquid salt they spray on the road. For most of the United States, spring is a season of tumultuous beauty, a time when brief glimpses of summer are given and then taken away.
The Moment Beer Became Magic
I remember the first time I realized beer could be special. It was in the mid-’00s, and I’d been reading about these crazy beers that Trappist monks were brewing in Belgium. As a recent college grad who 1) wanted to be snobby about everything and 2) was kind of a theology dork, this was right up my alley. I went with a friend to the local beer store and picked up a bottle of Chimay Blue to split.
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