EDITOR’S NOTE: “Signs and Wonders” is a column that shares thoughts on news items that either do not rise to the level of a news story for MinistryWatch or are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” My goal is to be punchy, opinionated, and not to worry much about being slightly off brand. If that is not for you, no hard feelings. But if it is…read on.
Every Home an Abortion Clinic
Since Dobbs overturned Roe v. Wade, abortions in the U.S. have continued to rise, up 21% from 2020 to 2025. And abortion pills are changing where abortions happen. Care Net President Roland Warren puts it this way: “They’ve been able to turn every apartment room, dorm room, bathroom, bedroom into an abortion clinic overnight because of the abortion pill.” You can watch Roland Warren give his melancholy assessment of the current state of abortion in America here.
Christianity Today in the New York Times
The turmoil at Christianity Today continues. The latest controversy concerns an article about Elizabeth Eliot. An article about her alleged bisexuality was posted, taken down, and then posted again. And at each step of the way, social media blew up with comments. Now, the mess has made its way into the New York Times. Reporter Ruth Graham does not break any news here. Most of what she covers I wrote about two weeks ago here. But she does give a mostly accurate overview of what has gone on there. I recommend her story to you. By the way, I will have more to say about the Elizabeth Eliot controversy in an upcoming “Editor’s Notebook” column.
No One’s Reading? Really?
Columnist and provocateur Rod Dreher is always interesting and often helpful. In his latest column he laments that people are reading less today than in the past. But the data are not clear on this point. According to Pew surveys, Americans are reading less literature for pleasure than they did 30 years ago, and some surveys show that frequent readers are reading fewer books. However, the percentage of adults who read at least one book in any format has been comparatively stable. I note the irony here. Dreher blamed digital media for the decline. But he offered his lament in a 3,000-word column, published online. That is equivalent to a book chapter.
Bottom line: There is no real evidence that we are reading less. But we are reading fewer books, and much more of what we read is digital, not analog.
Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.
Higher Education Crisis
We write a lot here at MinistryWatch about the crisis facing Christian higher education. You can find more than 50 articles on the topic on our website. Demographics, technology, and shifting attitudes about a college degree have created a crisis. That is why I was taken by a recent PBS report, which focused on the cost of these college closures on the small towns they call home. As each school shutters, students, faculty, and the surrounding community struggle to find a way forward. Paul Solman reports on one such school — Hampshire College — and the effects of its demise. It is part of a PBS higher education series, Rethinking College, and produced in collaboration with the Hechinger Report.
Netflix and Narnia
I have not, so far, weighed in on the Narnia debacle. It is not really “our lane” here at MinistryWatch. But, since this column allows me to wander out of our lane a bit, here I go.
First, I did not love the trailer. It was all CGI and art-rock bluster. (“Stairway to Heaven” — really?) It is hard to imagine a less Narnian Narnia. I do not think Lewis’s Narnia tale is sacred scripture, but they do have a worldview, and a proper understanding of Aslan is central to grasping the tale’s worldview. Meryl Streep as Aslan reflects either a profound lack of understanding of the core ideas of the Narnia story, or an intentional disrespect for them.
I know schadenfreude (taking pleasure in another’s misfortune) is a sin, so I will pretend not to take some delight in news that the production of the film appears to be troubled. The movie has a budget of $300 million, so the stakes are high. Test screenings went poorly, and Netflix executives are demanding re-shoots. That is never a good sign, and it could be why a planned Thanksgiving release was moved back to February.
Then comes this news: On October 14, Netflix laid off roughly 1,000 employees, including film executive Doug Belgrad. Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria’s departure was announced later that week, and film chief Dan Lin’s departure followed on October 19. Netflix has said it wants to improve its programming and execution. But industry trade Variety, on Oct. 20, published, “Why Netflix Fired Dan Lin (and the Truth About His Tension With Greta Gerwig Over ‘Narnia’).” It discusses tensions surrounding the film alongside broader questions about Netflix’s film strategy.
I do not want to judge the film before I have seen it. It could be good. But I doubt it.
New on the Podcast
If you are just discovering our podcast, welcome aboard. We now have more than 650 episodes for you to binge on. This week, we dropped a new interview with Carlos Campo, president of the Museum of the Bible. We talk about the remarkable turnaround at that organization. I strongly recommend this conversation, which you can find here.