Why is the term “social justice” so loaded? And why does it seem neither reasonable nor just to many Christians? Given our politically-charged mood, how do we even have a constructive conversation about this subject with other people? These are questions that puzzle many Canadians, both Christian and non-Christian alike. The way we talk and think seems to have changed radically and quickly, but it’s hard to find a clear answer as to why. This is no accident. The most powerful cultural influences are usually the ones we simply take for granted. Put simply, you don’t need to have read an obscure philosopher or artist to internalize their ideas. In this case, we can trace a good deal of this cultural sea change to a relatively cloistered academic discipline: Critical Theory. Thanks in large part to growing activism and a lively presence in popular entertainment and the media, Critical Theory is no longer confined to the academy, where it is deeply entrenched. Descended from Marxism, Critical Theory assumes a radical revision of human identity and society. This highly complex movement is far from uniform, branching out to issues as diverse as economics, sexuality, science, entertainment, psychology, fashion, race, history and obesity. In this introductory dialogue, we’ll seek to make sense of critical theory by exploring three issues: 1) its origins 2) its cultural resonance 3) a healthy response.