Geez

Geez was an independent quarterly magazine founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 2005 by Aiden Enns and Will Braun. It occupied an unusual space between religious publishing, progressive politics, cultural criticism, and activist media. Rather than presenting faith as a matter of institutional authority alone, the magazine examined religion and spirituality through the experiences of readers, writers, artists, and organizers working at the edges of conventional belief. Its intended audience included both Christians and post-Christians, particularly people who remained interested in spiritual questions while feeling distant from established religious institutions. The publication’s original byline, “holy mischief in an age of fast faith,” expressed its deliberately irreverent approach. In 2015, the byline changed to “contemplative cultural resistance,” placing greater emphasis on reflection, justice, and resistance to consumerism and dominant political cultures. Geez combined essays, criticism, interviews, illustrations, graphics, satire, and personal writing. Its visual identity was an important part of the product: pointed illustrations and unconventional layouts supported a tone that was simultaneously playful, critical, socially conscious, and sometimes intentionally provocative. Enns first developed the idea for the magazine in 2003 while working as managing editor at Adbusters in Vancouver. After moving to Winnipeg, he recruited writer and activist Will Braun as co-editor and co-publisher. The first issue appeared in fall 2005 with approximately 500 paying subscribers and no advertising revenue. During its first year, the subscriber base grew to about 2,000. This early model reflected Geez’s independence and its distance from conventional advertising-supported magazine publishing. The magazine’s name was designed to be short, memorable, and capable of challenging conservative religious expectations. Its stated concept was to “put the ‘geez’ into Jesus.” Because “Geez” resembles an expletive derived from Jesus, some readers regarded the name as blasphemous. That tension was consistent with the publication’s effort to create a religious magazine for a new generation of Christians and post-Christians rather than to reassure traditional audiences. Geez initially operated from Enns’s home. In 2009, it moved its Winnipeg hub to Knox United Church, a community-oriented church in the city’s inner city. The magazine also developed recurring public programming, including annual sermon contests, extending its editorial interests into participatory events and performance. Enns’s long-standing opposition to consumerism was reflected in his promotion of the Buy Nothing Christmas movement and in the magazine’s broader interest in alternative economics, social justice, and spiritually informed activism. In 2019, Geez relocated to Detroit, Michigan. Around the same transition, Aiden Enns stepped down as editor and Lydia Wylie-Kellermann assumed the editorial role. The Detroit period continued the magazine’s cross-border distribution and its focus on spirituality, justice, and progressive cultural politics. In February 2024, the editorial board announced that the forthcoming 73rd issue would be the final issue, citing insufficient revenue. Geez therefore ended as a print magazine after nearly two decades of independent quarterly publishing. Its legacy rests on its combination of religious inquiry, anti-consumerist ethics, social criticism, distinctive graphic design, and a willingness to address readers who felt they existed at the fringes of faith.

Geez originated with an idea developed by Aiden Enns in 2003 while he was managing editor at Adbusters in Vancouver. Enns envisioned a publication that could address religious and spiritual questions without adopting the tone or assumptions of conventional religious magazines. After moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba, he brought writer and activist Will Braun into the project. The two became co-editors and co-publishers, establishing Geez as an independent quarterly publication. The first issue was published in fall 2005. The magazine began with roughly 500 paying subscribers and no advertising revenue, then reached approximately 2,000 subscribers during its first year. Its editorial identity was based on a mixture of spirituality, social justice, religious criticism, political commentary, satire, and cultural writing. Geez presented itself as a publication for people “at the fringes of faith,” including readers who identified with Christianity, post-Christian spirituality, or a critical relationship to organized religion. The title was intentionally provocative. The publication described its mission as putting the “geez” into Jesus, using a name that could sound irreverent or blasphemous to conservative religious audiences. That provocation was paired with a serious interest in faith, ethics, justice, and social transformation. The magazine’s original byline, “holy mischief in an age of fast faith,” captured its combination of humor and critique. In 2015, the byline changed to “contemplative cultural resistance,” signaling a formulation more directly centered on reflection and resistance to dominant consumer and political values. Geez was distinguished not only by its editorial topics but also by its design. Graphic designer Darryl Brown contributed to the magazine’s visual presentation, which became known for pointed illustrations, strong graphics, unusual combinations of satire and social consciousness, and a deliberately quirky tone. The publication’s approach treated visual communication as part of its argument rather than as decoration around conventional articles. The magazine initially operated from Enns’s home. In 2009, it moved its hub to Knox United Church, a community-minded church in Winnipeg’s inner city. Geez also organized annual sermon contests, creating a public and participatory counterpart to its print work. Enns’s anti-consumerist commitments were visible in the wider activities associated with the project. He founded the Buy Nothing Christmas movement and encouraged resistance to commercialized holiday consumption, themes that aligned with Geez’s interest in alternative economies and spiritually grounded social action. In 2019, Geez relocated to Detroit, Michigan. At that point Enns left the editor position and Lydia Wylie-Kellermann became editor. The magazine continued to distribute in Canada, the United States, and other international markets. In February 2024, its editorial board announced that issue 73 would be the final issue because the publication did not have sufficient revenue to continue. The announcement brought the magazine’s independent quarterly run to a close after nearly twenty years.

• 2024

  Final issue announced

  [1]Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  The editorial board announced that the upcoming 73rd issue would be the final issue because of insufficient revenue.

• 2019

  Relocation to Detroit and editorial transition

  [1]Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Geez relocated to Detroit, and Lydia Wylie-Kellermann became editor after Aiden Enns stepped down.

• 2015

  Editorial byline changes

  [1]Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  The publication replaced “holy mischief in an age of fast faith” with “contemplative cultural resistance.”

• 2009

  Winnipeg hub moves to Knox United Church

  [1]Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Geez moved its operating hub from Enns’s home to Knox United Church in Winnipeg’s inner city.

• 2006

  Early subscriber growth

  [1]Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  During its first year, the magazine’s subscriber base grew to approximately 2,000.

• 2005

  First issue published

  [1]Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Geez published its first issue in Winnipeg in fall 2005, beginning as an independent quarterly with about 500 paying subscribers and no advertising revenue.

• 2003

  Magazine concept developed

  [1]Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org

  Aiden Enns developed the idea for Geez while working as managing editor at Adbusters in Vancouver.

An independent, visually distinctive magazine for people exploring spirituality, religion, social justice, and progressive cultural politics outside conventional institutional and commercial frameworks.

• Independent print magazine · 2005

  Geez quarterly magazine

  The core Geez product was a quarterly print magazine covering spirituality, religion, social justice, progressive cultural politics, and alternative approaches to community and consumption. Issues combined essays, criticism, personal writing, satire, illustrations, and graphic design. The publication was aimed at readers who were interested in faith but located outside, or critically engaged with, conventional religious institutions. Its distinctive editorial voice and visual presentation made the magazine both a religious-cultural publication and an activist-oriented periodical.

• Cultural and editorial programming

  Annual sermon contests

  Geez hosted annual sermon contests that extended its interest in religious expression beyond the printed page. The contests reflected the magazine’s preference for accessible, participatory, and sometimes unconventional approaches to preaching and spiritual communication. They also connected Geez’s editorial community with public events and performance.

• Annual sermon contests

  Canada · United States

  Geez organized recurring sermon contests as a participatory program connected to its interest in religion, spirituality, and unconventional forms of preaching.

  Source
• Buy Nothing Christmas advocacy

  Canada · United States

  Founder Aiden Enns founded the Buy Nothing Christmas movement and promoted anti-consumerist participation. The initiative was consistent with the values associated with Geez, although the available reference identifies it primarily as Enns’s movement rather than a formally branded Geez campaign.

  Source

• 2024

  End publication after issue 73Other

  Background

  The editorial board stated that Geez did not have sufficient revenue to continue publishing.

  Action taken

  The board announced that the forthcoming 73rd issue would be the final issue.

  Aftermath

  The announcement marked the end of Geez as an independent quarterly magazine after nearly two decades.

  Source

• 2019

  Relocate the publication to DetroitStrategy

  Background

  After operating in Winnipeg for most of its history, Geez changed its geographic base.

  Action taken

  The magazine moved its hub to Detroit, Michigan, while continuing distribution in Canada, the United States, and internationally.

  Aftermath

  Aiden Enns stepped down as editor during the transition, and Lydia Wylie-Kellermann became editor.

  Source

• 2015

  Reframe the publication’s bylineStrategy

  Background

  Geez had used the byline “holy mischief in an age of fast faith” since its early period.

  Action taken

  The magazine changed its byline to “contemplative cultural resistance,” emphasizing reflection and resistance to prevailing cultural and consumer norms.

  Source

1. 1Geez (magazine)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Geez official websitegeezmagazine.org