Writing about religion, psychology, politics, and other impolite dinner conversations
Is there any other time in recent history when our culture has truly needed to be awake to death and allow ourselves to grieve, yet found ourselves so unable to do so? Christiana Peterson’s Awakened by Death: Life-Giving Lessons from the Mystics is prescient, published in 2020 but written pre-COVID. It is a much-needed voice for our time.
The response you probably didn't even know existed. Today we are going to talk about an often-overlooked trauma response that is near and dear to my heart: the Please / Appease response and how it shows up in religious and political climates.
Mark my words, people - one day we will refer to Tripp Fuller like we talk about famous theologians. In his most recent book Divine Self-Investment: An Open and Relational Constructive Christology, Fuller explores how we can find a new theological way forward between a Christian tradition that has often insisted on rules, dogma, and literalism, and a liberalizing culture that is becoming increasingly less concerned with religious tradition.
Anybody else raised in purity culture? You know, no sex before marriage, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, purity rings, really awful metaphors about how premarital sex degrades girls' value, belief that girls' bodies cause boys and men to stumble, etc... (*raises hand*). If you were raised in 90s and early 2000s evangelical culture like I was, you know it's a whole lifestyle. And often, a cause of much shame and trauma*.
Joe Biden is President. Kamala Harris is a historic Vice President. A 22-year-old poet stole all our hearts, and she referenced Micah and vines and fig trees like I did a couple weeks ago! When I grow up can I be her, please? Executive orders are being signed, an impeachment trial is being planned, all … Continue reading Ideologies of fear vs love
We can't let the marchers on the Capitol define Christianity with their "Jesus Saves" signs. But don't deny that if we ("we" in this instance being Christians who do not identify with Trumpism, or Christian nationalism, or think we're "not racist") do not speak up and act, we are part of the problem.
I began writing my spiritual memoir back in 2013, writing that now feels like the AOL / dial-up internet version of the book I am working on now. I have been transforming those memoir pieces into a book that examines fundamentalist evangelical Christianity and how it so frequently creates trauma in its adherents.
In the House of Friends: Understand and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in the Christian Church. Cults, spiritual abuse, religious trauma. We might think of things that happen in books or only in extreme circumstances, but Ken Garrett presents a very cogent explanation of what it looks like when this shows up in churches and denominations … Continue reading Review: “In the House of Friends”
If you’re seeking a story friendly enough for children that’s also packed full of meaning for kids and adults alike, take a peek inside Cory & the Seventh Story. Authors Brian McLaren (of progressive Christian renown) and Gareth Higgins (writer and co-founder of the Wild Goose festival) teamed up to challenge us to consider the … Continue reading “Cory and the Seventh Story” Review!
He was learning that the Qu’ran was filled with commandments to kill the infidel and about jihad and that Muslims were dangerous, bad people.
