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Popular Posts
- Confessions of a secret drunk {guest post by Heather Kopp + book giveaway!}
- Top 10 Signs of a Spiritually Abusive Church
- Why we left Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
- Belts and spatulas: a story of spanking, fear, failure and redemption
- Who is Elizabeth Esther?
- A Handy Guide For Dealing With Manipulative People
- The New Misogyny: "bro-culture" pastors, sexist Christian comedians and abuse apologetics disguised as female empowerment
- Good Christian girls don't talk about sex. We just obsess about it.
- Elizabeth Smart & the life-threatening danger of shame-based purity culture
- Why I don't make rules about modesty for my daughters
Category Archives: Religion
The New Misogyny: “bro-culture” pastors, sexist Christian comedians and abuse apologetics disguised as female empowerment
When I was growing up, the Christian misogynist wore a suit and tie, poured on enough cologne to slay an elephant and toted a Bible the size of an encyclopedia. This pastor boomed Biblical pronouncements from the pulpit and quoted … Continue reading
Don’t engage the crazy
Here are some thoughts on the futility of “helping” people who are still heavily invested in their harmful belief systems or who believe they are on a mission from God Himself.
A former religious extremist explains how radicalization happens {plus, a theory of how suspected Boston Marathon bombers were radicalized}
How do two sons of a political asylum refugee grow up to be terrorists? Their father loved America. Their uncle and aunt and everyone that knew them–including their neighbors and school mates–were shocked to hear these young men were suspected … Continue reading
Posted in Cults, Current Affairs, Religion
11 Comments
The price of religious shaming, the redemption of love {review of “The Whale” at South Coast Repertory}
I took a break from book writing this week to catch a play at South Coast Repertory. I walked into The Whale knowing nothing about it and walked out feeling completely known. And more than that: unconditionally accepted—simply for being human, … Continue reading
We’re baaaaaack! EE & Kristen Howerton “So Totally Relidge!”
Kristen Howerton and I had such a great time discussing politics that we decided to team up again and discuss another topic we care deeply about: religion! Our plan is to do a weekly recap about religious topics we’ve read … Continue reading
Posted in My Videos, Religion, So Totally Relidge!
22 Comments
Giving our men their balls back? How old-school misogyny is still thriving among Christians.
Old-school misogyny is alive and well. Except now it’s dressed in hip clothing. It probably blogs. It probably gets its ideas from books rife with harmful gender stereotypes. And it probably uses edgy language like “giving our men their balls … Continue reading
Catholicism is wrecking my life
I am done seeking. I am done striving. I am done looking for Something–Someone?–who isn’t there. Or, whom, at the very best, is there inconsistently. I have sustained myself in a state of spiritual half-starvation: living on glimpses, tastes, morsels, … Continue reading
Posted in Catholicism, Cults, Faith, RecoveringFundamentalist, Religion
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Throwing out the baby with the bathwater?
Here’s the thing: whenever someone warns you against “throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” they are trying to control you. And scare you. They are afraid your actions threaten their dearly held beliefs. First of all, what if there … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Her Royal Mommy-Ness, Religion, Societal Commentary
23 Comments
Jesus Saves @ Huntington Beach Pier
I am about three, sitting in the open bed of a pickup truck. We’re barreling down the freeway to Huntington Beach. I’m not scared. I’m excited. With the wind in my hair and the summer Southern California sunset all pink-gold … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Life in The OC, RecoveringFundamentalist, Religion
19 Comments
Elizabeth Smart & the life-threatening danger of shame-based purity culture
*trigger warning: rape, victim blaming* I read an interesting line in the New Yorker yesterday, describing an important characteristic about one of the kidnapped girls who was recently rescued in Cleveland: …she had to never forget who she was, and … Continue reading →