Politics, Religion

Just kidding I’m never going to write that

*Note: I want to acknowledge that everyone with a uterus is affected by this topic, regardless of gender identity. My story When I was younger, I was taught that an unborn fetus is a “blob” in the uterus, by someone born in the 1950s. I’d seen and experienced sexism, and started to identify as a feminist. I believed in the separation between church and state, and thought abortion limits were a religious overreach. Somewhat matter-of-factly, I figured I was pro-choice. I thought, the church doesn’t belong in peoples’ doctor appointments, …

If you’re looking at the new year, looking at the world, and at life and, like so many of us, have reached the bottom knot of your rope ◦ If you can’t believe what the church has become and it makes you almost physically sick to contemplate the vast deception, misleading, lies even from the people entrusted with the guarding of sheep ◦ If you’re alone distanced rejected or you’ve had to distance yourself for the sake of protection ◦ Disillusioned Bereft Confused Exhausted ◦ There’s a fountain that is …

I grew up in a conservative, fundamentalist Christian church. I’ve voted for our current Republican congressman (with many regrets, I might add). I live in an area that is dominated by conservative voices. My church circle is conservative. Though my immediate family is liberal, much of my extended family is conservative. Our closest family friends are conservative. Though I’m sure not all conservatives share the same views, I really think I’ve taken the time to listen and try to understand the way that many conservative people are viewing things right …

For my brothers, especially: This is a PSA that you do not have to be perfect. You do not have to have it all together. You do not have to be strong. You don’t have to always know what to do. It’s ok to fail. You do not have to have the perfect home. You do not have to have the perfect family. You do not have to get married, or have children. You do not have to be successful. You do not have to make a lot of money. …

For my sisters, especially: This is a PSA that you do not have to be perfect. You do not have to have it all together. You do not have to have a perfect home. You do not have to have a perfect family. You can have a messy house. You do not have to have kids. If you have kids, they do not have to respect you 100% of the time. If you are married, you do not have to get along with your spouse 100% of the time, and …

This is a shortened version of my original post. For me personally, here is why I call myself a Progressive Christian. 1. Social and environmental justice I see God’s call for us to “love our neighbor as ourselves” as directly related to social and environmental justice efforts. I want to be part of efforts to help the poor and needy, both on an individual level, and on a systemic level. I want to do my best to live in a way that is loving and respectful towards the planet, the …

I’m trying very hard not to. I’m trying to focus on this current moment. Trying to focus on the joys and challenges of the here and now. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m kind of dreading 2024. 😂 .😭 I often remember something that John Oliver said in his show, directly following Trump’s 2016 election. He said to put a post-it on your fridge that says “This is not normal.” To remind you that the way governmental officials were acting was not normal. That the kind …

Until earlier this month, Bryan Riley of Brandon, Florida, worked as a security guard at a church. He was an ex-marine sharpshooter, and had served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He suffered from PTSD. Like many do, he believed he could hear God directly speaking to him. He told his girlfriend that “God was telling him” to go rescue a girl named Amber, who he believed to be suicidal and a victim of sex trafficking. During the day on Saturday, September 4th, Bryan went to a home near Lakeland, Florida, where …

I have never known a more polarized time. Many of us spend a great deal of time on social media. The algorithms show us the content that elicits the strongest emotional reaction from us- the ones we can’t just “keep scrolling” and pass by. The ones that tug at our hearts the most, and the ones that get us the most angry. So people are mad about real things, and many of us spend much of our time looking at posts in which people are mad, which then helps form …