David Bazan is a man who needs little introduction in ex-Evangelical circles. In his career as frontman for indie group Pedro the Lion and as a solo artist, Bazan has consistently set strikingly intimate lyrics to haunting melodies, not eschewing doubt and darkness even when he was a Christian artist. Bazan's authenticity was and is … Continue reading Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Singer-Songwriter David Bazan
Ex-Evangelical Means Much More than Dropping a Label: A Response to Josiah Hesse
This morning, journalist, novelist, and ex-Evangelical Josiah Hesse published an important article in The Guardian. The original (and, as of 5:06 p.m. Eastern, current) headline of the article is "'Exvangelicals': Why More Religious People are Rejecting the Evangelical Label." Hesse's article focuses primarily on a new wave of Christians dissociating themselves from the term "Evangelical" due to … Continue reading Ex-Evangelical Means Much More than Dropping a Label: A Response to Josiah Hesse
Transgender Employment Non-Discrimination and Contraception Access Rolled Back. The Trump Administration Keeps Giving us Reasons to #EmptyThePews
Yesterday, the news broke that Attorney General Jeff Sessions' (alternative) Justice Department was rescinding Obama era transgender employment non-discrimination protections. And today, in a move that is almost certainly illegal and will be challenged in court, Health and Human Services moved to essentially eliminate the ACA's contraception mandate, allowing educational institutions and even publicly traded … Continue reading Transgender Employment Non-Discrimination and Contraception Access Rolled Back. The Trump Administration Keeps Giving us Reasons to #EmptyThePews
The Washington Post and the Kaepernick Controversy: A Tale of Normalizing Toxic Christianity
Yesterday, amid continuing white Evangelical freakout about a black man who refused to stand for the national anthem in order to protest racial injustice--a dog bites man story in and of itself, of course, or at least it should be--The Washington Post published Michael Frost's "Colin Kaepernick vs. Tim Tebow: A Tale of Two Christians on … Continue reading The Washington Post and the Kaepernick Controversy: A Tale of Normalizing Toxic Christianity
Who’s Afraid of the Rapture? Some Thoughts on Conservative Christian Apocalypticism and its Consequences
Happy Rapture Day? It's that time again. That time of year when the fall semester gets into full swing, the leaves in the Midwest and New England begin to change color (or maybe not this year, thanks Obama climate change), and certain conservative Christians go into a frenzy about the rapture. You know, that glorious event … Continue reading Who’s Afraid of the Rapture? Some Thoughts on Conservative Christian Apocalypticism and its Consequences
#EmptyThePews – If You Attend a Trumpist Church, it’s Time to Leave in Protest
Two days ago, #IllegitimatePresident's economic advisory councils dissolved amid an exodus of CEOs unwilling to be associated with Trump's refusal to unambiguously condemn white supremacy in the wake of white nationalist terrorism in Charlottesville. (By the way, if you have not watched footage of the Nazis chanting "blood and soil" and describing their goals in their own … Continue reading #EmptyThePews – If You Attend a Trumpist Church, it’s Time to Leave in Protest
Where Do Ex-Evangelicals Come From?
Where do ex-Evangelicals come from? Ahem! Well, erm, you see, children, when two people hate Jesus very, very much, Lilith's pet pterodactyl (his name is Cuthbert) gets a text message alerting him that it's time to take up his stick and bundle and pay another visit to Lucifer's eggplant patch... But seriously, folks. I am often asked, … Continue reading Where Do Ex-Evangelicals Come From?
About those Trump Voters for God? Stop Calling them “Fake Christians”
In an era of "fake news," "fake science," and even "fake law," I suppose it was inevitable the term "fake Christians" would pop up. On Twitter, it's most commonly used as a means of criticizing Trump voters. As such, it's of a piece with commentary from the 2016 election cycle asserting, for example, that Evangelicals are "political" … Continue reading About those Trump Voters for God? Stop Calling them “Fake Christians”
Not Your Mission Field 