The Last Temptation of American Journalism, or, Michael Gerson is Not a Hero

If there's one temptation America's major newspapers and magazines seem unable to resist, it's the temptation to normalize America's white Christian extremists--including traditionalist Catholics, yes, but especially Evangelicals. On the whole, this 81% Trump-voting population represents a clear and present danger to American democracy and the future of human rights, but time and again The … Continue reading The Last Temptation of American Journalism, or, Michael Gerson is Not a Hero

Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Cindy Wang Brandt

Today I'm proud to be publishing the following interview with Cindy Wang Brandt, an ex-Evangelical writer and advocate for social justice and healthy parenting for whom I have great respect. Cindy founded and moderates the large, active Facebook community Raising Children Unfundamentalist, where she is truly doing, dare I say it, the Lord's work by … Continue reading Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Cindy Wang Brandt

Ex-Evangelicals in 2017: A Not Your Mission Field Year in Review

2017 has been a devastating year for America, and a disheartening year for those of us who care about human rights and democracy, and who have been resisting the rise of American authoritarianism under our current, illegitimate, president. This group includes the ex-Evangelical community, many members of which have shown dedication to exposing the authoritarian, … Continue reading Ex-Evangelicals in 2017: A Not Your Mission Field Year in Review

A Few Words on #ChurchToo: Evangelical Abuse Scandals, Hashtag Campaigns, and Ex-Evangelicals in the Media

On November 21, Hannah Paasch launched a new hashtag campaign that she and Emily Joy had come up with together. #ChurchToo, as Hannah noted in the first tweet with the hashtag, is about a much needed "day of reckoning for the church." Evangelical Protestantism is, as a rule, intensely patriarchal, and the numerous Evangelical abuse … Continue reading A Few Words on #ChurchToo: Evangelical Abuse Scandals, Hashtag Campaigns, and Ex-Evangelicals in the Media

Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Singer-Songwriter David Bazan

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

#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?