"We've got the American Jesus Bolstering national faith We've got the American Jesus Overwhelming millions every day." – Bad Religion, "American Jesus," Recipe for Hate (1993) Some Reflections for Independence Day, July 4, 2018 Yesterday, Mandy Nicole, founder and editor-in-chief of Fundamentally Free, a multi-author ex-evangelical blog, published a piece called "Evangelicalism Killed my Patriotism." She notes the presence … Continue reading Happy 4th? On the Complicated Problem of Patriotism in Conditions of Injustice
The Fundamentally Free Blog Launches an #EmptyThePews Series
Coming on the scene only in January of this year, Fundamentally Free is a new ex-Evangelical blog that has already published a good deal of valuable and impressive content by a diverse array of authors. On March 20, 2018, Fundamentally Free's Twitter account put out a call for #EmptyThePews stories--stories of why and how individuals left … Continue reading The Fundamentally Free Blog Launches an #EmptyThePews Series
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
Why I am Not an Atheist
Reasonabler than Thou? *September 27, 2019 update: I've become more comfortable with being described as an atheist, but the social criticism of the atheist community laid out below stands.* On a formal intellectual level, there are a number of reasons I refuse to embrace atheism. While I don't believe in a micromanaging deity, I find … Continue reading Why I am Not an Atheist
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
Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Tori Williams Douglass to White Christians on the Anniversary of Michael Brown’s Murder
I'm doing something a little different for this installment of Ex-Evangelical Conversations. Instead of relating an interview in Q&A format, after a brief introduction, I am going to repost, with permission, a piece from my friend Tori Williams Douglass's blog (the original, titled "The Day I Learned White Christians Hate Me," is here). Tori is … Continue reading Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Tori Williams Douglass to White Christians on the Anniversary of Michael Brown’s Murder
Of Megachurches and their Mini-Mes, or, What’s the Deal with “Relevant” Christianity?
Before really getting into this post, I'd like to thank all of you readers for bearing with me with respect to the paucity of new content delivered over the last month, much of which I spent traveling: In Indiana (where I visited family); in the Pacific Northwest (where I stayed with Tori Glass's family, hiked … Continue reading Of Megachurches and their Mini-Mes, or, What’s the Deal with “Relevant” Christianity?
Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Satanic Panic Abuse Survivor Nancy Hightower
Dr. Nancy Hightower is a writer and literary scholar with a remarkable story of surviving the worst of Evangelicalism. She offers a valuable perspective on the challenges we currently face at a time in which white Evangelical Christians are the single demographic most supportive of #IllegitimatePresident Trump and most responsible for rising American authoritarianism. The … Continue reading Ex-Evangelical Conversations: Satanic Panic Abuse Survivor Nancy Hightower
Some Quick Ways to Help Build Ex-Evangelical and Broader Ex-Fundamentalist Community
There have been a lot of discussions happening on Twitter lately about steps we can take to build both an ex-Evangelical community and a broader ex-fundamentalist/former conservative believer community, online and offline. With respect to the broader community, some of us have been pondering hashtags that might extend beyond Christians; my suggestions include #ILivedFundamentalism and … Continue reading Some Quick Ways to Help Build Ex-Evangelical and Broader Ex-Fundamentalist Community
Not Your Mission Field 