I have seen this anti-abortion meme make the rounds on Facebook one too many times over the past several years. I’m going to share some THOUGHTS on it, so buckle up. First, the meme: Checkmate, feminists, amirite? First of all: The meme is based on a straw-man argument, although, to be fair, one that pro-choice people–especially cis men–too often get sucked into. Anti-abortion activists want to make the debate about when life begins, and pro-choice people are too often quick... Read more

I had the honor to preach my first sermon at Summit on 16th UMC last night for their Ash Wednesday service. It felt right, natural, and good. I am so thankful for all the support people have shown me on this adventure. I even got to do the Imposition of the Ashes, which is something I have wanted to do for years. I think you’re supposed to be somber when you do it, but I was so excited that it... Read more

There are gods on thrones this week. The gods of White Supremacist Capitalist CisHeterosexist Patriarchy are sitting pretty, on their thrones of gold. These idols, who think they are omnipotent: “Hey, when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.”  The U.S.A. has elected their own white Jesus, a man proclaiming himself to be god. They’ve put him on a throne. My God, though? She thinks thrones... Read more

  When I got an email asking me to read and review Bromleigh McCleneghan’s Good Christian Sex, I was skeptical. As long-time readers of this blog know, I have read a lot of Christian books about sex. I have not, however, read a lot of good Christian books about sex.   Even books herald as alternatives to Joshua Harris and the like–books described as “not like that“–I have found lacking. Progressive evangelicals in the blogging world are often quick to say that they do not believe in... Read more

[Content Note: Slavery Apologism, Anti-LGBT Slurs and Theology, Douglas Wilson] N.T. Wright and Douglas Wilson have the same exact theology when it comes to LGBTQ people. N.T. Wright, the distinguished scholar and Anglican bishop, speaks with an air of academic detachment. In a recent interview for the Crackers and Grape Juice podcast, he uses vague words (like “human sexuality”) and safe cliches (like “We are all sinners…”), but his position on LGBTQ people is clear. Wilson, on the other hand, is... Read more

Content Note: Descriptions of Rape and Sexual Assault, with some detail  Famous evangelicals across the United States are coming up with all sorts of interesting excuses for abandoning their self-proclaimed morals in order to support a man like Donald Trump. James Dobson–of “let’s shoot transgender children” fame–claims that Trump has recently been “born-again,” and anyone who grew up in “born-again” Christian culture knows that this move is often used as a “get-out-of-accountability-for-past-wrongs-FREE” card. Franklin Graham’s recent statements are similar. Whenever Christians... Read more

I recently watched an interesting conversation unfold over Facebook about this article by Noah Filipiak, entitled “If You Are Watching Game of Thrones, You Are Watching Porn.” I’m not interested here in defending the merits of Game of Thrones. Other writers have critiqued the show (I like Samantha Field’s critique which can be found here), and I’m not here to say it is above criticism. I don’t think it’s particularly progressive or feminist, and it bothers the shit out of me... Read more

“A woman can insist she would never choose to have an abortion while affirming her support of the right of women to choose and still be an advocate of feminist politics. She cannot be anti-abortion and an advocate of feminism.” –bell hooks, Feminism Is For Everybody When I saw Christianity Today published an article recently entitled “The Feminist Fight Against Abortion,” I immediately thought of the above quote by bell hooks. Though I don’t completely agree with hooks’ approach here (policing... Read more