Analyzing Christianity
The Jesus Aura: Why this false belief persists
Many Christians have this idea that their faith imbues them with a sort of glowing-but-invisible aura that both attracts and repels non-Christians. It’s their Jesus Aura.
From Patreon
The British Israelism conspiracy theory illustrates the appeal of false beliefs
Today’s story touches on so many topics we like around here: conspiracy theories, Monty Python, weird history, and wacky Christians. But most of all, it speaks to a need so many people have: the desire to feel special.
From Patreon
Sermon plagiarism: why it suddenly matters to some Southern Baptists
The current president of the SBC, Ed Litton, got caught using someone else’s sermon without attributing it. Usually, sermon plagiarism is simply a minor but common sin in evangelical leadership. But this time, Ed Litton’s faction enemies, the Old Guard, began howling for his resignation. Oddly, they didn’t care at all that his predecessor, J.D. Greear, did something considerably worse during his own reign.
SBC Watching
Tom Buck: In the land of hypocrisy, secrets are currency
I wonder how long Tom Buck struggled with the secrets he knew about Jeff Ford before using them to attack his faction’s newest enemy #1. One minute? Two? Less?
Analyzing Christianity
Pastor Tom Buck is very upset that his enemies exposed his abusive behavior
Tom Buck clearly hopes to escape the scrutiny that cost Paige Patterson his job—and not hinder his faction leader, Tom Ascol, from reaching the heights of SBC power.
Analyzing Christianity
By fire and the sword: Christians and coercion
Earlier today, I saw a story about religious coercion from Religion News that just sent chills through me. A pair of sheriff’s deputies baptized a Tennessee woman against her will. As she put it, the officer who pulled her over told her that she had to allow him to baptize Read more
From Patreon
Deconversion: When I was the only ex-Christian in the world
It truly is marvelous to consider how far American culture has gotten in just the past 20 or 30 years! When I deconverted, I had to figure everything out for myself. As far as I knew, I was literally the only ex-Christian in the whole wide world. And let me tell you: life felt pretty damned lonely.
From Patreon
Cooperative Program giving is way up—but not because of Baptists’ generosity
Donations to the SBC’s all-important Cooperative Program are a bit higher than expected. I think I know why.
Analyzing Christianity
Simple misfortune, or divine punishment for sin?
Sometimes when I look back at my days as a Christian, I’m thunderstruck by how absolutely exhausting it was in every single way. For a religion promising peace, rest, a light yoke, and vaguely-defined joy to its followers, Christianity brought precious little of any of it to any of us. Not long ago, I ran across a Southern Baptist Bible study about sin that really reminded me of that exhaustion.
From Patreon
The Aquarium: One conspiracy theory to rule them all
If the Aquarium were real, then wouldn’t this Aviary be the perfect smokescreen distraction from it? … Gosh, what to do, what to believe??