Analyzing Christianity
The Cargo Cult World of Evangelical Marriage Counseling
Today, let me show you how good advice goes bad in the cargo cult of evangelical marriage counseling.
Analyzing Christianity
Christianese 101: Translating Evangelists’ Success Stories
Hi and welcome back! Sometimes, it’s fun to reveal the real meaning of all the Christianese that evangelicals use. Because oh, they use a lot of it. And the more Christianese you see in use, the less the Christians involved have to say that’s real and true. So when I say that Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Bitter: How Evangelical Women Cope With Their Seething Anger
Hi and welcome back! Last week, we talked about anger. Then, a few days ago, we touched on how evangelicals treat women’s anger completely differently. Indeed, evangelicals have a whole word that pertains almost solely to the anger of women: bitter. Today, I’ll show you the tribe’s quirky definition of Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Belief Has ‘Vanished’ in Ireland — and an Archbishop Reveals Why
Yes yes, Jesus is all great and fun and all, but he won’t stop a predator from joining the youth ministry. The Happy Pretendy Fun Time Game must pause briefly while the GM — er, the pastor does a quick RL background check.
Analyzing Christianity
Evangelical Men’s Anger: The Visualization Process That Can’t Heal It
Last week, we touched on the anger of white evangelical men. There sure does seem to be a lot of anger there, and it’s only getting worse as white evangelicals’ cultural dominance dissipates. Their leaders’ conventional wisdom for dealing with anger is worse than useless, however. It’s not just because there’s no god in the middle of things making prayers work and whatnot. Rather, it’s because their vaguely-worded, folksy processes can’t actually help with anything real that’s gone seriously wrong. And today, I’ll show you this inadequate tool that white evangelical men have to help with their vast anger.
Analyzing Christianity
Watch for Self-Interest in Evangelicals’ Criticisms of Themselves
Whenever we encounter any evangelical who is criticizing Christianity at all, especially if it’s really good news for Team Secularism, watch for their own potential self-interest to show — and be very careful indeed in taking their criticisms as the truth. Today, I’ll show you how evangelical self-interest governs those criticisms — and the solutions that accompany them.
Analyzing Christianity
CARM Apologetics Zingers (Are Absolutely Awful)
But I’m attached to this CARM post we’ll cover today. It’s just such a nonstop, rollicking Gish gallop of zinger attempts. Evangelicals greatly respect zingers, perhaps because they’re so unrelentingly bad at them. So this post promises us some entertainment.
Analyzing Christianity
Why a redemption arc mattered more than atrocity apologetics
Yesterday, we talked about a romance novel by Karen Witemeyer, At Love’s Command. In it, a genocidal war criminal finds peace, healing, and redemption thanks to Jesus Power and the love of a good woman. Many Christians loved this story, but a lot of other folks got very upset with Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Manga Messiah: Another Bait and Switch Evangelism Attempt in Japan
Out of everywhere evangelicals seek to make sales, Japan might be one of their most resistant evangelism markets. But three dishonest evangelical couples have recently decided to use some beloved Japanese art forms to lure in unsuspecting marks: cosplay, fake collectibles, and a manga-style comic book called Manga Messiah.
Analyzing Christianity
Beach Reach: Training the Ingroup to Hate the Outgroup
So, what is the goal of Beach Reach? Today, I’ll show you. I’ll warn you, too: it’s dark, even by evangelical standards.