Analyzing Christianity
Pastoral burnout on the rise (again)
There might not be a Big Quit as such, but what there is instead might be way worse. It’s not so much about empty pulpits, but more about ’empty preachers.’
Analyzing Christianity
Finding your calling when the caller doesn’t exist
In Christianese, a calling represents Jesus’ orders for what his followers are meant to be doing with their lives. But in reality, finding one’s calling works in a very prosaic–and earthly–way. Even then, it doesn’t work at all the way that Christians think it does.
Analyzing Christianity
“Everyone’s a slave to something” — except not really
When I was just a teenager, some evangelical set this over-simplistic equation in front of me: Pick your master, because you’ll always be a slave to something.
Analyzing Christianity
‘There is a payback coming’ as evangelicals dream of revenge and dominance
Let’s check out a recent gathering of authoritarian evangelicals. I’ll show you their plans–and the not-so-hidden desires of their hearts.
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.
From Patreon
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 Read more