From Patreon
The Ease of Fake Sincerity in Christianity
Christians can’t discern real sincerity from the many people choosing to fake it, and that’s a serious dealbreaker for me.
Analyzing Christianity
Grace Chapel Megachurch: A Mutiny of Their Own
Sarah Berger, the wife of Grace Chapel’s former high priest lead pastor, Steve Berger, grabbed the mic to rant at length about how her husband had been hard-done-by in the change in leadership. In her rant, though, Sarah Berger said something that really caught my eye. Today, let me show you how an authoritarian leader pulls rank to force compliance from followers.
Analyzing Christianity
Speaking in Tongues on TikTok (LSP #207)
Hi and welcome back! I saw a story a while ago that has me kinda sighing and laughing at the same time. Pentecostals are still doing their thing, but they’ve had to branch out into social media — especially now Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Megapastor Todd Elliott and the Church Mutiny
For years now, Todd Elliott and his elders have been fighting over who holds ultimate control over the megachurch. Obviously, Elliott — as the sole megapastor by them — thought he should wear the crown. But his elders disagreed.
Analyzing Christianity
Calvinists, on Why People Dislike Calvinists
Recently, I discovered that Calvinists themselves have caught on to outsiders’ near-universal dislike of them. But as usual for extremists, Calvinists’ utter lack of self-awareness has led them to some really wacky conclusions about why that dislike exists.
Codex Disbelievium
The Silence of Pamphile of Epidaurus (1st-Century Fridays #10)
Hi and welcome back! It’s Friday, and that means our attention turns to history. Specifically, we focus on a voice from the 1st century to see if they said anything about Jesus or Christianity during Jesus’ supposed lifetime. This time Read more
From Patreon
The Three Stages of Christians’ COVID Prayers
Christians always go through a distinct progression of prayers in times of stress and sickness, and indeed they must. And today, I’ll show you the three stages of prayers Christians offer — and more importantly, why these stages exist.
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.
History and Science
Confirmation Bias: A Mindset That Prevents Growth
Hi and welcome back! The other day, I showed you an odd little essay by Amy Laura Hall, a Duke University ethics professor. In it, she twice displayed a cognitive bias called confirmation bias. Confirmation bias, if allowed to rule people Read more
History and Science
Where the Denisovans Are 2021 (LSP #206)
Today, Lord Snow Presides over the way one ancient human species, the Denisovans, reached the present day through our DNA.