Analyzing Christianity
Jesus sure changes people: Ted Haggard Edition
When I hear about evangelical sex scandals, I’m usually just relieved if everyone involved is of-age. But that’s about to change with this Ted Haggard story.
Analyzing Christianity
The Religious Right has not ‘distorted the faith,’ but revealed it for what it is
In 2006, Randall Balmer accused evangelicals in the Religious Right of wrecking evangelicalism. But they didn’t. Christianity itself did.
From Patreon
Gatekeeping in Christianity: They’re all imposters
Quite literally speaking, gatekeeping is as old and as cherished a tradition for Christians as celebrating Communion. Back when I was evangelical, I saw this truth firsthand. Indeed, I encountered a truth about Christianity that deeply troubled me: the adherents of every flavor of the religion were completely certain that Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Wingnut Christians: Analyzing their claims
This J. Robert Smith fella definitely tells his TRUE CHRISTIAN™ audience what they desperately want to hear. (To put it in Christianese, he tickles their ears. And that’s not a good thing.)
Analyzing Christianity
Anatomy of a false persecution claim: THE EVER-LURKING THREAT (of love and kindness)
Authoritarians hate a lot of people. But they hate apostates far more than anybody else. An apostate is a threat and a danger, one which must be eliminated immediately and with as much force as can be mustered.
Analyzing Christianity
Why authoritarian Christians desperately need literalism
The very worst sorts of Christian leaders and groups desperately need their followers to buy into biblical literalism, which is quite possibly the most childish and poorly-informed hermeneutic possible.
Analyzing Christianity
A ‘ministry’ is just a Jesus-flavored business
While exploring my new hometown, I caught sight of a sign for a churchy-sounding financial-planning ministry. Its name was so vague that I had to get my phone out right then and there to figure out what it really was. And I soon did. They’re a financial ministry, you see, Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Next Gen: Southern Baptists still have no idea how to recruit young adults, thank goodness
Next Gen will totally and for sure fix the SBC’s decline!
Analyzing Christianity
Workplace evangelism: fishing off the company’s dock
In the military, with its huge, life-altering penalties for insubordination and disobedience, it’s more important for military leaders to firmly and decisively rein in these overreaching authoritarians.
Analyzing Christianity
Franklin Graham and Naghmeh Panahi: An all-too-common betrayal
Franklin Graham’s behavior is not some aberration, and neither was his bizarre decision to bring Panahi’s abuser to a military ministry shindig. It’s par for the course in evangelical ministry.