Analyzing Christianity
How a deconstruction goes wrong in ‘Before You Lose Your Faith’
This book’s second chapter perfectly illustrates what happens when a deconstruction fails to go far enough.
Analyzing Christianity
‘Before You Lose Your Faith’ review: Evangelicals really, REALLY want to set the terms for deconstruction
It’s been very interesting to see how dysfunctional authoritarians approach deconstruction in other Christians, especially with regard to how they’ve dealt with doubt over the past 10 or 12 years.
Analyzing Christianity
Why Gospelbound embraces the false myth of persecution
Hi and welcome back! Lately, we’ve been talking about a podcast called Gospelbound. It’s a production of The Gospel Coalition, a hard-right Calvinist evangelical group online. In this particular episode of Gospelbound, two guys talk about all the awful persecution that their tribe totally faces. Except this persecution is largely a complete Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Gospelbound: Authoritarians Think More Control Means Less Churn
The tagline TGC created for Gospelbound claims it offers listeners “firm faith in an anxious age.” Of course, it does nothing of the sort. Instead, it offers the usual authoritarian blahblah from the most toxic elements in their entire end of Christianity. I’ve saved the most alarming of that blahblah for last: their oh-so-very Calvinist plan for churn reduction. They think more control over congregants means less churn from their churches. Today, I’ll show you what that means — and why it’s such a laughable contradiction of the supernatural claims of authoritarians.
Analyzing Christianity
An Ex-Christian Evaluates a Gospelbound Podcast
Gospelbound’s own marketing claims that it will give listeners ‘firm faith in an anxious age.’ We checked out their most recent episode, about a TGC-produced book called Before You Lose Your Faith, and we weren’t impressed. But hey, maybe they just forgot about their target audience because they were talking about their own book. So I wanted to check out what else they were telling potential doubters. Today, let’s evaluate another of their episodes — from the point of view of a Christian who desperately needs a jolt of ‘firm faith in an anxious age.’
Analyzing Christianity
Churches: No Country for Doubters (Gospelbound)
TGC’s people think that churches need to step up to be safe harbors for Christians struggling with their faith. That’s an impossible demand, but also a very safe one for them to make.
Analyzing Christianity
Gospelbound Talks (Ineptly) About Deconversion
Hi and welcome back! Recently, we covered a post by Brett McCracken on The Gospel Coalition (TGC) (archive link). In it, he slammed deconversion and ex-Christians in the most hateful and contemptuous ways imaginable. But at least he demonstrated nicely that evangelicals have finally begun to notice the process of Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Last Ideology Standing: The worst reason to slam ‘Bespoke Spirituality’
Lately, we’ve been talking about a dumb post that Brett McCracken wrote recently on The Gospel Coalition (TGC) (archive link). In it, he outlined what he thinks TRUE CHRISTIANITY™ involves—so he could then demand people try it before leaving his religion entirely. Along the way, he also created a strawman Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Bespoke spirituality: Another try at ‘Last Ideology Standing’
This past week, we had a really good time examining Brett McCracken’s post on The Gospel Coalition (TGC) (archive link). In it, he accidentally demonstrated how very little he understands of deconversion. He also offered up what might be the three most ridiculous reasons ever concocted to stick with Christianity. We covered the first and second of those already. Today, we’ll tackle his third reason: ‘bespoke spirituality’s loneliness.’ Gosh, ya’ll, the suspense is killing me! Will a TRUE CHRISTIAN™ finally manage to win his tribe’s beloved game of Last Ideology Standing? We’ll find out today.
Analyzing Christianity
Deconversion: Brett McCracken gets it completely wrong
Sure, it might seem like Brett McCracken is just insulting his tribal enemies. And he is. But he’s actually not talking to us, not really. Let me show you what Brett McCracken is telling his tribemates under his breath, and what he accidentally reveals about his entire belief system.