Christmas and the heavyness of being without a church
photo by David Trotter I went to a Christmas Eve service with my kids and ex-husband today. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a Christmas Eve service, for a variety of reasons, least of which is the fact that Mark and I try to spend that day together for the kids and there is nothing more awkward than going to church where that act of walking in the door together springs into action a number of people excited to pastor us back into marriage, rather than accepting us as we are - a . . .
So Totally Relidge: The morning after pill, abortion, birth control accessibility for minors, and a minefield of ethical questions
In this episode of So Totally Relidge, Elizabeth Esther and I are discussing the new law that lowered the age of accessibility for the Plan B pill to 14. It sparked some really interesting debate (as you will see, Elizabeth and I have VERY different opinions). The conversation left me thinking for days – I think it’s my favorite episode yet. We explored the accusation that Plan B is an abortion pill, we talked about whether or not we feel birth control should be offered to minors, and we . . .
Shame-based sex education: we can do better
A couple months ago, Elizabeth Esther and I discussed the potentially harmful aspects of idolizing virginity and purity. While I think that abstinence is a great goal for kids (and one I will encourage for my own), I also believe that it is vitally important that we not use shame in an attempt to scare our children into complying with our own sexual ethics. While I think it’s great to explain the benefits of abstinence, I do believe that Christians have begun to rely too heavily on a shame-based . . .
So Totally Relidge: what is biblical womanhood?
This week on our recap of religious hot topics on the internet, Elizabeth and I are talking about biblical womanhood, and the controversy sparked by Rachel Held Evan’s book A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband "Master. What are your thoughts on biblical womanhood? Are we all really picking and choosing? . . .
So totally relidge (a week in review): Sexual abuse in the church
We’re back! After a brief hiatus due to someone forgetting to turn on the microphone technical difficulties during our last shoot, Elizabeth and I are once again sitting down to recap the hot topics from the religious blogosphere. Last week, a number of faith bloggers had a conversation about overcoming spiritual abuse in the church. Much of the dialogue focused on sexual abuse. It’s a timely topic, as a high-profile church network was recently sued for allegedly covering up abuse within the . . .
Does our value of Truth trump our value of people?
In light of the Supreme Courts events happening this week to determine the rights of marital equality, I wanted to share this excerpt from my friend Jimmy Spencer Jr’s book Love Without Agenda. I think this chapter is so applicable to Christians, especially those who are debating marital equality with other believers and finding animosity and rejection for their beliefs. Jimmy generously let me share it here. I hope you will take the time to read and consider: You may be getting the . . .
What to do when your significant other doesn’t share your religious beliefs
I’m over at Deeper Story today, with the first post in my new advice column there. The first letter was a difficult situation: a Christian woman whose husband admitted he was losing his faith: “Dear Kristen:When my husband and I got married, we had very similar beliefs. As the years have gone by, due to a combination of thoughtful doubt and broken relationships within the Church, as well as our own personal sorrows and losses within our family, my husband has decided he no longer believes any . . .
So Totally Relidge! (a week in review): Purity Culture and Idolizing Virginity
In the latest episode of So Totally Relidge!, we’re talking about the hot topic of the week: virginity. Specifically, the evangelical emphasis on virginity by way of things like Purity Balls, promise rings, and True Love Waits seminars. Unfortunately, we recorded this episode last week before the topic hit a fever pitch, culminating in The Gospel Coalition responding and then The Guardian covering the topic as well. Let’s review: First, several women wrote about their experience with the . . .
So Totally Relidge! (a weekly recap of religion on the internet)
Elizabeth Esther and I really enjoyed doing our political weekly webcasts last year, and we’ve been looking for a way to collaborate again on something we both feel passionate about. Esther and I are both ardent readers of blogs that deal with issues of faith and religion, and are frequently chatting (and even debating) about some of the things we’ve read. Recently, we decided that this would be a fun collaboration . . . to get together and chat about some of the hot topics coming . . .
rally to restory unity
There is a rally to restore unity movement going around social media circles. Where the Daily Show's rally sought to bring it down a notch for America, some of us are trying to bring it down a notch for the Lord. This is my submission. . . .