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Is anyone else reading the book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Church and Fractured a Nation? Im only 12 chapters in, but it’s really wonderful. A fantastic and concise review of the evangelical movements that created the current environment. many of our “favorites” have already been detailed so far. If anyone else has read it, I’d love to discuss!

Evangelical preacher Andy Stanley thinks it's not the job of the church to save America And of course he's now facing this.

@mods, if this is being discussed elsewhere, feel free to delete or move. Search didn't turn up another discussion Students at Huntington High School were required to attend a revival meeting, held in the school, during school hours. Rest of the story here: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079712717/students-walk-out-at-west-virginia-school-after-christian-revival

Figures far right pastors would be spreading this stuff along Time to start taxing the piss out of these churches.

Disinformation has taken hold in fundie churches

The information for this website was sent to me by an evangelical acquaintance who persists in believing that EO and Catholics are simply misinformed and would really rather be evangelical. It covers many evangelical views on police, BLM, social justice, prison, etc. Hip waders may be required. https://www.prageru.com/series/5-minute-videos/

All aboard the crazy train

A thread for FJers who feel or have ever felt ‘stuck’ in their practices/faith. And also for those who have left or changed their faith. I’d appreciate to hear your experiences and thoughts. My current personal experience: So I recently moved to the DC area with my family and naturally, my parents are looking for a church home while we are here. We went to one today that aligns with with what they believe. It’s an Independent Baptist Church. They use Focus on The Family (which I have issues with), the pastor there while genuine in his faith seems to be a mentee of Jerry Falwell (who I have issues with) and is active on the board at Liberty University. The sermon today was about knowing if you’re really saved (basically a major guilt trip for me) This church is in some ways quite similar to our home church in the Caribbean. I’m personally tired of church in general even though I went pretty regularly through college (and still do) out of fear and a sense of obligation. In reality, church brings me no comfort or peace. I don’t think it ever has. It frequently triggers depression and deeply unsettles me (evangelicals are honestly great at making you not trust yourself, guilting you and gaslighting). I have major issues with some core beliefs of the evangelical church (not to mention how they treat certainty groups of people). I don’t feel safe nor do I trust believers to share how I feel or be myself. Basically church a thing I’m made to endure without being outed as a heathen or someone to fix/save. Of course, none of this I can express to my parents. They frequently claim that I can tell them anything and they don’t want to influence my decisions on how I live my life, but I truly doubt they mean it. They are great parents and we’ve always been close but I don’t trust them. Telling them would firstly break their hearts and would also make me a target to ‘fix’. So I’m currently saving face until I can manage to get over my paralyzing anxiety, be financially independent, move out and create some distance. Hopefully I can do so without too many triggers.

I read this article written by a woman who married at 20 and stayed a virgin throughout her marriage. She relates much of it to the evangelical shaming she received as a child regarding sexuality, along with an undiagnosed physical issue that caused penetration to be painful. I thought it was an interesting and sad article, so I'm posting it here. https://medium.com/s/story/this-is-how-i-remained-a-married-virgin-for-two-and-a-half-years-f178818a728b

Yesterday I ran into this quiz to see how much one knows about evangelical Christianity. It also has a good definition IMO of evangelicalism. https://www.topixoffbeat.com/quiz/18784?utm_source=adrizer_tab&utm_campaign=79133&utm_term=worldnow-kfmb&tpx_campaign=18784-79133

So, I've had an odd moment where those things that fascinating me in a train-wreck can't keep watching kind of way meets what we'll label here as my real life. Almost six years ago I moved because I had lost my job and the economy was crap and I put my trust in God and decided, since I don't have children or husband tying me to one place, to take my job search nation wide. i wound up 2.5 or so hours east of where I had been in a neighboring state. After I moved at one point I went through a period where I seriously weeded out my former Facebook contacts from real life. Some I regret - some I don't. I had a lot of contacts from being very active in children's ministries as a small group leader (think Sunday School Teacher) and in women's ministries. Then a couple of years ago when I made a person faith shift, some things and people that had been fine before began to grate on me. I mention this because there was a reason (or more) that I weeded C from my contact list. I knew C from church before the move. I will tell you before I begin this story that I had one of her children in my group for a while. It makes it difficult to snark on. It also puts me in an ethical odd territory because I know things about her children that others might not know. Church is a wasteland of gossip. Some things were shared with me because as a small group leader you need to know things about 'your kids.' Other things get shared in women's ministries and fall under confidentiality. I won't be discussing any of those things because morally I just can't. (and well, HPPA folks). So late last week C tags a bunch of people in a Facebook post. I'm no longer friends with C but due to various people I am still friends with and their Facebook settings I can see the tags and her post. She's having a fundraiser. For an adoption. For two children. From China. Okay. C has 3 bio kids (1 daughter, 2 sons) and 3 adopted children (2 daughters from Korean, a son from China). Thanks to my awareness here at FJ my brain screams 'baby collector.' The last previous adoption this family did took place before I moved 6 years ago. And now they're being called to adopt. By the way, it did not surprise me that it was two. And if it was one, I might mentally figure on another to follow. But that's only because she has a naming pattern. I told you, things you learn at church? In women's ministries? Yes. 2 L's. 2 J's. 2 S's. So, my mind put a check mark next to 2. I consider this family evangelical by my own definition. Might put them in fundie light based on things I've heard from C back before I moved. Their kids go to public school. In fact C's husband is/was a school counselor. Child 1 went to university (a small mainline christian university a bit south of the larger city/state university city we lived in/next to). I think Child 2 went to the military. Child 3 is over 18 and graduated from high school last year I believe. I did some poking around on the net that day and the next. I saw various articles about C and adoption. Not surprised because I knew she was involved some how with a Christian adoption agency. And because she did some adoption seminars at the church I used to attend. I'm still reeling a bit on the crashing of my worlds. So pardon me while I wander off to continue process some of this. here