The Emotional and Psychological Consequences of Authoritarian Religion

by Bruce Gerencser (Cross posted from Bruce’s blog The Way Forward) Over the past few years I have met countless people who have escaped authoritarian religions like the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) church movement or your every day garden variety Evangelical church. Authoritarian ecclesiastical structures and authoritarian pastors dominate the lives of those who come [...]

“Don’t Talk About It”

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by Kristen Rosser (Cross posted from her blog Wordgazer’s Words) I was in college, living in an ex-fraternity house made over into a Christian boarding house for members of Maranatha Campus Ministries.  It was 1983 or 84. The leaders of Maranatha, Bob Weiner and Joe Smith, had come up with another new revelation that they [...]

Chick Fil A’s “Appreciation Day” or Spite is Not a Christian Virtue

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by Sierra This morning, one of the first things I saw on my facebook feed was an explosion of pictures of Chick-fil-A buildings around the country mobbed by evangelical Christians. The lines wrapped around the buildings, out into the parking lot. Fat, shiny SUVs sat cooling off and reminding everybody that their owners were people [...]

Independent Baptist Pastor Jack Schaap Firing Aftermath

A few days ago Jack Schaap of the Independent Baptist Church connected to the Hyles-Anderson College and the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana was relieved of his position. It isn’t stated officially what the reason was but there is a history at First Baptist of sexual improprieties and it’s about the only way to [...]

Updated FAQ: The Bible & Birth Control

Note:  Before reading this, please read the “Quiverfull and the Bible” FAQ.  Like the “nobleminded Bereans” (Acts 17:11), we are entitled to study for ourselves, so that we may read the Biblical text in an informed manner.  That FAQ provides the background for the method of informed Bible reading used here. by Kristen Rosser aka [...]