Is the Southern Baptist Convention Really Pro-Choice?

February 17, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

I have been exploring a question: Is the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) really pro-choice? An investigation by Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express news have found that approximately 380 Southern Baptist leaders and volunteers have faced sexual misconduct allegations. According the report: That includes those who were convicted, credibly accused and successfully sued, and those who confessed or resigned… They left behind more than 700 victims, many of them shunned by their churches, left to themselves to rebuild their lives.... Read more

When People “Need” to See You as Bad to Feel Good About Themselves

February 12, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

Have you ever interacted with people who behave as if they “need” to see you as a “bad” person? These people can be family, friends-more like frenemies- to people in your local religious/spiritual community. Last week during day 217-223 of my year of kicking the Bible to the curb reminded me of this phenomenon—in a good way. I had the opposite experience. I am not going into it, yet it was part of my living Bible experience. It reminded me... Read more

A Closer Look at Racism and Sexism in the Hammer Attack on Three Asian Men

February 10, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

Tsz Mat Pun, Fufai Pun, and Ng Thang Kheong: Three names you might not have heard. I want you to know them. Arthur Martunovich, an Estonian immigrant, entered into the Seaport Buffet in New York and killed them with a hammer. Martunovich claimed that he was prompted to kill Chinese men after watching a film(s) that showed mistreatment of Chinese women by Chinese men. Ng Thang Kheong, who was Malaysian and owner of the restaurant, came to work in the United... Read more

The Trouble with Blackface Liberalism

February 5, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia has been asked to step down after images of a person dressed as a Klansman and in Blackface surfaced from a 1984 yearbook. The good thing about quitting the Bible last week (days 210-216 of my year-long Biblical sabbatical) is that I have no parable from Jesus about the Klan or Jesus dressing in Blackface. When the news broke about Governor Northam’s yearbook and questionable nickname from his past, I was not surprised. I do not... Read more

The Homophobic and Racist Attack on Jussie Smollett: When MAGA Love Equals Hate

February 2, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

[Update 3/9/19] See Post: Justice and the Innocence of MAGA Love: What Does Jussie Smollett’s Indictment Prove? Recently, two MAGA-loving men with racist and homophobic motives brutally attacked actor Jussie Smollett. This hate crime has nothing to do with making the United States of America great for the first time, the second time, again, or ever. According to the Chicago Tribune, Smollett told police he had just left a Subway when two men in dark clothes approached and yelled the slurs.... Read more

About Your Purpose and Value: Lessons from a Late Bloomer

January 29, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

Over two weeks ago, my husband and I had another one of these synchronistic moments of what I call “just because” expressions of love. It had crossed my mind to write a love letter/note to my husband. I must admit that I absolutely love to write to him. There are so many things on my heart and mind that I feel and notice, and although I express my love for him verbally, I feel like I scratch the surface during... Read more

Twelve-Year Old Black Girls Were Allegedly Strip-Searched at a NY School: Can Black Girls Be Girls?

January 26, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

Can Black girls be girls? Can they just be? School officials in Binghamton, New York thought the giddy and hyper behavior of four black girls* were enough to allegedly strip-search them for possible possession of drugs. While three girls were strip-searched, the fourth girl received in-school suspension for refusing to remove her shirt and pants. As this story has gained broader attention, East Middle School seems to have shifted their response. If giddy/giggling and hyper are now suspicious behaviors in a... Read more

Why Racists Love to Quote MLK Jr.

January 21, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

One would think that a racist would hate Martin Luther King Jr. On the contrary, numbers of them love to quote him. If your idea of a racist is White person affiliated with a White supremacist organization, then it would seem preposterous. If we understand racists as the good, salt of the earth people, who indirectly support the maintenance of racism through cultural and institutional domains, then it makes plenty of sense. I don’t know whether to call them “I... Read more

Five Considerations for Stepparents Dealing with Stepchildren’s Abusive Behavior

January 19, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

While it is typical to experience push back and friction within a blended family, I draw the line at abusive behavior. When your stepchild’s “bad day” turns into a continuous pattern, I call it a “lifestyle.” In Part One, I broke my silence about standing up to my stepson’s abusive behavior. In this second part, I share five things to consider if you are a stepparent dealing with abusive behavior from your stepchild(ren), in hopes that you, too, stand up... Read more

Should Christians Drink… Like Jesus?

January 16, 2019 By Dr. Sam Kline

Now that I’m back from blogcation, I’m picking back up on sharing my journey of “Quitting the Bible.” First some housekeeping: The titles are getting long-really long with adding (Days yada yada yada of Quitting the Bible), so I am leaving it out of the title for the remainder of the series. These posts will continue to be the early/midweek posts. This post covers Days 155-196.* So much to talk about as I begin a new year without the Good... Read more