There was a long stretch there when I spoke directly to evangelicals about the moral depravity of evangelicalism. I had hope that my upbringing in the standard, non-fundie dead-center of the movement, along with my degree in theology and my efforts to build bridges, would pave a path for me into their ears. That the relationships I built with friends who thought I was fringe-y but authentic would prove powerful we it was time to start saying the most painfully... Read more
On December 9th, Jamie O’Grady tweeted a heartbreaking video of Kimberly Jones’s son, middle schooler Keaton Jones, bravely recounting through tears the bullying he endures at school each day: Kids mock him with mean names, throw food at him, call him ugly, and worse. Celebrities and random users across the twitterverse retweeted the video, rallying to his defense and commending his bravery. Then yesterday, The Root published readily-available social media information about his mother, Kimberly, who appeared to be a well-established racist. Throughout the course of... Read more
“I think [America] was great at the time when families were united — even though we had slavery — they cared for one another…. Our families were strong, our country had a direction.” – Roy Moore to a Black man At no point during four centuries of the North American slave trade was America “great,” or anything more than a terrorist regime. And yet, that is the “great” America pedophile Roy Moore, self-proclaimed President Pu**y Grabber™️, the RNC, and 81%... Read more
I caught myself recently for the fourth or fifth time in as many days sitting on the couch with clenched fists. There was no chaos around me to put me in such a state. And yet, my left fist was rolled tight. And when, after noticing, I opened my hand… It felt all wrong: Unsafe. Vulnerable. At this, naturally, I did what all wise people do upon realizing they’re living with an unnamed source of tension that’s manifesting in decidedly physical ways:... Read more
Yesterday, I woke up to the news of the first live birth resulting from successful uterine transplant in the United States. To most readers, that probably sounds like an incredible but not especially personal story. Modern medicine is miraculous in some spectacularly typical ways: We can transplant hearts and lungs and kidneys… and now uteri. (Is uteri the proper plural of uterus? I’m not sure. Whatever.) For me, though, the story was as potentially earth-shattering as the news I received upon... Read more
Today is my 36th birthday, and unlike any previous birthday, I find myself beginning the new year in the middle of a tunnel I entered just prior to my 35th birthday. The year ushered in some pretty seismic changes in my life, mindset, and approach to the world. This is my story – the end and the beginning. Before 35, my evangelical Christian faith grew and morphed and changed skins at various points, but the essential foundation – trust that... Read more
It’s hard to watch a president give his 900th after-mass-shooting speech about the need for sensible gun laws* – worthy and crucial as that conversation continues to be – when that same president’s legacy is so heavily marred by drone bombings of innocents on foreign soil. It’s impossible to read the tweets and prayers of legislators feigning horror and heartbreak, knowing they sit deeply in the pocket of the NRA which has purchased their allegiance, and that tomorrow they will... Read more
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**Trigger warning: The following post involves the story of a child sex abuse survivor** You may remember that over the last couple years, I’ve shared blogs in the past either written by or about an unnamed, anonymous friend who suffered extreme sexual violence at the hands of close family for years growing up, the worst of which began at 4 years old when her grandfather first raped her. Over the last months / year, she’s climbed mountain after mountain and... Read more
Husband and I have now been married for ten years. Over the past ten years, I’ve been contemplating and collecting thoughts about what I’d say if and when Paul and I reached the Decade marker in our marriage. I decided a while ago that if we made it to ten years we’d be a Legit Married Couple. Because listen: Ten years is a long time, and a lot of shit comes up over that time. I figured if we made... Read more
Who We Choose To Be with Amy Courts
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