In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by Jon Ward to discuss his new book Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Failed a Generation. We discuss his role as a border-stalker between cultural and religious boundaries, why the Evangelical movement struggles with understanding minority experience, his own religious journey after leaving Evangelicalism, and much more.
Continue reading “How To Be a Border-Stalker | Jon Ward”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by renowned New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman to talk about his new book Armageddon: What the Bible Really Says About the End. We discuss what led him out of the Christian faith, why it’s important to understand the Bible, what the Bible really says about abortion, and the consequences of a fundamentalist reading of Revelation.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: Armageddon | Bart Ehrman”
In his book Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Failed a Generation, journalist and Christian Jon Ward writes about how he never felt completely at home in his conservative Christian environment. He writes,
Continue reading “On Being a Border-Stalker”All my life I have been a mearcstapa, or a border-stalker. Mearcstapa is an Old English word used in Beowulf. Painter and author Makoto Fujimura used this term, and his modern translation of border-stalker, to describe those who “are uncomfortable in homogenous groups” and yet are still present in them, and thus they live “on the edge of their groups, going in and out of them.
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by The Satanic Temple co-founder Lucien Greaves to discuss AI and the threat it might pose to religious minorities.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: Satan and AI | Lucien Greaves”
In my recent conversation with Evangelical and multi-faith expert John Morehead, I asked him if, while having conversations with people he has strong disagreements with, he ever feels complicit in enabling beliefs that he feels are harmful or destructive to society. His answer is worth reproducing in full (edited for clarity):
Continue reading “Resist Purity”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by fellow Satanic Temple member Murphy Fawkes to discuss our recent article defending The Satanic Temple. We give a thorough response to many of the falsehoods and conspiracies about TST.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: In Defense of The Satanic Temple | Murphy Fawkes”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by Evangelical and multi-faith expert John Morehead. We discuss lessons he’s learned to bridge irreconcilable religious and ideological differences.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: A Guide for Embracing Contamination | John Morehead”
I recently co-authored a piece with Murphy Fawkes for Free Inquiry responding to some common criticisms of the Temple.
The Satanic Temple is far from perfect. It is made up of human beings and is therefore a profoundly flawed institution. But, as we argue in the article, that’s also the point. TST has enshrined imperfection and growth in the 6th Tenet, which reads, “people are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to resolve any harm that might have been caused.”
Continue reading “The Satanic Temple is a Church for Imperfect People”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by my sister Elizabeth Schultz. Elizabeth is a classical educator, homeschooler, conservative, and homesteader. We debate the truth claims of Christianity, whether a truly pluralistic society is possible, and if Christian revelation is necessary for a functional society. We also discuss healthy ways to engage people we love across profound differences.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: Sibling Rivalry | Elizabeth Schultz”
In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined by Chalice Blythe to discuss the opening of The Satanic Temple’s abortion clinic.
Continue reading “Sacred Tension: The Religious Right to Abortion | Chalice Blythe”
Stephen Bradford Long 