Tag: catholicism

The Bound and the Unbound: Religion and Transcendence

~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ 15 Comments

I recently listened to a fascinating conversation between the Catholic writer Arthur Brooks and the atheist Sam Harris about the role of spirituality and religion in a healthy life. You will need to get a subscription to either the Waking Up app or to Harris’s private feed to listen to the section in question. I leave your support of Harris up to your own discretion.

For the time being, let’s set aside the political and ideological differences I have with both these men. I’d like to focus on a fascinating difference between Brooks and Harris. 

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Sacred Tension: A Satanist and Catholic Dialogue About Popes, Elections, and Ritual

~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ Leave a comment

In this episode of Sacred Tension I’m joined by my good friend Brother Castello to have a friendly conversation about the Pope, the presidential election, and rituals that keep us centered through tumultuous times. If you’d like to contact Brother Castello, email him at castellonsolidarity@gmail.com

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Conversion on the Road to the Rainbow: An Interview With Michael Coren

~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ 1 Comment

In 2014, Michael Coren – the conservative Catholic columnist, television personality and bestselling author – made international waves by coming out in support of gay marriage and leaving the Roman Catholic church. Earlier this year, he published Epiphany: A Christian’s Change of Heart and Mind Over Same-Sex Marriage.

I found his book heartfelt, beautiful, and compassionate. I am always moved when someone like Michael Coren – someone who represents the conservative Christian vangaurd – publically switches views and risks disgrace from his own camp. I reached out to Michael to discuss his book, his thoughts on the church and the LGBT issue, and (as he describes it delightfully in his book) his “conversion on the road to the rainbow.”

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Christians, Gay Celibacy, and Miscommunication

~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ 20 Comments

Last week, a reader sent me an email and wrote a blog post in response to my recent post, The Church Is a Whore, And I Am Her Gay Son. The person in question is named Andrew, and is connected with Courage – the official Roman Catholic ministry to gay people. You can read his full post here.

While I genuinely appreciate Andrew taking the time to reach out to me and respond to my post, I also thought that I would take some time unpacking his statements, because they bring up some ideas that I find particularly frustrating when it comes to the topic of gay people in the church.

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The Church is a Whore, and I Am Her Gay Son

~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ 21 Comments

“The church is a whore,” wrote Augustine, “But she is my mother.” Too often, I have heard this quote used to say, “yeah, the Church is messed up, but family’s family. I can’t leave, even if I wanted to.”

I’ve often wondered if the people who so willingly fling this quote around have any notion of what It’s like to have an abusive mother.

Continue reading “The Church is a Whore, and I Am Her Gay Son” →