Tag: Science

Sacred Tension: Science, Satanism, and Supernaturalism, feat. Priest Penemue

~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ Leave a comment

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I’m joined once more by Priest Penemue of the Satanic Temple to discuss supernaturalism, theism, and the Fifth tenet of the Satanic Temple. The fifth tenet reads, “Beliefs should conform to our best scientific understanding of the world. We should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit our beliefs.”

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Gender Complementarianism is Superstition

gender complementarianism is superstition
~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ 3 Comments

Growing up gay in the conservative church, I believed I was barred from ever having a gay relationship and that, unless something truly miraculous happened which allowed me to marry a woman, I would spend the rest of my life celibate. This wasn’t because my Christian community overtly hated gay people – though many did. It wasn’t even because of the “clobber passages” – the handful of passages that allegedly directly mention homosexuality.

No. I and my Christian community believed I was barred from a gay relationship, first and foremost, because of gender complementarianism: the belief that the union of male and female within the covenant of marriage creates a morally exclusive spiritual state, and that such a state is the only valid and virtuous “container” for sexual activity.

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A New Kind of Christianity: Inner Truth Vs. Outer Truth

~ Stephen Bradford Long ~ 16 Comments

I’ve written a lot about faith and doubt within Christianity over the past year or so. Doubt has been my constant, dark companion. I can understand now why Martin Luther (according to myth) hurled a bottle of ink at a devil that was taunting him. I’ve been hurling my own ink, trying to fend off the monster.

I could easily shrug off the doubt and turn to the warm light of my faith, stuffing all the questions back into the box, but I can’t do that. My understanding of integrity doesn’t let me shrug off genuine questions. I know that I need to value truth, and that truth requires certain proofs to be true. I know that humility, asking questions, and accepting my capacity to be wrong is integral to living a good, upright life.

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