Finding resolve amidst the dissonance of "churchianity"
How should Christians respond to the death of an unbeliever?
Sex abuse survivors need to be believed and supported What happens when sex abuse survivors spend years trying to tell others of their abuse and it is met with deaf ears? What happens when family and friends turn their backs and ignore the abuse? In the next personal story, we will read a response to… Continue reading What Can Happen to Sex Abuse Survivors When They Are Not Believed or Supported?
*** This is a repent- and rebuke-free zone. *** *** Tonight, I banned these words from the Spiritual Sounding Board Facebook page after someone rebuked another commenter and also told the same commenter to repent. The repent word was used in the middle of a debate on homosexuality. While the person saying it may have been legitimately… Continue reading This is a Repent- and Rebuke-Free Zone
*** Sex Abuse, Incest, Truth and Reconciliation, Josh Duggar, 19 Kids and Counting, Purity Culture *** What is it like for a sex abuse survivor to see the news of a sex abuser and victims on National television? What is it like for a survivor to hear the words of parents explain away abuse, when leaders… Continue reading Incest Survivor Shares Her Personal Thoughts about the Josh Duggar Case: “Truth and Reconciliation”
Christian Patriarchy: men who resort to physical force (wife spanking, restricting movement, etc), to gain control of their wives *** *** Always Learning is a blog by Lori Alexander. Her husband, Ken, oversees it and comments as well. Lori claims to: "love teaching women to be sober, to love their husbands and children, to be… Continue reading Christian Blogger Claims that Husbands Don’t Like to Use Words to Resolve Marital Conflict, Physical Force Works Better
*** The Duggar family released a statement regarding their TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting: Today, TLC announced that they will not be filming new episodes of 19 Kids and Counting. Years ago, when we were asked to film our first one hour documentary about the logistics of raising 14 children, we felt that it… Continue reading The Duggar Family Releases Statement Regarding Their Show, 19 Kids and Counting
*** Seeing Clearly Again after Spiritual Abuse *** Have you seen this video which has been spreading around?  It is the cutest thing ever and shows a precious baby, Piper, who does not want her mama to put on her new glasses. But after she gets her new glasses on, Piper's face lights up as she hears… Continue reading Piper’s New Glasses and Seeing Clearly after Wearing Distorted Lenses of Spiritual Abuse
*** Pastor Steve Wingfield and First Christian Church of Florissant offer counseling to Brandon Milburn's sex abuse victims, but are there ethical issues involved? *** There is a large group of people, some current and some former members of First Christian Church of Florissant (FCCF), who have been very disappointed in how Pastor Steve Wingfield and church… Continue reading A Closer Look at Ethical Issues Involving First Christian Church of Florissant and the Counseling They are Offering to Sex Abuse Victims
*** Pastor Chuck O'Neal claims Portland-area police officer is threatening his First Amendment Rights. This is the same pastor who sued 4 former church members  $500,000 for speaking out publicly against him. *** *** This is rich. Pastor Chuck O'Neal of Beaverton Grace Bible Church, the very same pastor who sued me and four former church… Continue reading Pastor Chuck O’Neal Who Sued 5 Former Church Members for $500,000 for Defamation Claims His First Amendment Rights are Violated When Police Officer Asks Him to Move to Side of Road to Preach
*** Tools to Help Protect Children from Pedophiles and Sex Abuse *** After reading, A Betrayal at Home, an article on incest and child sex abuse, I became angry - angry about trusted individuals who should have been loving and protecting precious children, but instead silenced and victimized children by abusing them sexually, sometimes destroying their lives emotionally… Continue reading There is a Pedophile in My Family: The Tools I Gave My Children to Protect Them from Harm
*** Do Patriotism and Worship Services Mix Well? *** *** I've been in churches where the congregation was asked to stand and say the pledge of allegiance during a worship service. I have a strong pride in America. I lived in the Philippines during a very tumultuous time in which our own US servicemen were killed… Continue reading Is it appropriate to use a worship service to promote patriotism?Â
*** Josh Duggar's (nonfamily) sex abuse victim intends to file lawsuit against him. *** Recent news reports claim that Josh Duggar, son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who was reported to have sexually abused five children as a young teen, will be facing a civil lawsuit filed by the non-related victim. It should be noted… Continue reading NonFamily Sex Abuse Victim Expected to File Civil Lawsuit against Josh Duggar
*** Open Letter from Pastor Steve Wingfield and Elders of First Christian Church of Florissant and Response from Former Youth Pastor *** Earlier this month, I shared a portion of a disturbing story about First Christian Church of Florissant (FCCF) and their pastor, Steve Wingfield. I found this case  especially intriguing because of the similarities with my own… Continue reading Former Youth Pastor Responds to Open Letter from Church Leaders Who Mishandled and Failed to Report Child Sex Abuse
*** Should women respect their husbands unconditionally? Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, author of Love and Respect, says so. *** *** I follow the Love and Respect guy, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs in my Facebook news feed. (I'm issuing a trigger warning for one of our own who went to his church.) He now has an… Continue reading Emerson Eggerichs Says Wives Respect Husbands Unconditionally
*** Tony Miano, open air preacher, UK, contrast between "Angry man, loving child" *** Tony Miano believes he is loving strangers when he tells them they are haters and murderers at heart. He typically speaks very loudly in a megaphone and singles out people to tell them they are haters and murderers. He doesn't seem… Continue reading Is Tony Miano showing hatred towards a child by not telling her to repent of her murderous and hateful heart?
*** Early this morning, I posted an article (now removed) sent by a guest poster regarding the ongoing situation at The Bridge Fellowship. The article implicated a popular Christian country radio station, HLE. After the article was published, I received an e-mail from Hunter Logan of HLE who said they (HLE)Â have never had any affiliation… Continue reading Public Apology
*** Pastor David McGee of The Bridge Church publicly excommunicated or disfellowshipped four members via his Facebook page. *** *** On Thursday, Pastor David McGee of The Bridge Fellowship in Kernersville, North Carolina, posted a comment on his Facebook account publicly naming and "disfollowshipping" four church members. I repeat - this was done PUBLICLY on… Continue reading Pastor David McGee Publicly Names and Excommunicates Four Church Members via His Facebook Page
*** High-pressure church leaders, mandatory church attendance and guilt *** "Longtime Lurker" broke her silence a while back and shared her personal high-controlling church experience. Â I copied her comment for this post because I think her experience is representative of what others have gone through, and I can relate with a lot of what she… Continue reading Do you feel guilty because of pressure and high expectations from church leaders? You are not alone!
*** Church leaders revictimize abuse victims when they fail to respond appropriately to abuse. Theology can be used to minimize the sin of perpetrators and sometimes blames abuse victims. Â *** *** I've been following the story of Pastor Steve Wingfield at First Christian Church of Florissant and was notified that the largest paper in St.… Continue reading Church Leaders Who Revictimize Abuse Victims and Theology That Harms Both Victims and Perpetrators
*** Bill Gothard, ATI, IBLP, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, Homeschool Curricula *** The Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar family has been a long-time supporter and promoter of Bill Gothard's ATI homeschool program and foundational program at Institute in Basic Life Principles. Bill Gothard resigned from the Institute in Basic Life Principles in the Spring of 2014.… Continue reading Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are Still Scheduled to Speak at ATI & IBLP Conferences which Promote Bill Gothard’s Teaching Materials
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