WHY DO YOU PRAY? HOW DO YOU PRAY? WHAT DO YOU PRAY? These questions have occupied a lot of my thinking time recently. A few months ago, I embarked on a personal quest to reclaim Christianity from so-called “Christians.” I realize that I’ve let them hijack one of the most important tools of my religious […]
Why One Gay Conversion Story Doesn’t Mean You Can Pray Away the Gay
My comments on this week’s viral video: You might not agree with the content and message, but it’s helpful to know thy enemy. It’s been cold in my hometown of South Carolina for the past couple weeks, so my brother sent me this text: Trump has only been in office 1 year and already fixed […]
How to Discuss Politics at the Thanksgiving Table
If you really want to discuss difficult issues at the Thanksgiving table, the best approach is to start by listening. And avoid the eye roll! And don’t read my instructions on how to give the perfect eye roll. Seriously. Don’t learn how to roll your eyes like an expert.
It’s Time for a New “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy
In what I’m calling the “Battle of the Cakes”, The Satanic Temple has joined the fighting. They released the following statement:
“. . . The laws of the United States require that no one may discriminate by way of refusal of service against an evangelical theocrat for their religious beliefs, but the evangelical theocrat may discriminate against LGBTQ people because of who they are. . . . If [baker] aren’t willing to make a cake for same-sex unions, let’s have them make a cake to honor Satan instead.”
Should Gay Couples Adopt a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy to Beat Baker Discrimination?
As I told you before, I’m Christian.” Bob the Baker stood up from the table. “I can’t support two guys getting married.”
The words hit Jake like a bran muffin, and he could feel his insides churning. “But you made and decorated my marriage proposal muffin.”
“I didn’t realize you were going to use one of my engagement muffins to propose to a man.” Bob wrested his portfolio from Jake’s hands. “I would never have sold you that muffin if I’d known.”
Judge Claims “Religious Liberty” Means Her Beliefs First, Laws Second.
The so-called Alliance Defending Freedom (i.e., discrimination) has struck again with another frivolous appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. This time, they’ve picked a terrible case. They’re arguing that judges should have the right to express their religious views publicly. In October 2014, the Wyoming Supreme Court declared that Wyoming had to issue a marriage […]
GREY MATTERS: Why in your marriage, you should pick being happy over being right.
This week, I’m dispensing with the normal Grey Matters format to share with you something I’ve learned the hard way. Marriage takes work, and relationships are never perfect. On Halloween, I celebrated my 8th wedding anniversary. And I’ll be honest. On October 31, 2008, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to get married. It’s not […]
Grey Matters: Should gay conversion therapy be provided to minors?
Miles is 17 years old and wants to be a Southern Baptist preacher, the same as his father and grandfather. But Miles has a problem. He struggles with same-sex attractions. For the past year, he’s been dating Tracy, a girl who goes to his church. But Tracy has a brother named Scott, and Miles is more attracted to the brother than his own girlfriend. Tracy’s family has a pool, and Miles spent all summer over there, trying not to look (but failing) at Scott. Miles just wants to have normal feelings like everyone else. He wants to look at Tracy and notice her for what she has to offer. But he can’t stop thinking about the fact that her brother has the same emerald green eyes and red hair, and that if he squints hard enough, he can pretend that he is kissing Scott.
Grey Matters: Why connection starts by focusing on our similarities and not our differences.
Jake was born in South Korea. Adopted by a lesbian couple when he was ten months old, he has lived in North Carolina ever since. He is gay, right-handed, a baseball player, and eighteen-years old. He just started college at Stonewall Jackson University, a small liberal arts college in South Carolina. General Stonewall Jackson was […]
Grey Matters: Why those who attack micro-aggressions are fighting the wrong war
Jake was born in South Korea. He was adopted by a lesbian couple when he was ten months old and has lived in North Carolina ever since. Gay, right-handed, a baseball player, and eighteen-years old, he just started college at Stonewall Jackson University, a small liberal arts college in South Carolina. General Stonewall Jackson was […]