Strangely Dim
In many ways I have become extremely progressive and, gulp, liberal. That’s why I surprise myself when conservative evangelical lingo, prayers, songs, tumble out of me as naturally as if I still recite...
View ArticleThat Time I Hated Someone
Growing up conservative Christian there were a lot of protocols. Christian culture can be very formulaic. There were the prayers you had to pray a certain way, the testimonies of prescribed narratives...
View ArticleAttending a White Conference
In less than two weeks, I am flying halfway across the world to attend a writing conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am thrilled in many ways to learn at the feet of seasoned writers, meet fellow...
View ArticleWhat I’m learning – Intersectionality
I heard someone say that facebook is who you went to school with and twitter is who you wish you went to school with. It was on twitter where I first learned of the term “Intersectionality.” Most of...
View ArticleAttending a White Conference – Follow Up
“This conference isn’t made for me,” my new friend Drew says to me by the fireplace in Calvin College’s Prince Conference Room at the Festival of Faith & Writing. “It isn’t made with my needs in...
View ArticleWhat Does Embodied Spirituality Mean to You?
One of the reasons I kissed evangelism goodbye is because of the troubling method of convincing our conversion target of their need to be saved. It’s Marketing 101, create the need then supply the...
View ArticleThe Fight for Unfundamentalist Christianity
Real talk: sometimes I don’t know why I’m writing a Christian book. Engaging in the Christian conversation publicly gets exhausting, especially because it has become so wrapped up in political culture...
View ArticleThe Most Subversive Act of All
When I tell my story of faith shifting, moving from the conservative evangelicalism of my youth to my now quite-progressive-faith, I always refer to the start of my blogging career as the turning point...
View Article7 Reasons to Stop Seeking the Will of God
“Just pray about it.” This is the phrase we throw around in Christian culture when someone needs to make a decision. “I prayed about it and God said to…” What we say after we’ve made the decision. The...
View ArticleTired of Justice
“Which chapter has been the hardest to write?” My friend Kate asks as I express anxiety at the overwhelming task I had writing a chapter on racism in my Unfundamentalist Parenting book. “All of them,”...
View ArticleHe’s Not That into You
People who are in a relationship sometimes have their judgment clouded by the intense feelings that surround every relationship dynamic. For instance, recently a girl friend started dating a boy who...
View ArticleFaith and Intellect
“I can’t reconcile a God who provides a fax machine but doesn’t rescue 800 refugees from drowning,” my friend says to me, referring to Christians expressing gratefulness for simple provisions...
View ArticleArt & Justice
A few years ago, at the height of my faith deconstruction, I was being swallowed whole by cynicism. My soul was so raw, the naivete of my childhood faith ruthlessly stripped away as I was learning hard...
View ArticleWhen Believers Do Not Believe
I have come to think people of faith are the most unbelieving bunch. In everyday parenting, there comes situations when I have to question my children on what they have done or not done, said or not...
View ArticleUnfundamentalist Parenting Round-Up
Most of you may know, at the end of February this year, I started a new blog over with Patheos blogging on the subject of Unfundamentalist Parenting. I am keeping my blog here at cindywords, because I...
View ArticleFive Ways to Listen Well
The word listen contain the same letters as the word ‘silent.’ ~ Alfred Brendel I am a good listener. This is who I am and not just an narcissistic opinion but one that is confirmed by my closest...
View ArticlePop, Goes the Christian Bubble
Growing up in an evangelical missionary community, it was central to the formation of our Christian identity to integrate a keen sense of outreach. “People need the Lord ~~” we’d sing passionately in...
View ArticleThe Theology of my Toyota
“If theology can be used to oppress, murder, and brutalize women, black people, trans people, queer people, bisexual people, and people with disabilities; then why can’t theology be used to liberate...
View ArticleComing Face to Face with Fear
My family and I watched an episode of Brain Games on the topic of superstition one evening. It was about how the amazing powerhouse situated in between our ears helps us learn, think, do a host of...
View ArticleRace for Lost Time
That total depravity thing really threw me off my game in my youth. The T in TULIP cramped my style big time. I spent a lot of energy as a young person and a young Christian denying myself as part and...
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