The Little Stream: Where Soul Meets Society — Reflections on Well-Being, Religion, and Power

lisastoddardreeves

  • The Work of Peace: From Our Relationships to the World We Share

    Peace doesn’t begin at the negotiating table or in the halls of power—it begins in how we treat one another. The same dynamics that shape a marriage, a family, or a friendship also echo through communities and nations. When we… Continue reading

    The Work of Peace: From Our Relationships to the World We Share

  • Reproduction as a Racial Asset: Population Panic, White Anxiety, and the State

    Moral panics thrive where uncertainty meets ideology [1]. The recent anxiety over declining birthrates is a perfect example. On the surface, it sounds practical — a call to strengthen families, have more children, and secure the nation’s future. But beneath… Continue reading

    Reproduction as a Racial Asset: Population Panic, White Anxiety, and the State

  • Emasculate: How the Man Code Traps Men

    Masculinity, often presented as natural or strong, is in reality high-maintenance — a performance guarded by ridicule, fear, and peer enforcement. Boys learn early that masculinity isn’t something you are; it’s something you prove—over and over again. From boyhood on,… Continue reading

    Emasculate: How the Man Code Traps Men

  • Proof Texts and Prophets: Does Scripture Endorse Polygamy?

    Someone recently argued that Abraham’s polygamy forces a binary choice: either accept it as moral or condemn him as a fornicator [1]. But scripture rarely works in such rigid categories. There are other hermeneutical lenses worth considering. A contextual lens… Continue reading

    Proof Texts and Prophets: Does Scripture Endorse Polygamy?

  • Chronicle of a Cult: Part 4

    Tim BallardandOperation Underground Railroad Manipulate Psychological Vulnerabilities, Beliefs, & Act Against Best Interest There are many people who have donated or been involved with Tim Ballard and OUR since it began. Most people’s loss involves money and time. There is… Continue reading

    Chronicle of a Cult: Part 4

  • Paul, Patriarchy and Power

    I’ve often heard explanations along these lines: In Paul’s day, there were “different expectations about how women participated in society, including in church meetings.” It doesn’t mean that “women cannot speak and lead in the Church today.” Many people see… Continue reading

    Paul, Patriarchy and Power

  • Chronicle of a Cult: Part 3

    Tim BallardandOperation Underground Railroad Manipulating Psychological Vulnerabilities: Biases Elaine Godfrey wrote in “The Atlantic” that “If people on the left are repelled by [the “Sound of Freedom”], it’s for the same reasons people on the right feel so obligated to… Continue reading

    Chronicle of a Cult: Part 3

  • The Politics of Fear: War, Masculinity, and the Struggle for Identity

    Recently Donald Trump rebranded the Department of Defense as the Department of War. This may seem insignificant or unimportant for many, but I’d suggest that it is a very predictable and significant move in the current political and religious climate.… Continue reading

    The Politics of Fear: War, Masculinity, and the Struggle for Identity

  • Conservative Dads: Bring Home the Bacon, Fry It Up in a Pan

    Imagine a headline that asked: “Are conservative fathers embracing the Superdad ideal?” Picture an article about men who work part-time, have full-time careers, or stay home with the kids. Hard to imagine? That’s because we rarely talk about fathers like… Continue reading

    Conservative Dads: Bring Home the Bacon, Fry It Up in a Pan

  • The Illusion of Choice & the Gender Wage Gap

    Imagine you walk into an ice cream shop with 50 flavors, but the server steers you toward vanilla. From the time you were a kid, your family, friends, and even TV shows praised vanilla as the best choice. You choose… Continue reading

    The Illusion of Choice & the Gender Wage Gap