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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Privileged Pleasure: Gender Politics in the Bedroom
What Does the Gender Pay Gap Have to Do With Sex? On the surface, it might seem like two completely separate conversations — one about economics, the other about intimacy. But look more closely, and you’ll see they are closely… Continue reading
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Let’s Talk About Consent
Think you understand consent? Misunderstanding consent puts people at risk—of being hurt, of being accused, and of facing life-changing consequences. Avoiding conversations about consent leaves people vulnerable both to being hurt and to hurting others. We have a responsibility to… Continue reading
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Chronicle of a Cult: Part 2
Tim BallardandOperation Underground Railroad Community and Exclusivity Research consistently finds that the need to belong is a fundamental human drive, and OUR (Operation Underground Railroad) fulfilled this by offering people a deep sense of purpose and identity within a heroic… Continue reading
The Little Stream: Where Soul Meets Society — Reflections on Well-Being, Religion, and Power 