Religion
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Picture a Christmas
There is a sweet children’s song titled “Picture a Christmas.” Years ago, I created a Christmas experience for children the Sunday before Christmas. They would sing carols they had practiced for weeks, each child was given a small part to… Continue reading
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The Work of Angels: A Mother’s Reflection
Authors Note: “Angels” by Emma Nissen plays by default whenever I turn the ignition, a small ritual at the start of each drive. I first heard her perform a few years ago and was drawn to her voice and her… Continue reading
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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
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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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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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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
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Chronicle of a Cult: Part 1
Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad I studied the psychology of cults with Dr. Bethany Burum. For my final presentation and project, I explored how Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad fit the defining features of a cult. You might now be… Continue reading
The Little Stream: Where Soul Meets Society — Reflections on Well-Being, Religion, and Power 