I like to write essays. Sometimes people find them helpful.
I blog about hope, sex and consent, from a perspective rooted in my Christian faith.
In August 2025, I blogged for the first time in years. This post covers a lot of what I was working on during that time:
This site is for you if:
- you want to understand the Bible in a more rounded and informed way, or
- you want to make sense of the weird (and frankly unhelpful) things that sometimes get said in Christian circles, or
- you want to improve your conversations around consent
…and you don’t mind the fact that I’m an unashamed theology nerd!
You’ll find a few things here that you’re less likely to find elsewhere:
- Deep dives into the virginity, sex and rape laws of Deuteronomy 22:13–29
- Myth-busting around what Jesus said when he linked divorce with adultery
- Perspectives on consent with insights from both Christian and sex-positive communities
- Detailed discussion about Fifty Shades of Grey and how badly it presents hope and consent
If you’re looking for more lighter/shorter studies and creative materials on the Bible, my sister-site Faith in Grey Places has plenty to offer. Everything there is safe for work (and church!) and much of it is accessible for people who are less familiar with the Bible.
My most recent posts are:
- Marriage is a safeguarding issue
- Kpop Demon Hunters as a masterclass on hope
- An update on the last four years (and the next 12)
A little about me
I was brought up in the UK as an evangelical Anglican. Whilst I wouldn’t describe myself with either of those labels at the current time, I live with a sense of home-sickness for both, which never completely goes away. In some respects I have progressed very far from what I believed when I was younger, in others, I remain very orthodox.
The part of my faith that has surprised me most has been my love of the Old Testament and the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). I feel like I know and love Jesus best, when I experience him as a wonderful teacher of the law. Maybe that will change in the future, but it’s where I’m at now and I’m done trying to hide it.
I’m also asexual and neurodivergent. Go figure.
For better or for worse, these are the most popular posts over the last month:
Thank you for visiting.
I’m not very active on social media right now, but you can find me on:
- My contact page (best for actually reaching me)
- X: @hope4greyplaces
- Facebook: @workthegreymatter (blog page) and @hope4greyplaces (personal page)
The picture at the top is an extract from artwork created by Siku (@theartofsiku, www.TheArtOfSiku.com). You can read more about it here.