Marriage is a safeguarding issue
It is my growing belief that the church cannot credibly defend marriage unless it grapples with the perils inherent in […]
Marriage is a safeguarding issue Read Post »
Firelight, The church and consentFirelight
Deconstructing patriarchy and where things go wrong, with questions over traditional and/or evangelical assumptions
How Jesus explains divorce and adultery (it’s about treachery, not sex)
There are many myths about what Jesus said on divorce and adultery. In this post, you will learn the number
How Jesus explains divorce and adultery (it’s about treachery, not sex) Read Post »
Firelight, Sex (and divorce) in the New Testament
Was Deuteronomy written by Moses?
Ultimately we can never go back in time and prove who exactly wrote, edited and redacted Deuteronomy. I set out some of textual evidence that supports late authorship.
Was Deuteronomy written by Moses? Read Post »
Deuteronomy 22, Firelight, The Bible and other studies
But I’m a Cheerleader: The Musical. Fun, relevant and sex-positive. I’d pay to see it again.
When I told my friend I was going to see the musical of But I’m A Cheerleader, she said, ‘Wait, is
About doctrinal statements that I just can’t even with (and those that I can)
Sometimes it seems a statement of faithIs a state of unfaith,A badly built gateTo shut down debate. Christine Woolgar Maybe
About doctrinal statements that I just can’t even with (and those that I can) Read Post »
Firelight, My faith, The church and exclusion
Is sex without consent still sex?
Your answer will depend on what you think sex actually is. And you’d be surprised how many different definitions are
Is sex without consent still sex? Read Post »
#metoo, Firelight, The church and consent
Gregoire, Grudem and grounds for divorce: why didn’t Jesus mention abuse?
For people who suffer marital abuse, divorce is a significant and important way for them to escape harm (or at
Gregoire, Grudem and grounds for divorce: why didn’t Jesus mention abuse? Read Post »
Firelight, Sex (and divorce) in the New Testament, The church and exclusion
Why Love & Respect’s CHAIRS acronym isn’t about genuine respect
I show how the CHAIRS acronym, which Eggerichs uses as a reference for respect, is more about self-importance than self-worth.
Why Love & Respect’s CHAIRS acronym isn’t about genuine respect Read Post »
Firelight, The church and consent
Does the Bible speak against marital rape? Yes… I think it’s hidden in Jesus’s teachings on divorce.
Content note: this post discusses purity culture, divorce and marital rape. EDITED TO ADD: I wrote this in 2021 as
Everything wrong with the Nashville Statement: Article 01: the meaning of marriage
You remember the Nashville Statement, right? No? OK… Imagine Martin Luther in 1517 when he nailed his 95 theses to
Everything wrong with the Nashville Statement: Article 01: the meaning of marriage Read Post »
Firelight, The church and exclusion
What was the Hebrew word when David committed adultery and does it imply anything about Bathsheba’s consent?
TL;DR two different Hebrew phrases are used and no, neither one implies that Bathsheba consented. CONTENT WARNING this post discusses
Remember Rizpah’s protest against King David? She achieved more than you know.
I was recently listening to a compelling sermon by Austin Channing Brown, that was all about Rizpah. If that name
Remember Rizpah’s protest against King David? She achieved more than you know. Read Post »
Firelight, The Bible and other studies
Actually, sometimes it’s right to say ‘love your neighbour’ more often than ‘love God’
OK, so I know that deconstructing bad tweets on Christian Twitter is often a soul-destroying sport, but hey – this
Actually, sometimes it’s right to say ‘love your neighbour’ more often than ‘love God’ Read Post »
Firelight, The church and hope
I cannot believe the church’s responsibility is so small that we get to shrug and try better next time.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen some pretty horrific things passing through my social media feed the last
Currency for closure? On vulnerability and storycraft in a #metoo world
I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind, particularly since the #metoo hashtag started trending back in
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#metoo, Abuse dynamics, Firelight, My faith
On Dobson, domestic violence and DARVO dynamics
CONTENT NOTE: This post discusses the dynamics of domestic abuse and victim-blaming. A few years ago I was volunteering for
On Dobson, domestic violence and DARVO dynamics Read Post »
#churchtoo, Abuse dynamics, Firelight, The church and consent, The church and exclusion
“Be self-giving, not self-seeking” — but what if that’s the wrong marriage advice
I see the same essential marriage advice given time and time again: “be self-giving, not self-seeking”. Depending on who you
“Be self-giving, not self-seeking” — but what if that’s the wrong marriage advice Read Post »
Firelight, The church and consent
Why submission in the comp/egal debate is actually about boundaries (and warrants comparison with kink)
Complementarians, egalitarians and kinksters are three groups of people who all frequently talk about submission in the context of a
Shameless about…? On hearing Nadia Bolz-Weber at Southwark Cathedral
“Breathe in the good s***, breathe out the bulls***.” As I told a friend I was going to hear Nadia
Shameless about…? On hearing Nadia Bolz-Weber at Southwark Cathedral Read Post »
Firelight, My faith
Are your thoughts and prayers with … the system? Maybe they should be.
I’m grateful to say that gun violence is something quite remote from my experience and everyday life. The UK has
Are your thoughts and prayers with … the system? Maybe they should be. Read Post »
Firelight, My faith, The church and hope
Law not patriarchy: why submission isn’t the issue in Esther and Vashti’s stories
The story of Esther, a Jewish orphan who became queen of Persia and saved her people from annihilation, is loaded
Law not patriarchy: why submission isn’t the issue in Esther and Vashti’s stories Read Post »
Firelight, The Bible and other studies