May 28 Written By Ashley Reid “Virtue knows no color line, and the chivalry which depends upon complexion of skin and texture of hair can command no honest respect.” ― Ida B. Wells-Barnett, The Red Record Southern trees bear a strange fruitBlood on the leaves and blood at the rootBlack bodies swinging in the southern breezeStrange fruit … Continue reading The Call for Real Virtue [a piece by Ashley Reid]
Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com Amidst the calamitous blow of the death of her husband and sons, Naomi is left with her now widowed daughter-in-laws. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem hoping for some semblance of survival. Just prior to the verse section listed within this discussion, Ruth has clung to Naomi while Orpah has … Continue reading The Unbreakable Vow: Ruth and Naomi
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I recommend reading this blog post with Romans 1 and 2 pulled up in your Bible for reference and utilizing the NRSV translation if possible. When I was struggling with my sexuality and my faith the most difficult and probably most obvious text that I wrestled with was Romans 1. … Continue reading Romans 1: The Breakdown
Photo by Wilson Vitorino on Pexels.com It’s distressingly common for trans people to have Psalm 139 weaponized against them, particularly verses 13-16. You might find it strange that a portion of an ancient song that has been regarded as a comfort to so many is treated by some as though it’s a prescriptive text meant … Continue reading Fearfully and Wonderfully Transgender: A Trans Woman’s Reflections on Psalm 139
Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com This is the second portion of my previous piece about Exegesis. Please feel free to reference that prior to reading this. Here, I will explicate the basics on what kinds of questions and interests an exegete should have when reading the biblical text. Have you ever read Romeo and … Continue reading Exegesis/ Hermeneutics 101: Never Read the Bible the Same Way Again Pt. 2
Photo by fotografierende on Pexels.com Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46951/humpty-dumpty-sat-on-a-wall When you read this nursery rhyme, think about any crystallizations of the story you have in your mind. Maybe you have read it … Continue reading Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: Undoing how Church has Taught us to Read the Bible
Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com 1. Students between the ages of 17-24 are not financially independent of their families and rely on them for funding and help with college tuition as well as funding for housing, food, etc. 2. Students between these ages are also reliant upon other resources for funding including financial aid, … Continue reading Why are LGBTQ+ folks at Christian Universities? Here are the top reasons (and a better question to ask).
Photo by Rahul on Pexels.com In June 1981, Audre Lorde gave the keynote presentation at the National Women’s Studies Association Conference, Storrs, Connecticut. Her presentation appears below. Racism. The belief in the inherent superiority of one race over all others and thereby the right to dominance, manifest and implied. Women respond to racism. My response to … Continue reading (1981) Audre Lorde, “The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism”
Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com My professor said to our class this semester, “You don’t participate in the sacraments because you know completely and understand what they mean. You participate in them to learn what they mean, within the context of your identity”. This is so counterintuitive to everything I was taught growing up. … Continue reading Who Do I Say I Am? By Alysha Laperche
Photo by Josh Sorenson on Pexels.com In loving memory of Rachel Held Evans: "Rachel Held Evans/Mourning" "Screams of Rebirth" "Galaxy" Lauren is my friend and colleague at Brave Commons. She is an incredible person and I am lucky to work alongside her and to know her. I hope you find Lauren's poetry as soothing and … Continue reading Selections of Poetry by Lauren Ileana Sotolongo
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