Blog
Rising from A Fundamentalist Childhood
What I don’t want is for the children to have to exile parts of themselves and having to put themselves back together like I had to, I want them to grow as whole selves, from childhood and beyond.
Race for Lost Time
That total depravity thing really threw me off my game in my youth. The T in TULIP cramped my style big time. I spent a lot of energy as a young person and a young Christian denying myself as part and parcel of following Jesus. Which complicated my personal and spiritual development when the teenage…
Coming Face to Face with Fear
My family and I watched an episode of Brain Games on the topic of superstition one evening. It was about how the amazing powerhouse situated in between our ears helps us learn, think, do a host of intricate tasks, but also tricks us into believing things that have no rational basis—such as knocking on wood…
The Theology of my Toyota
“If theology can be used to oppress, murder, and brutalize women, black people, trans people, queer people, bisexual people, and people with disabilities; then why can’t theology be used to liberate us, dignify us, and renew us?” This is a quote from Broderick Greer at a keynote speech at the Gay Christian Network Conference this…
Pop, Goes the Christian Bubble
Growing up in an evangelical missionary community, it was central to the formation of our Christian identity to integrate a keen sense of outreach. “People need the Lord ~~” we’d sing passionately in chapel, and dynamic speakers were brought in to compel us with a sense of urgency to go out and reach the world…
Five Ways to Listen Well
The word listen contain the same letters as the word ‘silent.’ ~ Alfred Brendel I am a good listener. This is who I am and not just an narcissistic opinion but one that is confirmed by my closest friends. It may not be obvious to my readers, because through my words you only hear my…
Unfundamentalist Parenting Round-Up
Most of you may know, at the end of February this year, I started a new blog over with Patheos blogging on the subject of Unfundamentalist Parenting. I am keeping my blog here at cindywords, because I still have internet thoughts and opinions that aren’t related to parenting. But the Patheos blog is a great way…
When Believers Do Not Believe
I have come to think people of faith are the most unbelieving bunch. In everyday parenting, there comes situations when I have to question my children on what they have done or not done, said or not said. If they sense that I have any trace of disbelief in their answer, their plea for me…
Art & Justice
A few years ago, at the height of my faith deconstruction, I was being swallowed whole by cynicism. My soul was so raw, the naivete of my childhood faith ruthlessly stripped away as I was learning hard lessons in the world. I don’t even remember how I behaved outwardly at the time, friends tell me…