My appreciation for the atheist contrarian Christopher Hitchens was cemented by a Vanity Fair article entitled "Unspoken Truths" that was written shortly before his death. The piece chronicled his experience losing the ability to speak as the cancer attacked his vocal chords. In it Hitchens expressed a core value that had been subconscious all my life: "For me, to remember … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Reprioritizes Friendship As One of the Most Important Things in Life
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Beatnik Christianity Replaces the Ethical Framework of Right vs. Wrong
The single worst piece of advice I ever received came from a groomsman's dad shortly before my first wedding. He said, "You need to look at marriage like that scene from Apollo 13. 'Failure is not an option!' You must honor your vows no matter what." For him, and for much of Christian culture, there's no room for complexity or nuance. It doesn't matter how much you're … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Replaces the Ethical Framework of Right vs. Wrong
Beatnik Christianity Seeks A Third-Way Between Clericalism and Anti-Clericalism
Merriam-Webster defines clericalism as "a policy of maintaining or increasing the power of a religious hierarchy." According to Pope Francis, "Clericalism arises from an elitist and exclusivist vision of vocation, that interprets the ministry received as a power to be exercised rather than as a free and generous service to be given. This leads us to believe that we belong to a … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Seeks A Third-Way Between Clericalism and Anti-Clericalism
Beatnik Christianity Is Sex-Positive
Christian culture has long taught an unhealthy, unnatural, androcentic, and repressive view of human sexuality that appears blissfully unaware of Song of Songs. I'm not denying that Christians ever say positive things about sex, but even when they do the ratio is usually all wrong. The enculturated formula tends to prescribe two-thirds negativity to one-third positivity. If … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Is Sex-Positive
