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
Pastors
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 Destigmatizes Therapy and Values Deep Conversations with Friends
Western society at large is at this interesting place regarding psychotherapy and mental health. On the one hand, there are a whole lot of people who still pejoratively and dismissively refer to licensed therapists as "shrinks." They're often in positions of power, too. For them the stigma against mental health issues is self-evident and nearly as professionally disastrous as … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Destigmatizes Therapy and Values Deep Conversations with Friends
Beatnik Christianity Trusts Spiritual Directors More Than Pastors
I revere excellent pastors. Unfortunately, they're few and far between. Not only that, they're getting harder to find as American Christian culture's implicit expectations are shifting to more of a "Church CEO" model. These days pastors are chiefly responsible for overseeing programs, increasing attendance, maximizing participation, managing the board, and serving as the … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Trusts Spiritual Directors More Than Pastors
Beatnik Christianity Restores the Tension Between the Individual and the Community
Not only is contemporary Western society the most radically individualistic in all of human history, but American society is at the apex of that hyper-individualism by a long shot. It'd be like building the Burj Khalifa skyscraper atop Mount Everest. Our lifestyle of relentless self-interest is truly unprecedented. Yet any call for the restoration of a healthy balance or … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Restores the Tension Between the Individual and the Community
