PinnedQuick Links to My Most Popular StoriesUpdated Monthly — Thanks for visiting me on Medium! Here are some quick links to my most popular stories. For my latest work, just scroll down. Enjoy! The 40 Reasons I’m No Longer an Evangelical Christian Why I walked away from the faith of my youthmedium.com How Christian Missionaries Destroyed African Diversity Rescuing the rainbow refugees from the hands of fundamentalistsmedium.com The Worst of ‘Christianity’ In One Instagram Post As I was scrolling through my Instagram feed the other day I was stopped dead in my tracks by a post from a fairly…medium.comReligion2 min readReligion2 min read
Published inBackyard Church·1 day agoMember-onlyHeartbreaking Pleas for Help: The Persecuted LGBTQ Refugees of AfricaStories of courage and survival — Over the past few weeks, I have had dozens of Africans reaching out to me on Facebook, begging for help. Literally dozens. And they all have one thing in common. They are gay men who have been driven from their homes, disowned by their own families, and facing imprisonment —…LGBTQ6 min readLGBTQ6 min read
Published inBackyard Church·3 days agoMember-onlyIf Jesus Didn’t Die For Our Sins, What Did He Die For?It’s not as clear cut as you think — Ask pretty much any evangelical Christian anywhere why Jesus died on the cross, and they will invariably tell you, “Jesus died to pay the price for our sins,” or words to that effect. It’s an idea that has become so deeply rooted in Christian belief that most Christians automatically assume…Religion12 min readReligion12 min read
Published inBackyard Church·4 days agoMember-onlySacred Site Defaced by ‘Christian’ Group in Horrific AttackCriminal acts on sacred soil — There’s something captivating about connecting with the spiritual and cultural heritage of the First Nations’ peoples. Australia — my country — is home to many awe-inspiring sites that hold deep significance for our Indigenous communities, from the ancient rock cave art sites scattered throughout Kakadu National Park to the iconic…Religion5 min readReligion5 min read
Published inBackyard Church·6 days agoMember-onlyWhy Americans are Switching Religious Beliefs Like Never BeforeThe spiritual shake-up sweeping the nation — In a nation renowned for its melting pot of cultures and ideas, it seems that even religions are not immune to the allure of change. A recent survey reveals that an increasing number of Americans are embarking on a hilarious game of religious hopscotch, eagerly switching from one belief system…Religion7 min readReligion7 min read
Published inBackyard Church·May 25Member-onlyIt’s Time to Come Clean About Biblical MarriageIt’s not what you think it is — “Marriage was, and always will be, the God-ordained union between one man and one woman,” Shouted the pastor as he slammed his fist down on the pulpit. His face was beetroot red, and a little vein on his balded forehead bulged out as he delivered an impassioned exhortation to his…Marriage10 min readMarriage10 min read
Published inBackyard Church·May 23Member-onlyWhy Pastor’s Kids Are Messed UpTorn between two loves: The perpetual rivalry of pastor’s kids and God — Everyone has their own share of hang-ups and complexities, but there’s a certain uniqueness to the experiences of pastor’s kids that often sets them apart. …Religion8 min readReligion8 min read
Published inBackyard Church·May 22Member-onlyThe Worst of Christianity in an Eight-Word CommentMy unapologetic response to the guy who thinks I’m going to Hell — It all started when I wrote a blog post entitled “The 40 Reasons I’m No Longer an Evangelical Christian,” where I bared my soul and shared the intricate details of my personal journey and the reasons why I walked away from the evangelical faith. With every word I typed, I…Religion6 min readReligion6 min read
Published inBackyard Church·May 21Member-onlyThe A-Z of Christian ClichesA Beginner’s Guide on How to Speak Christianese — If you’ve never immersed yourself in the glories of cultural Christianity, then on the off chance that you ever happened to grace the pews of a church, you might find yourself struggling to understand some of the language that you encounter. Like many sub-cultural groups, Christians have their own unique…Humor6 min readHumor6 min read
Published inBackyard Church·May 19Member-onlyTen Conversation Killers for Your Next Church VisitWhat Not to Say When Visiting — Some time back, I decided to conduct a social experiment where I paid a couple of atheist friends to go to a church service, kind of like church “mystery shoppers.” There was a twist, though. My two atheist friends happened to be in a same-sex relationship with each other. I…Religion7 min readReligion7 min read