Ep. 112: On Proximity To Power w/ Author Tiffany Bluhm
EQ: What is the role of women in religious communities to call out the patriarchy and fight against injustice in 2021?
Guest: Tiffany Bluhm, author of Prey Tell: Why We Silence Women Who Tell the Truth and How Everyone Can Speak Up. She is a sought after speaker, writer, and podcast co-host of the popular podcast Why Tho, a show answering the existential and nonsensical questions we ask ourselves, with author and speaker, Ashley Abercrombie. More information can be found at her website.
In this episode we discuss the role of conservatism that dominates conversations about gender equality, especially in religious spaces. The role of women (specifically in Christian contexts) in enabling the patriarchy because of things like “niceness at the expense of being honest” but also the power they have to dismantle misogyny. We cannot wait around for someone to “give women permission.” Instead we need to examine our proximity to power and do something with it.
🥂 All those teachers that are back in the classroom, showing up and teaching their students, all through a global pandemic
👎🏻Texas for passing their law essentially banning abortions and denying women access to their Health Care
Do Your Fudging Homework:
Ep. 39: Evangelicals Need to Come Out of Their Corners
EQ: How is Evangelicalism supporting white supremacy in American churches and government today and what do we do about it?
We are joined by Erin Jones, award-winning educator, independent education & systems consultant, public speaker, former candidate for State Superintendent (OSPI). As we unpack our essential question, we discuss the tension between faith and doubt, specifically that both are healthy. We wrestle with why so many people of faith unquestionably believe in their leadership (pastors) and are told to just “Do” rather than think about what they are doing. We explore the loaded nature of the word “evangelicalism” including how it’s changed meaning over time and gets interchanged with “Republicanism”. Evangelicalism has been boiled down to arguments about pro-life, gay marriage, guns, and voting for Trump. Erin also shares about her experience as a woman of color navigating white Evangelical churches. Finally, we discuss why it’s critical for Christians who don’t buy into the fear-mongering to come out of our silos and corners to engage in conversations about faith, religion and justice.
Related Readings:
The New York Times: 11am Sunday is Our Most Segregated Hour
America Jesuit Review: Sunday is Still the Most Segregated
The New Yorker: Evangelicals of Color Fight Back
“This is Not of God” New York Times
Christian Social Justice Organization “Sojourners”
From WA Post: The Walls Around Trump Are Crumbling: Evangelicals May His Last Resort
The NY Times: Why Trump Reigns as King Cyrus
John Pavlovitz on Twitter & website “Stuff That Needs to Be Said”)
Do Your Fudging Homework:
Annie: Are You an Evangelical? Are You Sure? by Jennifer Kurtzleben for NPR.
Hope: Jim Wallis America’s Original Sin
Erin: Words Matter Podcast, Quick to Listen (liberal learning Christians), Living in Effect, Faith Factor
Ways to contact you: Email: erinjones93@gmail.com, Facebook: Erin Jones 2016, Instagram: erinin2016, Twitter: @erinjonesin2016
Ep. 16: Pagan Zines Save the World
Our EQ: How do white people appropriate religious traditions? How does religion shape social justice and why keeping an eye on American pagans matters?
We’re super excited about long time listener and friend Mandy Paradise joining us to explain Paganism in the NW, including how it fits into our current work of understanding and confronting white nationalism and supremacy. Find Mandy on Instagram or through her website The Anchor and the Star and check out her zines, including “Witches, Pagans, and Cultural Appropriation.” Other episode highlights:
- Some paganism/witchy basics for non-pagans--how do you bring folks together for ritual in a meaningful way?
- Free Witch Camp, The Crystal Cove, and Cresecent Moon Gifts
- The idea of white sanctuary in some pagan traditions and why it’s important to be aware of it. Check out this article Far Right & NeoPaganism
- Cultural appropriation of religious traditions (think the shelf of concrete Buddhas at Ross) and “Columbussing”
Timeless or Terrible:
- Dyeing your hair a warmer color
- Face Swap
Do Your Fudging Homework:
- Mandy: Read "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder
- Annie: Watch “Kill the K Cup” on YouTube and be nicer to the planet.
- Hope: Go check out Mandy’s Instagram or website The Anchor and the Star.