Tag Archive for "Religion"

Posts Tagged Religion

Hard truths and no more lies: talking to boys about violence

This past weekend, I found out what a “THOT” is.

I was invited to speak at Union Baptist Church in Trenton, N.J., for a conference they held to address black youth and violence. Trenton is a city no larger than eight square miles, with a population of around 80,000, and has had more than 30 murders this year. Black children are dying and being exposed to violence at an alarming rate. I’m glad my friend, a youth minister at the church, recognized this and organized this conference.

This past weekend, I found out what a “THOT” is.

I was invited to speak at Union Baptist Church in Trenton, N.J., for a conference they held to address black youth and violence. Trenton is ...

By Syreeta McFadden • 10 years ago

Unchristian-like Christian university expels lesbian student and demands she pay back her financial aid

It’s a particular kind of petty vindictiveness to demand that the student you expelled pay back federal student aid for the crime of failing to complete the semester.

In 2011, Grace University, a Christian university, expelled Danielle Powell, only months before graduating, after discovering that she was in a relationship with another woman. The university is now demanding she pay $6,000 of federal student financial aid she received for her studies since she did not finish the semester.

Grace University’s position is, dare I say, kinda unchristian-like..

The devil lives in the details. Grace’s claim to Powell are not federal rules, and according to the Department of Education, they have no claim over repayment of these funds and has stated the dispute is ...

It’s a particular kind of petty vindictiveness to demand that the student you expelled pay back federal student aid for the crime of failing to complete the semester.

In 2011, Grace University, a Christian university, expelled Danielle Powell, ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

Kansas Gov signs massive anti-choice law, writes “JESUS + Mary” in notes

Last Friday, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a sweeping anti-choice into law. Among other things, the bill requires doctors to lie and tell patients that abortion is linked to breast cancer, and defines life as beginning at conception in the state constitution.

Before the signing ceremony, Gov. Brownback added a few hand-written notes to his remarks. According to a photo snapped by the AP, the words “JESUS + Mary” are scrawled front and center across the top.

Image via Gawker

I was under the impression that we still maintained a pretense of a separation of church and state in this country, so I’m not sure why Jesus and Mary should be making an appearance at an official ...

By Alexandra Brodsky • 11 years ago

Daily Feminist Cheat Sheet

A tragic account of second-wave feminist infighting.

“The talkativeness of women has been gauged in comparison not with men but with silence.”

Four burning questions for Dean Spade.

Kendra James takes on Suzy Lee Weiss, Abigail Fischer, et al. at Racialicious.

Appalachian State University wants to protect its brand; student- and professor-activists want to end campus rape.

Lena Dunham’s “First Time” ad for Obama is up for a Webby.

Frat teaches members how to talk to Jewish women.

Out Magazine forgot about the power of POC and trans* people.

UNC is more concerned about false rape accusations than rape itself.

Happy Birthday, Frances Perkins!

DC comics to

A tragic account of second-wave feminist infighting.

“The talkativeness of women has been gauged in comparison not with men but with silence.”

Four burning questions for Dean Spade.

Kendra James takes ...

By Amy S. Choi • 11 years ago

What does the future hold for the sisters who left Westboro Baptist Church?

Megan and Grace Phelps-Roper were once the golden children of Westboro Baptist Church, that great banner-waving bastion of hatred, racism, homophobia, and misogyny. They are grandchildren of the founder, Fred Phelps. Megan, now 27 years old, was a vocal spokesperson for the church, and was considered a potential next leader for the church.

Yesterday, Megan announced that she and Grace left the organization and its message of hate. She and her sister started disengaging with the church and her family in the fall.

Last week, she went to church in the liberal stronghold of Park Slope, Brooklyn, with Jeff Chu, an editor from Fast Company. It was her first time at any church ...

By Chloe Angyal • 11 years ago

The Women’s Ordination Conference says “Ordain a Lady”

I know, I know, we’re all sick of “Call Me Maybe” parodies. But this one is about the need to reform the Catholic Church to allow women to serve as priests, deacons, and bishops. Warning: the use of dancing Catholic schoolgirls in this video will probably make you want to watch the “Baby One More Time” video and dance around your office. Which is not necessarily a bad thing.

h/t Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux

By Alexandra Brodsky • 11 years ago

Mormon women protest in pants

On Sunday, Mormon women around the world wore pants to church. With this seemingly simple act, some think, these activists have opened up a new era for Mormon feminism.

As the New York Times reports, “Wear Pants to Church” was first publicized on Facebook by the event’s originator, 26-year-old Stephanie Lauritzen and quickly spread around the globe. Women are not officially forbidden from wearing pants to church, but many report an expectation to stick to traditionally feminine garb nonetheless, confirmed by the widespread online fury in the days leading up to the event. Yet despite threats of violence against women who dared to arrive at church without their usual dresses, thousands opted for pants in what one Mormon professor called ...

On Sunday, Mormon women around the world wore pants to church. With this seemingly simple act, some think, these activists have opened up a new era for Mormon feminism.

As the New York Times reports, “Wear Pants ...

By Samhita • 11 years ago

A woman dies in Ireland after being denied medically necessary abortion

Trigger Warning

Conservatives love to wing-it when it comes to the science of the female body and what is and isn’t medically viable. Perhaps those that advocate for no access to abortion, under any circumstances whatsoever, believe women have some kind of magical ability to “shut the whole thing down” when they are faced with a life threatening pregnancy. Perhaps that is the case in Ireland, a Catholic country where abortion is illegal. Or maybe they believe a woman deserves to die when she can’t carry her pregnancy to term–that’s all I can think of that would justify allowing a woman to drop dead after three days of agonizing pain because her pregnancy had become toxic and was killing her.

Jill ...

Trigger Warning