Do neighbors matter? When we think about our social lives and wellbeing, our minds typically go first to the people closest to us: family, close friends, romantic partners. But what I’ve come to realize is the importance of “weak ties,” a term coined by Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter. Weak ties are casual acquaintances, people we…
Trauma, Abuse, and Redemption
I have recently been interested in the idea of theodicy, and as a survivor of childhood trauma and abuse[1] trying to find the meaning of suffering, if there even is one. I am currently working on a devotional book on reading Scripture through the lens of trauma. The study that I have done and the…
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
Trick-or-Treat Be With You! I do ministry on the margins with what I call “queer pilgrims.” Like me, they are one or more of the various flavors of queer, but unlike me they aren’t Christian anymore and have—whether voluntarily or through exile—left their faith community. One of the perennial questions I get from such pilgrims…