Grades in and request for info:

(Cross posted from my Tumblr)

Grades all in: A+ in Ethics, A in Christian Ed, B+ in Trauma, Theology, and Practice, and a Pass for Field Ed. 
I’m happy with that, even if I think I should have gotten a higher grade in the Trauma class. 
I’m kinda tripped out that I’m going into my final year of seminary! Eeee!!!
This summer I’m doing a Special Reading Course to create a Wiccan Christian liturgy, with a focus on the reasons why we do the rituals we do. If some of you Wiccan/Witchcraft types want to send me information on what books you think I should be looking at or your thoughts on what Wiccan liturgy is and why, then I’d be interested in it. One of my goals is to eventually publish a book with the liturgy and theology.
One note, however: if you plan on writing me a screed that tells me that Christianity and Wicca aren’t compatible, from either the pagan or Christian side, I’m just not interested. You are perfectly welcome to excoriate me on your own blogs, Facebook, whatever, but think twice before sending me a thesis via email. I’m just going to delete it. Take your anger towards the “other” elsewhere. Thanks.

Two Papers on the Abusive Language of Body Image and the Diet Industry

(Cross posted from my Tumblr)

I wrote the following papers for a couple of classes. Trigger warning for: sexual abuse, eating disorders, abusive diet language, and theologies that promote body shame. I offer these as another way to think about how diet industry and how we look at body size policing. I hate to actually have to put the following disclaimer on, but: THIS DOES NOT MEAN I’M AGAINST DOING HEALTHY THINGS FOR YOUR BODY. What I’m against is the abuse that we pile on ourselves because we think, somehow, that it is the “right thing to do.”

I will say here and now that as a clergy person, I refuse to use abusive language to talk about health.

This Is My Body: A three-day seminar course for clergy on body size, body image, and health: This is a project I wrote for my ethics class. I’m thinking I may actually want to produce this at some point in the future, but probably not until after I graduate.

Impure Bodies: Sexual Trauma, Eating Disorders, and the Theology of Body Negation: I wrote this for a class called “Trauma, Theology, and Practice” and it focuses on the connections between sexual abuse, trauma, and the Christian theology of body negation.

The only thing I wish I could have done more on is talking about the social justice aspect of food and health, but given the scope of the papers, I couldn’t.

It’s that time of the term:

Yeah, the last few weeks of the term. Presentations, papers, etc. You all know the drill by now. Lots of “No, I can’t do X.”, grumpiness, and hermit behavior.

Or being hold up in a library somewhere.

Term ends May 17 (sorta kinda). See you on the other side…

Have you seen Coffee With God yet?

You really should.

Ok, yes, I do produce the show, but Lee is really amazing! You should totally check out his blog, too! We have a lot of great episodes coming up!

Check Lee out on the Dual Citizen YouTube Channel, or go on over to the Dual Citizen Productions blog.

Ok, back to thinking about homework, and possibly another blog post. I do mean to post more, but…you know…seminary…

The Second Coming

I’ve been thinking a lot about God and Jesus and other things these days.

Writing about your own theology can do that to you.

A thought came to my mind this Easter morning:

What if we are the second coming?

What I mean is: what if those of us who are showing love, inclusion, compassion, care for our neighbors whoever they might be… What if we are the second coming?

What if we are Jesus made manifest in this world? Millions of Jesus’ all doing God’s work?

I get these thoughts sometimes.

I’m a witch. I see pretty far and big when I think this way.

A blessed Easter to you all.

Why you *can* be a Pagan and worship Jesus:

Yes, I am intentionally riffing off the title of this post by Sam Webster. I’d also invite people to read this really thoughtful rebuttal.

I’ve actually talked to Sam in real life a few years ago and we came to the conclusion that we’d never agree on this issue. We still don’t, obviously.

Now, I could write a bunch of historical stuff about how the ancient Romans and Greeks (aka “pagans”) weren’t all unicorns and rainbows. Or how the ancient Celts didn’t exactly shoot rainbows out their ass. Or that a lot of deity lore involves killing, maiming, and raping. I’ve been a witch for 13 years, and I go to seminary. Hell, we all know these stories one way or another.

But I’m not going to. First, I’m a history nut, but not that much of a history nut. I also think other people have done it well, and I’ll leave you to read their work.

No, what I want to talk about is compassion.

See, I get it. I get that a lot of pagans have some serious church burn. It’s ok to be angry at Christianity. You aren’t the only one. Would it surprise you that there are even Christians who have serious church burn and are angry about it, too? (Feel free to come to City of Refuge sometime.)

Let me tell you a little of my own story:

See, last school year when I realized that I needed to bring Jesus back into the equation, I was afraid. I was actually worried more about the backlash from my pagan friends and acquaintances than from the Christian friends. I was also afraid of the other gods I work with abandoning me.

So, I did what any good witch does in this situation: I called up my deities and had a little chat. It wasn’t easy, and my awesome wife helped, but I invoked all 6 of them. All 6.

The consensus was a collective divine shrug and an admonition to be wise about how I go about it. They didn’t care as long as aligned with my call to serve and to love. And, boy howdy, did it ever!

Or, to put it another way: the other deities really didn’t give a shit as long as I was still doing the work. What’s been even more surprising to me is that Jesus and The Dagda have been doing a lot of work together through me.

Interesting, isn’t it?

Look, it’s ok to be angry. It’s ok to grieve. It’s ok to not want Christianity in your life.

But ask yourself this: How long are you going to hold on to that anger? What purpose does it serve? What is the purpose of acting out in anger because someone doesn’t hold the same beliefs about Christianity that you do?

As my wise and wonderful mentor as told me: even the margins have margins. Or, as Bishop Flunder has said: sometimes the oppressed decide to become the oppressor.

But when do we let go of that? When do we decide that the greater compassion is more important than what someone believes or doesn’t believe?

How do we move from a place of anger and hurt, to a place of healing, love, and compassion?

I firmly believe that learning to work together and to respect each other’s truth for what it is is the future. It doesn’t negate anyone else’s beliefs. It doesn’t tell them they are wrong. It says here is my truth, here is your truth. We both have truth, and isn’t that awesome? Now, how can we work together to bring more healing and compassion into the world?

Because, in the end, if we can’t find a way, we will obliterate ourselves. Not just one group or another. ALL of us.

May peace, love, and compassion prevail.

Oh my…

I’m preaching at City of Refuge tomorrow.

OMG I’m preaching tomorrow!

*breathes*

If you’d like to hear it, be at 1025 Howard St. in San Francisco tomorrow at 1 pm (although, I’d also recommend coming for the pre-service Intercessory prayer at 12:30).

Oh, I’m preaching about seeds. I’ll even have props!

OMG!