Brandi Carlile: A Theology of Belonging
After spending dozens of hours absorbing Carlile’s music, interviews, memoir and lyrics, an undeniable theme emerged that I call a Theology of Belonging. It’s a theology that is concerned with real life experiences, and causes us to make room for others.
Master’s Project: The Seattle School 2023
This project examines the connection between Christian fundamentalism’s strict model of womanhood and Complex-PTSD, which misshapes personal identity, atrophies agency and stunts the imagination.
When Religion Becomes Traumatic
Religion is largely recognized as being beneficial to the lives of humans. It can help us make sense of the world by answering the big questions of life. Religion can also bring comfort, healing and a sense of safety from a traumatic world. So…what happens when it’s religion itself that is the source of distress and trauma?
Feminist Theory (video)
Feminist Theory = Call to Action As a subset of critical theory, a feminist lens can be used as a...
Remembering Is a Gift
Remembering Is a Gift Remembering truly is a gift, especially when we take the time to reflect and...
Religious Trauma Resources
“Religious Trauma Syndrome is the condition experienced by people who are struggling with leaving...
Searching for Truth
Never before have humans been able to spew our immediate thoughts out into the world with such urgency, precision and speed. We stake a claim in a particular camp of opinion and target hate and vitriol towards those who disagree. But, how often do we think deeply about how we know what we know
Engaging Our Creativity
Engaging Our Creativity “The primary creative act is the living of our daily lives, making it a...
Healing is Messy!
In this episode I am joined by three friends who have spent 12 weeks talking about this material and exploring how we might conceive of healing in the aftermath of religious trauma. One thing is for sure….healing is MESSY!
Trauma & the Artistic Impulse
Many people who have come out of fundamentalist/evangelical trauma struggle with what to do with their creative side, with many describing a kind of artistic brokenness. In this episode, my guests and I talk about what happens to the creative/artistic impulse in white, fundamentalist spaces and how do we do better at sitting with suffering.
Theology & Collective Trauma
In this episode, we are expanding on the idea that as theology has been impotent to help individuals heal from trauma, it is also complicit in the collective trauma of marginalized groups, our nation and our planet.
Theology’s tie to sexual and gender trauma
In this episode, we are talking about the bad theology that has led to incredible harm and for women, the LGBTQ community and scores of young people around sexual purity. We will share stories about our own experiences where it was often not okay to be our true selves within religious institutions. Together, we wonder we might hold the tension, and what do we do with the stories we grew up with.
Religious Trauma with Emily Hedrick
In this episode Emily Hedrick and I discuss religious trauma; what it is and how is is harming so many people. Emily will discuss her own story and how she helps people work through trauma to lead more whole lives outside of religion.
Intro: The Intersection of Theology and Trauma
Trauma affects us all, either through personal experience or as part of the community, and its...
Trailer
Welcome to DARE TO KNOW, where truth is treated as a pursuit, and not a destination! This is my...
Her Body Paid the Price
Her Body Paid the Price Her body paid the price when you chose yourself that day, ...
Listening to the Body
Our bodies have a form of knowledge that is different from our cognitive brains. This knowledge is typically experienced as…
Creation Story Reboot-Part I
Origins matter. They provide the seeds that will later grow into full blown ideologies, worldviews, theologies, practices and systems
Denial
Hearts remained broken, addictions unchecked, and people tormented with fear and loneliness. Yet, we could only speak of it in whispers…
Hey Lady
For some women, language around gender is a non-issue. But for others. the terms “lady” and “girl” are loaded and emotionally explosive.
Dare to be Curious
So, what if I didn’t give a flyin’ freak about what others thought of me? This is the question…
The Origins of Bad Theology
As humans started to wonder about the universe, they looked up. Their views of God were mixed…
Excluding Women = Bad Theology
Bad theology creates weak and fragile women, who can’t step into their full purpose and potential.
Sapere Aude-Dare to Know
Let me share how I have moved from fear of being a heretic to having the courage to use my own reason.
About Beth Alford
I cringe when I remember old, dogmatic opinions and narrow world views, and it’s tempting…
