Welcome to Crucible of Thought! I'm Brandon, and I was a member of conservative evangelical congregations for 45 years. This blog is about things that I've learned since 2020, as I've been undergoing a process of "deprogramming," "deconstruction," "reconstruction"... pick whatever term you want, but basically a process carefully examining many different aspects of my social, political, and religious beliefs to see what really actually aligns with the Bible and specifically the teachings of Jesus, more than what aligns with the host of dogmatic statements I inherited in years of church training. I'm not trying to persuade anyone: I'm sharing my process, in the hopes that it inspires and enlightens others. I welcome you to join me as we move forward in our faith together.
Did you grow up feeling really squeamish about Jesus’ assertion that if our eye makes us lust, we are supposed to gouge it out? I sure did. But maybe He was talking about something much deeper.
It’s the Heart that Counts Read More »
I’ve been so deeply disappointed in watching famous preachers and worship leaders kissing the ring of this antichrist administration. The Pentagon worship services established by Pete Hegseth are not in keeping with the founding and the character of the United States of America, and the preachers and worship leaders supporting them have abandoned any pretense of serving the church universal, and have taken sides with the empire that stands opposed to righteousness.
Some things are Truth, but not true. What if everything most Christians have assumed about Armageddon is wrong, and if our holy calling is to love our enemies and lay down our lives in peace, not to march out in war against them?
Turning My Back On Armageddon Read More »
Most of the time that conservative Christians encounter the doctrine of universal reconciliation, they usually describe it with a bunch of caricatures, and I thought it would be useful to discuss those caricatures and contrast them to the truth about this doctrine.
Why Many Evangelicals Misunderstand Universal Reconciliation Read More »
What do we do when our government becomes untrustworthy? I’ve been wrestling with this question for a while now. And everything I see coming convinces me that we’re in for a REALLY rough ride in the near future. So what do we do about it? I have some ideas that won’t fix any of our nation’s problems – but they will give us a roadmap for bringing the love of God to those around us, even as the darkness grows.
What Can a Follower of Jesus Do When America Is Failing? Read More »
This is my personal appeal to be aware of the extreme political danger the USA faces this year, and my thoughts about how we might react.
Political Predictions for the USA in 2026 Read More »
Recently I was told I should do short-form videos to gain followers and increase engagement. Here are some thoughts about why I choose not to do that.
My Social Media Ethos Read More »
On 12/17/2025, Special Council Jack Smith gave an 8-hour deposition to House members regarding Donald Trump’s actions on and around January 6th, 2021, allegedly attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Smith explained his case for charging Trump with crimes, and strongly defended his work as being entirely non-partisan. The video and transcript
Special Council Jack Smith’s deposition to the House Judiciary Committee Read More »
Today’s American evangelical church is in deep danger, and doesn’t realize it. She thinks she is sitting astride the throne of power, finally able to impose her will on her society. But in reality, she’s sitting astride a filthy beast that is already turning to devour her, at the very command of God.
A Seat on the Beast Read More »
What if the thing Christians call “hell” was effectively just a welding torch, designed to join us all into one? What if we could become one, without all that heat and fire and pain? Let’s talk about becoming one, and how it relates to something the aerospace industry calls “cold welding” or “vacuum welding.”
Being Welded Together Read More »
