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.
It’s taken a couple years, but I realized this week that I’m completely done with being called an Evangelical and a Republican. I simply cannot abide the toxicity inherent in both labels. Here’s some thoughts about why.
The End of My Evangelicalism Read More »
Faith perhaps, should be something like a basket of Easter eggs: each one colorful and unique and ornate in its own way, each containing something different and surprising, but all together comprising the totality of Christianity, in the promise offered by Easter Sunday.
A Rainbow of Faith Read More »
Do we as Christians have the moral right to preemptively use deadly force? And do we as Christians have the moral right to kill to defend ourselves or our property? Some thoughts.
Shoot First, Ask Questions Later: The Morality of Preemptive Violence Read More »
Is the Bible truly everything we need to know about God and the universe and history and our lives?
An Incomplete Bible Read More »
There are many things I once feared would happen if I questioned what I believed. And all those fears came to pass. But from the other side of it, I’m so glad it happened, because I found out how wrong I had been.
What I Feared Did Happen – And That’s Good Read More »
Recently a friend asked me what it felt like to lose so much of my faith. I don’t think I lost anything: instead, I feel like I’ve shed things that weren’t mine to begin with. Let me tell you about my own encounter with Aslan.
Shedding My Dragon Skin Read More »
I’ve always believed that Christians go to heaven when we die. It’s a staple of many people’s faith. Where did that doctrine come from, and what does the Bible say about heaven? Join me as I survey the various verses that talk about heaven.
Am I Going to Heaven When I Die? Read More »
What’s more important? Evangelicalism, or Christianity? Lately I’ve seen a lot of people defending the former at the expense of what I believe is Jesus’ example of how we should live as a community of faith.
The Preservation of Evangelicalism Read More »
Jesus said we’d know a tree by its fruit, and perhaps we can also know a doctrine the same way. I grew up with an end-times doctrine that is widespread in the church, but which I now recognize is bearing a lot of bad fruit. Maybe it’s time to recognize the harm.
How Revelation Warped My Theology Read More »
I’m intrigued that for an institution so absolutely central to human life, the Bible has shockingly little information about the ideal marriage. Hardly any of the examples about marriage fit our modern Christian definition of “one man, one woman, for life, with the blessing of the church and the state.”
What Defines Biblical Marriage? Read More »
