Critical Religious Thinking

02/09/2026

So the Christian Values alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show included songs about hoping your cheating ex gets cheated on, being in the drinking class, and an artist that wrote a song about s*x with underage girls. 🤔 🤯

01/31/2026

I didn’t set out to question the church.

Like many people, I went there looking for meaning, grounding, and community. I believed—sincerely—that if I showed up in good faith, told the truth, and tried to live with integrity, the church would be a safe place to do that.

But once again, it wasn’t.

What’s hard to explain to people who haven’t experienced this is that the pain isn’t just interpersonal. It’s spiritual. When harm comes from a church, it doesn’t feel like an ordinary disagreement or misunderstanding. It feels like something sacred was used against you.

And here’s the realization I keep coming back to—slowly, reluctantly, but clearly:

My faith wasn’t what failed me. The institution did.

Faith, for me, is about honesty, humility, love, and a willingness to face reality as it is. Institutions, on the other hand, are built to protect themselves. When those two come into conflict, institutions almost always choose survival over truth, order over compassion, and control over curiosity.

That doesn’t make everyone in the church bad. It doesn’t even mean the church has no value. But it does mean that questioning the institution is not the same thing as abandoning God, Jesus, or faith itself—no matter how often those things get conflated.

I know I’m not alone in this. Many people I respect have quietly stepped away, not because they stopped caring about truth or goodness, but because they cared too much to keep pretending.

Over the coming weeks, I want to reflect—carefully and honestly—on some of the ways American institutional Christianity goes wrong, and what faith might look like on the other side of that disillusionment.

This isn’t an attack.
It’s an attempt to tell the truth without losing my soul.

More to come.

10/13/2023

I will be doing a limited number of Bible imprints for the holidays. Cost is $17.50 per Bible if you sign up by December 1 and $32.50 after that. I’ll pick up and deliver for an additional $11.50 per customer.

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

10/13/2023

Big used Christian book sale this weekend! 1008 Vista Bell in Cave Springs. Make us an offer!!!

10/30/2022

We’re cleaning and packing up this afternoon, so if anyone wants to stop by for some last minute sales we’ll be here!

10/29/2022

LAST MINUTE SALES!! You don’t want to miss! Open until 5pm today!!

10/29/2022

Today is the last day to get books on discount before we close. Long sleeve tees for $5. Up to 80% off other products. Come see us!

10/27/2022

We have one last chance to get law enforcement and military Bibles in the hands of our police and armed forces. You can buy one and give it away, or donate and we’ll make sure they get in the hands of a first responder, soldier, airman, or marine who needs it! Time is running out, so come see us!

10/26/2022

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we’ll stay open until 7pm. Come see us!

10/25/2022

Last chance for some great deals before we close the store for good. 30-80% off almost everything!

10/21/2022

Hi all! Everything in the store is now at least 30% off. Come see us before we close and these deals are gone forever!

10/19/2022

Flash sale! While supplies last, all Bible studies are 50% off. Get a head start on your spring study!