Author Archives: Valerie Tarico

Unknown's avatar

About Valerie Tarico

Seattle psychologist and writer. Author - Trusting Doubt; Deas and Other Imaginings.

Why It’s Time to Call B.S. on Prayer Requests

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Asking God for help is not as harmless as it seems. Around the world and across America, people ask God for favors large and small, and praying gives them comfort. People pray over dying pets, dying parents, wars, forest fires, … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

America’s Information-Age Coup

This gallery contains 1 photo.

 It appears that Vladimir Putin and like-minded Americans captured the electoral college by manipulating the flow of information and disinformation. Was the U.S. election an information-age coup? In the most familiar kind of traditional coup, members of a minority faction in the military … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

If “Nothing Fails Like Prayer,” Why Do People Keep at It?

This gallery contains 1 photo.

“If prayer actually worked, everyone would be a millionaire, nobody would ever get sick and die, and both football teams would always win.” –Ethan Winer The phrase “nothing fails like prayer” was coined in 1976 by secular activist, Ann Nicol … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

What the Bible Says about Prayer. Versus Reality.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

The Bible makes some rather bold claims about prayer.  How well do they hold up? (Part 1 of a 4 part series). Does prayer—like it’s taught in biblical Christianity–actually work?  That all depends on what you’re looking for. Prayer can … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , | 31 Comments

Dear Christian, No, I Don’t Hate You. Here is What I do Hate.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

On the important difference between hating bad ideas and hating people. As a former Evangelical Christian, I write critically—even harshly—about biblical Christianity, the kind that treats the Bible as if it were the literally-perfect word of God. I also write … Continue reading

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , | 82 Comments