Category Archives: Musings & Rants: Christianity

Shaman? Savior? Myth? Inkblot? — Why Christianity’s Main Man Remains So Elusive

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Valerie Tarico

Was there a man behind the myths? — Three approaches to the question. To my mind, the only thing in the world duller than a graduation ceremony is a traditional wedding. Not long after finishing my graduate studies in psychology … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , | 83 Comments

It’s Not Rape If He’s a God — Or Thinks He Is

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Valerie Tarico

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Stories like the Virgin Birth lack freely given female consent. Why don’t they bother us more? Powerful gods and demi-gods impregnating human women—it’s a common theme in the history of religion, and it’s more than a little rapey. Zeus comes to Danae … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 41 Comments

The Sex-Negative Message in the Virgin Birth—It’s Worth a Family Conversation

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Valerie Tarico

This gallery contains 1 photo.

The birth story of baby Jesus celebrates the promise of new life, but for girls it also sends a harmful message. How can we acknowledge this without spoiling the rest? Most Americans, even many who are not very religious, look forward … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

The Not-So-Virgin Birth of the Christmas Story

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Valerie Tarico

This gallery contains 8 photos.

Celestial messengers, natural wonders and a virgin birth establish the baby Jesus as someone special. Why does the rest of the New Testament ignore these auspicious beginnings? Sometime toward the end of the first century, the writer of Luke told … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , | 51 Comments

“Atheist Church” Launches in University District–Seattle’s New Sunday Assembly is No Mars Hill

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Valerie Tarico

This gallery contains 1 photo.

For years Mars Hill Church treated the University of Washington as a field of young souls ripe for harvest. Pastor Mark Driscoll courted on-campus audiences with his now infamous blend of Calvinism and titillation. Mars Hill staff debated the leader … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , | 14 Comments