And another Matter of Faith to be aware of this week.
What’s up, Reckon Report? This is Anna Beahm, Reckon’s faith, sex and politics reporter. I’m taking over the newsletter this week to share some of my latest reporting about the sparks that fly when those three topics unite. When I started writing about purity culture back in 2020, I had no idea what I was getting into. I’ve since found a whole network of professionals, organizers, survivors and folks that are mad as hell about the damage caused by the unholy marriage of religion and politics in America. I’ve spent the last two and a half years digging deeper into how this unholy trinity has affected our mental and physical health. The facts show that what we’re doing isn’t working, especially when you use purity culture to shape public policy.
This week, I'll be sharing some of my recent reporting on the ripple effect caused by this problematic menage á trois.
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During last week’s State of the State address, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced his plan to send $100 million taxpayer dollars to anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). He announced a number of other funding measures including extending parental leave for state employees. This funding represents a 500x increase in state funds sent to these “fake clinics,” as pro-abortion advocates call them. Last year, the state spent $180,000 to buy ultrasound machines for the anti-abortion clinics, which are used for non-diagnostic ultrasounds. Lee even attended a dedication event in Jackson, TN, for one of the machines, which the clinics use to persuade women to keep their pregnancies. Grassroots sexual health organizations in the state, like Healthy Free Tennessee, have mocked the proposed funding as “terrible use” of state funds. Read more about Tennessee's plan to go all-in for anti-abortion clinics. |
Super Bowl ads are always a point of conversation, but there’s several things that need to be discussed about the “He Gets Us” commercials, which aim to introduce viewers to “the Jesus of radical forgiveness, compassion and love.” The ad campaign hopes to counter the notion that religion is used to divide people at a time when the nation’s Christian population is shrinking and more Americans consider themselves unaffiliated with a religion. The ads will reach more than 100 million viewers Sunday night. The ads address modern concerns about family, money and safety. One ad says “Jesus struggled to make ends meet, too.” An ad featuring a family says “Jesus disagreed with loved ones. But didn’t disown them.” Another ad describes Jesus as “an influencer who became insanely popular” — before he “was canceled.” The “He Gets Us” website says “we’re not ‘left’ or ‘right,’ or a political organization of any kind,” but the organization behind the commercials, Kansas-based Servant Foundation gave more than $50 million to the far-right group, Alliance Defending Freedom, between 2018 and 2020, according to a report from Jacobin. Servant Foundation’s funding of the group was reported in its tax returns. The Alliance Defending Freedom is listed as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Christian legal group has supported cases limiting abortion access and supporting anti-LGBTQ discrimination based on religious freedom. Read more about the "apolitical" ads and the big money behind them. |
When Dr. Laura Anderson left the church about 15 years ago, the #MeToo movement wasn’t yet a sparkle in Harvey Weinstein’s eye and there was very little language to describe adverse religious experiences. There was literature available for people leaving cults, but hardly anything related to negative religious experiences outside of the context of a cult. Since the advent of social media and the ever-online-era, a number of therapists, researchers and confused believers have been sharing their information and experiences about spiritual abuse. Connecting online has provided a way for survivors and seekers alike to learn more about their adverse religious experiences and connect with others who have had similar experiences. Have you ever heard of scrupulosity, which is also called “religious obsessive-compulsive disorder”? If you or someone you know has ever compulsively repeated a prayer or religious ritual in order to relieve intrusive thoughts associated with sinning or violating religious rules, then you’re familiar with the symptoms of this condition, which often stems from spiritual abuse, Anderson explained. While this term hasn’t graced the pages of the psychotherapy Bible (the DSM), the topic has become more mainstream. Mental health professionals, grassroots organizations and activists are talking about the ways religion can help, not hurt, the most vulnerable. Read more about the science behind religious trauma and the healers supporting survivors. |
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If you liked what you read this week, be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter, Matter of Faith. The first issue goes out tomorrow, so wish me luck and watch your inbox. You can sign up for Matter of Faith here. You can also find me on social media. I'm @_AnnaBeahm on Twitter and Instagram. My DMs are open so y'all don't be shy ;) - Anna |
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