Great observations, Melanie.

As I was reading this section I was also struck by Abby's comment that when Glennon left the church she took God with her. I have a dear friend who is a pastor, and all her professional life she's been fighting to claim her space in her denomination. It's one of the more liberal Christian denominations, but it's still run by men. Her ex-husband is also a pastor who did not lose his congregation despite his having an affair with a parishioner, while she was denigrated for divorcing him! Excuse me?? On top of that she has two daughters, one who is openly gay and the other is bisexual. So for her chosen profession, the deck is really stacked against her.

But here's what I've observed: she lives within most of the rules, but is not afraid to speak out when she feels strongly that policy should be changed. She didn't just decide to become a pastor - she was called. Her God is so deep within her that she decided to serve despite the obstacles, knowing that she could make a significant difference in the lives of her flock. She is one of the most spiritual people I've ever met, and she has been an amazing inspiration for me on my own spiritual journey.

Melanie & Kelly, I too was struck by this section of the book, as well as Glennon's account of how being anti-abortion and anti-gay was a recent tactic to get the evangelical voting bloc to support certain politicians. So many people throughout the ages have been killed over religious beliefs. So many people haven't worn masks because that offends their sense of freedom and loyalty... spreading this virus more and more. Such tragedy in the face of a lack of common sense. But, unfortunately, "common sense" is a misnomer.

Fair warning: While brought up with the Jewish religion, I am not religious and never have been.

Whether someone calls himself/herself a devout Christian and is fine with children being locked in cages and taken away from their parents at the Mexican border (as one example), or someone calls himself/herself a devout Jew and keeps a Kosher home but eats a cheeseburger at a restaurant (eating meat & dairy in the same meal is not Kosher), many people make up their own rules and still identify as part of the umbrella religion. That's not common sense to me. I don't care about people making up their own rules about God/religion, as long as those rules don't hurt others or support leaders who create policies that hurt people.

Years ago, when my kids were young, a very sweet, educated and religious neighbor asked me how I teach my kids ethics without belonging to a temple. Wow!

I love how Glennon wrote that if you don't like something about a group you are part of, you have 3 options: do nothing (a bad idea), speak out & try to change the group or change groups. I'm just now remembering how, while this wasn't a group situation, when I was little, the pediatrician would always tickle me, which I hated, especially when I was sick. I asked my mom to make him stop. She told him that Susie didn't like the tickling. But he didn't stop. And I gave up on asking my mom to make him stop. This went on until we moved away when I was in 6th grade and had to get a new doctor. With my kids, I listened as best I could to their concerns (school was the most common place where issues cropped up outside our home). I intervened when necessary but otherwise coached them when it seemed that they were old enough to work on fighting their own battles, yet I always told them I'm here to help directly if needed. I was not going to be complicit when they were suffering. Before intervening, I always asked my kids if they themselves were guilty of anything in the particular situation. And I always told the teacher or principal that I'm aware of a problem, so here is what I gather from my child's side, and I'd like to hear input from all other sides to figure out what happened and how we can remedy the situation.

If I were in my mom's position, I'd have switched doctors as soon as he broke the newly stated rule. I think it's important to hold people accountable when entrusting them to be part of our circles.

Like John Lennon imagined, I would rather see a world at peace than a world (and country) divided by religion, etc. It's hard to imagine how our country and the world can ever get past our divisions. At least we have some control within our personal circles. That's a good start.

I like Glennon's version of God. She says somewhere in the early vignettes - that what's the difference if she came to her Knowing from (and I paraphrase) magical, mystical or spiritual ? She calls it god and it works for her.

I was also struck by this part of the book as well. In the 1980’s I got up in the evangelical power and I was one of those people who voted republican because I was against abortion. After I read this section, I got angry at myself that I got caught in it. It was about 10 years ago something started to change in my heart and I felt something was off. Jesus doesn’t talk about hating gays he talks about grace, mercy and love. I loved when Glennon says you have 3 choices, remain quiet, challenge power or leave. I chose the later and we left our church. It took awhile but we found one that was accepting of all people. Jesus says all are invited at his table not just a few.

Thank you Mel for your great write up. This section made me angry for all the reasons I've spoken about ad nauseam on this page and elsewhere, and even in my response to Sue's comment. The lies and hypocrisy under the guise of religion and the bill of goods we've all been sold. Exactly! The memos written by highly motivated men. And the lies they tell themselves to make their abhorrent behavior acceptable to themselves. I could go on and on. I won't. It's just too exhausting. But I very much value the difference between spirituality and religion. I learned that difference on my own healing journey when I acknowledged what I felt was missing from my life but didn't know where to turn. All those years I sat in a pew staring up at a bloody Jesus with his crown of thorns. No one told me, or maybe I'd stopped listening too long ago, that the place to find what I was seeking, as Glennon reminds us, was inside myself. She writes so beautifully about finding the divine in the "least" among us. As I wrote when I mused what the world would be like if all the children knew they would always have enough.. this is the same. What kind of world would this be if we all knew that "God" lives inside us and we don't have to earn a connection to the divine. It is inherent because we are born divine.

Beautifully said Faithe. Thank you