This was a beautiful piece that left me almost in tears. We left our church of 20+ years because they chose gender ideology and saying hateful, very unchristian things to anyone who even questioned in the mildest way. They refused to hear about our child's mental health struggles and how the dysfunctions of the mental healthcare system and its all-out adoption of this ideology hurt our child and prevented her from getting proper care. We are now both politically homeless and one of the "church wounded." We likely won't ever risk going back. Brandon, your writing felt very healing and hopeful and that dinner sounded beautiful. I hope we can have more of this in the world.
I love this! I believe this is exactly what we need- small, intimate conversations with good food, where we can be honest. I do believe most of us have more common views and values than what our culture amplifies. Also- that meal sounded delicious. I’m in the DC area- feel free to invite me to your next bridging dinner 😊
Thank you! It was brutal to assemble that one, in several ways. That poor mom and dad have been ground into powder, and that's not hyperbole. On Friday I'll have one on detransitioners and their advocates. It's viscerally powerful.
I was heartbroken for those parents, & inspired by their courage and steadfastness. I am continually astounded that doctors are doing this to kids. As a therapist, I refuse to be part of the system that is harming them.
Not to let you end with a shared loathing of what is going on behind the scenes, as you discuss, but, to my eyes, more importantly, the compassion and care for other fellow humans that you all share and that several, including you, have tirelessly worked to support.
As a Christian and a politically homeless former lefty, I want to express my gratitude for this essay and for your brilliant dinner party ministry! Thank you!
I think the very fine menu likely helped, and also that everyone knew they would be breaking bread with people who had drastically different viewpoints. I'm an independent and the parent of a 16 year old gender dysphoric teen who discovered this identity mid-pandemic. Personally, it is very hard for me to be around people who are responsible for harming my child. Anyone supporting the public school's position supports sexualizing children and ignorance is not an excuse. How many children are they willing to sacrifice? Or maybe it's all okay as long as it's not their child. At such a dinner I suppose if everyone just talked about light hearted issues it would be possible to enjoy each other's company. But it would be really hard. It's hard to sit with people who don't care about harming children and disrespecting women's boundaries.
Beautiful piece Brandon. I guess its your humility that prevented you from mentioning the podcast series? https://www.christianpost.com/podcast/channel/generation-indoctrination-inside-the-transgender-battle. Or did I miss it somewhere? That said, I imagine most of Lisa's readers are in on all the publications out there. With "Gender: A Wider Lens" on hiatus until February your podcast has filled the Friday time slot! I hope the podcast is doing well.
It is indeed doing well, and I appreciate your kind words. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t have enough characters but we are pretty happy with our documentary podcast here. A lot of work went into it but we have a great lineup. Lisa was in season one and she was a great contributor.
Thanks so much for this hopeful post. I would have loved to hear more on how gender specifically was discussed (since you said it was part of what brought everyone together) and how you managed to keep the dialogue civil on such a fraught issue. Or was the point to bring people together whose views differ on gender and build connections on other topics, i.e., avoid gender talk?
There were similar but varying views on that issue but the discussion wasn't about that alone, involving other things too. We just kept it going, flowing naturally. It was great.
It doesn't surprise me that you all got along. I think the only people it is really difficult to get along with are the extremes - in both directions. Breaking bread with someone can remind us of how much we all have in common, from love of food to simply love of life, but we still have to deal with those whose thinking is so extreme that they cannot get past it. It's a start that people on the "left" and "right" and religious and non-religious, and conservative and liberal, talk, shake hands and toast to our common humanity. When we can bridge the gap with those whose thinking has become muddled with extremism, we may end the nightmare of gender ideology.
Thanks! My mom made (and then I've made) something we call pumpkin pudding, which is just the custard part of the pumpkin pie. When my kids were young, I added organic non-instant dry milk to pumpkin/squash puree, eggs, sugar, LOTs of cinnamon and some other spices and considered it a dessert that was almost a meal. The topping makes it more of a luxury - I'll have to try it!
Antisemitism doesn't figure in to my thinking, as I'm mighty appreciative of the Jewish people and their contributions to the world. There probably isn't a single philosopher under the sun who I agree with on everything. That said, I did appreciate this particular quote.
This was a beautiful piece that left me almost in tears. We left our church of 20+ years because they chose gender ideology and saying hateful, very unchristian things to anyone who even questioned in the mildest way. They refused to hear about our child's mental health struggles and how the dysfunctions of the mental healthcare system and its all-out adoption of this ideology hurt our child and prevented her from getting proper care. We are now both politically homeless and one of the "church wounded." We likely won't ever risk going back. Brandon, your writing felt very healing and hopeful and that dinner sounded beautiful. I hope we can have more of this in the world.
Thank you so much. I'm moved by your response. You're welcome at my dinner table if you're ever in DC.
I am also sadly left without a church family for the same reason.
Ugh. I'm so sorry. Churches that push this are the worst. It really upsets me.
I love this! I believe this is exactly what we need- small, intimate conversations with good food, where we can be honest. I do believe most of us have more common views and values than what our culture amplifies. Also- that meal sounded delicious. I’m in the DC area- feel free to invite me to your next bridging dinner 😊
We'll have to make that happen! I do this all the time.
I’m in the Bay Area but would consider booking a flight if I were invited! Thanks for this beautiful, hopeful piece.
If you're ever in DC, let me know and we'll make something happen!
BTW I just listened to your latest episode of Generation Indoctrination. WOW! Sharing with my network!
Thank you! It was brutal to assemble that one, in several ways. That poor mom and dad have been ground into powder, and that's not hyperbole. On Friday I'll have one on detransitioners and their advocates. It's viscerally powerful.
I was heartbroken for those parents, & inspired by their courage and steadfastness. I am continually astounded that doctors are doing this to kids. As a therapist, I refuse to be part of the system that is harming them.
Not to let you end with a shared loathing of what is going on behind the scenes, as you discuss, but, to my eyes, more importantly, the compassion and care for other fellow humans that you all share and that several, including you, have tirelessly worked to support.
Thank you.
As a Christian and a politically homeless former lefty, I want to express my gratitude for this essay and for your brilliant dinner party ministry! Thank you!
You bet!
I think the very fine menu likely helped, and also that everyone knew they would be breaking bread with people who had drastically different viewpoints. I'm an independent and the parent of a 16 year old gender dysphoric teen who discovered this identity mid-pandemic. Personally, it is very hard for me to be around people who are responsible for harming my child. Anyone supporting the public school's position supports sexualizing children and ignorance is not an excuse. How many children are they willing to sacrifice? Or maybe it's all okay as long as it's not their child. At such a dinner I suppose if everyone just talked about light hearted issues it would be possible to enjoy each other's company. But it would be really hard. It's hard to sit with people who don't care about harming children and disrespecting women's boundaries.
I totally get that. I definitely won't be inviting any gender surgeons over.
Beautiful piece Brandon. I guess its your humility that prevented you from mentioning the podcast series? https://www.christianpost.com/podcast/channel/generation-indoctrination-inside-the-transgender-battle. Or did I miss it somewhere? That said, I imagine most of Lisa's readers are in on all the publications out there. With "Gender: A Wider Lens" on hiatus until February your podcast has filled the Friday time slot! I hope the podcast is doing well.
It is indeed doing well, and I appreciate your kind words. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t have enough characters but we are pretty happy with our documentary podcast here. A lot of work went into it but we have a great lineup. Lisa was in season one and she was a great contributor.
Thanks so much for this hopeful post. I would have loved to hear more on how gender specifically was discussed (since you said it was part of what brought everyone together) and how you managed to keep the dialogue civil on such a fraught issue. Or was the point to bring people together whose views differ on gender and build connections on other topics, i.e., avoid gender talk?
There were similar but varying views on that issue but the discussion wasn't about that alone, involving other things too. We just kept it going, flowing naturally. It was great.
Thank you, Lisa, and thank you, Brandon!
This was good and necessary to hear. God bless you and your ministry. Our little church in Toronto is trying to follow the same path.
It doesn't surprise me that you all got along. I think the only people it is really difficult to get along with are the extremes - in both directions. Breaking bread with someone can remind us of how much we all have in common, from love of food to simply love of life, but we still have to deal with those whose thinking is so extreme that they cannot get past it. It's a start that people on the "left" and "right" and religious and non-religious, and conservative and liberal, talk, shake hands and toast to our common humanity. When we can bridge the gap with those whose thinking has become muddled with extremism, we may end the nightmare of gender ideology.
I need to hear more about pumpkin cobbler. Does it have pureed pumpkin, or chunks?
Here ya go: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a56478/pumpkin-cobbler-recipe/
Thanks! My mom made (and then I've made) something we call pumpkin pudding, which is just the custard part of the pumpkin pie. When my kids were young, I added organic non-instant dry milk to pumpkin/squash puree, eggs, sugar, LOTs of cinnamon and some other spices and considered it a dessert that was almost a meal. The topping makes it more of a luxury - I'll have to try it!
Did you know that Chesterton was a virulent antiSemite? How does that figure in?
Antisemitism doesn't figure in to my thinking, as I'm mighty appreciative of the Jewish people and their contributions to the world. There probably isn't a single philosopher under the sun who I agree with on everything. That said, I did appreciate this particular quote.
Ok. Thanks.