A Tennessee Expulsion, a Texas Pardon, a Tibet Outrage
KTF Weekly Newsletter
Hi everyone,
We’re planning Season three of Shake the Dust, and we would love to hear from you! Some of our most popular episodes started with guest or topic suggestions from listeners, so please write in to shakethedust@ktfpress.com with your ideas for our upcoming episodes! And without further ado, on to our highlights for the week!
Sy’s Recommendations:
There was an difficult but important conversation this week on the intersection of purity culture and intimate partner violence on Brandi Miller’s Reclaiming My Theology podcast. The guest was Tamice Spencer-Helms, who is of course the author of our newest book here at KTF Press. In the conversation, Tamice uses experiences she writes about in the book to clearly state how theologies infused with white supremacy create and enable abuse within marriage. It’s a sharp and empathetic conversation (like any conversation involving Tamice or Brandi). And one intention behind the episode is to help people trapped in cycles of abuse by their church or theology know that, despite what so many people have told them, Jesus understands their pain and will be with them if they leave.
Last week, the Tennessee state legislature voted on the expulsion of three Democrats for participating in a pro-gun control rally following the mass shooting in Nashville. The legislature expelled the two Democrats who are Black, but allowed the one white woman to remain (the Black man representing Nashville has already been reinstated by his constituency). One of the New York Times’ newest opinion writers, sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom, took the opportunity to write this piece on why she pays particular attention to political events like these when they happen in the South. She argues that the South is not uniquely racist in America, but “quintessentially American in its racism.” It is where Republicans most openly and unabashedly test and refine strategies of disenfranchisement and minority rule to later use elsewhere, and is therefore worth the careful attention of anyone trying to understand political trends in the US.
In 2020, Daniel Perry drove his car into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protestors. When a group of them surrounded his car, he opened fire, killing one man. A jury just recently convicted him of murder. Immediately, conservative pundits began to call for his pardon, and Texas Governor Greg Abbot seems poised to oblige. This PBS video clip and the accompanying transcript do a great job of putting this incident in the larger context of the American right’s increasingly open glorification and acceptance of violence in support of their cause. And this article from Religion Dispatches ties these trends to Trump’s new campaign for president, where rallies are filled with apocalyptic rhetoric and adoration for the “martyrs” facing prosecution for their role in the January 6 insurrection.
Jonathan’s Recommendations:
Jesus washing the disciples’ feet is a profound story to contemplate. To imagine Jesus scrubbing dirt from Judas just prior to Judas betraying him can bring me to tears. God said to love our enemies, but also practiced what he preached. He went on the path ahead of us. To bring this poignant picture of Christ a little closer to home, I invite you to explore this series of paintings, called The Salt and Gold Collection. In it, figures from our current day are seated as Christ washes their feet. Some of the images will not surprise you, while others will lead to a long pause as you imagine Jesus cleansing the feet of an activist, a police officer, the Pope, or Donald Trump. I encourage you to sit with these images and Jesus, listen for the Spirit, and reflect on Our Lord’s journey away from Our Father’s right hand and back.
(Content warning for spiritual abuse and sexual assault) We need to hold spiritual leaders accountable for sexual assault. This week, video of the Dalai Lama forcibly kissing a young boy at an event in February went viral. This article from NPR gives some background and context. The reality that this happened in public, in front of cameras, at an international event forces us to ask the question: what else is going on in private? This incident should serve as a reminder to all of us that no matter one’s position, wealth, or status, there must be accountability and diligent protection of vulnerable people when lines are crossed. This is particularly the case in religious contexts, where there is a high degree of intimacy and vulnerability. Spiritual and sexual abuse should grieve our hearts, compel us to cry out for justice, and remind us to call for accountability in our own contexts.
I love stand-up comedy. And Roy Wood Jr.’s special, “No One Loves You,” is one not to miss. His commentary on police brutality, care for military veterans, homelessness, and the complexities around activism is timeless. But what stands out to me the most is his thoughts on our growing collective resistance to learning, growth, and change. The language here is certainly for adults but the concepts are necessary for any age. We must be willing to listen, learn, and love more generously. And if we can laugh while we do that, Amen!
Thanks for reading, and see you next week!
The KTF team