Bare Marriage

Lydia Kaiser, an author and researcher with extensive knowledge of seminary hermeneutics, dives into her new book, Bible Truth About Women. She reveals over 120 misleading tactics used by complementarians to bolster male authority, critiquing traditional interpretations of scripture. Lydia emphasizes Jesus' elevating interactions with women and underscores the importance of mutual submission in relationships. The episode also discusses the real-life harms of restrictive gender teachings, offering practical advice for navigating complementarian environments.

Dive into a critical examination of Christian marriage advice and its potential dangers. The hosts dissect problematic narratives, including a controversial metaphor that oversimplifies marriage dynamics and undercuts women's agency. They tackle the stigma around therapy in faith communities, emphasizing the importance of safety and discernment. Real-life stories illuminate the risks of relying solely on pastoral guidance. Plus, they offer practical tips for fostering healthy partnerships grounded in mutual respect and understanding.

The hosts dive into a controversial essay from an Oklahoma student, critiquing its lack of academic standards and reflecting on the embarrassing impact this has on Christians. They discuss how faith can evolve beyond mere beliefs, emphasizing love and transformation. The conversation highlights Jesus' challenges to religious leaders while reframing sin as a form of brokenness that demands compassion. They urge listeners to engage with diverse viewpoints and advocate for healing in marriage and community, linking these ideas to a more empathetic understanding of faith.

In a whirlwind of clips, the hosts dismantle controversial claims made by evangelical leaders. They challenge the notion that conservatism improves mental health, pointing to research that reveals the opposite. The duo tackles victim-blaming rhetoric in religious contexts, revealing harmful stereotypes against women. They also confront unbalanced relationship dynamics and the misuse of divorce statistics. Overall, they advocate for partnership models over rigid hierarchies, emphasizing the importance of equality and mutual support in relationships.

Holly Berkley Fletcher, a historian and former CIA analyst, shares insights from her book *Missionary Kids*, revealing the complex lives of missionary kids in evangelical contexts. They discuss how these kids act as a 'window' into the issues of white evangelicalism and race. Holly highlights their struggles with identity and grief, compounded by unrealistic expectations of their parents as 'saints.' The conversation uncovers how purity culture impacts MKs, especially girls, and calls for empowering local leaders in positive missions.

Send us a textHappy American Thanksgiving! We're rerunning one of my favorite episodes from four years ago where Rebecca and I talk about what God is actually like—spoiler: He laughs and takes joy in life, not just suffers on the cross. We also dive into why our Great Sex Rescue research matters and address all those critiques about our methodology (and yes, we're now peer-reviewed, so that critique doesn't really work anymore). Plus, we tackle that awful Missouri pastor story about "trophy wives" and explain why harmful marriage advice is like thalidomide—it might help some people, but that doesn't mean it's not causing serious damage to others.THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOROrder Dorothy Greco's book For the Love of Women! Learn why it can feel so difficult to be female in our society, and what we can do about it.TO SUPPORT US: Join our Patreon for as little as $5 a month to support our workAnd check out our Merch, or any of our courses!Give to the Good Fruit Faith Initiative of the Bosko FoundationJoin our email list!LINKS MENTIONED: Check out The Great Sex Rescue!Gretchen Baskerville's book The Life Saving DivorceCheck out our new YouTube channel, with our five short videos you can share on key topics we keep returning to time and time again!Our peer reviewed article in Sociology of ReligionA longer article I wrote on the Thalidomide analogySupport the showJoin Sheila at Bare Marriage.com!Check out her books: The Great Sex Rescue She Deserves Better The Marriage You Want and the Study Guide The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex and The Good Guy's Guide to Great Sex And she has an Orgasm Course and a Libido course too!Check out all her courses, FREE resources, social media, books, and so much more at Sheila's LinkTree.

The hosts unravel the euphemisms behind complementarianism, revealing its hierarchical implications instead of genuine role differences. They argue that claims of equal value for women but functional subordination contribute to relationship struggles. Highlighting how concepts like 'servant leadership' can enable abuse, they stress that this dynamic often masks authority rather than fostering partnership. The discussion includes critiques of prominent figures and emphasizes that egalitarian practices lead to healthier marriages.

Joining the discussion are Dr. Merry Lin, an insightful author and commentator on marriage and gender dynamics, Sarah McDugal, an advocate for women healing from betrayal trauma, and Joanna Sawatsky, a critique of Christian fiction's roles and narratives. They dissect the troubling messages in Francine Rivers' 'And the Shofar Blew,' highlighting how the book encourages abuse victims to endure suffering and propagates harmful gender roles. The panel also explores how fictional narratives shape women's perceptions of faith, marriage, and their worth, often reinforcing toxic dynamics instead of promoting justice.

Join Sarah McDugal, a betrayal trauma recovery expert, Merry Lin, a clinical psychologist and author, and Joanna Sawatsky, a contributor to Great Sex Rescue, as they dive into Francine Rivers' "And the Shofar Blew." They discuss how fiction shapes our understanding of marriage and the hidden theological messages it conveys. The guest share insights about problematic narratives, the normalization of unhealthy dynamics, and the unrealistic expectations placed on women regarding forgiveness. Their thoughtful critique sheds light on the broader implications of Christian romance fiction.

Dorothy Littell Greco, a journalist and author, dives deep into the pervasive nature of misogyny in her insightful discussion. She highlights how institutions like healthcare and the church continue to privilege men, often at women's expense. They tackle tough topics, like the dangerous link between male entitlement and sexual violence, and how everyday design fails to consider women. Greco also emphasizes the critical need for women in leadership and the importance of addressing systemic issues within Christian teachings and society for real change.