Featured
-Kalie Hargrove
The Center for Prophetic Imagination (a partner with Our Bible App) is taking applications for their Fall 2024 Cohort for their Spiritual Direction and Social Transformation certificate program emphasizing spiritual direction as a social practice.
-Kalie Hargrove
The Reformation Project's decision to take a stance against Queer Theology is not only disheartening, but harmful to those who are the most marginalized.
-Kalie Hargrove
As more anti-trans bills are being brought forth, we are faced with the reality that experts and facts have little to do with their creation. Rather, it’s social media influencers.
-Kalie Hargrove
On November 22, The Gospel Coalition put out an article telling its readers that following Jesus is more important than the life of their trans child. However, in doing so, they said the quiet part out loud by showing their theology leads to death, not life.
CW: Transphobia and Suicide
-Suzanne DeWitt Hall
Another mass shooting in Maine breaks hearts, shatters a community, and sheds light on the epidemic of slaughter that echoed in Illinois and Texas shortly after. Maine local, Suzanne DeWitt Hall reports on the events asking, what can we do?
-Keegan Osinski
Have there ever been LGBTQ people at the Dove Awards? Semler and Flamy Grant have topped Christian music charts all year, and they think it’s time to make room for out-of-the-closet performers.
-Kalie Hargrove
The Society of Biblical Literature claims to stand against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation as part of their core values. However, do they let those core values get in the way of their finances?
-Suzanne DeWitt Hall
While cultures around the world hold varying understandings of the non-binary nature of gender, the Western world clings to the mindset that anatomy is the same as gender, and despite voluminous evidence, it continues to demand that only two genders exist.
by Kevin Garcia
When her son, Parker, came out as gay, Sara Cunningham faced the choice between her church and her son. She chose her son, and then started a revolution.
-Team OBA
We asked our readers which books have impacted their faith journey the most. These are their answers. Follow us on social media @ourbibleapp to participate in more community-driven listicles.
-Kalie Hargrove
As laws targeting transgender and gender-expansive are on the rise, so are the number of denominations that are standing against these laws. Which denominations are affirming and evolving?
by Kevin Garcia
Christian chart topping artist, Semler (any pronouns), made history in June as the first queer Christian artist to have a Number 1 song on the iTunes charts. But their ambitions don’t stop there. They want the CCM Grammy in 2024.
-Chavonn Shen
They thought it was a good idea to use AI to manage patients. A new mishap with a chatbot named TESSA may signal otherwise. What does AI in a health setting mean for those of us seeking treatment?
-Jason Koon
In a year marked by extreme rhetoric, draconian court decisions, canceled Pride events, and a record number of anti-trans bills in state houses, some faith communities are working to become a haven for the LGBTQ+ individuals many churches still shun. In deep-red rural North Carolina, LGBTQ+ Family Day is an event specifically set aside for LGBTQ+ people of faith. In stubbornly conservative Central Texas, Zach Lambert is building a mega-church-style ministry (complete with modern music and lighting) committed to becoming a place of healing for LGBTQ+ individuals and family members who have been shut out of many worship spaces.
-Kalie Hargrove
Title IX is the anti-discrimination policy used to determine which schools are allowed to receive federal funding. Unfortunately, both the institutions and the US government are able to profit off the sexual harassment of queer students on campuses without threat of recourse. It is not a loophole, its policy.
-Mel Kulenski
Pat Robertson and Tim Keller recently died. Christians of leftist/progressive/liberal political flavors have been responding in multitudinous ways on social media. Some respond with righteous fury. Which response aligns best with our Christian faith?
-Anannda Barclay
What is the impact of internalized racism in the narrative of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the impact it has on the American people? Annanda Barclay checks in.
-Jason Koon
What do migrant workers and their struggles have to teach us about the land from which we were taken and on which we all depend? If the stories in the Bible's first book are to be believed, this disconnect is the source of much of the injustice and inequity in the world.
by Kevin Garcia
In the past week, SCOTUS has handed down alarming rulings that affect marginalized people especially. They have made major changes to Affirmative Action and the religious rights of business owners to discriminate. What can we do to push back?
-Jason Koon
National food shortages are devastating local economies like the one in Canton, North Carolina.
by Suzanne DeWitt Hall
The rising tide of anti-transgender legislation and rhetoric is creating crisis for thousands. It's easy to feel helpless in the face of all of it, and for faith communities to know how to respond. But there are things churches can do to transform their spaces into true sanctuaries.
-Jason Koon
What is last week's air quality emergency telling us about how we treat the earth?
-Team OBA
It’s been 3 years since Our Bible App started to ask folks to chip in financially to keep our authors paid and the app running. In that time we’ve been able to offer premium content for a base price while also depending on outside donors to make up the difference. As it has happened for many other businesses, the cost of creating premium content continues to rise and in order to properly serve our community we have decided to raise our subscription price. The new monthly cost of $8.99 will allow us to make necessary upgrades to the app. We are fixing:
by Kevin Garcia
With so many big names making substantial faux pas at allyship this past month, should we even count on corporations for their support? (Short answer: no.)
by Kevin Garcia
Rep. George Santos and trans TikTok creator Kelly Cadigan represent a reality that money and white privilege can shield you from a lot of oppression. But for how long?
by Mel Kulenski
Missouri’s trans youth are current targets of Senator Mike Moon’s most recent bill that would exclude them from accessing gender-affirming care, hormone therapy, puberty blockers, transition surgery, and trans-affirming mental healthcare. Although the bill still must be signed by Republican Governor, Mike Parson its arrival has sent shockwaves across the state. Written by Mel Kulenski.
-Chloe Guillot
The fight for queer rights has never been just about acceptance. It has been a matter of life and death. The tragedy of Nex Benedict and the Reformation Project’s move to distance itself from queer theology are intrinsically linked.