Sister Theologian

  What’s “obvious” is hardly ever fully accurate. The surface tends to serve as an indicator, but it typically lacks depth and exposition. It’s dangerous to surmise and conclude based on what’s visible without further investigation. And so it is with reading Scripture. You hardly ever grasp the essence of the text with casual reading and superficial scanning. This cursory approach to Bible reading yields shallow insights masked as substantial revelation. As a single woman in the church, I’ve heard no shortage of sermons aimed at encouraging, preparing, or positioning women who hope to be married. And one of the most frequently used texts in the single woman’s toolbox is the book of Ruth. Ruth shows up in countless conferences and women’s gatherings, often framed as a guide for how to be found, noticed, or chosen. I’ve heard it preached this way: if Ruth stayed busy gleaning in the field, Boaz would eventually appear. If she positioned herself correctly, the blessing would come. For...

  Happy New Year!!! (Are we still saying HNY?) Let’s just go with it :) We’re at the top of a new year, and for many, this time represents an opportunity to start over, create new habits, revisit old ones, and refresh what didn’t quite stick during the last season. Discussions on and off social media are filled with declarations and promises of upgrades and improvements. And I respect it, no sarcasm. We all have areas in our lives that we have either completely dropped, neglected, or need some life (fresh perspective) breathed into them. Living spaces, closets, work offices, our health, our minds, or our image/aesthetic all may come to mind when pondering the new year and the changes that need to be implemented. They are all important, full stop. I don’t have the space to discuss how each of those aspects of our lives deserves intention and attention. However, I’d like to suggest that there are quieter, less overt spaces in our lives that may need revitalization. For believers, I’d...

I spent all of 2023 and a bit of 2024 conducting research and writing my dissertation. Arduous is not a weighty enough word to capture and communicate how hard that process was. But after I finished writing and successfully defending my work (yay me!), I literally told myself, “You really can do hard things.” One could argue, starting a Substack isn’t hard, but that statement can, in fact, be argued. But alas, here I am, Substacking and blogging or whatever. I am in the process of adapting my work into an article for publication. This post will allow me to process out loud with whoever reads this what I suggested in my dissertation. One of the reasons I decided to pursue my doctorate was to study and contribute to ongoing discussions about education while considering and integrating faith into the dialogue. Like most spaces permeated by faux-respectability, academia has not rolled out a welcome mat for scholars and practitioners to discuss faith/religion/spirituality and its intersecti...

At the end of July, Beyoncé released her musical film and visual album, “ Black is King ”. It was a showcase of Black artistry and talent, highlighting the culture and heritage of Africa and the diaspora. Given the current and ongoing political/racial climate, it was an ode to and celebration of Blackness being revered and commemorated in film while racial tensions are erupting throughout the country. Among the plethora of online debates surrounding BiK, discussions about African spirituality and its alleged connection to witchcraft caught my eye. There were tons and tons of blogs and social media posts defending the legitimacy of African religions and spiritual practices. The information was intriguing to say the least, I mean, it was super interesting! But what really piqued my interest were those who self-identified as Christians criticizing other Christians who were vocal about their disappointment in the overt use of (and seemingly idolization) of other deities within the film. Th...

As I’m writing this post, we are battling a global pandemic coupled with a strained racial climate that has caused decades (and centuries) of tensions to rise to the surface. Varying thoughts, feelings, and emotions are being processed. Given the world we live in, where social media can be an intricate part of our lives, some choose to process their feelings and express their opinions publicly on those platforms. Recently, there was a video of an African doctor sharing her less-than-popular opinions about treatments for COVID-19. I watched on social media as people who agreed with her shared and posted the video, offered up virtual prayers for her protection, and condemned people who chose not to believe her. On the other side of the spectrum, I observed people drag her through the wringer. They questioned her credentials, labeled her a fanatic for her views on demonic activity and the necessity for deliverance ministry, and side-eyed every person who sought to defend her. As with any ...