Two New Year Blessings For Those Who Struggled Through 2023

December 28, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

Blessing No. 1 (By yours truly) Centuries after the Italian painter Caravaggio finished one of his earliest masterpieces, The Cardships, infrared imaging revealed that he’d made several significant changes along the way. Though the painting is large and dramatic, the naked eye can’t see that: The playing cards moved from their original placement. One of the figures’ hands shifted position. Stripes on a piece of clothing diverged from their initial trajectory. In the art world, alterations such as these have... Read more

Pope Francis Says Priests Can Bless Same-Sex Couples

December 19, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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On Monday, December 18, the Vatican released a document confirming that Pope Francis will now allow priests to bless same-sex couples. Considering the Roman Catholic Church’s historically staunch opposition to LGBTQIA+ rights and the fact that official declarations (especially on such sensitive social topics) are few and far between, the news brought hope to many queer Christians and allies. There are, however, significant caveats. The declaration made the distinction between allowing such blessings and allowing same-sex couples to participate in... Read more

Details From a Progressive Christian Church Service That Might Surprise You

November 28, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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As a millennial exvangelical, I belong to a generation that’s been deconstructing what we’ve been taught — a painstaking process that often leads to the rejection of religion altogether. It’s one of the contributing factors to the recent (yet swift) decline in church attendance, especially in the U.S. Although saving the Church as we know it isn’t a goal of mine (nor do I believe it’s even possible at this point), I do believe that more people my age would... Read more

Abiding by Bowling: The Big Lebowski and Ecclesiastes

November 17, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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Abiding by Bowling The Big Lebowski and Ecclesiastes Although now considered a cult classic, the Coen Brothers’ early film The Big Lebowski did not receive immediate acclaim. In fact, it barely broke even on its estimated budget of $15 million.[1] However, in the years that proceeded, a strange thing happened. Film scholars J.M. Tyree and Ben Walters describe it as such: Legions of dedicated fans turned “The Big Lebowski” into a cult phenomenon and a hipster bible, quoting chapter and verse from its... Read more

The Best Quotes About Faith From Glennon Doyle’s Memoir Untamed

July 6, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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I could very well be Glennon Doyle’s biggest fangirl, and I just finished re-reading her memoir “Untamed.” Something in my spirit nudged me to go to the nearest bookstore and get my hands on another copy, as I’d passed along my original as soon as I turned the final page. It had just been too empowering and life-changing not to share posthaste. I’m so glad I listened to that which Doyle calls her inner “Knowing,” because once again feasting my... Read more

How My Cat Is Saving Jimmy Carter’s Life (And Mine)

June 3, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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TW: This post mentions suicidal ideation. My husband and I have two cats. First, there’s Fig: a fearless, tailless, 22-toed wonder who lives to be outside, rain or shine. Though admirable, her fierceness led to one too many scars — both on her (from all the animals within a mile radius that were dumb enough to take her on), and on us (for trying to pet the damn thing). Our veterinarian recommended getting a second kitten while she was still... Read more

Is David Beckham a Christian?

May 22, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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Embed from Getty Images David Beckham needs no introduction. Throughout his decades in the spotlight, he’s become a household name not only in his native United Kingdom but across the globe. Sports fans and pop culture fanatics alike can spew out numerous facts about the former professional soccer player, such as: At just 18, he began playing professionally for one of the Premier League’s top teams. In addition to Manchester United, he’s also played for England’s World Cup team as... Read more

Prophets on the Red Carpet: The 2023 Met Gala

May 3, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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Although the Met Gala is an annual charity event for New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, it’s about much more than mere fundraising. Each year, scores of fashion-forward celebrities eagerly wait to find out the theme of the event and if they’re in vogue enough to score a highly desirable invite. The 2023 event, which took place on Monday, saw new and old faces, all donning outfits associated with “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” According to The Met’s... Read more

The Biblical Wisdom of Jane Fonda

April 26, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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Like the iconic character Moira Rose, my favorite season is “Awards,” so you’ll likely find me perched on my parents’ sofa during every notable award show (because, you know, cable). That’s where I was two years ago on the night of the famed Golden Globes — that time of year when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association bestows accolades to shining stars of the previous year’s film and TV scene. If you recall, it was a great year for entertainment and... Read more

Anne Lamott’s Shawl, the Hemorrhaging Woman, and a Seriously Trippy Netflix Series

April 20, 2023 By Claire Mainprize

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In the first few days of 2023, I compiled a list of my accomplishments from the preceding year. I started with all the bullet points one would expect: career successes, examples of personal growth, memorable experiences, and newfangled hobbies. You know — all the big, boring stuff. But as I drifted off to sleep with my big, boring list precariously sitting on the corner of my nightstand, I realized I had forgotten to add the accomplishment that put all others... Read more