Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher is a heartbreaking memoir that explores religious trauma, abuse, and survival. At times, it is difficult to digest — but it is absolutely worth the read. Because Jessica narrates the audiobook herself, I highly recommend listening to it in that format if possible. Hearing her gentle voice tell her own story — and sing her lyrics — creates a profound sense of intimacy, camaraderie, and understanding. The ...
Religious Trauma
I Take Too Much Responsibility—And It Started in Church
There’s a darker side to religion that’s often sold as a virtue: forgiveness, repentance, and taking responsibility for your actions. None of these things are inherently bad. But after years of narcissistic abuse layered on top of religious trauma, I’ve realized something uncomfortable about myself — I take too much responsibility. That reflex didn’t stay in church. It followed me into friendships, romantic relationships, and workplaces — ...
Backmasked: Ozzy, Faith, and the Life I Was Denied
I suppose nothing would horrify my mother—or my childhood church—more than seeing who I am now. While they were busy preaching about satanic panic in the '80s and '90s, they never imagined that the frightened little girl in their pews—the one they warned so often about demons and damnation—would one day grow up to be a 43-year-old woman, writing her very first blog post about deconstructing Christianity… by talking about Ozzy Osbourne. Yes, ...
