Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth is an overly convoluted title for Amy Duggar King's memoir—and, unfortunately, it perfectly sets the stage for what follows. I tried not to judge a book by its title, but in this case, my instincts were right. Side note: Gypsy Rose Blanchard owes Amy a coffee. I would have given Gypsy’s book a lower rating, but after listening to Amy’s, I found Gypsy much more likable ...
Shame
Game Review: The Monsters We Make: Illness and Empathy in Silent Hill 2
First off, let me say that I don’t think video games have to be analyzed deeply by everyone who plays them. They can be purely entertainment, and that’s perfectly okay. However, as is my nature, I often use the media I consume—whether it’s books, movies, or games—for self-reflection. I didn’t grow up with video games, and Silent Hill 2 is actually my very first playthrough of any game in the series. That gave me a raw, unfiltered experience of ...
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, ...
