I just started reading your columns a couple days ago, and have been going through your archives. I just came to #82, from August 18th, 2011.
I am a writer, and a Christian, and someone who struggled to find my tribe for the same reasons as Paradox.
Paradox is one of my people. I would like to connect with him (her?) if possible, maybe introduce him to my network of artists and writers, and see what kind of work he’s doing now. Is there any way you could see if he’d be willing to email me or that I could email him?
On a different note, while I haven’t been familiar with your work as Sugar, I have known you as the author of Wild. I wanted to congratulate you on your beautiful memoir. You really are a craftsman when it comes to narrative non-fiction. Beyond your wonderful prose and storytelling, your cover is among the best I’ve ever seen. It’s one of the books that I site when I’m trying to teach someone about what a book cover should look like if you actually want people to pick up your book in a store or click on it on Amazon.

Thanks,

Erica

I have found, again and again, that places I expected would have an anti-religious bias are a lot more accepting than they’re supposed to be. (At my MFA school, there were a couple loud atheists whose arguments were very predictable and easily managed by anyone who’s read any philosophy at all–but those people were my friends, too. It helps that I didn’t start my relationship with these people by telling them they’re going to Hell. (Because I don’t believe they are.) If people see that you’re working at your craft and that you’re not a jerk, you’ll be OK.

Frankly, I think atheists and agnostics have more to fear from prejudice in this society than Christians do. And liberal Christians, who are far more numerous than they seem to realize, have a role to play as well in changing that.

Which is yet another reason to write like a motherfucker. QED.

Paradoxed> I totally get going to SF–it’s one place I think I’d like to live someday if I had the chance. (Right now I’m in a military town in the south, a very different place). I just wanted to say, if you brush up against those “artists” who DON’T accept you, who tell you that you can’t, say, write like a motherfucker because you’re a Christian, ignore them. They’re small people and you’ll find better. They do exist (like the scads of Christians who make Christians like us shudder), and they can be hurtful, especially if they are in any kind of position of power. Just remember what was said here and believe it: it’s okay to be you. Whoever that you is. Love Christ. Be faithful. And write like a motherfucker (or whatever you verb of choice is: praise, semonize, draw, paint, sing, review, whatever…).

Go forth and become a jesus-writing-mother fucker. If only so that there are more awesome works in the world inspired by faith, and also to replace the one christian writer I knew in college whose works were ill disguised parables built on faulty information and the flaming sword. You can do it. I believe in you.

-a recovering Mormon

And my heartfelt love to all the rest of you who wrote comments (and you too, Sugar – always!) whether you are Christians or not. Thank God for the internet bringing communities like ours together across distance and thank you for all the reading suggestions of names I love and names I’ve never heard before. (Dorothy Sayers for the win – I’ve loved her ever since I read “Are Women Human?”)

Paradox, I used to wonder if there was a place for me. I’m a semi-fanatical, bleeding heart, crazy-ass hippie. I’m also a baptized, Jesus-loving, arms raised Christian. I never felt fully whole in either world. Then, I went to seminary. It was awesome, I learned a ton, but much more importantly, I found my people. I found crazy ass, bleeding heart Baptists. I found Jesus loving fanatical liberals. I found MY people, and in finding my people, I found my truth. And now, I’m able to speak it. Listen for your call, and trust that it is genuine. Blessings!

Do not be afraid. You are/will be a writer and your faith, surely, will inspire you, sustain you, and challenge you. Do not be sunk by the challenge and the loneliness of it. You will find your “tribe” of artists; you will find your audience; and always, always, He is with you.

Paradox, please write about the paradox. There are so many of us who are so deep in it. So free-thinking, so in love with the world, and people, so very Christian…and tormented. This is not the same as a focus on turtles or grief. You know this. Stay true. I cannot wait to read your work.