Religious Trauma: Prayer, persecution, and when thepoetmiranda plans to stop being "mean" to Christians
From thepoetmiranda's editor's desk
Mean Miranda, Part 1
I’ve written repeatedly about Christians threatening me because I’m a trans woman. Several moderate and progressive Christians who see themselves as affirming have responded to my writing not with assurances that they will fight the bigotry in their faith communities but with tone policing about me being “mean” to Christians.
One of the first poems I shared on thepoetmiranda.com was inspired by Christian threats.
Prayer
Remember the Prayer of Jabez craze in the early 2000s? For those who don’t, Prayer of Jabez was a bestselling book that encouraged Christians to use the Bible verse 1 Chronicles 4:10 as a mantra to gain “blessings” in their lives.
Prosperity gospel preachers had already been teaching the pray Bible verses to force G-d to give you things approach for years, but it really took off after this book sold a few million copies. Of course there was (and is) also associated merch. Lots of it.
While people around me prayed for new luxury brand cars, I prayed verse…