Theological Resistance: Reclaiming Christianity from Autocratic Capture
At the heart of this Substack lies a simple but profound question: How might we recover an authentic Christian witness in an age of theological mutations that have distorted the gospel into tools of domination?
What You'll Find Here
This Substack offers structured theological resistance through five integrated content streams:
Monday: Dominative Christianism & Providential Identitarianism Book Chapters Deep theological analysis of seven mutations that have distorted Christianity across the political spectrum. Each chapter contrasts palace-manger frameworks, exploring how imperial power systems co-opt faith regardless of political alignment.
Tuesday: "Rooted & Reaching" Personal Essays
Personal reflections on recovery from workaholism, garden-based spiritual formation, and the journey from productivity-based worth to relationship-centered authenticity.
Wednesday: Common Life Politics Theological Essays
Robust theological explorations of concepts like truth, empathy, justice, freedom, and love—grounded in trinitarian theology and participatory freedom frameworks.
Thursday: "Untold America" Historical Confessionals
Critical examinations of American history that challenge both conservative and progressive mythologies while offering a more honest path forward.
Friday: "Divine Republic" Satirical Pieces
Irreverent yet incisive satire that exposes the absurdities of both religious nationalism and progressive identitarianism.
Weekend Wisdom: Practical applications for everyday discipleship, including homilies and accessible summaries of the week's theological themes.
Theological Framework
My work is grounded in a counter-imperial theology that:
Contrasts palace power with manger humility
Emphasizes divine presence in lowly places
Rejects both dominant power and victimization narratives
Offers servant-power as a genuine alternative to control
Centers eucharistic presence as the model for Christian witness
Provides navigational correction in disorienting times
At its core, this project develops participatory freedom theology—understanding freedom not as absence of constraint but as capacity for love without domination. This alternative vision offers a constructive response to seven theological mutations that have distorted Christianity across the political spectrum.
Lexicon System
One distinctive feature of this Substack is its integrated lexicon—a growing theological vocabulary that provides precise language for understanding complex religious-political phenomena. Each lexicon entry offers historical context, theological analysis, and constructive alternatives to contemporary distortions.
My Background
I bring a unique perspective as:
Episcopal priest serving in the Diocese of Rochester
Member of the Theology Committee of the House of Bishops
Former naval officer (nuclear submarine) and business executive
Author and theologian working at the intersection of theology, politics, and economics
My Naval Academy background, Duke Divinity formation, and Durham University doctoral work have equipped me to analyze power systems while remaining grounded in trinitarian theology and participatory freedom.
Why Subscribe?
Free subscribers receive:
All Monday book chapters
All Tuesday personal essays
One monthly Wednesday theological essay
Access to the basic lexicon entries
Paid subscribers unlock:
Complete access to all content streams
Full lexicon system with specialized entries
Member-only discussion threads
Audio versions of selected content
Early access to forthcoming book materials
My Covenant With You
I commit to providing theological content that is:
Rigorously researched and academically informed
Accessibly written for non-specialists
Constructive rather than merely critical
Grounded in trinitarian theology and participatory freedom
Honest about both conservative and progressive distortions
Oriented toward genuine freedom rather than dominance
Join me in this project of theological resistance—not as an angry reaction, but as a generative alternative to the theological mutations that have captured so much of contemporary Christianity.
"Theology is how we remember who we are when the world wants us to forget."
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