#tools for Christian content creators

[artofthechristianninja]

Big News: My Bookshop Is Open With Exclusive Discounts!

My bookshop is now open! Explore discounted resources like sermon collections, Bible studies, devotionals, and my newest book, The Art of Digital Influence. Support my ministry and grab your copy today:

I’m excited to announce that my bookshop is officially open! It features a variety of resources, including sermon collections, Bible studies, a devotional, and my newest book, The Art of Digital Influence. Each title is crafted to inspire and equip you on your faith journey. Whether you’re exploring God’s Word, seeking encouragement, or learning to grow as a Christian content creator, there’s…

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

As a Art History and Heritage researcher, I have to say “Nosferatu” (2024) geniality cannot be underestimated. This is an absolute historic triumph. Robert Eggers recreated the early 19th century setting, way of thinking and behaving, so masterfully, he actually convinced the general audience into believing the Victorian characters are the “good guys” here, and the Eastern European Pagan shaman-priest is the villain of the story, and that his protagonist Ellen is a passive victim at his hands. And now many are starting to realize that’s not the case and are throwing a fit or making weird mental gymnastics to validate their incorrect interpretations.

This isn’t surprising because this tale has years on the making, and it’s an entirely new story under a familiar make-up. Academics and researchers helped shape this story (History and Romanian folklore; Eggers is an occult scholar himself but he only talked about it publicly once); Academic thesis were used to create the script and the world building (“Dracula” literacy analysis; Şolomonari connection to Zalmoxis worship); a dead language was reconstructed for this (fictional but very well-researched alongside linguistics specialized on Balkan extinct languages); two different types of English are spoken (late 16th century and 19th century). The historical accuracy of everything is on point: Romanian Folklore, Victorian sexuality views, Victorian medicine, demonization of Pagan beliefs by Christianity, 19th century racist theories; the threat of female sexuality as a contagious disease (Ellen), etc. If this wasn’t horror I would even recommend this film as a study tool to understand the early 19th century.

The comprehension of these references and themes are way out of your league. Many of these are academic-level knowledge; others should be general knowledge (Victorian era as sexually repressed) but apparently aren’t(?) Either way, the entire “discourse” around this film comes from the general audience lack of historical knowledge and ignorance about these themes and references. I’m an academic myself, and I had to breakdown the entire story to see what this is actually about. Some of you watched this film once and already think you know? When you can’t even interpret one scene from this film correctly, and think Orlok appeared to Ellen when she was a little kid or that Ellen’s father abused her?? The prologue and her scene with Von Franz contradicts both these “interpretations”. Most of you don’t even realize it was Ellen who cursed Orlok to be a strigoi, to begin with (or probably don’t know what a “strigoi” is).

The cast and crew already explained what this film is about in interviews, but there appears to be a weird rejection of everything the creators of this story have to say. But Robert Eggers probably isn’t concerned because he didn’t make this film for you. The way modern audiences digest Art is extremely bizarre to me. This is not how interpretation of Art works, and I tell you this as someone who interprets Art in its historical context for a living. This is my job. And this is a director obsessed with historical accuracy and with a strict artistic view. There are no “multiple opposite interpretations” here. Because he’s using specific academic thesis to create his story. On a personal level you can see whatever you want to see, but if your intention is to understand this story know you are incorrect. And the majority of the “breakdowns” and “interpretations” out there are incorrect and the only world I can use to describe them is “bullshit”. Because these content creators and influencers have no idea of what they are talking about. But the Internet gave them the illusion they do, and they are very proud in displaying their ignorance to the world. Or those who are going around making jokes about “wanting to bounce on Orlok crazy style”. Your anti-intellectualism gives me second-hand embarrassment. This is the peak definition of functional illiteracy, and what’s worse is that the folks who want to know will come across this content and think “yeah, that’s what’s this film is about”.

This entire story a huge middle finger to Christian Victorian society. This a celebration and vengeance of Paganism on Christian civilization, embodied in both Orlok and Ellen characters. Robert Eggers called Ellen the only heroic character of his story; and Ellen and Orlok share the same spirit, the same nature (one Ellen rejects until she embraces it, at the end). They are the true heroes here. The Pagan priestess and the Pagan priest-shaman bringing death and plague upon the Christian civilization that demonized them using their Sex Magick, and end it with Sex Magick too, to give birth to the New Age of Aquarius (which was already the occult meaning of the 1922 “Nosferatu” ending, Eggers included the divine feminine instead of the “virgin sacrifice”). That’s why Eggers describes his ending as a “sacred marriage” between Ellen and Orlok: their sexual encounters are ritualistic, and always have been, and it’s Ellen sexual energy that conjures Orlok, every time: she’s the one who calls out to him, always. She has full agency over their connection (and Herr Knock ritual scene should tell you this; Ellen ending their connection when she met Thomas, and sending the maiden token to reconnect).

Everything that happens in this story is according to Ellen’s will. She has Orlok where she wants him to be; and, yes, she plays both Thomas and Orlok, and weaponizes them against each other (“Wuthering Heights” inspiration, hello?). Because she’s a dark character (like every Gothic horror protagonist), and her innocence and naivety are a front she puts on for Victorian society, her true self is only shown in some occasions because this story gives you several POVs. And that’s why Lily-Rose Depp tells us Ellen is “not a victim at all” because “she’s the one calling the shots the entire time”. She’s like Catherine; she wants to fuck around with Heathcliff/Orlok, while being married to the respectable Edgar/Thomas. But here it’s Orlok that’s not having any of it. I would even say the only victimized character here is Thomas himself, who gets caught up in the middle of something he doesn’t know nor understands and gets his entire life wrecked as a result (like Edgar Linton).

This whole story is about Ellen liberating herself from Victorian society, taking ownership of her own sexuality (one that according to Victorian era belongs to her husband) and embracing her nature, as she fully accepts Orlok at the end. She’s as evil and as good as he is. It’s not that hard to understand.

[thatgentlewife]

Hi! I'm an (adult!!) woman who has always identified as a lesbian but has recently realised it isn't right for me. However I really have no experience with... well, anything!! Do you happen to know what kinds of places I would be able to find support on my journey? Secular or traditional are welcome!

Hello! Thank you for opening up and sharing such a significant step in your journey. It’s clear that you’re seeking a life aligned with truth, love, and purpose, and that is such a beautiful thing. You are not alone in this, and there are so many resources and people who can walk alongside you. I’ll do my best to encourage you and point you to some helpful tools and communities for traditional living, faith, and relationships! (I will include Christian and secular resources 🤍)

Types of Christianity: Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox

Each Christian tradition has unique practices and teachings, but all center on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Here’s a quick overview and resources for exploring these branches of faith:

Protestant: This includes many denominations like Baptists, Methodists, and non-denominational churches. They emphasize a personal relationship with Jesus and studying the Bible directly.

• Resource: The book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is a wonderful starting point.

• Website: GotQuestions.org provides clear answers to many theological questions.

Catholic: The Catholic Church places a strong emphasis on tradition, sacraments, and the leadership of the Pope.

• Resource: Scott Hahn’s Rome Sweet Home is a beautiful introduction to Catholicism.

• Website: Catholic Answers is a rich resource for understanding the Catholic faith.

Orthodox: Orthodox Christianity emphasizes liturgy, the Church Fathers, and deep spirituality.

• Resource: The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware is an excellent introduction.

• Website: Ancient Faith Ministries offers podcasts, articles, and books.

I encourage you to visit different churches and see where God is leading you! ❤️

Romantic Relationships (Christian Based)

Godly relationships reflect His love: they are selfless, patient, kind, and rooted in mutual respect. They encourage growth in faith and prioritize purity and honesty. Ephesians 5:25-33 beautifully describes how love in marriage mirrors Christ’s love for the Church.

From my personal experience, I also once identified as a lesbian and felt confused about love and relationships. It wasn’t until I fully surrendered my heart to God that He gently reshaped my understanding of love. Through prayer and seeking Him, He led me to my now husband. Our marriage is filled with joy and purpose because it’s centered on Christ. God is so faithful, and He will guide you too!

Traditional Living and Homemaking (Christian based)

Living a traditional lifestyle and embracing homemaking can be deeply fulfilling and aligned with God’s design. Here are some resources to guide you:

Books:

• The Life-Giving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson: A lovely guide to creating a Christ-centered home.

• The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace: A biblical perspective on being a godly wife.

Content Creators:

• This Lovely Little Farmhouse on Instagram: Practical tips for homemaking and traditional living.

• YouTube channels like Farmlife Outfitters and The Transformed Wife provide inspiration and encouragement.

Websites:

• Homemaking Ministries: Resources for Christian homemakers.

• Proverbs 31 Ministries: Encouragement for living a Christ-centered life.

Traditional Living and Homemaking (Secular)

Books:

• The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking: Focuses on creating a cozy, intentional home life.

• Atomic Habits by James Clear: Helps establish routines and habits that support a balanced lifestyle.

• The Modern Guide to Homemaking by Louise Perkins: A practical guide to homemaking for modern women.

YouTube Channels:

• Darling Desi: A focus on slow living, homemaking, and romanticizing daily routines.

• The Feminine Fancy: Offers content on elegance, femininity, and traditional values in modern contexts.

• Inspired by Nikki: Encourages traditional homemaking and creating a peaceful home

Podcasts:

• Simple Life Project: Discusses homemaking, sustainability, and creating a fulfilling life.

• A Farmish Kind of Life: Explores rural living, homemaking, and self-reliance.

Healthy Traditional Relationships

Books:

• Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray: A classic on understanding and improving relationships.

• Boundaries in Dating by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend: A Christian book with principles that are widely applicable.

• The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman: Learn how to give and receive love effectively.

Articles and Blogs:

• The Gottman Institute (gottman.com): Science-based relationship advice and tools for building healthy partnerships.

• ModernMrsDarcy.com: A blog about relationships, homemaking, and personal growth.

YouTube Channels and Influencers:

• Feminine Not Feminist: Discusses relationships, femininity, and

Encouragement and Support

Know that this journey is not about perfection but about drawing closer to God daily. He sees your heart and loves you deeply. Surround yourself with others who will support your faith and values.

• Local Churches: Many offer women’s groups or Bible studies where you can find community and mentorship.

• Podcasts: Journeywomen and Set Apart Girl are wonderful for encouragement.

God has such a beautiful plan for your life, and He will walk with you every step of the way. If you’d like prayer or more guidance, I’m here for you! Wishing you the best in your traditional journey, regardless of your faith 🙏❤️

With love,

Thatgentlewife

[dndhistory]

544. Deborah Christian (editor) - I13: Adventure Pack 1 (1987)

A module which isn't really a module, but a collection of adventures for DMs to put into their larger campaigns, this first adventure pack contains 11 adventures of various sizes (most of them on the shorter side) for precisely that goal. There had been plenty of these small adventures in recent publications, particularly with Dungeon magazine being a thing now. 

The list of contributors is impressive, as well as mainstays of the field like Jennell Jaquays and Anne Gray McCready we get writers such as Warren Spector (who would go on to create a little game known as Deus Ex) or Steve Perrin (the creator of RuneQuest) giving their own spin on a mini-module for this collection.

There is plenty of variety here and fortunately the table of contents divides the 11 adventures into themes, which is pretty useful for a DM trying to inject a certain mood into a game. You get Deceiving Appearances (3 adventures), Intrigue (1 adventure), Help with a Problem (2 adventures), Mystery (1 adventure), Good Guys & Bad Guys (2 adventures) and Competition (2 adventures). A useful little tool kit for DMs and a new and different thing for AD&D. 

[uncloseted]

wait is GwenTheMilkmaid gwengwiz asmr?? i used to listen to her ASMR like wayyyy back in 2018 is it the same person? Also what is it with ASMRtists/ people with OF doing such a hard 180 cos I remember AngelicaASMR also did a very hard pivot towards Christianity, not that there's anything wrong with turning to God but there is something about so vehemently denouncing EVERYTHING about your former life and demonising it

Yes!!! This is another one of my favorite topics. GwenTheMilkmaid, notorious tradwife, is Gwen Swinarton, formerly ASMR and OnlyFans creator GwenGwizASMR. To my knowledge, Gwen and Angelica are the only people in the ASMR community who have made such a drastic switch, but in general, the crunchy leftist to alt-right pipeline is super real and something people need to be wary of falling into.

Gwen is someone who's content I've watched since probably 2015/2016, when she still had a girlfriend and before her cosmetic surgeries, so I feel like I have a pretty good sense of what happened there. She's always struck me as someone who's easily influenced and who doesn't really have the tools to distinguish between things that are true and things that sound true. She's someone who I think has always been kind of anti-institution and anti-intellectual because those types of environments make her feel insecure, and so she's always been a believer that the mainstream is lying to you and that you need to "do your own research". She's also someone that's dealt with social anxiety and other mental health issues for the majority of her life, to the point where, iirc, she was agoraphobic for a bit, and so I think she puts a lot of value in fitting in and other people liking her.

All of that makes her super susceptible to products and worldviews that sell a simple answer. Before she converted to Christianity, she was a socially awkward girl in a relationship with a girl and who was 100% dedicated to veganism as a lifestyle and wanted to have a farm to rescue animals. Then she also adopted a bunch of kind of new age beliefs and really leaned into this persona as someone who's "crunchy" and into "holistic medicine". After that she realized that people were using her ASMR videos for porn and her nudes got leaked. So she began doing OF as a "one quick fix" for her debt from an Instagram influenced shopping addiction, as well as (I think) to reclaim ownership over her body after the leak. Being on OF meant that she switched to a very male gaze-y, empowered woman kind of persona. That meant that her content started centering men as the main audience, and I think she began to get more comfortable with the idea of catering to the desires of men.

After the move to OF, I think a few things happened. I think she realized that sex work isn't as easy as she thought it would be, but she made a ton of money doing it, which led her to support more fiscally conservative political policy because she wanted to keep more of her money. As she said in one of her videos, “the government is good at stealing your money and then ‘losing it’ and wasting it." Then she got into a relationship with someone who's politically moderate, and the COVID lockdowns happened. From there, I think her boyfriend introduced her to some "moderate" or "just asking questions" kind of podcasts, which led her to fall into anti COVID vaccine rhetoric (which makes sense because her previous "crunchy" persona was also distrustful of medicine), and as a result of that, she fell into an anti COVID lockdown rabbit hole. This led her to "question the liberal agenda", which led to other conspiracy theories, like the 15-minute cities conspiracy theory. The further she got into those, I think the more she realized the people who agreed with her politically were far-right Christians. And from there, I think hopping to this belief that women should cater to the desires of men in every aspect of life felt natural, because her OF content was already doing that in a sexual sense. And because of all of that, by the time the lockdowns ended, she was interested in converting to Christianity and she'd started consuming a lot of tradwife content. And because she had previously done sex work and ultimately found that it made her feel exploited, maybe combined with being embarrassed about the person she used to be, I think she started feeling called to "protect" other women from following that same path, which led her to committing to this Christian tradwife persona and creating that kind of content. Unlike what some other people have said, I actually don't think this is a grift to try and make more money. I think she genuinely believes, at this stage of her life, that this lifestyle will make her feel happy and fulfilled, and so like everything else she's done, she's dedicated to it 100%. There's also a pretty good rundown of what happened to her here if you're interested.

Angelica is a different story, and I'm not totally sure what happened there, although I do think that, like Gwen, she's always had a kind of easily influenceable, anti-institution, anti-academic, "I do my own research" edge to her. She's always made content that's kind of weird, and she's always had a contrarian and kind of edge-lordy personality. From what I've seen people say online (so take this with a grain of salt, I don't know if it's true), she was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, so in her case I think it's less of a personality switch and more of a reversion to an older personality. The trigger seems to be that her mother died and she started reaching to religion for comfort, but in an ironic, contrarian, Dasha Nekrasova kind of way. Grief does weird things to even the most neurologically and psychologically healthy people. For people who have a predisposition to mental illness, grief can trigger depressive, manic, or psychotic episodes. I'm not saying that's necessarily what's going on with Angelica, but some of the things she's been saying suggest to me that there might be something else going on besides just a newfound dedication to religion.

In general, I think there's actually a lot of crossover between people who are "crunchy liberals" and people who are alt-right. There's generally a shared belief that the mainstream media and mainstream science are lying to us, a rejection of institutions such as government and universities, and a desires to be one of the special few that's smart enough to have discovered the truth. With people who are "crunchy" the beliefs tend to be about food, medicine, and education. But the more you believe that food and medication and education are poisoning the population, the easier it is to believe that the government is doing that on purpose, and once you've accepted that, the easier is is to believe that the government is evil in other ways. Maybe they're sexually abusing children, or forcing the children to be trans, or they're going to force you to live in a 15 minute city, or whatever else the conspiracy might be. And if you believe that, it's really easy to fall into the idea that the world has reached a point of out of control degeneracy, and that we have to return to the "good old days" when those things weren't happening. And of course, the "good old days" were when there weren't any POC or people in the LGBTQIA community, and when women knew their place... and all of a sudden you've gone from being a mom who's nervous about Red dye 40 in their kid's food to being someone who believes that the US needs to return to its traditional values as a white Christian nation.

And that's what's so scary about this. People don't just wake up radicalized one day, and they're not born people who believe that people of color and the queer community are bad. They're slowly eased into these beliefs through irony, shock humor ("you're not supposed to take it seriously, it's just a joke"), and a rejection of political correctness ("you can't even say anything these days!"), until the person becomes normalized to hearing that kind of rhetoric. Then they start being fed more and more extreme content in small steps, where each step allows them to acclimate before being pushed just a little bit further down the pipeline. If a person makes it far enough down the pipeline, they ultimately are taught to dehumanize certain groups of people, especially those who disagree with alt-right beliefs, and, at the end of the pipeline, attempts are made to eliminate those groups of people entirely. That's also one of the reasons why media literacy is so important. Without the tools to evaluate whether a source is providing reliable, true information or the tools to critically think about the media we're being presented and whether it's trying to convince us of something, it's really easy to fall down these kinds of pipelines and get stuck there.

[sheismo]

When I tell people I’m not religious or a Christian they’re confused. Yes. I grew up Christian. But I do not claim Christianity. Im a spiritualist. A child of God. A friend is Yeshua. A healing woman.

My grandmother is actually an evangelist. She can see the light & darkness in people. She can tell you something about yourself that you don’t even know about yourself. It can sometimes be scary. And my ancestory is deeply connected to Christianity however it’s been “blindly” linked to hoodoo too for centuries. We’ve been told so many times how to shake a fever or cleanse ourselves with “homemade” remedies. 🤐

I’ve learned so much about Christianity,the world and even other religions that I cannot be blind. Especially when it comes to the oppression of black Americans. The tea is Christianity isn’t “the white man’s religion” it was westernized by white men and used as a tool to control our ancestors during slavery. That’s a wholeeee other story for another day. 😬With all that being said I understand and know how religion was used against my ancestors.

I cannot turn the blind eye to the hurt and I pain of my ancestors. I cannot dishonor them. For they came before & they’re the reason I am who I am and think the way I do ! This isn’t “new” .. in my bloodline there’s someone who felt the same way & understood things the way I did. God has put it on my heart so many times that my spiritual views & awakening was destined. I truly feel chosen. My grandmother truly believes I had an encounter with God at 5 years old once when I passed out ; I pray that God shows me that someday. 🤞🏾

Now don’t get it twisted at all .. I LOVE GOD. The creator. The higher power. I understand that God is love & light. God is both masculine and feminine. God is a celestial of extreme power. God is understanding. God is kind. God is peace. God is ONE. There’s no other God. There’s no one else to worship. Honor your ancestors not worship them.

I know Jesus. I love Jesus. I understand his prophecy. I deeply resonate with it actually. My goal in life is to be CHRIST like. WWJD is so important to me. Jesus didn’t like religion. He felt it was lots of dishonesty & hypocrisy. I get why. I want to be a reflection of Jesus’s attitude & light. I want to be the kindest and most genuine person. I want to help others & truly tap into my inner peace.I understand that repentance is necessary as well as karma. You truly reap what you sow. Prayer is essential. Faith is essential. Being back in the Bible has genuinely been healing. I’m getting closer and closer to God & I am thankful for God’s grace over my life to be back in his arms is AMAZING. I feel so content with life. I want nothing but positivity. I want my spirit to be healed and cleansed from my past transgressions. I see the depth in everything.. everything is spiritual.

I love that God made me in his image & I know that he understands me spiritually. Each day I grow & learn something new. I know that God & goodness runs in my veins. I know that part of my purpose is to truly understand who I am spiritual & to heal/expand my spirit. I must honor God & live I LIGHT. Nothing of this world can even satisfy me. I have God so I have all I need.

[thecanadianreport]

Traoré’s Faith Stuns the Court: Zondo in Tears on Live TV Ibrahim Traoré, faith in leadership, Chief Justice Zondo, Jesus Christ, African leaders and Christianity. Ibrahim Traoré’s emotional faith journey leaves Chief Justice Zondo in tears on live TV. Watch as the leader of Burkina Faso shares how Jesus’s teachings transformed his leadership and life. In a rare and vulnerable interview moment, Traoré opens up about his spiritual battle, quoting "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?" to a stunned courtroom. This powerful moment reveals the intersection of faith, leadership, and justice in Africa today. 👉 Please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to Uncancel America for more bold stories that challenge the mainstream. 💥 Welcome to UNCANCEL AMERICA Where brutal truth meets bold commentary. We break down politics, media, and power plays with sharp wit and fearless analysis. If you're tired of watered-down news and desperate for savage clarity, you’re in the right place. 📢 Join the channel for exclusive perks & uncensored extras 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdyYAZROXnNV-8NYX1KWiAQ/join 🎯 Recommended Tools for Creators 👉 Level up your AI game with VivaGo → https://ift.tt/CZBpt7N 👉 Add viral subtitles to Shorts with Submagic → https://ift.tt/XMNAI5p 👉 Create epic voiceovers with ElevenLabs → https://ift.tt/cjpyXg6 🔔 Subscribe for Weekly Drops https://www.youtube.com/@UNCANCELAMERICA/?sub_confirmation=1 🔥 New videos every week exposing the truth behind media, politics, and power. 🔗 Stay Connected 📱 TikTok: https://ift.tt/YzM9XkO 📩 Business: canadianreport24@gmail.com 🧠 About This Channel: UNCANCEL AMERICA delivers fast-paced, unapologetic breakdowns of politics, culture, and viral moments. We combine humor, clarity, and fact-based commentary to challenge mainstream narratives and spark real conversations. If you believe in truth, free speech, and roasting the powerful—welcome home. 🚨 Disclaimer: We do not condone violence or hate. This content is for educational, satirical, and journalistic purposes. All opinions expressed are rooted in analysis, commentary, and humor. 🔎 Related Phrases & SEO Tags: Ibrahim Traoré faith journey, Chief Justice Zondo emotional moment, African leaders talk about Jesus, Christian leadership in politics, What does it profit a man to gain the world, Burkina Faso President faith speech, Traoré Zondo interview full, African president talks about God, Spiritual leadership on live TV, Traoré Bible quote viral video, Christianity and African leadership, Gospel message in African politics, Jesus Christ in government leadership, Christian values in public office, Live TV emotional political moment. Hashtags: #IbrahimTraore #FaithInLeadership #ZondoTears #ChristianLeadership #BurkinaFaso #JesusChrist #SoulOverWorld #LiveTVEmotions #AfricanLeadership #UncancelAmerica #SpiritualAwakening #Forgiveness #RedemptionStory via UnCancel America https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdyYAZROXnNV-8NYX1KWiAQ June 06, 2025 at 06:30AM

[holyreadsblogs]

Knowing God: A Guide to Building a Deeper Understanding of God

Do you know how to achieve success in life? If not, it’s important to understand that God will guide you along the right path. When you build a deep connection with the Creator, your life will align with His purpose. If you’re feeling uncertain about certain aspects of life and want to explore them in more detail, you must check out the book of JI Packer Knowing God summary Holy Reads App. Let’s dive deeper into it.

Knowing God: Why is it important?

To build a life filled with hope and love, it is essential to first understand God. As you explore His nature and the principles He teaches, you gain clarity on His will for your life, enabling you to live in alignment with it. Deepening your understanding of God not only reveals the profound love He has for you but also brings inner peace, allowing you to approach life with calmness and resilience. This understanding helps you embrace life's challenges with faith, knowing you are supported by His love.

Gain practical knowledge:

When you read or listen to book summaries, you will gain more than just theoretical knowledge. You will discover how drawing closer to God can lead to practical improvements in your life. The summary of JI Packer Knowing God will introduce you to various tools that can enhance your life, helping you become more fulfilled and purposeful. Through this deeper understanding, you’ll experience meaningful transformation and growth in every aspect of your life.

Healthy discussions

When you and others in your community read or listen to book summaries together, it opens the door to insightful discussions that enhance your understanding of the topic. Everyone brings their unique perspective, and you’ll be amazed by the different insights others have gained from a summary. These conversations will help you focus on aspects of the book you may not have considered, deepening your appreciation and broadening your perspective. Through shared dialogue, you'll uncover new layers of meaning and enrich your overall experience of the material.

Never-ending process

You can never fully know God, as it is a lifelong journey of discovery. However, reading or listening to book summaries can provide a fresh perspective and deepen your understanding of Him. The summaries of Christian books by Holy Reads highlight key principles that guide you in your spiritual walk and enrich your life’s journey. Christian book summaries, in particular, serve as a valuable resource, helping you stay connected with God even in the midst of a busy lifestyle.

About Holy Reads:

Holy Reads is one of the most renowned platforms where you can find Knowing God book review. This platform offers a range of features, including the ability to download and view summaries offline, making it convenient for you to access them anytime. Additionally, all the information has been carefully fact-checked by scholars, ensuring that you can fully rely on the content for accuracy and depth.

To get more details, visit https://www.holyreads.blog/

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3ZVq7MC

[ambushingghostart]

Blog numero dos!

Critical Thinking is not Enough in the Age of Influencers 

Reading the article “Critical Introduction to Social Media” by Christian Fuchs, I have no doubt social media can be used primarily influence individuals or groups as a system to maintain in power over a mass of people. This is done through our lack of awareness to think critically because we are constantly being programmed through algorithms to influence our behavior. Cristian Fuchs finds power is the motive for owners of these platforms and its critical for them to maintain control through activism, politics and even users to help exploit others and stay in control, “Power asymmetries mean that there are groups of people who benefit in society at the expense of others… (p.13)“ . Media has always been used as a tool to shape the political system, but some social media platforms run rampant with information that can be misleading or false without anyone holding them accountable. 

We are giving up our power to these platforms and consent to relinquish our rights and protections to scroll and navigate without questioning what you see, hear, and read. We see it with platforms allowing politics to influence our opinion with false narratives by content creators with the help of foreign countries meddling in our elections. It has become more apparent recently when the FBI discovered both Democrats and Republican party politicians being targeted and working with influencers are being finance by countries that wish to suppress our vote. How can these companies have all this power to let outside influence? We have government officials giving their power, influence, and voice to these platforms. Who is protecting who, when not even the government is thinking critically of themselves? 

[artofthechristianninja]

The Hidden Digital Mission Field: Unseen People and Unmet Needs

I recently gave a talk to a group of pastors at the Alliance Assembly 2024 and wanted to share it with you as I think it will serve as a helpful article to send to pastors and churches who struggle to appreciate or understand content creation and nerd-culture in general. Here is a link to the original talk: https://youtu.be/9FA3BOpennY Introduction I want to start with a scripture that we’re…

[givemearmstopraywith]

Joan of Arc study

Last year, I led a small digitial “retreat/study” on Joan of Arc via my Kofi- while my Kofi is no longer running (difficult to keep on top of because of other work obligations), I thought that in honour of her feast day I would make it publicly available. All of the text and resources used are under the cut- you can do this at your own pace, with one topic per week, or any other way you like. It’s to generate personal reflection on gender and one’s relationship to God, and is designed to be completely non-denomination, meaning that while it does use Bible readings, even if you are not a Catholic or a Christian, it should be able to stimulate some thought and reflection without having a definite religious slant. 

The topics covered are:

Joan the Warrior 

Joan the Androgyne 

Joan the Prophet and Mystic 

Joan the Disciple 

Below the cut you’ll find all of the readings and bonus content for each topic, and at the end are “notes,” a short informal essay consolidating what I’m hoping to share through this study. But I highly encourage you to do your own reflection, be it through journalling, prayer, mediation, or whatever form of self-reflection suits you best, and try to decide what the readings- and Joan herself- says to you.

Ultimately, I hope what you’ll discover through this "retreat" is that our gender identity makes us warriors, prophets, mystics, and disciples- that existing between the binaries imposed on us by patriarchy allows us to draw closer to the strange and wonderful place where God exists. 

WEEK 1: Exploring God and Gender with Joan of Arc- Joan the Warrior (readings)

This study pre-supposes that you already have some background on Jehanne and her life- nothing too in-depth, and we'll get into some of the finer points of her life that aren't as popularly known throughout this study. If you'd like more information, I highly recommend Helen Castor's biography and Regine Pernoud's Joan of Arc By Herself and Her Witnesses. 

I've mentioned that this is a non-denominational study. What does this mean? Mainly it means that while scripture provides the backbone of a lot of our reading, I don't want us to treat scripture in a Christian context. Rather, I want to treat it primarily as a literary text, and rather than engaging with it as a "Bible study" or theological undertaking, I want to challenge us to read this without any preconceived notions of what it means in a religious context. Rather, read it the way you'd read a novel or short story. How does it make you feel? What themes, motifs, metaphors, allegories, or other literary techniques are employed? What is the text trying to say? 

Read: 

Judges 4-8: Deborah, Jael, and Gideon

Christine di Pizan's Joan of Arc

excerpts from Jehanne's trial: Joan's Tools

(If you want to read all of Jehanne's trial transcripts, you can do so here- I'll be providing more excerpts over the upcoming weeks, but we won't be reading it in full, so I highly encourage you to read the full transcript on your own if you'd like.)

Consider: 

What tools does God give to Deborah and Gideon? Are those tools always weapons? Do they always require public acknowledgement, like Deborah’s tent peg? What tools has God given you? What similarities do you see between the Bible study and Joan? How does Christine di Pizan portray Jehanne in her poem? Is there a similarity between di Pizan's portrayal and the portrayal of the Biblical judges? 

Extras:

have a listen of Veni Creator Spiritus- this Latin chant was said to have been sung before every battle by the French army when Jehanne arrived at Orléans on 29 April 1429, legend has it that a choir of priests went before her signing this hymn. 

shameless self-plug of my own but much beloved Joan of Arc Spotify playlist 

WEEK 2: Exploring God and Gender with Joan of Arc- Joan the Androgyne (readings)

Read:

Judith 8-9

Marina Warner's Joan of Arc: The Image of Female Heroism, Chapter 7: Ideal Androgyne

excerpt's from Jehanne's trial: Jehanne and her gender presentation

Consider:

Last week we considered the tools God gave figures like Jehanne, Gideon, and Deborah. How does Jehanne's gender function as a tool? How does Jehanne view her relationship to gender based on her testimony? How does the idea of her as an androgyne, as opposed to a warrior woman or girl, change your idea of her as a historic figure? How does Jehanne's gender presentation compare to that of Judith?

Extras:

If you haven't seen it already, Carl Dreyer's 1928 masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc is available to watch for free on Internet Archive. It is a fascinating, moving, and exceptional portrayal of Jehanne's trial, arguably the best, and it's lead actress Renee Falconetti beautifully captures the idea of Jehanne as the androgyne.

WEEK 2: Exploring God and Gender with Joan of Arc- Joan the Prophet and Mystic

Read:

the Book of Jonah

“Joan of Arc and Female Mysticism” by Anne Llewellyn Barstow

Joan of Arc and her voices

Consider:

Does Jehanne know she is a mystic, a saint, a prophet? What relationship is there between Jehanne's gender and her prophecy? Is Jehanne a true mystic? Why or why not?

WEEK 4: Joan the Disciple

Read:

Luke 8

2 Clement- all if you wish, or just Chapter 12

skim the complete transcript of Jehanne's trial, paying attention to the final day (starting at page 358)

Consider:

Pay special attention to Luke 8: 16-19. How does this apply to Jehanne? More specifically, how does this apply to how she presents her gender. Much criticism in her trial is centered on how she does or does not properly conform to gender. How do these verses, and those in 2 Clement, apply to Jehanne and her treatment by the church?

Bonus:

Jehanne's letters, which are a fascinating look at her voice

Mark Twain's Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc is free to read

Notes:

On April 30, 1429, Joan of Arc- who styled herself Jehanne la Pucelle, or Jehanne the maid- arrived at the French city of Orléans to free it from English control. Orléans had been under siege since October of the previous year: it's commander and French army were exhausted and contemplating surrender.

Enter Jehanne. The story is famous: aged sixteen, she heard the voices of saints and angels commanding her to free France from the English, lift the siege of Orléans, and crown the Dauphin. Remarkably, she succeeded, before being condemned to the stake for heresy by the Church. Her feast day in 30 May.

In our study about Jehanne, we've read portions of Judges. Judges cover a period in Israelite history prior to the establishment of the monarchy of which the famous Davidic monarchy was part. This is a period which roughly corresponds to the historic period 1400–1000 B.C., just after the settlement of Canaan after the Egyptian diaspora, when the Hebrew settlers were living among foreign, polytheistic tribes like the Philistines, who are a major antagonist throughout the narrative. Judges is considered one of the oldest books in the Hebrew bible, with the Song of Deborah- Judges 5- being one of the oldest portions. It documents a tumultuous and frequently violently history marked by agronomic destruction of a society attempting to rebuild after four centuries of indentured servitude to a foreign power, and a struggle to maintain the monotheistic practices which developed in the wake of their diaspora- the Levitical priesthood which we now know as Judaism.

There's a similarity between this era of Israelite history and that which would have been experienced by Jehanne at the time of her call. Jehanne was born in 1412 a working-class peasant girl from Domrémy in the Lorraine region of France. This location was almost directly on the border between French-held lands and those which had been invaded by the English during the course of the Hundred Years' War, which had already been going on since 1337. She was around thirteen years old when she first heard what she described as "voices," in 1425; it was the year that war is first documented to have begun directly affecting her home region, with raids by English or English-back French mercenaries taking place near Domrémy in 1425 and 1428. In once incident the village's cattle were stolen, and in another the town was set on fire and crops destroyed. It isn't difficult to see a similarity between what Jehanne may have felt about her circumstances and that of Gideon:

Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? (Judges 6:13)

In the midst of this, Jehanne experienced her first vision- in her father's garden, a voice she identified as Saint Michael the Archangel (a high-ranking angel figure known as the protector of the Jewish nation and later of Christians).

By 1428, Jehanne had apparently begun to formulate what she was being asked to do by her voices, whom she had by then identified as Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret- two early Christian martyrs- in addition to Saint Michael. After being accused of breaking an engagement (a case dismissed by the ecclesiastical court at Tours, but which rather darkly foreshadows the way in which her later trial and execution would inherently punish a wayward "woman"), she became convinced that her voices were telling her to leave Domrémy to aid the Dauphin. It was a remarkable undertaking for a sixteen-year-old peasant girl, illiterate, who had never left her home village. By February of 1428, she had convinced a local nobleman to support her and conduct her to the Dauphin's seat at Chinon. It was at this time that she began to wear men's clothing- an outfit which was provided to her by the local townspeople, and rather famously consisted of a pair of breeches which tied to her jerkin, a costume which made her almost- but not entirely- invulnerable to rape. Like Deborah and Jael, she was endangering herself by entering a world that was dominated by men, and her choice of clothing is evidence of this.

And like the judges we have read about, Jehanne was called from her home village in a period of turmoil to perform what she saw as a sacred duty, something which God had commanded her to do. Like Deborah, she was something of a prophet: she knew that she would see the Dauphin crowned king of France:

And she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” (Judges 4:9)

And, like Gideon, she was a working-class farmer called on to lead an army.

He responded, “But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.” (Judges 6:15-16)

I think these similarities are all the more important this week, as we face the destruction of reproductive rights under Roe vs. Wade and the ongoing victimization of victims of domestic violence. Too frequently Biblical womanhood is cited as an excuse to strip people who are not cishet men of their destiny- to relinquish them to a common denominator, a life of submission and servitude. But what Judges shows us is that God’s call does not discriminate between bodies or genders. A person’s place in the world is wherever God calls them to go. We are allowed to ask for God’s reassurance of his call, but we must remember that if God calls us, he trusts us. We must trust him, and trust ourselves as he justifies us. God’s purpose supersedes the binaries and restraints imposed on us by the world.

Too often we equate "warriorhood" with masculinity, dominance, and activeness. Among Christians the epitome of being a warrior is archetypically defined as avenging angels and violent crusaders, many of whom committed gross atrocities and whose actions characterize a far-right movement of alleged "God-fearing" men who believe in their divine right to power on account of their maleness. Gross and extreme conservatism characterizes much of the front-facing presence of Christianity, it is this fundamentalism which we now see strongly affects political process. But God does not pick warriors from the strongest of his believers. David was the youngest son of Jesse. Gideon too. Deborah and Jael were women. God's warriors are those who listen to him: their strength lies in their difference. Consider how you are a warrior- not how you can be one, but how you already are one. Your God-given difference is your destiny: what makes you strong and extraordinary. How does your difference make you a warrior?

Last summer, I took a course on understanding scripture through how it is depicted in art. One week was completely devoted to paintings of Judith and Deborah, and we were assigned to read portions of both Judges and Judith. Funnily enough, we all struggled to tell the difference between depictions of the two women. Unlike Judges, the book of Judith is considered deuterocanonical, and it is not included in the Protestant canon: this could be part of why paintings of Judith and Deborah are frequently confused. But you can always tell the difference between the two in a very simple way. If it’s a woman beheading a man, it’s Judith. If it’s a woman with a hammer, it’s Deborah.

Both depictions of these warrior-prophet-women are marked by the violence of the acts they carry out at God’s call. They are associated heavily with the weapons with which they carry those acts out. It’s a very different image of women than we often associate with Biblical womanhood. Biblical womanhood is frequently associated with attributes like mildness, compliance, domesticity, motherhood, and submission. Biblical and traditional womanhood have become synonymous and conservative. It is heavily binarized, and placed firmly below dominant patriarchal structures.

Yet this view of “Biblical womanhood” doesn’t really hold up to the women we have encountered in the Bible- and it doesn’t hold up with our understanding of Jehanne. A question I want us to ponder this week is what actually constitutes Biblical womanhood? It’s a question that’s going to follow us as we continue this month-long study. Jehanne was condemned to death on account of not being a “real” woman. She was fully equipped to carry out what God asked of her, but she was still condemned for not being the "right" kind of person for her gender presentation.

I would argue that part of her equipment was the fact that she was someone who existed between genders, neither male nor female. But Jehanne was also both male and female. We have words for this now- nonbinary, gender non-conforming, transgender, and many others- but I don't think they help us much when we try and understand the complexity of gender in a time when gender was binary. Yet Jehanne shows evidence that she understood her gender as being other. Her trial transcripts reveal that she attributed no real gender alignment to herself or her presentation: her clothes were chosen for practicality, and that was necessary to fulfill the destiny which she felt had been given her.

How does our gender and our gender presentation function as a tool for our god-given purpose? For many people gender presentation is a tool that helps them to feel more comfortable in their own bodies, to convey to the world who they are. It is a tool that can heal one's relationship to their gender. Our purpose, our fate for which we are given "tools" does not have to be as grand as saving France or the world: it can simply be something intended to save ourselves. Sometimes saving oneself is the greatest mission God gave us- something we are given through his deep love for us.

[soul-dwelling]

Thoughts on the concept of a unlicensed continuation of a story that isn't a "fanfic". I know this sounds like a weird question, but I guess it is possible to write a story without being an author of the original material, without engadging with it in a "fan" way. Like Goethes Faust was an adaption of an old legend and I'm not sure if the german guy had a room full of Faust memorobilia lol

Right, there's Faust, as well as how creators like Homer, Shakespeare, and so on took already well-known or cult favorite legends, stories, and history and turned those into new tales (Odyssey, Hamlet).

Or, Percy Jackson.

I don't have much of an answer, aside from that this prompts a question about when someone is engaging with the original material in a "fan" way. It doesn't just have to be merch. I mean, sure, I do buy, collect, or received as gifts merchandise related to those works (Edgar Allan Poe action figure). But being a "fan" also means I pick up relevant books and research as I need them. Even if I'm not making fan art or writing fan fics, my "fan" way of engaging with the text is sometimes just talking and analyzing it.

My fan engagement tends to be more academic sometimes...which then gets complicated when you have an academic field of studies like "fan studies" that is itself about how fans engage with content, but that's an oroboros I can't cut apart.

I think "fan way" in writing or illustrating depends on whether what you create is more like a continuation (some of Gaiman's stuff, or like I said Percy Jackson), or it has to be a work so old that someone writing or making a new version isn't seen as a fan but as just re-making an old story (remaking Christian bible stories, remaking Greek and Roman legends). And tone is part of it, too. If you keep making in-jokes and Easter eggs, you don't think it's a "serious" work, you think it's for fans.

And then there is "fan way" that is used disparagingly whenever a work tries to expand on representation--which, to emphasize, is just utter bigoted bullshit. Star Trek seems like a likely example, given how Kirk and Spock led to so much development of LGBTQ+ fan content. You'll get people angry about any expanded representation and disparage it as like fan fic...when it's about making sure your fiction reflects your present reality. But now you have Trek itself including LGBTQ+ characters and relationships amongst its main characters, which is great! So, that's a "fan way" that works in creating content!

...But then I try to sit through Star Trek content like like Lower Decks, which comes off as just "bad fanfic" (forced jokes, forced Easter eggs, overly obsessed with making sense of details from earlier iterations that just don't need to be explained). Or, I try to read Ian Flynn's runs on Sonic the Hedgehog, and instead of thinking, "Oh, this is an official continuation and an official adaptation," I keep thinking, "Ugh, why are we over-explaining stuff like this is a fanfic, just focus on story and stop trying to 'fix' the setting." And seeing as Flynn comes out of fan creation work, I don't know how much of my annoyance has to do with how much storytelling has changed after fan fics got more and more popular in the early 2000s to now, where now those storytelling tropes are normalized in larger pop culture and just one common storytelling tool, and how much of it is me just not liking these elements, not because they come from fan fiction but because, even if they didn't come from fan fics, they are still poorly constructed tropes that lead to bad results in storytelling.

[phynali]

Canonization and Fandom Purity Culture

I wrote a 1k-word twitter thread (as proof that I am Not made for Twitter and it’s goddamn 240-character limit) and am pasting it here with edits and updates (it’s now 2k words). 

I have thoughts to share (which I know have been stated more eloquently before by others) about this trend of demanding/obsessing that certain ships become "canon" and how it overlaps with the rise of fandom purity culture.

Under the cut.

Here in 2021 there is a seemingly large and certainly loud and active contingent of online fandoms who desire (or even demand) "canon validation" for a given interpretation of a source material. This is more true with shipping than anywhere else.

First, it is important to note that the trend is not limited to queer ships or to any single fandom. In the past few years I've seen it for Riverdale, Voltron, Supernatural (perhaps most extreme?), The 100, etc., and less recent with the MCU, Sherlock, Teen Wolf, Hawaii 5-0, etc. It is a broad trend across ships, fandoms, and mediums.

So if it is more common for queer ships, it is hardly unique to them. Similarly, pretending that it is about queer representation is a clever misdirect to disguise the fact that it is most often about ships and shipping wars. If you ever need proof of that, consider that a character can be queer without being in a given relationship or reciprocating another character's affections. Thus a call for more/better queer rep itself is very different than a call for specific ships to be made canon.

Also note that when audiences frame it as wanting to recognize a specific *character* as queer, it is almost always in the context of a ship. Litmus test: would making that character queer but having them *explicitly reject* the other half of the ship be seen as a betrayal?

(Note: none or this is to say we shouldn't push for more queer rep and more *quality and well-written* queer rep! Just that that isn't what I'm talking about here, and not what seeking canon validation for a specific interpretation or a specific ship is almost ever about.)

Why does this matter?

the language of representation and social justice should not be co-opted to prop up ship wars

it is reciprocal with a trend toward increasing toxicity in transformative fandom spaces

Number 1 here is self-explanatory (I hope). Let's chat about 2.

Demands for canon validation correlate with a rise in fanpol / fandom purity culture. What is fandom purity culture (and fandom policing)? This toxic mentality is about justifying one's shipping preferences and aiming to be pure (non-problematic) in your fictional appetites regarding romance and sex.

Note that this purity culture is so named as it arises linearly from American Protestantism, conservative puritanical anxiety around thought crimes, and overlaps in many ways with terf ideologies and regressively anti-kink paradigms.

It goes like this: problematic content is "gross" and therefore morally reprehensible. Much like how queer sex/relationships get labelled as "gross" (Other) and thus morally sinful, or how kink gets labelled as "harmful" and thus morally wrong. The Problematic label is applied by fanpol to ships with offset age or power dynamics, complicated histories, and anything they choose to label as "harmful". As such, they would decry my comparison here to queerphobia itself as also being harmful, because their (completely fictional) targets are ~actually~ evil.

(The irony of this is completely lost on them).

This mode of interacting with creative works leaves no room to explore dark or erotic themes or dynamics which may exist in fiction but not healthily in reality. Gothic romance is verboten. Even breathe the word incest and you will be labelled a monster (nevermind Greek tragedy or GoT).

As with most puritanical bullshit, fanpol ideology only applies these beliefs to sex and never to violence/murder/etc, proving what lies at its core. It also demands its American-based values be applied to all fictional periods and places as the One True Moral Standard. It evangelizes – look no further than how these people try to recruit others to their cause, aim to elevate themselves as righteous, and try to persuade (‘save’) others from their degenerate ways of thinking. 

“See the light” they promise “here are our callouts and blog posts to convince you. Decry your past sins of problematic shipping, be baptized by our in-group adulation and welcome, and then go forth and send hate to others until they too see the light.” In many ways “get therapy” by the antis is akin to “I’ll pray for you” by the Christian-right (and ultimately ironic).

(Although it has been pointed out to me that these fans are likely not themselves specifically ex-evangelicals, but rather those who have brushed up with evangelical norms and modes of thinking without specifically being victims of it. In many ways they are more simply conservative Christian in temperament and attitude without necessarily being raised into religion by belief).

What this has to do with canon validation is that these fans look to canon for approval, for Truth. On the one hand, if it is in the canon then it must be good / pure or at least acceptable. The authority (canon) has deemed it thus. It is safe and acceptable to discuss and to enjoy watching or consuming. In this way, validation from canon means a measure of safety from being Bad and Problematic. 

For example, where a GoT fan could discuss Cersei/Jaime's (toxic, interesting) dynamic in depth as it related to the canon, fans who shipped Jon/Sansa (healthy, interesting) were Gross and Bad. The canon as Truth provided a safety net, a launch point. "It's GRRM, not me, who is problematic." It wasn’t okay to ship the problematic bad gross incest ship, but it being in the canon material meant it was open for discussion, for nuance, for “this adds an interesting layer to the story” which is denied to all non-canon ships labelled as problematic.

(Note: there are of course people who have zero interest in watching GoT for a whole slew of very valid reasons, including but not limited to the incest. That’s a different to this trend. A less charged example might be The Umbrella Academy, where a brother canonically is in love with his sister and antis still praise the show, but if you dare to ship any of the potential incest ships then you are the one who is disgusting).

On the other hand, a very interesting alternate (or additional) explanation for this phenomenon was raised to me on twitter. (These ideas aren’t mine originally, but I wholly endorse them as a big part of what is likely going on): Namely, as with authoritarian individuals in general, they see themselves as right and correct, but the canon (which has not yet validated their ship) is not correct, and is in fact problematic, and so they can save the canon from itself.

As mentioned, these fanpol types see their interpretation as Good and Pure. So if they can push (demand, bully) the canon into conforming to their worldview and validating their interpretation, then they have shown the (sinful) creators the light and led them to the righteous path. This only works if the canon allows itself to saved though, otherwise the creators remain Evil for spurning them.

How is this different from fans simply hoping for their ship to be canon?

For a second here, let’s rewind to the 90s (since Whedon has been in the news recently). This “I want it to be canon” thing isn’t 100% new, of course. We saw this trend then for the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but it was different then. At the time, fans who hoped for a ship to be canon might have been cheering for a problematic one to begin with (Buffy/Spike). So shipping was still present, minus vocal fanpol.

(And Buffy fans learned that canon validation...can leave a lot to be desired. A heavy lesson was learned about the ways that fan desires can play out horrifically in canon, and how some things are best left out of the hands of canon-writers).

These days, this is still largely true. Many fans hope for their ships to go canon, as they always have. There are tropes like “will they/won’t they” that TV shows may even be designed around, which a certain narrative anticipation and a very deliberate build up to that.

But while shipping *hopes* occur for many fans, almost all ships fans that *demand* to go canon and obsess over are now the ones deemed as Unproblematic, or as Less Problematic. I’m talking here about the ships that aren’t necessarily an explicit will/won’t they dynamic but do have some canon dynamic that leads them to being shipped, but which the creators aren’t necessarily deliberately teasing and building up a romantic end-game for.

These ships often have fans who are happy to stick to fandom, but there has also been a huge uptick in the portion of fans who are approaching shipping with an explicit lens of “will they go canon?” and “don’t you want them to be canon?” and now even “they have to go canon” and “the canon is wrong if they don’t make this ship canon”, to a final end-point of “if the ship doesn’t go canon, the source material is Wrong and Bad.”

These latter opinions are the one we see more by extreme fans (‘stans’), hardcore shippers, but especially by fanpol-types, the ones who embrace fandom purity culture at least to some extent.

Why them?

In pushing for canon validation, fanpol types seek to elevate their (pure) interpretation of canon. As mentioned above, it’s validation of their authority, a safety-net, and a way to save the canon from itself if only they can bully the canon into validating their right and good interpretation. 

There’s also another reason, which is that canon validation is a tool to bludgeon those seen as problematic. They can use it to denounce other (problematic) ships as Not Being Canon and therefore highlight their own as Right and Good, because it is represented in the True Meaning of the Work.

Canon validation then is a cudgel sought by virtuous crusaders to wield against their unclean enemies. It is an ideological pursuit. It is organised around identity and in groups sometimes as insular as cults.

How does this happen?

Fanpol tend to be younger or more vulnerable fans, susceptible to authoritarian manipulators. As many have highlighted before, authoritarian groups and exclusionary ideologies like terfs are very good at using websites like tumblr to mobilize others around their organizing beliefs. Fanpol tend to feel legitimate discomfort, but instead of taking responsibility for their media engagement, ringleaders stoke and help them direct their discomfort as anger onto others; “I feel ashamed and uncomfortable, and therefore you should be held accountable for my emotions.” Authoritarian communities endorse social dominance orientations, deference to ringleaders, and obedient faith to the principles those ringleaders endorse.

As these fans attach more and more of their identity to a given media (or ship), and derive more and more validation and more of their belongingness needs from this fanpol community, they also become more and more anxious about being excluding from this group. This is because such communities have rigid rules and very conditional bases for social acceptance. Question or "betray" the organizing ideology and be punished or excommunicated. If that is all you have, you are left with nothing. Being labelled problematic then is a social death.

What this means is that these fans cannot accept all interpretations of a media as equally valid: to do so Betrays the ideology. It promises exclusion. And, in line with a perspective around ‘saving’ canon and leading others into the light – forcing and bending the canon to their will is what will make it Good (and therefore acceptable to enjoy, and therefore proof of them as righteous by having saved others). As was also pointed out to me on twitter, endorsement from canon or its creators also satiates that deep need they have for authority figures to approve of them.

Due to all of this, these fans come to obsess over canon validation of their own interpretation. In a way, they have no other option but to do so. They need this validation -- as their weapon, as their authority, as their safety net, as their approval, as their evangelical mission of saviorship.

Canon validation is proof: I am Good. I am Right(eous). I am Safe.

(In many ways, I do ache for some of these people, so wrapped up in toxic communities and mindsets and so afraid to step out of line for fear of swift retribution, policing their own thoughts and art against the encroaching possibility that anything be less than pure. It’s not healthy, it’s never going to be healthy.)

In the end, people are going to write their own stories. You are well within your rights to critique those stories, to hate them, to interpret them how you will, but you can never control their story (it's theirs).

Some final notes:

This trend may be partially to do with queer ships now being *able* to go canon where before so no such expectation would exist. Similarly, social media has made this easier to vocalize. Still, who makes these demands and the underlying reasons are telling. There are also many legitimate critiques of censorship, queerbaiting (nebulous discussions to be had here), and homophobia in media to be had, and which may front specific ships in their critique. But critique is distinct from asking that canon validate one's own interpretation.

[quillquiver]

Alex’s Big Nerdy Destiel Canon Rant

I love talking about canon: what it is, what gets to be part of canon, etc. so I want to add my two cents to all the discourse! To my mind, yeah, literary theory uses the word ‘canon’ to describe the complete text (including subtext), but like... that definition isn’t necessarily useful in a fannish context, and it’s certainly not useful in the Destiel fandom.

Just hear me out: even deciding what is part of SPN canon text-wise is a mine-field. Are we counting what Jensen and Misha have said at cons? Are we counting tweets? What about the series of SPN tie-in books that exist? If all these things are paratext, and we’re really only looking at what has been said on the show that’s cool, but I suspect that many people have differing opinions on what SPN canon even consists of! And this makes a lot of sense: the show has been around for 15 years, and the fandom is composed of a whole bunch of people whose ideas about canon, even coming into the fandom, are probably pretty different. Plus, we’re an online fandom, so things are de-centralized and it’s wayyyy harder to even agree on or establish a definition of what the actual, canonical source text even consists of. 

Setting that aside, language has also always evolved to suit the needs of the community using it. Queer culture, for example, re-appropriates, reclaims and creates new terms all the time (that then may get picked up in mainstream media, where the meaning may change yet again!). Because fandoms can sometimes drastically differ in terms of language usage, I can’t speak to other fandoms besides the ones I’m in. But! By my reckoning, Destiel fandom took the word canon, (which in a perfect world refers to a single, total, indisputable source text, subtext included), and changed its meaning. In the linguistics world, this is called a semantic change! We’ve largely removed ‘subtext’ from one of the things we consider canon, because that doesn’t suit our purposes - due to the really fraught history between SPN creators and DeanCas fans, canon for us has come to mean something different. But more on that later.

At this point, I know a lot of people are gonna argue with me. BUT THAT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THERE’S AN AGENDA! LANGUAGE IS OBJECTIVE! IT’S A TOOL! To which I say: language has never ever been objective, because people aren’t objective. If you think that language does not exist to serve a purpose, consider the assimilation of Indigenous peoples through the use of English. Or the fact that the Ancient Greeks used to describe colour differently than we do, because that served them better. Language always exists so we can better communicate and understand each other, and policing it has always been a form of subjugation, whether that be through the policing of what language or dialect you are/are not allowed to speak, or how to speak it. One of my profs loved to remind us that grammar is classist - as long as we can understand each other, how something is spelled really shouldn’t matter. 

But back to SPN. We as a general fandom have a really unique relationship to our content producers. We always have. It’s the reason we’re the go-to case study when fan studies scholars want to look at the fan/producer relationship in western media fandom. Destiel fandom? An even more fraught relationship, because for a very long time, the producers did not consider Destiel as part of the canon of their own show. If they had, we wouldn’t be having this conversation! But the first time SPNs narrative even deigned entertain the idea of Destiel as existing seriously and explicitly in the narrative, it was during their 200th episode, and it was a “you have your interpretation, we have ours”, which super invalidates the mocking hell they put us through beforehand. The fact that DeanCas fans have been condescended to and queerbaited for so long means that, largely, we’ve decided that DeanCas canon cannot and does not include subtext... even though, yes, the existence of Destiel romantic subtext technically means the ship is, was and has always been canon (i.e. part of the complete episodic source text). After being told you’re delusional, you’re wrong, you’re crazy for so many years, the idea of a canon DeanCas became entwined with the idea of explicit, incontrovertible romantic text in the show, because it’s not only about Dean and Cas... it’s about the recognition that our reading is also correct. That we were right all along.

People will argue with me here, but don’t misunderstand me: I’m not saying that fandom needs approval or validation from the creators - we really, really don’t. Whatever we see in any show is canon just by virtue of it being there, and so is a valid reading, and that is definitely enough. But SPN is nothing if not the exception to almost every rule, because context: 12 years of being told you’re insane by the people in the diver’s seat, and 15 years of having this on-and-off fraught relationship with creators in a way that had previously never happened. SPN fans are close to the writers and producers and actors in a way that very few other shows are, and we have been for a long-ass time. The writer’s room is an authority, for sure, but they’re also like a group of fans we're constantly at odds with, and that means we treat them like we would other fans. We discuss, we ask questions, we argue. And yeah, the mentality of fighting over ownership of the narrative is one that is very early 2000s, but considering that’s when the show started, it’s not a surprise that it never really left us. In other words: because of our closeness to TPTB and our history with them, there’s a desire for recognition and validation (vindication?) that is unique, but nonetheless there and important.

Back to canon. In the literary world, canon is used to describe a complete text (which again, people have a hard time agreeing on what that even consists of), but it’s also used to describe a complete body of literature. For example, you often hear literary scholars talking about “British literary canon”. Here, canon is used as a way of organizing the most important, worthwhile works of a community, and so is also used as a tool of exclusion and subjugation. Canon excludes people, like BIPOC and women writers, to serve the most powerful culture’s interests - it has a very specific purpose. In this same way, I’ve seen people using their own definitions of canon to invalidate the feelings, experiences and definitions of other fans. For example, there have been a couple posts floating around saying that we absolutely and in no uncertain terms need to use the canonical definition of literary theory (one single, subtext-included source text to rule them all) and I have an issue with that because first of all, not everyone knows literary theory, and second of all... why? Canon is and always has been a polysemic term - it has multiple meanings. The OG example of this is religious canon: it eventually stabilized, but like, I’m Greek Orthodox, and my bible does not look the same as that of a Catholic Christian. But to hear both sides talk, they each have the real canon. So canon can mean something different depending on who you’re talking to, even when you’re talking about the same thing. The important thing is that whatever a community decides is canon, that’s it. That’s what canon becomes. 

But what if your community doesn’t have one single definition, because canon means something slightly different to everyone? Well, that’s also fine! Because again, language is only there to allow us to understand each other. If we’ve all been talking about canon and largely understanding one another for the past 12 years, that means we actually never had to have these kinds of conversations, because we largely agreed that subtext was not canon, and destiel never really left the subtext. But we just had Castiel confess his love to Dean (still reeling from that), and so the minutiae of what constitutes canon (a kiss, a hand-hold, a love confession) is suddenly pertinent and important - because we’re all on the same side, but we all have slightly different ideas regarding the details, and who the heck knows what we’re gonna get in the finale, if we even get anything. So we’re all talking and yelling at each other, all trying to say my very specific definition is the right one because xyz when in reality... all of us are right. 

Believe it or not, this discourse about what the minutiae of canon is, is actually how we come to a more specific definition. That takes years, and will be infinitely more difficult in a community that is so de-centralized and whose members are always changing, but it’ll eventually happen. Maybe. For now, though: your definition? That’s the right one for you. 

Do not let anyone shame you for thinking Destiel was already canon, or not thinking it is by the end, or insisting their definition is the best, right and only one. Canon is a polysemic term, and that means your reading is in there. But that also means everyone else’s is, too.