Cait West

the people in our streets resisting authoritarianism, braver than our representatives in Congress

Bulldozing the People’s House is so overtly symbolic it wouldn’t make it through development edits for the satire no one would want to write.

How Voddie Baucham’s Teachings Cause Long-Term Damage: Collected Interviews Girls and women trying to leave fundamentalism have many unique challenges and need support to integrate into society.

"The teachings of Baucham and other promoters of Christian Patriarchy were extremely harmful in my life. Because of these teachings, I was a stay-at-home daughter until I was twenty-five years old."

~ @caitwest.bsky.social

YouTube video by The Christian Century Why are evangelicals obsessed with Amish country?

Our @jonmathieu.bsky.social chats with fellow ex-vangelical
@caitwest.bsky.social about high-control religion, Amish country, and more.

youtu.be/s3BnFD8bKb4?...

YouTube video by The Christian Century Why are evangelicals obsessed with Amish country?

Don’t miss @jonmathieu.bsky.social’s chat with @caitwest.bsky.social about evangelicalism, Amish country, and high-control religion.

youtu.be/s3BnFD8bKb4

Evangelical fantasies in Amish country I grew up in the Quiverfull movement. In the tourism industry of Shipshewana, Indiana, I see a lot that looks...

“Many evangelicals don’t see a problem with the patriarchal culture of the Old Order Amish—in fact, patriarchy is precisely what draws them to fetishize these communities.”

– @caitwest.bsky.social

www.christiancentury.org/features/eva...

Already tired of debates around how “liberal” the new pope is. Like, women can’t participate in choosing the pope or lead congregations. NONE of these men are progressive, and the Catholic church is one of the largest patriarchal systems in the world.

Wearing green for #dayofthehomeschooledchild 💚

For more info, go to responsiblehomeschooling.org/day-of-the-h...

Evangelical fantasies in Amish country I grew up in the Quiverfull movement. In the tourism industry of Shipshewana, Indiana, I see a lot that looks...

What do the Quiverfull movement, Christian nationalism, and Plain communities have in common? Apparently, musical theater.

www.christiancentury.org/features/eva...

Evangelical fantasies in Amish country I grew up in the Quiverfull movement. In the tourism industry of Shipshewana, Indiana, I see a lot that looks...

“When I saw an advertisement for an upcoming play at the Blue Gate Theatre that pictured an Amish man standing on the front lawn of the White House, I knew I had to return and investigate.”

– @caitwest.bsky.social

www.christiancentury.org/features/eva...

One of my favorite subgenres to read is something I like to call “unhinged women.” Because they’re aspirational for me. For example, Piglet, Big Swiss, My Year of Rest and Relaxation… any I should add to my list?

The Christian Nationalist Plot to Disenfranchise Women Voters The SAVE Act, which purports to fend off the phantasmal threat of voter fraud, would throw millions of women off the voting rolls.

Congress is set to review the SAVE Act this week—to understand the patriarchal implications please read this piece by @sarahstankorb.bsky.social :

newrepublic.com/article/1914...

Be yourself today in whatever ways you are able. Breathe in and out because you are part of our universe. Experience each wave of emotion as a necessary reminder of being alive and being human. We need you here 💜

As Abby Wambach said, “they are scared of you because you are free and freedom is contagious.”

Abusers want control, but the truth is they can never take your soul from you.

We’ve got dictators and predators in power, we’ve got a crisis of human rights and growing authoritarianism and fascism, we’ve got bad news all the time, but the oppressors can’t take who we are from us. We are storytellers, joy makers, survivors, helpers, humanitarians, hopers, grievers, resisters.

✨ 2025 energy ✨

This little witchy nature girl is back and has no more fucks to give…

The imperialists are imperialing day after day after day after…

Democracy,
“Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
(Dylan Thomas)

Spiritual abusers use the bible, god, spirituality, scriptures, religion etc. to oppress you and steal your agency, and then when you back away because you’re bleeding out, they tell you it’s your fault because you didn’t have enough faith. Spiritual abuse is cruel like that.

Thank you so much for reading the book!

When I was in the church, I was told that prodigals ran away from “the faith” or “god” because they wanted to sin or because they were lost. But people don’t usually run away from things that are good, healing, safe, and loving.

“If they wanted to, they would” but for churches and their capacity to handle abuse

“I believe in gender equality but only men are qualified for leadership” is 1000% still patriarchy.

It’s not enough to call out individual abusers in your church—you also need to examine whether your theology is abusive. If your organization is barring certain people from leadership or membership because of their gender/sexual identity, I’d argue the system is inherently discriminatory & abusive.

We've Been Here Before The past haunts us, but also guides us

“What would you say to all the women who have crawled their way out from under Christian patriarchy, only to watch Christian patriarchy gain control of local and federal government?”

caitwest.substack.com/p/weve-been-...

Hear me out: Love Is Blind, but there’s a one-way window so the women can see the men to watch out for narc eyes.

www.gvsu.edu/interfaith/c...

West Michigan! Please join us tomorrow at these free events to talk about purity culture and religious trauma. With everything going on, this is more important than ever.

@dawnburns.bsky.social @saramoslener.bsky.social @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social

Please RSVP at the link below:

Happy White Lotus day to all who celebrate 🪷

Point me to the nearest void so I can scream into it