Beyond Parochial Faith: A Catholic Confesses

Beyond Parochial Faith: A Catholic Confesses weaves the authors personal story of woundedness and healing with her spiritual evolution. While working through and growing from personal relationships Clancy wrestles with large questions of lifes meaning. Her spiritual transformation allows no denial of Gods existence but her rational mind cannot accept the Christian Father/Son myth. She moves from parochial faith to faith informed by science world religions and the arguments of atheists. Clancy denounces what she calls sexist God-talk and espouses secular spirituality while also honoring Jesus and religious myths for being avenues to transcendence. Beyond Parochial Faith shows a deeply spiritual life independent of religions dictates. Nones the Goddess sexual assault the #MeToo movement and a gay priest play roles in this story. The authors questioning epitomizes Western spiritual evolution in the twenty-first century. Beyond Parochial Faith invites readers into deep reflections on their spiritual lives. The author takes readers on a fascinating tour through her family and the religious culture of Stearns County Minnesota. This book is splendidly written. Its intimate feel pulls readers beyond constricting ideas to adventurous new visions about God church women doctrine and other religions. With intimate sharing and courage Clancy sheds light into the darkness of parochial faith blazing a trail for others. --Vincent M. Smiles Professor of Theology College of St. Benedict & St. Johns University The author brings us into the strange world of her puritanical childhood. We can identify with the self-doubt that torments her yet leads her toward personal rebirth and meaning. Ms. Clancy is self-reflective without being self-involved. Readers of her provocative blog will here discover how her need to escape the past sparked her independent thinking. All readers will meet a woman who is an insightful modest and gifted writer. --Lance Becker Northwell Health Clancy emphatically stays true to her god is not three guys mantra as she rattles patriarchal cages in this well researched and intimate biography. It shows the devastation to lives steeped in unhealthy Christian self-denial. Beyond Parochial Faith might set free people who are shackled by religious conditioning willing to accept abuse and sacrifice quietly--like good little children as God pats our heads. --Karen Tate author radio show host social justice advocate Jeanette Blonigen Clancy is an educator and writer in Minnesota. She taught languages and communication to adolescents and adults in a variety of settings most recently teaching English to adult immigrants and supervising student teachers. Brought up in a blanketing Catholic climate she obtained a masters degree in systematic theology from a Catholic university and attends Mass with Benedictines but claims a secular spirituality free of religious dictates. She blogs at www.godisnot3guys.com.