Sarah McC Stephens
@anarchonurzox.com
Christian. Interests: data (also my job), ancient Greek, & now tiny house renovation! also: cooking, reading, crochet, chill video games, 3rd wave coffee. ND. Married to Jimmy.
The means are meaningful.
ignalis: zox.20
The means are meaningful.
ignalis: zox.20
kids are very weird
just had that conversation with a friend today - we live in different worlds even though we are all under the same roof
just had that conversation with a friend today - we live in different worlds even though we are all under the same roof
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 AM
kids are very weird
just had that conversation with a friend today - we live in different worlds even though we are all under the same roof
just had that conversation with a friend today - we live in different worlds even though we are all under the same roof
PS b/c someone will think I hate waffles.
I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to play "evil" characters or explore transgressive ideas. In fact, I think it can help us understand and build empathy for those who put the world together in very different ways. But we should be careful.
I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to play "evil" characters or explore transgressive ideas. In fact, I think it can help us understand and build empathy for those who put the world together in very different ways. But we should be careful.
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
PS b/c someone will think I hate waffles.
I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to play "evil" characters or explore transgressive ideas. In fact, I think it can help us understand and build empathy for those who put the world together in very different ways. But we should be careful.
I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to play "evil" characters or explore transgressive ideas. In fact, I think it can help us understand and build empathy for those who put the world together in very different ways. But we should be careful.
But I think that as players we should be very thoughtful about the kinds of stories we want our characters' lives to tell.
As DMs (and players) we should be aware of the power of embodied storytelling / roleplay, how it can affect us, and do our best to maintain a healthy/supportive environment.
8/8
As DMs (and players) we should be aware of the power of embodied storytelling / roleplay, how it can affect us, and do our best to maintain a healthy/supportive environment.
8/8
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
But I think that as players we should be very thoughtful about the kinds of stories we want our characters' lives to tell.
As DMs (and players) we should be aware of the power of embodied storytelling / roleplay, how it can affect us, and do our best to maintain a healthy/supportive environment.
8/8
As DMs (and players) we should be aware of the power of embodied storytelling / roleplay, how it can affect us, and do our best to maintain a healthy/supportive environment.
8/8
Back in college one of my fellow-players left Christianity after realizing his cleric's devotion to Lathander was more solid than his own. I've seen multiple similar if less drastic scenarios play out.
I don't know if there's really a point to this thread.
7/
I don't know if there's really a point to this thread.
7/
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Back in college one of my fellow-players left Christianity after realizing his cleric's devotion to Lathander was more solid than his own. I've seen multiple similar if less drastic scenarios play out.
I don't know if there's really a point to this thread.
7/
I don't know if there's really a point to this thread.
7/
If we roleplay the deconstruction through a character in some sort of fantasy world, we have a plausible deniability while still embodying the narrative.
> Altho I believe X, this character believes Y. How do I faithfully put together what that means for his whole life?
6/
> Altho I believe X, this character believes Y. How do I faithfully put together what that means for his whole life?
6/
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
If we roleplay the deconstruction through a character in some sort of fantasy world, we have a plausible deniability while still embodying the narrative.
> Altho I believe X, this character believes Y. How do I faithfully put together what that means for his whole life?
6/
> Altho I believe X, this character believes Y. How do I faithfully put together what that means for his whole life?
6/
Doctrinal/theological positions are often part of our core identities. They help us make sense of the world, and to question even a single facet can make us feel like we're pulling a thread that will unravel the whole tapestry. Once the deconstruction starts, who knows where it will end?
5/
5/
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Doctrinal/theological positions are often part of our core identities. They help us make sense of the world, and to question even a single facet can make us feel like we're pulling a thread that will unravel the whole tapestry. Once the deconstruction starts, who knows where it will end?
5/
5/
It's even (maybe even especially) possible to explore ideas that are considered transgressive within the current life-narrative. I suspect this is part of why a lot of modern coming out and egg-crack stories involve ttrpgs.
But it's not just sexuality.
4/
But it's not just sexuality.
4/
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
It's even (maybe even especially) possible to explore ideas that are considered transgressive within the current life-narrative. I suspect this is part of why a lot of modern coming out and egg-crack stories involve ttrpgs.
But it's not just sexuality.
4/
But it's not just sexuality.
4/
What would happen if I were X? What would it look like to act in way Y? If my life were ordered according to Z, what then?
3/
3/
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
What would happen if I were X? What would it look like to act in way Y? If my life were ordered according to Z, what then?
3/
3/
To ask, "What if I were different?" is to ask, "What if I [my parents, society, etc.] am/are wrong?" But "playing a character" removes that pressure and gives us the freedom to evaluate alternatives without unmooring our own identities in the process.
2/
2/
November 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
To ask, "What if I were different?" is to ask, "What if I [my parents, society, etc.] am/are wrong?" But "playing a character" removes that pressure and gives us the freedom to evaluate alternatives without unmooring our own identities in the process.
2/
2/
Why even play ttrpgs if not to ask and explore big theological questions?
*is currently playing a greatly-wronged cleric trying to make sense of an ancient theological scroll that says something about "loving your enemies"
*is currently playing a greatly-wronged cleric trying to make sense of an ancient theological scroll that says something about "loving your enemies"
November 17, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Why even play ttrpgs if not to ask and explore big theological questions?
*is currently playing a greatly-wronged cleric trying to make sense of an ancient theological scroll that says something about "loving your enemies"
*is currently playing a greatly-wronged cleric trying to make sense of an ancient theological scroll that says something about "loving your enemies"
That is *exactly* what I'm hoping! I'm so excited for them to grow and take over my entire house.
November 17, 2025 at 2:22 AM
That is *exactly* what I'm hoping! I'm so excited for them to grow and take over my entire house.
Also I very much hope you are re-mobilized soon. :(
November 16, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Also I very much hope you are re-mobilized soon. :(
Have you tried either:
- formatting the entries as a table, and simply making the sort keys/table outline invisible?
- embedding a sorted series from an Excel cell range (w/ similar invisibility)?
It's been a while since I've had to deal with the horror of Word but I used to have a few tricks.
- formatting the entries as a table, and simply making the sort keys/table outline invisible?
- embedding a sorted series from an Excel cell range (w/ similar invisibility)?
It's been a while since I've had to deal with the horror of Word but I used to have a few tricks.
November 16, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Have you tried either:
- formatting the entries as a table, and simply making the sort keys/table outline invisible?
- embedding a sorted series from an Excel cell range (w/ similar invisibility)?
It's been a while since I've had to deal with the horror of Word but I used to have a few tricks.
- formatting the entries as a table, and simply making the sort keys/table outline invisible?
- embedding a sorted series from an Excel cell range (w/ similar invisibility)?
It's been a while since I've had to deal with the horror of Word but I used to have a few tricks.
Went for a coffee date with Jimmy after church, and my barista friends gave me ~20 spider plant cuttings. Lush green friends to keep me company in the cold winter!
November 16, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Went for a coffee date with Jimmy after church, and my barista friends gave me ~20 spider plant cuttings. Lush green friends to keep me company in the cold winter!
Starting to think the hardline 2CV folks might have been right all along. 😬
November 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Starting to think the hardline 2CV folks might have been right all along. 😬
My friends care deeply about what the bible says; they were often drawn to the reformed tradition precisely because of how seriously it takes scripture. But I don’t know where to start sometimes because our stories of what the bible says are so far apart.
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
My friends care deeply about what the bible says; they were often drawn to the reformed tradition precisely because of how seriously it takes scripture. But I don’t know where to start sometimes because our stories of what the bible says are so far apart.
To be clear I totally agree with your assessment! I agree that we need to present exegetically grounded, expansive, and compelling alternatives to the CN zeitgeist. CN appeals to a lot of people who should know better, but are learn their theology by cultural osmosis.
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
To be clear I totally agree with your assessment! I agree that we need to present exegetically grounded, expansive, and compelling alternatives to the CN zeitgeist. CN appeals to a lot of people who should know better, but are learn their theology by cultural osmosis.
And then you end up either challenging covenant theology entirely, or splitting hairs over the details of administration, and neither of those are easy to do cohesively (not least bc of existing diversity in the reformed camp).
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
And then you end up either challenging covenant theology entirely, or splitting hairs over the details of administration, and neither of those are easy to do cohesively (not least bc of existing diversity in the reformed camp).
Once you’re committed to the idea that Israel and the church are notionally identical for the purpose of inheriting the land and seed covenants and their administration, I think it’s difficult to escape the conclusion that the church inherits geopolitical responsibilities and obligations.
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Once you’re committed to the idea that Israel and the church are notionally identical for the purpose of inheriting the land and seed covenants and their administration, I think it’s difficult to escape the conclusion that the church inherits geopolitical responsibilities and obligations.
Exegesis (and praxis). The challenge is that so much of the ideology is based on particular ways of reading the Bible, assumptions about what Jesus came to be and do, and what the church is and should be be doing until he returns.
November 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Exegesis (and praxis). The challenge is that so much of the ideology is based on particular ways of reading the Bible, assumptions about what Jesus came to be and do, and what the church is and should be be doing until he returns.