Policing Resistance

How Purity Culture Shows up in Progressive Spaces

For my paid piece this month, I want to elaborate on two items I put on my 2025 “in/out list.” These are two things I would like to see less and more of within the progressive movement. These shifts are essential, not only so we can be successful in combatting the dangerous rise of reactionary Christian nationalism, but to create a more vibrant and welcoming community of progressive Christians and non-Christians, working together for justice, without eating each other alive or being totally insufferable.

In:

Caring about justice issues without losing your joy or sense of humor

Out:

Checking what influencers are saying about a topic before you feel like you’re allowed to have an opinion

Brit Baron captures this perfectly in her book "Do You Still Talk to Grandma?" when discussing what she calls "internet brain." Do you know what she means? I bet you do. I bet you’ve felt it, that you feel it just about every time you open your social media feed.