"The Reclaimed Divine: A Spiritual Memoir of Revolution and Wholeness" is my groundbreaking and provocative exploration that challenges centuries of Western theological constructs to reveal a more inclusive, balanced, and liberating understanding of the Divine. At its core, this manifesto argues that the prevalent image of God as exclusively male, patriarchal, and often punitive is a partial and deliberately distorted truth, weaponized throughout history for control, profit, and the subjugation of vast populations. It is crucial for me to state that this critique focuses on the interpretations and actions of men within Christian institutions throughout history, rather than an inherent flaw in the core tenets of Christianity itself.
As a former preacher, teacher, and theologian, I bring a unique perspective to this discourse, having personally navigated the spiritual detox from the rhetoric of old-school dogma and the modern prosperity gospel. I understand the deep-seated identity crisis many face because I lived it-from earnestly leading others in the "sinner's prayer" and through countless "rededications," believing I was truly serving God. My work here isn't born from mere dissent, but from stark observation-a realization profoundly triggered by the brazen appropriation of Jesus's name by white supremacists to rationalize slavery, exclusion, and division. This manipulation, intensified and magnified by recent administrations, underscores how religion has been weaponized as a tool for control, distorting its fundamental message of love and service.