Heretic: A Memoir Book Review

The path from childhood to adulthood is a rocky one. Along the way, we make decisions that can affect the rest of our lives. One of these choices is how to live our lives. If our adult selves are different than the rest of our family/community, do we have to courage to go our own way? Or do we put on a mask to feel included and loved?

Heretic: A Memoir, by Jeanna Kadlec, was published last fall. Raised in an Evangelical Christian family, Kadlec grew up in a world in which the rules were unbreakable. Everything revolved around their faith. Because she was a girl, Kadlec was expected to be quiet, and obedient, and act as a female was supposed to act.

But Jeanna Kadlec was not one to follow the rules. Her memoir is not just her story of finding herself. It is the revelation how of Evangelicalism has seeped into every aspect of American culture, regardless of whether it is wanted or needed. She also talks about how women are perceived and treated, and how those who are queer are seen.

This book is amazing. Kadlec’s journey is raw, emotional, troubling, and hopeful at the same time. The only way to solve a problem is to first identify it. In sharing her tale, she puts a name and a face on an issue that many refuse to see.

There is nothing wrong with religion, there are many benefits to believing in a higher being and coming together to pray to that deity. The difficulty comes when one group decides/believes that they have the right to tell the rest of us what to think.

I admire the author. She chose to be true to herself instead of staying in her marriage and pretending to be heterosexual. Though it was the road less traveled, it was the one that felt right to her. If only we could all have the courage to do the same.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Heretic: A Memoir is available wherever books are sold.

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The Storming of the Brazilian Capital Last Weekend is a Very Bad Sign

January 6th, 2021, was not just a hallmark of American history that no one in this lifetime will forget. It was a sign that democracy overall is not as solid as we once thought it was.

One week ago today, the Brazilian capital was assaulted in what essentially is a mirror image of 1/6. Like their American counterparts, the “protestors” believed that former President Jair Bolsonaro was denied another term based on the lie that he lost the election.

The major difference between both events was the speed at which the accused were found and arrested by the authorities. By last Tuesday, over 1000 people had been located. About half of them have been detained in prison. Compare that to the US where it took months for the police and FBI to do the same.

I heard somewhere last week that one of America’s greatest exports used to be democracy and freedom. These days, it has become autocracy, and the idea that if you are not chosen by the people to lead the government, you can cry foul.

What I find particularly disturbing is that several people in you know who’s circle have gleefully and openly admitted to stoking the fire. Among them is former Presidential advisor Steve Bannon.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I continue to hope and pray that political leaders across the world will one day return to respecting the rule of law and the voice of voters. But for now, it seems like we are on the path to despots once more taking the leading roles in the running of the nations.