"If child liberation theology is only intellectual to its advocates and adherents, then it is an idol and a false gospel."

"Jesus used very specific imagery and emphases when talking about children — imagery and emphases that directly contradict those employed by evangelical child training experts."

“[Former] Trump Faith Adviser Finally Admits He Molested 12-Year-Old” 10/2/25 (“In 2016, the Trump campaign included him on its evangelical executive advisory board. After Trump won…, Morris served on the president’s faith advisory council. And in June 2020, Morris hosted Trump at his church…) 1/

According to the late Catholic theologian Joseph A. Grassi’s book "Children’s Liberation," the Kingdom of God belonging to children is no mere metaphor. Children are literally "the first actual owners of the kingdom," imbued with "power and authority."

"If we can experience the possibility of peace—nonviolent conflict resolution—at the family level, then our faith in the possibility of peace and our willingness to work for it at the other levels grows." ~Kathleen and James McGinnis, "Parenting for Peace and Justice"

Hauling children naked from their homes isn't what good, moral people do. "Several South Shore residents reported witnessing federal immigration agents forcibly removing unclothed children from apartments during the pre-dawn raid in Chicago."

Children are humans, they don‘t belong to nor own something to anyone. They need guidence, care and help.

If child liberation theology is only intellectual to its advocates and adherents, then it is an idol and a false gospel.

This article claims non-violent parenting "has become the defining philosophy of millennial parents." This is false. 74% of millennials believe a “good, hard spanking is sometimes necessary to discipline a child": www.local3news.com/study-shows-....

Frankly, I don't care if parenting without violence is more difficult than parenting "gently" or "peacefully." We don't treat children like human beings with human rights because it is easy. We do it because violence against children is evil.

Children, right now, are being abused and killed because of the choices adults are making. If the child liberation theology I am promoting does not help address this problem, it’s not worth my energy or time.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to @rickpidcock.bsky.social about the abusive legacies of John MacArthur, James Dobson, and Voddie Baucham—and how child liberation theology contrasts with evangelical parenting teachings.

I spoke to @rickpidcock.bsky.social on the Highest Power podcast about evangelical parenting teachers and how their beliefs and practices harm children. Check out the episode below!

For tonight's episode of "Highest Power: Church + State," I interview child liberation theologian R.L. Stollar about how the theology of John MacArthur, James Dobson, and Voddie Baucham harmed kids and what Christian parenting alternatives are available. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

Child Liberation Theology's @rlstollar.bsky.social spoke to @rickpidcock.bsky.social on the Highest Power podcast about evangelical parenting teachers and how their beliefs and practices harm children. Give the episode a listen!

"Child liberation theology is not about abstract ideas but rather the simple yet radical act of treating children humanly and justly."

It is foolish to argue or act like fathers, parents, or the nuclear family are silver bullets we can use against child abuse, domestic violence, and other familial threats. Rather than silver bullets against abuse, they are most often the perpetrators.

"A culture that upholds and centers children’s emotions will be more just for all people."

They also both declare children have the right to agency and government. These two declarations disrupt the whole chain of command promoted by the parental rights movement and thus cannot be tolerated by it.

Until children become adults, adults play the role of God in children’s lives, disciplining and shaping them. Both child liberation theology and the Gospel of Jesus challenge this worldview. They both declare children have their own relationships with God that are unmediated by adults.

Adults are supposed to use their authority and power to bend or break children’s wills to match their own wills. This is just part of the God-ordained social order: children obey adults, adults obey God.

The parental rights movement fundamentally disagrees with the wisdom of giving children the keys to any kingdom. The parental rights movement, at its most basic level, believes authority and power should never rest with children. Authority and power are for adults.

The parental rights movement is antithetical to both child liberation theology and the Gospel of Jesus for the exact same reason: it does not take Jesus seriously when he says his kingdom belongs to children.

I really enjoyed my time talking to @floparisoakes.bsky.social and Danny Bryant on the Blessed Uncertainty podcast. We discussed child liberation theology, homeschooling, child protection, scaffolding, AWANA, and more!

Such a bleak, antichrist view of children: "If permitted to continue in their self-centered world of infancy, given free reign to their impulsive actions to satisfy every want, every child would grow up a criminal, a thief, a killer, a rapist."

Many of the most popular teachers in the evangelical parenting empire are advocates of, and “experts” in, something they call “child training.” But what is child training? Is it just parenting or is it something more?

Without adequate child training, evangelical parenting teachers declare, children’s sinful, evil wills will triumph, leading children to lives of crime and violence and ultimately an eternity in hell.

Super cool to see child liberation theology and "The Kingdom of Children" mentioned at length in this PhD dissertation by Peter Sidebotham on "child-attentive theologies"! Read it here: research.manchester.ac.uk/en/studentTh....

Frank E. Peretti's repeated theme of false abuse allegations from women and children levied against holy, anointed, and male servants of God is worth examining. It reflects evangelical Christianity’s distrust of abuse survivors and those who help them.

"Within family relationships... members must learn to regard or respect each other as full selves and persons—as ends in themselves, beloved children of God." ~ @ehmcgowin.bsky.social, "Households of Faith"

"Families, with their fierce kinship ties and generational accumulation of wealth and power, are often formidable instruments for maintaining this world in its pervasive injustice and brutality." ~ @ehmcgowin.bsky.social, "Households of Faith"

"Jesus never puts forward an ideal to which he expects families to conform. On the contrary, his example and teaching are destabilizing to those who want to shore up a family form, including prescribed gender-based roles." ~ @ehmcgowin.bsky.social, "Households of Faith"

"The hard truth is this: there is no biblical blueprint for families. As much as we want one, as much as it might be easier if we had one, it's just not there." @ehmcgowin.bsky.social, "Households of Faith"

"What if respecting children’s dignity isn’t radical at all, but the most basic thing?" Check out my podcast episode with Flo Paris Oakes and Danny Bryant of Blessed Uncertainty, where we discuss the Golden Rule, child liberation theology, and more!

@rlstollar.bsky.social was a recent guest on the Blessed Uncertainty podcast to discuss child liberation theology! Listen here: www.blesseduncertainty.com/podcast/2-ch....

I was honored to be a guest on the Blessed Uncertainty podcast to discuss child liberation theology! Listen here: www.blesseduncertainty.com/podcast/2-ch....

In the Dobsonian-Trumpian worldview, a sexualized saying like “Daddy’s home” can serve simultaneously as the essence of the gospel promise, the essence of biblical parenting, and the essence of good government.

"Violence begins in families. What parents model for their children regarding the use, misuse, and abuse of power has widespread ramifications far beyond the family."

This looks fantastic! Bunge and Berryman are both significant influences on my development of child liberation theology.

"The role of 'protector' can be rooted in adultist assumptions where caregivers and parents are subjects with the power to act while children are objects to be acted upon — helpless, weak, and without agency."

Short of saving the life of a child, Texas schools and other schools in states that have passed sweeping "parental rights" laws must now withhold care unless they have prior parental consent. open.substack.com/pub/bruceles...

"This idea that parents’ control should be absolute runs directly against a long line of court decisions that affirm children are not just extensions of their parents. Children are rights-bearing individuals in their own right." ~ @brucelesley.bsky.social

"Rational or impressive as our adult theologies may be, if they are hurting children, Jesus cares little for them. He would rather such theologies sink to the bottom of the ocean."

"It’s not unusual for ‘hard-core’ child molesters — with more sexual-offense convictions, more victims and younger victims — to be well-respected members of Christian congregations, and to be actively involved as church leaders."

"The average child sexual predator’s profile is: married, male, white, heterosexual, religious, surrounded by friends and family, and a parent. If you put that all together, you get the average, church-going husband or father."

If you care about protecting children from abuse, it is necessary that you understand who the actual child sexual predators are.

“It’s not just about the way we raise children, but also advocating for issues that matter to children, whether those are issues like food insecurity, access to medical care and poverty."

"It’s important to create space for children not just to know that disobedience can be good and holy, but also to give them opportunities to practice this."

How did Catelin Drey (D-IA) resoundingly overturn that Iowa State Senate seat by double digits? Drey (Moms for Iowa) made children’s issues, including public education, health care, and children’s care, a centerpiece of her campaign. Children’s issues > culture wars #VoteKids (1)

"Republicans dominated the 2024 narrative with fearmongering about trans kids and 'parental rights,' while many Democrats offered little affirmative vision for families. This silence is political malpractice." ~ @brucelesley.bsky.social