Jon Stojan
Judgemental views are preconceived opinions that often hinder an individual’s freedom to practice their faith according to their will. It gets even more complicated when these perspectives conflict with an individual’s identity, creating religious discrimination.
The freedom to practice one’s religion is the right of every individual; however, minorities, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals, face prejudice in this regard.
The prejudice against LGBTQ individuals is widespread in conservative branches of Christianity. A significant 73% report feeling unwelcome in churches, causing nearly one-third of religiously affiliated LGBTQ+ adults to grapple with a clash between their identity and religious notions.
Keeping these complications in mind and her personal experiences, Crystal Cheatham, a black lesbian Christian, aspires to promote a progressive mindset. Her modern solution, Our Bible App, aims to challenge judgmental frameworks and create a welcoming environment where individuals of all backgrounds can feel accepted.
This app is about being inclusive, making it easy for people to explore their spiritual journey without stressing about being judged. It’s just like Crystal, who defied oppressive theology, and believes this app can transform lives. “For me, my spiritual journey has been about coming out as queer, but for so many others, it is about getting rid of toxic theology—the kind that hurts people,” she revealed.
Crystal, from her journey of protest to progress after coming out as queer, has been a vocal advocate against societal bias. She engaged in social justice work as a teacher and protester with Soulforce, an organization recognizing LGBTQ students. Subsequently, through impactful books and engaging podcasts like “Lord Have Mercy,” Crystal is considered a beacon of resilience and a catalyst for change.
Steering clear of associations with white nationalism or right-wing ideologies, she strives to make Our Bible App a freeing faith experience for individuals of diverse backgrounds and beliefs.
Open to All:
An alternative to religious apps usually affiliated with conservative organizations, this platform welcomes anyone who wishes to connect with the divine.
Uplifting All Believers:
This community helps non-conforming individuals communicate and discover their path to faith, diverging from mainstream religious ideas. By emphasizing the value of every individual, this space affirms their unique connections with the divine.
Hearing Diversified Perspectives:
By featuring various writers voicing their beliefs through devotionals, this platform aims to build a diverse spiritual community.
Taking On Tough Topics:
The app challenges harmful beliefs about purity culture and exclusion, openly discussing topics like racism and capitalism.
Small Team, Big Heart:
Run by a small but passionate team, they continually work to improve and expand, welcoming everyone irrespective of their sexual orientation or beliefs.
Prejudice, initially rooted in religion, has expanded into inadequate laws and outdated beliefs, necessitating a significant progressive shift. Notably, it has been negatively affecting the lives of various individuals, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community. Due to the amount of emotional, spiritual, and physical harm discrimination based on sexual orientation has caused, it has become one of the most critical concerns of our time.
Such negative impacts highlight the need to dismantle labels to embrace a diversified religious approach. Crystal believes the Our Bible App can spiritually free the globe by breaking societal barriers that prevent people from having a personal and satisfying relationship with their faith.