Upcoming Events on Religious Trauma, Homeschooling, and Purity Culture
This week has been cold, snowy, and dark here in Michigan, and I mostly want to crawl under a blanket with a stack of books until spring, but alas life must go on… In good news though, I have a few upcoming (and free!) events that you might be interested in if you live in Michigan or Indiana (as well as a virtual event), which might help beat the winter blues. The topics are not the easiest, but I’ve found that gathering with others for conversation and storytelling is one of the best ways to build connection and community and hope.
January 16 - Goshen, Indiana
I’ll be joining
and at Fables Books for an evening of conversation about Blake’s new book: Exvangelical & Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That’s Fighting Back. This will actually be my first time meeting Blake in person, so I’m excited for this event in just two days!
Event Description:
Join us for an insightful evening with Blake Chastain, author of Exvangelical & Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That’s Fighting Back. Chastain—pioneer of the #Exvangelical movement and host of the Exvangelical podcast—delves into the intersection of evangelicalism, politics, and culture in the United States, exploring why so many people are leaving the church and speaking out.
About the Book:
In Exvangelical & Beyond, Chastain blends history, personal narrative, and incisive analysis to reveal evangelicalism's roots in conservative politics, its media influence, and the growing exvangelical community that’s fostering healing and new conversations. From Trumpism to purity culture to the rise of online movements, this book unpacks the radical transformation within American Christianity—and the movement fighting back.
Whether you’re deconstructing your faith, curious about changes in religious culture, or want to understand the landscape of modern spirituality better, this event is for you.
About the Author:
Blake Chastain is the creator of #Exvangelical, host of the Exvangelical podcast, and writer of The Post-Evangelical Post. His work has been featured in The New York Times, VICE, and The New Republic.
🎟️ This event is free, but space is limited. Reserve your ticket now at fablesbooks.com/events. Books will be available for purchase before and during the event.
January 19 - Virtual Event
This Sunday I’m excited to be joining the survivor-run organization CFCtoo for a live virtual discussion at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Event Description:
How does the history of homeschooling inform our current moment? What can homeschooled daughters teach the next generation?
Author Cait West joins Abbi Nye from CFCtoo for a frank conversation between two homeschooled daughters.
Cait and Abbi explore the intersections between Christian patriarchy, homeschooling, and religious trauma through Cait’s memoir, Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy.
February 13 - Allendale and Grand Rapids, Michigan
Next month, I’m thrilled to be speaking at Grand Valley State University with
and for Sex Ed Week at the Kaufman Interfaith Institute!Event Description:
This multi-author event offers a trauma-informed space of deep listening as together we explore ways of processing religious/spiritual trauma, abuse, and pain through writing. Through personal memoirs, fiction, and academic research, each of these (im)Pure Michigan authors has found their works to be avenues of processing and naming wrongs. Join us as together we lean into journeys of breaking free from pain and finding healing together.
Each session will consist of the authors sharing sections of their respective books followed by moderated Q&A and an opportunity to take home their works. GVSU students will receive a discounted rate for book purchases.
Session 1: Breaking Up with Purity Culture will take place in the afternoon on the Allendale Campus and Session 2: Processing Religious Trauma Through Art will take place in downtown Grand Rapids on the GVSU Health Campus. Register here for one or both sessions.
The event will feature:
Cait West - Michigan State graduate in creative writing and publishing, and author of Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy (2024).
Dr. Sara Moslener - writer, researcher, and lecturer in Central Michigan University's Department of Philosophy, Anthropology, and Religion, and author of Virgin Nation: Sexual Purity and American Adolescence (2015) and the forthcoming After Purity: Race, Sex, and Religion in White Christian America.
Dawn Burns - assistant professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures, and author of fiction and creative nonfiction, including Evangelina Everyday (2022).
Event with Sarah Stankorb
Due to a family emergency, we had to postpone the event with
here in Grand Rapids. But good news: we are rescheduling the event for sometime this summer, so stay tuned for more info about that! In the meantime, I hope to see you at one of these upcoming events!Thank you, as always, for being here, and never forget: Your story matters.
— Cait
Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy is available now, wherever you get your books!
So good to know this powerful work continues. Many of us are grateful for this witnessing of religious trauma. Thank you so much!