Theology and Religious Studies

I bring to theology and religious studies both academic rigor and liberation-focused conviction. With doctoral training in sociology of religion, two master’s degrees in religious studies, and extensive research on coercive control, fundamentalism, and moral formation, I explore how belief systems shape power, identity, and social change. Here, I outline my core specializations, methodological commitments, and collaborative pathways for engaging theology as both critical inquiry and praxis.

By the way, it’s this background I bring to Faith-Based Consulting, Religious Trauma Coaching, and more.

Sociology of Religion and Power Dynamics

My PhD research at Western Michigan University interrogates several sociology of religion topics, from religious institutions exercising undue authority, to Clergy Abuse, to SOGICE or Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts. Drawing on Foucault’s notions of power/knowledge and Gramsci’s cultural hegemony, I analyze:

• Coercive control within faith communities, mapping how doctrinal absolutism and emotional manipulation operate.
• Discursive strategies in fundamentalist rhetoric that deploy weasel words and invisibilize dissent.
• Intersectional dynamics of race, gender, and sexuality in religious settings, spotlighting how marginalized believers navigate inclusion and exclusion.

Biblical and Theological Studies

Grounded in a Master of Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas, I engage scripture and tradition as living texts — but, through a lens of critique. My work includes:

• Critical‐historical readings of foundational texts, from Augustine’s Confessions to modern apocryphal movements, situating them in sociopolitical contexts.
• Comparative studies of sacramental theology across Catholic, Protestant, and emerging solarpunk spiritualities.
• LGBTQ+ affirming theologies
• Ethics and ethical formation

Religious Ethics and Moral Formation

I examine:

• Secular and theological frameworks of moral reasoning—from deontological imperatives to virtue ethics—applied to contemporary dilemmas in healthcare, labor, and power.
• The politics of moral formation in high‐control religious groups, tracing how ethical systems are imposed, internalized, and sometimes resisted.
• Liberation-centered ethics that connect personal decision-making to structural justice.

Fundamentalism, Cults, and High-Control Groups

Building on my published research and conference presentations, I specialize in the study of fundamentalist and high-control movements:

• Discourse analysis of “prophets of deceit” and the rhetoric of fear in extremist communities.
• Program designs for survivor-centered support and recovery following religious trauma
• And, of course, SOGICE or Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts

Comparative and Emerging Theologies

My academic and creative work spans conventional and avant-garde theologies:

• Analysis of “solarpunk” spiritualities that fuses ecological mythologies with utopian hope
• Explorations of decolonial and queer theological perspectives that challenge Eurocentric and heteronormative paradigms
• Combining queer theory into theology — or “thealogy”

Methodology: Integrative, Critical, Participatory

My approach weaves together:

1. Textual Exegesis & Historical Critique – Rigorous close readings of sacred and scholarly texts.
2. Critical Discourse Analysis – Unpacking how language sustains religious power and shapes identity.
3. Ethnographic & Participatory Research – Engaging communities as co-researchers in lived theology.
4. Liberation-Centered Facilitation – Designing seminars, retreats, and learning circles that blend theological reflection with action planning.

Working Together: Next Steps

If you seek to deepen theological reflection within your organization, design transformative worship practices, or research the intersection of religion and social justice, let’s talk.

Reach out through the Contact page to begin.

Continue the Conversation

I regularly publish scholarly and popular works on religion, power, and ethics. Subscribe below for reflections, case studies, and more delivered directly to your inbox.