On this episode of Backsliders, we talk with our brilliant and beautiful new friend Brittany Bruton. Brittany is an educator, writer, wife, and mom. Brittany talks with us about her upbringing as a 7th-day Adventist in Georgia. Full disclosure, we didn’t know that much about 7th Day beliefs when this conversation began, so she gave us a rundown of some of their specifics: observing the Saturday sabbath, practicing vegetarianism, and the story of the prophet of the church Ellen G. White—a woman.
As a child, Brittany was a natural leader. She had an early habit of observing things in the church and then asking her mom a lot of questions back at home about scenarios that she could never get full satisfaction from. Things like if it was women’s day, or mother’s day, women could speak in her church. But only if the woman’s husband was there and a part of leadership. Brittany also observed women’s roles in the church —cooking, cleaning, caring for the children, teaching classes—roles that are vital and of utmost importance, but it bothered her that women were expected to do these things, and then they were prevented from ministry roles and preaching. She wondered, “How can we have a prophet who wrote the manuals who was a woman, but she and all other women are not allowed to preach?” These questions would stay with her as she grew up in the church.
Brittany went to Christian school from elementary to 8th grade, then public high school, and then to Georgia State for college. In college, she met people from all walks of life and ideologies and her view of the world really expanded there. Brittany initially felt like she was called to ministry, but, after experiencing more blatant sexism in the church she attended in college, she just could no longer see herself on that path. It was too difficult to justify being treated like a second-class citizen in a church environment. She became an educator and a writer instead. Brittany shared with us how much of a powerful experience she’s been having over the last many years as she has continued to open herself up to new questions, new beliefs, and texts and ideologies that are different than those she was told to be the ultimate truth.
Although she still believes in God and Jesus, she can no longer say she is a Christian. She no longer belongs to a church and is finding community in groups of Black Womanist Pastors committed to dismantling racism and sexism. Now, after giving birth and become a mother, Brittany says, “I fully embrace the fact that God is a woman. My language for spirit now is Mother Comforter. I refuse to believe that there is a god and that no part of that is female. So much of life comes from women. Now, I can approach God differently, because I know that a part of God can at least empathize for what I’ve gone through, and can help me in mothering, in being patient, comforting, loving and nurturing.”
Brittany also talks with us about her experience getting a diagnosis for a chronic illness that she has, and how her time alone in the hospital made her question why she was shrinking herself to make anyone else happy, since all we have is this moment right now. That experience was the catalyst to her launching her blog and website, and sharing more of her true thoughts with the world. Other topics we touch on: the effects of being taught we are inherently wicked, purity culture, the power and resiliency of the human body, the feminine divine, racism and christian nationalism holding its hand, and how problematic and harmful it is to demonize or discourage education. We had such a beautiful conversation with Brittany and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
If you enjoy this podcast and want to hang out with us a little more, we also have a web series titled Backsliders! This show was recently selected by the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Creators Market sponsored by HBO! Check out our new episode by clicking here.
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Intro Music "7.2.19" by Chase Burnett
Outro Music "Stay Mad" by Chase Burnett ft. Julia Nunes
Title Animation/Poster art by Cody Walzel
Special Thanks to Angie Charles
We'd love to hear from you directly! Let's talk about what we were raised to believe, where we are now, and how that affects our relationships with others and ourselves! [email protected] [email protected]
