MSI Press Blog

  When a child grows up in a home that claims Christian identity but practices violence, several predictable psychological and meaning‑making dynamics can unfold. Research doesn’t say “abuse causes atheism,” but it does show patterns in how trauma disrupts trust, worldview, and spiritual frameworks. Below are the most commonly cited mechanisms. 1. Betrayal Trauma and Cognitive Dissonance Children rely on caregivers to model what “Christian love” looks like. When the same adults who preach love, forgiveness, or divine goodness also inflict harm, the contradiction can feel irreconcilable. Abuse is “outside of a person’s control” and often leaves victims feeling betrayed, angry, and confused . If the parent is the child’s primary representation of God, the betrayal can generalize: If the messenger is unsafe, maybe the message is too. This can lead to rejecting the entire religious framework as incoherent or morally invalid. 2. Loss of Religious Comfort Research shows that...

  Every February invites us to pause and honor the storytellers whose words have shaped not only Black history, but American history itself. Black authors have long carried the dual burden and blessing of truth-telling—documenting joy, exposing injustice, preserving memory, and imagining futures that once seemed impossible. Their work is not a sidebar to literature; it is literature. Then: The Voices Who Carved the Path From the earliest narratives of enslavement to the Harlem Renaissance and beyond, Black writers have used the written word as both refuge and resistance. Frederick Douglass showed the world that literacy is liberation. Harriet Jacobs revealed the intimate, gendered realities of bondage. Zora Neale Hurston captured the beauty and complexity of Black Southern life with unmatched ear and eye. James Baldwin insisted that America confront its own reflection. Toni Morrison gave us language for the interior lives of Black women—language that still reverberates...

  Every once in a while, a book comes along that isn’t splashed across every headline — but quietly shines with rare insight, lasting impact, and the power to stay with you long after the last page. We call these  book jewels . Each month, we spotlight one remarkable publication—a book that deserves far more attention than it gets. Through short, punchy reviews (each just a 1–2 minute read), we share what makes this month's jewel worth your time. You’ll hear from reviewers whose voices matter — people whose words are thoughtful, sharp, and well worth listening to. In just a few minutes, you might discover more wisdom, beauty, and brilliance than you find in an hour elsewhere. We'll leave it to you to decide — but we think you'll agree: some treasures are too good to keep hidden. This month's book jewel is  It Only Hurts When I Can't Run  by Gewanda Parker. paperback audiobook ebook Book Description A Memoir of Survival, Resilience, and Hope Abandoned, neglected, and...