I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I use the word deconstruction A LOT. I assume everyone understands it, which is a bit presumptuous (sorry). So I decided to write an in-depth blog post on the subject, with links to various other articles relating to deconstruction. I hope it helps someone (actually loads of people) out there make sense of their spiritual journey. What is Deconstruction of Christian Faith? That’s a good question. You know me, I love questions. Although questions are not encouraged in most religious circles, I believe that questions are the answer (so much so that I actually ..read more

I’ve been asked who is my favourite artist. But as an artist, it’s impossible to choose just one. So what I’ve done is I’ve chosen four artists that inspire me in four different ways. Their mediums and missions are all different which is why I appreciate them so much. Andrew Wyeth: The power of blank spaces In the world of painting, Andrew Wyeth’s landscape and scenic watercolours are by far the most beautiful and intriguing to me. His use of space is profound, reminding me of Japanese watercolours in many ways. I think it takes a lot of courage to leave large portions of the paper blank, or ..read more

This is the story of how I went from being a pastor in a Christian church to becoming the cartoonist you know as NakedPastor. I’ve included a few artworks from my Sophia series which is inspired by this transformation I experienced. If you want a closer look at any of them, simply click on the pictures. My rock, my raising I was raised in Christianity and the Church, in Canada. I read the Bible from beginning to end and underlined anything that meant something to me. To me the Bible was “inspired, infallible, and inerrant,” descended down from God as a perfectly factual document. I learned and ..read more

Did you know that coloring helps with mindfulness? I draw a new cartoon every day, but my favorite part is when the drawing is done and I can switch off to color in. This Pride, I want to give you some Pride coloring pages for adults featuring affirming art that you can color in for mindfulness. My dream is for everyone to be able to choose their identity and feel happy and proud of the person they are. When you color your Pride flag onto these cartoons, I hope you feel seen, loved, and accepted. Because that’s exactly what you deserve! 1. It’s Always Pride It’s Always Pride shows Jesus embra ..read more

I love humour. I like to joke around. Can’t you tell? But, I remember when I was in youth group. One day we were playing floor hockey. One of my friends got mildly hurt. He got hit in the shins with a stick. He was kind of laughing and groaning. Not a serious injury. I knelt beside him, laid my hand on his shin, raised my other hand, closed my eyes and shouted like an evangelist, “BE HEALED IN JEEEEESUSSSS’ NAME!” The youth leader grabbed me by my neck and scolded me in front of everyone. Lesson? Don’t joke about spiritual things! Ever! Shop the "Help Me Up The Stairs Digital Cartoon" As you m ..read more

Pride is about celebration, affirmation, love, and solidarity. If you have a loved one who is celebrating Pride this month, you might want to show your support with a loving, affirming gift. Below are five Pride Month gifts for your queer friend.  Affirming T-Shirts Encourage your loved one to wear their Pride on their chest with T-shirts that affirm their gender and sexual identity. There’s even a shirt to celebrate being an ally! Shop affirming t-shirts here. Prints for Pride Your loved one deserves a home full of art that celebrates their sexual and gender identity. My collection o ..read more

Sometimes people unfollow me because sometimes I swear. Yes, I do. Let me explain why. 1. Release: For many of us, we find using swear words incredibly releasing. Venting our anger or pain or joy is more powerful with swear words. There are studies showing swearing decreases physical and emotional pain. 2. Freedom: Many of us have come out of controlling environments. Deconstruction includes freeing ourselves from oversight. Swearing is an expression of our freedom. Having been in a culture where even our words were policed, swearing is a declaration of independence. (Click on the i ..read more

The question in the title of this blog is a big one. And I have to admit, I don’t have a definite answer. I don’t know what your friends are really like or how they will treat you if you decide to leave your religion. Do your friends and family love religion more than you? Honestly, I don’t know. All I have to go by is what I experienced personally. So, let me share some stories and thoughts. Let me start with the story of how I became invisible to a whole congregation. I planted a church for a big-time international ministry. When the leader who hired me to plant the church decided he didn't ..read more

When your religion does not honor the work of art that you are or makes you believe that parts of yourself are ugly, it might be time to hit the road. Harsh but true. It’s not selfish, it’s survival. (Get a print of Sophia "I Needed To Leave" by clicking on the image, or HERE.) But leaving your religion is no small feat. You have to knock down and take apart your entire foundation and support structure.  But leaving your religion is no small feat. You have to knock down and take apart your entire foundation and support structure. (Click on image or HERE for a print of Sophia "Deconstruc ..read more

While I was recently reading a book on narcissism because I realized someone in my life was probably one, it suddenly dawned on me that what I was reading reminded me of my relationship with the church. Now, for a disclaimer, I will admit this does not apply to all individual churches. However, I do believe the system of the church is prone to narcissism, and that it takes Herculean effort to prevent the church from being and acting narcissistic, along with its leaders. Yes, I do believe the gravitational pull of all systems is towards supreme concern for itself over all other concerns. In a s ..read more