(2/2) i’ve long accepted that it’s not to be ashamed of but the conditioning and the feeling still lingers. it was a mind blowing moment for me, when i realized the complete freedom they exude in regards to these topics. the belief that, in the eyes of God, who they are is right and is nothing to be ashamed of.
That makes complete sense and you’re right, it is so powerful! Honestly, now that you mention it, I’m wondering why it didn’t really register with me as significantly as it should have. I try to focus on the meta aspect, right, not just what it’s like in the story but outside it, as I definitely did make a super big deal about the pressure on April to come out.
I guess maybe I glossed over it because on some level I still saw it as a very liberal satire more than a genuinely religious show? But now that I’m turning over that theory too, like, it is a gentle satire, sure, but it’s not mocking actually religious people, just the extremes. There’s nothing at all jokey in the show’s treatment of Sterling and April’s very real panic at being outed, and that also was something I related to very hard. Or maybe it’s because I never actually had the religious reconciliation problem myself, I didn’t struggle with–in my case–Islamic beliefs about being gay, I actually went the April path, all well, if I am, that’s on God, so like, not my fault.
But no, no, you’re right, it is so valuable to see these relatable but still sincerely religious girls, with not just the knowledge of the Bible and…all the rest of that, but the belief in it and the genuine acceptance to let it in and influence and affect them, to still be like, it’s all good. They didn’t withdraw from their beliefs or make trade offs, or have to interrogate it within themselves, debate it out, try to accept it with their head but still wrestle with it in their hearts, choose one or the other. It is very cool, that comfort.
Thanks for sharing and making me think about this aspect!
