Jen Hatmaker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something else that struck me as really, really bothersome was the whole Humans of New York "Detra" story, and how Jen took it as a launch pad for a rant against any woman who ever felt hurt and marginalized by men in the church.

Jen has highlighted, rightfully so, the many good men in her family, like her father and grandfather. In fact, when Caleb up and left his own graduation ceremony, my first thought was, "ooh, I don't think her no-nonsense granddad would've tolerated that for one minute." She even posted a photo of her poor dad barely staying awake during one of the graduations of Gavin or Sydney.

I thought it was terrible to celebrate her son just up and leaving the ceremony. It was a dick move by her son. And even a worse move for Brandon and her to endorse/celebrate it. Sure it’s boring, but it’s rude and disrespectful. I can forgive Caleb for doing it- he’s a douche teenager, and they do stupid sh*t all the time. But adults should know better. I’m not a huge institutional person. I’m all for bucking the system from time to time.

Maybe when I went to their church and they played a half dozen songs while passing the offering, and I was bored AF, I should have just scooped up my fam and jetted to sonic for a cheeseburger and shake and then laughed about it. I’m sure they would have loved watching people bail on their little church fest. God the services would drag on — just get to the point already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something else that struck me as really, really bothersome was the whole Humans of New York "Detra" story, and how Jen took it as a launch pad for a rant against any woman who ever felt hurt and marginalized by men in the church.

Especially considering she ran a writing/money-making workshop RIGHT AFTER THIS with Shauna “Willow Creek” Niequist.
Jen has absolutely zero self-awareness.

[Anonymous]

I went to read some of Jen’s internet friends like Jamie Wright and Kristen Howerton as I’ve not had much exposure. Their posts are heavy with deep distain for the church and evangelicals in general. It appears evangelical is a pejorative in their camp and represents all the things they loathe. It makes more sense why Jen made those explosive hateful posts toward conservative Christian’s now. They have convinced themselves anyone not fully aligning with their version of Christian is the enemy. They all speak the same language in their writing. It’s an echo chamber.

My problem is Jen’s upbringing in the conservative evangelical church was by and large lovely. The patriarchy as she calls it totally loved on her by way of her dad, and grandpa. She was championed, and protected from all kinds of harm. She met and married an open minded kind Christian boy in college. He gave her endless opprtunities to express herself and her faith in multiple forums. She wasn’t being abused and silenced like poor Detra in people of New York. So why does Jen pretend she hasn’t been the recipient of extraordinary blessings from the church? Why has she demonized anyone who dare choose the Bible over her version of biblical interpretation?

[Anonymous]

I read Jamie’s The Very Worst Missionary a few years ago. It was trash. The entire book is about how every American missionary (every organization, every single person) is doing it wrong. How does she know? Because she and her ex moved their entire family to Costa Rica to be missionaries, and it wasn’t the grand, beautiful, “look at me!” experience she was expecting it to be. Then she gives absolutely no suggestions on what doing it right should actually look like.

Jen’s whole tribe reminds me of the Bill Burr joke about white, liberal women taking over everything and ruining it. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Jen’s constant attacks on the conservative evangelical church is so ridiculous. When was she ever a victim of the patriarchy? The women build her own church in her own image for heavens sake. ANC, guys. The whole thing revolved around her and her ambitions. She was the one actually leading the church. Certainly not her husband, or the other pastors, or the elders or partners. Remember how the church was shocked by her announcement in the press and everyone had to madly scramble to make sure the church now aligned with her new statement and position?? There are very very few people who were as well connected and protected than Jen Hatmaker.

[Anonymous]

The arrogance and disdain for everyone and everything that came before her in the realm of Christianity is a disgrace.
Similarly, the unspoken rule that every change you go through as a "de-constructing" Christian is for the better. Apparently they are not familiar with the term "falling away". Sometimes, the church is at fault for your loss of connection with the fellowship of believers. But often, you and your pride, spiritual laziness, lack of self control, and selfishness are the driving force. Jen thinks that she is the first person to proclaim that she can have church from a porch swing.

[Anonymous]

I literally know of no one who benefitted more from evangelical Christianity than Jen. To this day she’s cashing in on dividends from that heritage. Those sweet family members and friends who constantly serve her learned those behaviors in church.
She’s pissed cause they wouldn’t scrap a “few” specific verses in the Bible about homosexuality so now the whole evangelical camp is suspect. How about the millions of us living in the painful tension of holding the Bible sacred while loving and embracing our lgbtqia+ friends and family. Some of us do not feel it’s safe or wise to remove or rewrite the chunks of the Bible that makes us uncomfortable. The Bible has been a lifeline we are not willing to muck with even if it hurts and leaves us ostracized. To be so ruthlessly vilified by Jen after the insane amount favor she liberally soaked up from these backwards evangelicals is cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I literally know of no one who benefitted more from evangelical Christianity than Jen. To this day she’s cashing in on dividends from that heritage. Those sweet family members and friends who constantly serve her learned those behaviors in church.
She’s pissed cause they wouldn’t scrap a “few” specific verses in the Bible about homosexuality so now the whole evangelical camp is suspect. How about the millions of us living in the painful tension of holding the Bible sacred while loving and embracing our lgbtqia+ friends and family. Some of us do not feel it’s safe or wise to remove or rewrite the chunks of the Bible that makes us uncomfortable. The Bible has been a lifeline we are not willing to muck with even if it hurts and leaves us ostracized. To be so ruthlessly vilified by Jen after the insane amount favor she liberally soaked up from these backwards evangelicals is cruel.

👏👏👏👏👏

[Anonymous]

Jen has absolutely zero self-awareness

And, as PP have articulated so well, zero gratitude for the mostly lovely and likely affirming church environment that nurtured her and her family all these years.

I say this as a kid who grew up in the Bible belt (Nashville) in the 80s and while church, no church, is perfect, there is so much good there. It just doesn't fit her victim narrative and she must portray it to non Christians as the most abusive institution on earth. I shudder when I see newer Christians I know "liking" her posts, because she is basically a false teacher at this point. She and Nadia Bolz-Weber should just embrace Universalism and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

Now I am wondering how many of the funny anecdotes I loved in her books were "borrowed" or fabricated. There was one story about an elderly church member gifting her and Brandon a chandelier made entirely of communion cups for their wedding. She kind of threw the lady under the bus but now I wonder if it even happened.

Howerton's kids and my kid went to the same school, and she was known to exaggerate a lot of issues for clicks. Her kids were really nice kids, btw, but she portrayed them as so annoying. She is Hatmaker bestie #286 but now with Jen traveling every other week she is spending more time here in CA. They are very similar. Howerton even talked about a rumor at the school that she and her ex were swingers. Uh, no one was speculating about your intimate life. Where do these people get this sense of self-importance?

[Anonymous]

I tried to read a Sarah Bessey book but it was so boring. At least our girl Jen H can tell a story. Same with Kristin's book- but it was even more disjointed.
I wish her other internet bestie Sarah Goodfellow would write a book about their time in Peru.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that all of these overly sympathetic characterizations of Brandon from the Christian women on this board belie the deeply rooted misogyny so prevalent in a lot of Christianity.

I’m no Jen fan - I find her vapid, fake and immature, but these Brandon takes “poor Brandon - he cheated and abused alcohol and drugs bc he was married to someone more famous than he is but he really loves the lord” are outrageous.

The difference is that Brandon isn’t swindling people. No one is calling him a saint, but it’s hard to have the disdain for him that people do for Jen when she’s the one actively deceiving others.

HE CHEATED ON HIS WIFE FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. Now he's schilling real estate. My God.

Except. We literally have no idea if this is a fact. None!

I know it’s a fact.

Please do share your so called "facts"???????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that all of these overly sympathetic characterizations of Brandon from the Christian women on this board belie the deeply rooted misogyny so prevalent in a lot of Christianity.

I’m no Jen fan - I find her vapid, fake and immature, but these Brandon takes “poor Brandon - he cheated and abused alcohol and drugs bc he was married to someone more famous than he is but he really loves the lord” are outrageous.

The difference is that Brandon isn’t swindling people. No one is calling him a saint, but it’s hard to have the disdain for him that people do for Jen when she’s the one actively deceiving others.

HE CHEATED ON HIS WIFE FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. Now he's schilling real estate. My God.

Except. We literally have no idea if this is a fact. None!

I know it’s a fact.

How? People are gonna start calling you Jen!
Can you share anything more about this?

I've known them both for quite some time and can 100% tell you he DID cheat. But not for four years OR with multiple women.
Only one, a very young beautiful one ...like young, young!! But heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!! You go Brandon!! And that's all I have to say about that!

If I told you, I’d have to kill you.
J/k, friends of friends w them both.
I’ve known a while but did not share it here until she essentionally shared it herself on Glennon’s podcast.
That’s all I know. I don’t know who or how long.
As much as jen irritates me, I feel awful for her. No one deserves that.

[Anonymous]

If true, that’s actually really gross and not a compliment to Brandon whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Was it one of Sydney’s friends and that’s why she’s MIA in Brandon’s life?