Jonathan Parks-Ramage: “Jesus, Mary, and Joe Jonas”
At the birthday party of a Hollywood child star, Jonathan hears about a chic evangelical Christian church and decides to try it out for himself
Episode three of Medium Playback is here. Thank God! Literally — this week, writer Jonathan Parks-Ramage explores faith and transcendence at the city of angels’ preeminent hipster evangelical church, Reality L.A. In his soul-searching piece, “Jesus, Mary, and Joe Jonas,” Jonathan attends the chic house of worship, which name-drops Rihanna and preaches a conservative Christian gospel that “non-believers are going to hell, abortion is a sin (even in cases of incest and rape), sex is only acceptable after marriage, and homosexuality is forbidden.”
The church has all the trappings of modernism and none of its values, but worshippers seem to find palpable relief from the services. Jonathan — who grew up in the culturally progressive United Church of Christ, with minister parents who reacted affirmingly to his coming out as gay — interviews a gay-celibate congregationalist who claims his libido went from 100% to 10% when he got saved. He also gets to speak with Reality L.A.’s perfectly-chiseled founder, Jeremy Treat, who “presents a ready-made identity, perfect for those who feel lost.”
