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EPISODE 13 | May, 20, 2026

Love Letters From Reverend Sex S2:03 Dirty Words, Holy Resistance

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Summary

Profane or impolite? How do the words we choose relate to the faith we practice?

Honoring a rebellious heart and faithful spirit Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio) explores why profanity unsettles many Christians but can be a political and spiritual practice rooted in activism where survival leaves little room for polite society. Drawing on the Battle of Hastings and the class divide between Old English and French-derived “educated” language, they show how “cuss words” became labeled vulgar. They distinguish swearing, cursing, and cussing, and invite a redefinition of “profane” as that which causes harm. 

00:00 Welcome Back Beloveds

01:45 Why This Love Letter

03:49 Activism And Real Talk

05:41 Unbecoming Of A Lady

06:23 Medieval Swearing Origins

07:40 Battle Of Hastings

09:18 Class And Language Split

12:47 Profanity Word Examples

15:11 Swearing Cursing Cussing

17:21 Redefining The Profane

17:57 Prayer For Holy Speech

20:10 Closing And More Shows


Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), Love Letters from Reverend Sex is confession and revelation, intimate and inspirational. This weekly message from an ordained pastor, spiritual healer, and bruja troublemaker will empower you to reject practices of spiritual violence and eradicate shame and fear in your life. This is the spiritual home you’ve been looking for.


The entire Shameless Theology podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful. It’s a space for exploration--un/learning and re/membering our spiritual journeys through sharing the experience, wisdom, and connections Soulforce has built as an international LGBTQIA+ social justice nonprofit organization over the last 30 years.


Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation.

https://soulforce.org/donate/

FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: https://soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/


Find episode transcripts at https://soulforce.org/podcast/


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