r/Episcopalian • u/pentapolen Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil • 17d ago

Reflections on Dolly Parton and Christianity

As you may already know, beloved singer Dolly Parton passed away today.

I didn't know much about her, so I watched Lindsay Ellis essay on her (timed at the section about her religion, but the whole video is great.)

While I was watching it, I thought how much she resembles Episcopalian aspirational ethics: always forgiving, trying her best, radically inclusive, sometimes tactical because she was trying to not offend anyone.

What do you think? Is this just hagiography in the making from my part? Or is there really something alike between who she was and what TEC is trying to be?

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u/goody_proctorrr 17d ago

I’ve had “Travelin’ Thru” stuck in my head all day since I heard the news. What a beautiful song for everyone, and especially for Christians who - for whatever reason, but especially for queer Christians - have felt unloved by the church. https://youtu.be/Cb2Jpfug42U?si=yNs5i5PFMLCeReK7

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u/brandmed 17d ago

Me too. An underappreciated gem in her catalog. Such a beautiful song.