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Scott Latta

@scottlatta.bsky.social
96 followers 56 following 88 posts

Writing from Portland about Christofascism, rivers, etc. My new book, GODS OF THE SMOKE MACHINE, is out now! “Scott Latta” -The New York Times, 2016

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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Looking to escape the horror of [waves arms frantically]? Come with me to the Texas creationism museum. scottlatta.substack.com/p/i-went-to-...
scottlatta.substack.com
I Went to the Texas Creationism Museum So You Don’t Have To
An impromptu visit to Six Flags for Homeschooled Kids
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
I had a few hours to kill in Dallas, so of course I went to the Institute for Creation Research's dinosaur museum. It was...something. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
I Went to the Texas Creationism Museum So You Don’t Have To
An impromptu visit to Six Flags for Homeschooled Kids
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
I had a few hours to kill in Dallas, so of course I went to the Institute for Creation Research's dinosaur museum. It was...something. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
I Went to the Texas Creationism Museum So You Don’t Have To
An impromptu visit to Six Flags for Homeschooled Kids
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Hey #Dallas! Come spend your Friday night discussing megachurch trauma with me and the amazing people at @interabangbooks.bsky.social! interabangbooks.com/event/2026-0...
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
"Three Flags," Jasper Johns, 1958
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
ICYMI: A judge dismissed Micahn Carter’s lawsuit with harsh words about pastoral abuse. cc @julieroys.bsky.social @acvollers.bsky.social scottlatta.substack.com/p/a-washingt...
scottlatta.substack.com
A Washington Judge Just Showed Micahn Carter the Door
A $500,000 lawsuit is dismissed. But don’t call it accountability.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
That power dynamic, he said, was evidence that what happened actually was nonconsensual. There's no such thing as a pastoral affair. It's abuse. A few more words about it all here: scottlatta.substack.com/p/a-washingt...
scottlatta.substack.com
A Washington Judge Just Showed Micahn Carter the Door
A $500,000 lawsuit is dismissed. But don’t call it accountability.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Finally, it's important that the judge called out how Carter manipulated Jones's faith and trust in him: "Jones considered Carter a father figure. A pastor’s taking sexual advantage of a parishioner constitutes not only a violation of the parishioner’s body but a violation of a sacred trust."
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Carter denied he was a public figure. The judge disagreed, since other churches rallied to his aid to restore him to the pulpit. Church of the Highlands, ARC, Chris Hodges, Dino Rizzo, and Kevin Gerald are all rightly named in this opinion. Their actions made the story publicly relevant.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Carter’s lawsuit was meant to punish Mary Jones for coming forward. The entire thing was needlessly defamatory and punitive. Thankfully, the court saw through it. Of note, the judge picked up on how Carter was protecting his own interests, having sought the limelight "with vigor."
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Micahn Carter's $500,000 lawsuit against his accuser, Mary Jones, has been dismissed. And the judge who tossed it had some hard truths for the entire megachurch system. scottlatta.substack.com/p/a-washingt...
scottlatta.substack.com
A Washington Judge Just Showed Micahn Carter the Door
A $500,000 lawsuit is dismissed. But don’t call it accountability.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Hey #Dallas! I'm coming THIS FRIDAY for an event with the awesome people at @interabangbooks.bsky.social. Come join us!! interabangbooks.com/event/2026-0...
interabangbooks.com
GODS OF THE SMOKE MACHINE
The online webstore for a locally-owned independent bookstore in University Park, Dallas, TX.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
"Girl in Silver Sea," Joaquin Sorolla, 1909
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
"Sioux Seed Player," Oscar Howe, 1974
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
More: substack.com/home/post/p-... And the study: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
substack.com
How a Megachurch Service Alters Your Brain
That guitar solo isn't just shredding your eardrum; it's spiking your oxytocin!
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
What does it all add up to? Sitting in a megachurch service spikes our oxytocin, promoting feelings of love, calmness, trust, and a deep need for social interaction. That’s why they felt that way in the service—because the room had been designed for them to. 7/
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
“The sermons are understood through the emotions—on a level of intuition that ‘just feels right,’ or that ‘just makes sense,’” researchers said. “Members ... constantly praised the accessibility of their pastor’s preaching, repeatedly testifying that ‘even a child could understand’ his message.” 6/
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
“The stimulation of emotion comes by way of the lyrics of songs that are emotionally charged, often setting up a need (sinfulness) ... The music is loud and emotive ... [people] raise their hands, close their eyes, and even rock back and forth to the music...” But the sermons do this too! 5/
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Emotional energy is like the collective energy you feel in a stadium, rally, or concert. The room rises up and creates its own shared emotional mood. And it’s the SIZE of these large churches that creates it. It’s much harder to get it in a small church. Megachurch music plays a big part: 4/
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
What does that feel like? Here’s what they found: “Attendees come ‘hungry’ for an emotional experience and leave energized; in fact, many describe a physical need for the experience like a ‘high,’ a ‘drug,’ or an ‘energy’ that they don’t want to live without. 3/
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Many people told me their megachurch felt like home, but they couldn’t quite explain why. But researchers found back in 2014 that megachurch services create “emotional energy”—feel-good emotions like confidence, courage, connection and emotional experience. 2/
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Why are megachurches growing? Because sitting in one actually alters your brain. A thread! substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
How a Megachurch Service Alters Your Brain
That guitar solo isn't just shredding your eardrum; it's spiking your oxytocin!
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
"Morgenturen" ("The Morning Ride"), Erik Henningsen, 1907
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
One of his best
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Reposted by Scott Latta
Vincent van Gogh @vangogh.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Sketchbook - 1889 botfrens.com/collections/46/content…
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
So many people told me they were drawn into their megachurch but couldn't quite explain why. Well, researchers figured it out years ago. Megachurch services are orchestrated to produce a chemical spike in your brain that makes you feel loved. scottlatta.substack.com/p/how-a-mega...
scottlatta.substack.com
How a Megachurch Service Alters Your Brain
That guitar solo isn't just shredding your eardrum; it's spiking your oxytocin!
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
"Cat," Rinjirō Hasegawa, 1966
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Julie and her team have been doing vital reporting on abuse inside churches for years. I'm honored that she's offering the book—it's such an important cause!
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
"Sea Level," Helen Frankenthaler, 1976
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
If anyone is willing to go to Prestonwood's Christmas show and throw a bunch of copies of my book on stage, let me know and I will personally send you a box
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
"La Serre," Maria Filopoulou, 1996
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
"Some media reports have suggested there may be a religious revival taking place among young adults ... But our recent polls show no clear evidence that this kind of nationwide religious resurgence is underway."
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
My favorite books of the year! scottlatta.substack.com/p/my-favorit...
scottlatta.substack.com
My Favorite Books of 2025
I’m wrapping up a week in Alabama, putting a bow on this little book project where the whole thing started.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Birmingham you were amazing! Thank you so much to John Archibald and the amazing folks at Burdock Book Collective, but especially everyone who came out!
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John Archibald @johnarchibald.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Fascinating book. Come talk about it.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Cha House!
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Hey #Birmingham! Come discuss megachurch abuse with me and @johnarchibald.bsky.social tonight at Burdock Book Collective!! bhamnow.com/bhamn-event/...
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Thanks so much to Julie for being such a gracious host and for having me. The book truly couldn’t have been written without the years of dogged reporting she and her team have done on megachurch abuse. I had a great time!
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
I'm so excited to go live with Julie! Come join us.
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Hey #Tuscaloosa! Come join us tonight at @enhbooks.bsky.social at 5:30 to talk about megachurch trauma! Everyone is allowed one shaker. ernestandhadleybooks.com/event/2025-1...
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
"Scenes of July 1830," Léon Cogniet, 1830
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
"Thelonious Monk," Boris Chaliapin, 1964
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Hey #Tuscaloosa and #Birmingham! I'm coming next week for events at @enhbooks.bsky.social and Burdock Book Collective. Come talk megachurch trauma with us!! scottlatta.com/events/
scottlatta.com
Events
If you are a bookstore, church, community center, or just interested in discussing the book, I’d love to come! You can reach out to me anytime here. Upcoming Events 10/17 — Corvallis Mus…
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
"The Song of the Lark," Jules Breton, 1884
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
"In Lieu of Keen Virtue," Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, 2017
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
"Self Portrait in Rose," Cuno Amiet, 1907
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Challenger was awesome
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Oklahoma you were amazing! Thank you so much to Magic City Books, Full Circle Books, and especially the lady who told me she skipped church to come to the event. Happy to oblige! 👍
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Hey #OKC! Come join me tonight at Full Circle Books to talk about megachurches and Christian nationalism. Hope to see you there! fullcirclebooks.com/event/newsma...
fullcirclebooks.com
Newsmakers
Every second Thursday, Oklahoma Observer Editor Arnold Hamilton is joined by a public official for a frank and intelligent conversation about the direction of Oklahoma politics and the future of the s...
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Scott Latta @scottlatta.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Hey #Tulsa, the weather is beautiful so let's celebrate by sitting inside and talking about megachurch trauma! I hope to see you tonight! magiccitybooks.com/events/38728...
magiccitybooks.com
Scott Latta | Magic City Books
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