She Is at Peace, but Somehow on Fire: A Southern Woman’s Secular Humanist Response to America Today

There is a phrase that echoes in my mind these days, like embers carried on the wind from a roaring fire: She is at peace, but somehow on fire. It is the quiet, determined resolve of a person who has made peace with life’s inevitable chaos, only to ignite it—not for destruction, but for the sake of building something better.

As a white Southern woman raised within the framework of evangelical Christianity and now a secular humanist, my journey has been one of dismantling contradictions. I was raised to love my neighbor, yet taught to fear anyone who deviated from a rigid mold of “righteousness.” I was extolled the virtues of freedom, yet handed a prescribed set of beliefs that were neither negotiable nor open to inquiry. For years, I didn’t question it—not because I was convinced, but because questioning felt like treachery.

But the truth I have discovered is this: questioning is not treachery. It is liberation. And in this moment, what this nation needs is nothing short of collective liberation.

Defining Peace in the Context of Chaos

Peace is not the passive acceptance of injustice, nor is it found in silence while the world falters. The kind of peace I advocate for is active—grounded in purpose and clarity of thought. It is the quiet confidence of one who knows the systems in place are unjust and yet is resolved to challenge them. It is sipping coffee in the morning while formulating plans to unseat entrenched hierarchies.

This nation has long been gripped by regressive forces: attacks on autonomy, institutionalized racism, and a political system that often appears held together by little more than habit and hypocrisy. Here in the South, these forces are exacerbated by a cultural reverence for tradition—even when those traditions perpetuate harm. As someone who believes deeply in liberty, equity, and the inherent worth of all individuals, I cannot, and will not, accept this status quo.

But despair is not an option. If we are dissatisfied with the state of the world, the responsibility lies with us to change it.

The Secular Humanist Imperative

At the center of my philosophy is secular humanism: the conviction that we can live meaningful, ethical lives without reliance on religious doctrine. Secular humanism asserts that human beings—not gods or institutions—are the arbiters of morality and the architects of progress. It demands that we focus on alleviating human suffering, promoting equality, and expanding individual freedom.

For women—especially those of us raised in cultures that equate femininity with submission—secular humanism is both a reclamation and a revolution. It rejects simplistic binaries like “obedient versus rebellious” or “nurturer versus leader,” allowing us to inhabit the full spectrum of our identities. We are free to be compassionate and assertive, grounded and visionary, peaceful yet fiercely determined.

This rejection of dogma also enables us to see systems for what they are: constructed. Rules, hierarchies, and traditions are not inevitable or immutable—they are choices made by people in power, often to maintain their power. And as choices, they can be unmade.

The Challenge of Change

America, at this moment, is beset by a deep cultural and political divide. The polarizing rhetoric, the entrenchment of ideology, the backlash against progress—all are symptoms of a nation grappling with its identity.

As a Southern woman, I have witnessed firsthand how religion and tradition are wielded as tools of control. Well-meaning individuals often cling to oppressive systems, not out of malice but out of fear—fear that to let go of these structures is to lose themselves entirely. But liberation does not erase identity; it refines it.

And so, it is often women who rise to the challenge. Across history, women have consistently been the ones to identify the cracks in systems of power and demand their repair. But we are not here to perpetuate the old paradigms—we are here to rebuild from the ground up.

Building the Fire

How, then, do we transform peace into a force for change? How do we channel this energy into something meaningful?

1. Radical Self-Respect: Reject the idea that you must conform to a narrow set of expectations to have worth. Your complexity is not a liability; it is your strength.

2. Community as Catalyst: Surround yourself with individuals who challenge, support, and collaborate with you. Progress is rarely achieved in isolation.

3. Question Assumptions: Examine why systems function as they do and who benefits from them. If the answers are unsatisfactory, it is time for systemic change.

4. Act with Clarity and Intent: While anger can fuel change, let reason guide it. Passion tempered with purpose is far more effective than reactionary outrage.

   
   

Toward a Better Future

“She is at peace, but somehow on fire” is more than a sentiment—it is a call to action. It captures the essence of those who refuse to accept injustice and who are willing to challenge deeply ingrained beliefs, not for the sake of rebellion, but for the pursuit of truth and equity.

As someone who has stepped away from the certainties of evangelical faith, I understand the appeal of dogma. Certainty offers comfort, even when it comes at the expense of freedom. But true peace cannot coexist with oppression. Peace arises when we align our values with our actions, when we unflinchingly embrace complexity, and when we dedicate ourselves to dismantling systems that harm others.

This is not merely a response to chaos; it is an evolution. It is the deliberate, fiery transformation of a world in need of courage, compassion, and intellect. So let us proceed—not timidly, but with clarity and conviction, ready to reshape the future.

Light the fire. Let it burn for justice, reason, and progress.