For those of us who came out of fundamentalist Christianity, what happens when things go badly wrong in our lives? Do you have the temptation to pray, read the Bible, seek out a wise Christian counselor to discover answers for why this is happening to you?

Within evangelicalism, the problem of suffering is a huge issue. There always has to be "an answer" as to why God allows--or even causes--bad things to happen to us. There must be a reason!

My good friend Dean Krosecz and I break down this very topic after Dean shares about the traumatic experiences he's gone through in the last few years. Where was "God" in all of it? And can you create peace in the midst of suffering, alone without a supposedly benevolent being to lean on for support?

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A few months ago I caught up with author Tia Levings to discuss her new book, A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy. Tia is perhaps best known for her viral TikTok video, "Fundy Baby Voice"--and she knows what she's talking about.

A product of the Bill Gothard "cult without walls," Tia was raised in the "modesty culture" and taught what it meant to be a "well-trained wife"--the so-called tradwife tradition so familiar to the Christian patriarchy and Quiverfull cultures.

But after experiencing severe cognitive dissonance when comparing how she was raised versus how she was expected to raise her own children, Tia began to question--and ultimately escaped--this cult-like environment.

Tia's Book Now Available on Amazon!

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Welcome to a riveting Patreon-only episode of the MindShift Podcast, where we delve into the obscure but influential Project 2025. Explored through extensive research and interviews with high-profile figures such as Jenny Cohn and Andra Watkins, this episode unveils startling details about the project believed to have major implications for the future of American politics.

The episode showcases a detailed analysis of Project 2025, a well-funded initiative with solid links to conservative and Christian right organizations. The project, known for its foundational four pillars, seeks to direct future conservative policies and significantly influence American politics.

At the center of this episode is the powerful Heritage Foundation, one of America's most influential public policy think tanks that has played a significant role in shaping conservative presidential policies since the Reagan Era. We delve deep into its history, its "Mandate for Leadership" and seven policy priorities, revealing an ardent alignment with traditional conservative values and its opposition to perceived radical leftist policies.

As we delve further into "Project 2025", an alarming proliferation of Christian Nationalism takes center stage, advocating for a scripture-based form of governance and legislation drastically aligning with conservative Christian beliefs. The episode, while discussing the project's extremist views on issues ranging from abortion to immigration policies and pornography, emphasizes the need for careful assessment of the potential seismic shift that comes alongside these beliefs.

From the uncovering of the grand intentions of Project 2025 to turn the entire U.S. executive branch under the president's direct control to a critical examination of the network of organizations that have painstakingly collaborated with Project 2025, a narrative of impending changes in the political landscape unfolds. The episode concludes with an urgent call to action for listeners to understand and question the potential seismic shift this project could bring to America's political and social landscape.

This episode of MindShift Podcast is an intense expedition into the workings of Project 2025. It is a comprehensive compilation of evidence against dangerous agendas and a guide into the inner workings of powerful organizations and individuals pushing for radical changes in American policies and ideologies.

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Recently I reached out to my good friend--and returning guest--Frank Schaeffer, who has a very unique perspective on what's happening in the Trump/Christian Right world.

As a former player himself in the late 1970s and early 80s, along with his famous father Francis, they helped to kickstart the evangelical anti-abortion movement. They were also instrumental in helping get the early Christian Right off the ground in their efforts to mobilize Christians to take political action.

Now? Frank is, in his own words, "an atheist who believes in God..." and yet has a lot to say when it comes to exactly how the rabid followers of Trump are playing their endgame. The problem is this: what happens if they win? Is that a world you want to live in?

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I finally caught up with author and ex-evangelical Wren Story a few weeks ago. I have long followed her on Facebook and always resonated with much of what she writes about, since we have a lot in common!

In this episode, Wren and I discuss not only her backstory growing up in an evangelical church setting, we'll also get into how she ended up getting out, as well as discovering--or perhaps recovering?--her authentic self.

If like Wren you've left religion behind, but are struggling with your identity, I believe you will get a lot out of this conversation.

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If you have seen the Amazon Prime documentary "Shiny Happy People," then you'll benefit from this Patreon-only exclusive episode. 

I do a deep dive into the background of this toxic and damaging teaching, as well as exploring the Bill Gothard Institutes in Basic Life Principles connection to it all. If like me, you were raised in this movement, then you're most likely suffering from some form of religious trauma syndrome, or have encountered abuses also.

This content and more are exclusively available for Patreon supporters of MindShift Podcast. To support the show click this link: Join the MindShift Patreon Community!

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Recently I reached out to returning guest Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshipers and The Good News Club, for a chat about the new Rob Reiner film, "God and Country."   In the movie, Reiner takes a good hard look at Christian nationalism, and how elements of the more extreme side of the movement have affected not just America, but indeed the world.   It turns out that the film is essentially based on Stewart's work--so she is, once again, the perfect person to chat with about these concerning trends in American politics and religion.   Kyle Mantila has an excellent article on this on the Right Wing Watch website.    Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on X @MindShift2018

I recently caught up with Dr Matthew Taylor, senior scholar at the Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (ICJS) in Baltimore.   When it comes to the roots of the NAR--the New Apostolic Reformation--7 mountains mandate dominion theology, and more, Taylor is an absolute fount of information on these subjects, as you'll discover in this episode.   Moreover, what's even more concerning is that the new GOP Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has longstanding affiliations with a number of NAR "prophets" and others in that camp who have long pushed their views that Christians should take dominion over society and politics. That he's also a Trump-supporting evangelical, third in line for the presidency, is yet another major concern.   To find more of Matthew's articles, click this Substack link to read more.   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow Matthew on X @TaylorMatthewD Follow me on X @MindShift2018

This week's episode features a conversation with author Sarah Hayward (no relation to David Hayward, "the Naked Pastor!") Sarah's book Giving Up God is all about walking away from organized religion, in this case Christianity, and yet trying to discover a sense of authentic spirituality.   For those of us who left a controlling religion behind, the idea of "spirituality" may be the last thing on our minds. But Sarah has an interesting take on the whole thing...I think you'll enjoy this refreshing conversation!   Find Sarah's Book Here on LakeDrive Books   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on X @MindShift2018

This episode marks now the second time I've done a crossover episode with Rachel Bernstein, host of the fantastic IndoctriNation podcast.

As a therapist, cult expert, and specialist in dealing with folks who suffer from religious trauma syndrome, Rachel is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dealing with a wide variety of issues caused by cults, fundamentalist religions, and other high-control groups.

If you suffer from RTS, or have come out of a controlling religious or group background, you'll benefit from this discussion. And don't forget to head over to the IndoctriNation podcast platform to catch Part 1, Rachel's interview of me!

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MindShift Podcast is officially back for 2024!   And what better way to kick off another season of the show than to catch up with an old friend, Peter Montgomery of the Right Wing Watch?   In this first episode, Peter and I conduct a wide-ranging, thorough overview of the end of 2023 and look forward into this year, discussing the agenda of the Christian Right moving forward into 2024, which is a hugely important election year. Backing Trump to the hilt--at least most evangelicals anyway--they are poised to "take dominion" moving forward.   But what exactly does that mean, and more importantly, what does it look like if they win the Presidency again? Listen in to find out more!   Support the Show by Joining the MIndShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow Peter on X @PeteMont Follow me on X @MindShift2018

As a recent guest on Joshua's excellent podcast, "The Mediocre Observer," I was happy to return the favor and have Joshua on the show. I hope you enjoy this, the final episode of MindShift Podcast for 2023!

In this wide-ranging discussion, Joshua and I discuss, among other things, why he was terrified to pick the wrong God in his quest for spirituality and enlightenment. So why didn't it work for him? Why did his quest fail, with the result that he's now an atheist speaking out against the dangers of religion and the Christian Right in American politics?

Find out more--and enjoy the episode with me on Josh's show, which can be found on themediocreobserver.com. 

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Months ago I had a great conversation with author and adrenaline junkie, Ryan George. Following on in the trend of interviewing more progressive Christians--after chatting with Keith Giles recently--this seemed like a great time to drop this episode.

Although he's been able to reclaim a version of Christianity for himself, Ryan and I found that we have a lot in common when comparing our upbringings within Christianity. Ryan grew up in an IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist) tradition with a dad who was a pastor, and was also involved in the Bill Gothard IBLP cult.

After suffering spiritual abuse and other forms of religious trauma, and walking away from the faith and church for years, how did Ryan recover his faith? Find out more in this great conversation!

Check out Ryan's site for more information on his book and his life!

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I've finally managed to catch up with one of my favorite Canadians, David Hayward "The Naked Pastor."   As an ex-pastor and ex-evangelical like me, author and cartoonist David is best known for his irreverent but incredibly poignant cartoons depicting a huge array of theological and churchly issues. They cause people to think, to question, to ponder questions of their faith and church experiences, as well as potentially leading to deconstructing their faith or belief system.   As always, David and I have a wide-ranging conversation about a number of topics, issues, and questions. I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did!   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on X @MindShift2018

This week's episode features a great conversation with a returning guest, historian Dr Warren Throckmorton. From our previous conversation a few years ago, he's had a longstanding issue with the Christian nationalist "historian" David Barton of WallBuilders.   Back in 2012, Barton's book The Jefferson Lies was pulled from the bookshelves by its Christian publisher, amid claims by Throckmorton and other evangelical historians that his take on Jefferson was wildly historically inaccurate.   Recently, Throckmorton and his co-author Michael Coulter, have updated their original book Getting Jefferson Right, coming out with a 2nd edition including new information, as well as a look at Stephen  Wolfe's book, The Case for Christian Nationalism. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!   More information on Getting Jefferson Right   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on X @MindShift2018

Katherine North is an amazing woman--she grew up as a missionary kid in Japan, but all her life as a young girl she struggled with a major problem: she couldn't bring herself to believe the message of the Christian gospel.   What did she do about it? As the title of the episode suggests, she deconstructed in a major way...and since then, has spent decades of her life putting the pieces back together. Now an author, coach and more, Katherine is a fantastic resource for those of us struggling to discover, or re-discover, our authentic identity after leaving religion behind.   Katherine's Website DeclareDominion.com   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on X @MindShift2018 Follow Katherine on X @DeclareDominion

Once again, I'm joined by my good friend Tim Sledge, who like me is an ex-pastor who has since walked away from both the church and the Christian faith.

This week we're discussing his excellent book, Four Disturbing Questions with One Simple Answer, which has a lot of resonance with me as an ex-Christian. Tim poses four questions that anyone who is in the process of deconstructing, or for that matter even questioning, any aspect of their faith should consider.

Enjoy this chat and let me know what you think!

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Thanks to my good friend Janice Selbie, she introduced me to David Morris, who used to be an employee of some of the biggest Christian publishing houses. 

David has since walked away from the faith and his career--at least as a Christian publisher, that is. He's now publishing books largely written by, and for, ex-evangelicals, in some way to make up for his past life's accomplishments as an evangelical working within the machine that is Christian publishing.

This is a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation covering a lot of topics--I hope you enjoy! And don't forget, David will be our guest for the October MindShift Zoom call coming up on the 29th, so you'll have a chance to meet and chat with him.

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This show is Part 2 of a crossover episode that I've absolutely enjoyed recording. It features the second half of my conversation with Rachael and Molly, the co-hosts of the Cheers to Leaving podcast.

Before listening to this conversation, head over to their platform to catch Part 1! 

In this chat, we discuss what it was like to grow up in a fundamentalist Christian home, compare spanking stories and numbers of baptisms, and more. As adults, we're still dealing with the religious traumas caused by our upbringing and time within Christianity.

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Is it really true that evangelicals are known as "the people without questions"? That theology can quickly turn into ideology? And why are so many evangelicals willing to believe in increasingly outlandish, unproven conspiracy theories?   My guest this week, Jared Stacy, is a transplanted American currently living with his family up in Aberdeen, Scotland, where he's pursuing a PhD. His research is leading him into all sorts of discoveries down these lines, as he seeks the answer to those questions and more.   Join the MindShift Patreon Community!   Follow Jared on X @jaredstacy   Follow me on X @MindShift2018

This week's episode features not just one returning guest, but two! I brought back David Johson, host of the Skeptics and Seekers podcast, and Gary Hudson, author of Surrender to Reason, to discuss a few burning topics.   One of my listeners asked me a question a few months ago: "Why does Jesus always seem to get a free pass when Christians are deconstructing their faith?" He's seen as a wise guru, a great teacher, one who imparted a great deal of instructions that people everywhere should follow. Even among atheists and agnostics, he's viewed with a lot of respect. But was he such a great teacher, after all?   Gary, David and I not only tackle this question, we also delve into  the topic of whether or not Jesus could have been some form of a cult leader. By deconstructing a lot of his so-called "wise sayings," this opens up a new line of inquiry you may have never considered previously.   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Contact Information Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @MindShift2018 Like the MindShift Podcast Facebook Page

This week's show comes with an obvious trigger warning related to an account of grooming and sexual abuse of a minor. Emilie Paige tells her horrific story of how she was groomed and finally abused by one of the teachers in Doug Wilson's Logos School out of Moscow, ID. Sadly, we've seen too many examples of what can happen within these deeply patriarchal religious environments, which oftentimes are rife for abuses of all kinds.

What's truly amazing is that in listening to Emilie's story of surviving horrific abuse for years, she's not only come out the back end a stronger woman who is unafraid to share her story, but also speaks of the religious element also. In so doing, she is undoubtedly empowering, inspiring, and helping many who have gone through similar terrible experiences.

Emilie's Medium Page Link

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This week's episode features a conversation with Charles Utter, author of Roman Collar Crime: VIOLATED: The Transgressions of a Small-Town Priest. 

Charles tells the tragic and quite honestly unbelievable story of a priest who preyed on his victims in a small town in South Dakota. Although the book is "fictional," the story is based on a real priest that ran both the parish church as well as a Catholic school in the small town in which he grew up. Thus, the story is based on actual events that Charles investigated, and on which ultimately based his book.

You can order the book on Amazon at this link:

Or for more information, look up the "Roman Collar Crime" Facebook page. 

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This week's conversation features author, podcaster, and "freelance theologian" Keith Giles, who--although definitely no evangelical Christian--has moved past even being a progressive Christian.

What does that make him? I don't know exactly, but it does make for a fascinating conversation with someone who has deconstructed his former fundamentalist beliefs. Keith is also a scholar, which makes the conversation about his new book The Quantum Sayings of Jesus a fascinating one.

Which Jesus? Which gospel? And how does the Gospel of Thomas fit into that whole discussion? As a very progressive Christian, Keith has some great insights on the state of evangelicalism today, Christian nationalism and more.

Check out Keith's blog on Patheos for more information!

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This conversation features Frankie Tease, who grew up in a New Age cult called Morningland out of Southern California, back in the 1970s and 80s. Not only did she experience most, if not all, the classic markers of cults, she survived, escaped, and has since dedicated years to rebuilding her life.

Although you may not have experienced life within a New Age cult, you'll see that all the typical tactics are used. We discuss not only those, but how they affected Frankie on multiple levels. I'm sure you'll get a lot out of this conversation.

Read more about Frankie's story in this article! 

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This episode tells a truly unbelievable true story, as shared by abduction and abuse survivor Dawn McCarty. Added to that was the religious trauma syndrome she had to deal with as part of the LDS cult, and you have a situation that few would survive and stay sane.   Not on ly did she survive, she's now in a position to help others who come out of highly traumatic backgrounds. Above all, this is a story of the strength of the human will overcoming tremendous adversities.   Read more about Dawn's story in the book Transforming Pain Into Purpose available on Amazon.   Become a Patreon supporter of MindShift Podcast!   Contact Information Follow me on Twitter  @MindShift2018 Like the public MindShift Podcast Facebook page

In this monster, 2+ hour episode, I take a VERY deep dive into the backstory of what led Doug Wilson and his co-author, Steven Wilkins, to write their hugely controversial 1996 booklet, Southern Slavery, As it Was.

If you love history as I do, then you'll appreciate the historical context behind what's called the "theological war thesis"--which draws elements from the Southern "Lost Cause" mythology, among others.

You might be surprised to learn that in reality, the argument advanced by Wilson and Wilkins is really nothing new--Southern Slavery cribs from a variety of sources, all of them problematic, and advances a revisionist, racist reading of history.

Exactly why is this problematic? Listen in to find out more!

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Once again I'm catching up with my very good friend Dr Terri Daniel to promote her outstanding conference being held in July--the Conference on Death, Grief, and Belief.

Terri and I not only preview some of the amazing speakers at this year's conference, but we also delve into these important topics of death, grief, and belief, and how it all somehow ties into people's religious worldviews. These aspects are especially noticeable when it comes to issues like death, dealing with grief, and trying to understand suffering.

One more thing--listen carefully at the end, and Terri will give you a discount code to save a bit of money on this upcoming conference!

The Conference on Death, Grief, and Belief

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I recently caught up with a good friend and ex-pastor, Gary Hudson. Gary is the author of the 2018 work Surrender to Reason: New Testament Studies that Disputed Faith.   In it, Gary charts how he, as an evangelical pastor, came to question--and ultimately walk away from--his lifelong Christian faith. Ironically, it was in studying the Bible in preparation for a sermon that started his questioning of the inspiration, inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible.   Once that house of cards started to collapse, the inevitable happened...Gary walked away from both decades of faithful ministry and his Christian faith to boot.   Become a part of the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's guest is ex-cult member Vennie Kocsis, who grew up in the fundamentalist Bible cult founded by Sam Fife--the Move of God, or just "The Move."

Reaching its heyday in the mid-1970s, not only was it growing, it was reaching into the mainstream of society also. Focusing heavily on an end-times, apocalyptic message, Fife's group seemingly started out innocently enough...but ultimately descended into a high-control religious group, complete with compounds, guns, and long working hours for its adherents.

Vennie grew up in the midst of that--and ultimately escaped and began the difficult journey of rebuilding her life, post-cult. This is a story of survival of horrific abuses, but just as equally, a story of the triumph of the human will over incredible adversity.

Find out more about Vennie on her website 

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After a few years' break, I finally caught up with my good friend Frank Schaeffer, who of course is the son of the famous Francis Schaeffer. His father not only shaped my views as an evangelical, but indeed an entire generation--and together with Frank, helped kickstart the "pro-life," anti-abortion evangelical movement in America.   Frank and I discuss not only his work in light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade--something he predicted with the installation of Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett during the Trump era--we also dive into gun rights, mass shootings, and the collateral damage these issues are causing in our world today.   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Like the MindShift Podcast Facebook Page

Having just been on Chris's great show, the Sensibly Speaking Podcast, it was time to return the favor and have him back on MindShift!

As an ex-Scientologist who's been out of the cult for over 10 years, and having run his show for the last 7 or 8 years exposing the inner workings of the cult, Chris is uniquely placed to provide insights into the group.

Not only do we break down the early history of the Church of Scientology and its founder, L Ron Hubbard, we delve into the psychology and tactics used by Scientology to control and coerce its adherents.

Even if you've never had anything to do with Scientology, you'll still benefit from this discussion if you're recovering from religion. Join us on the 23rd of April as Chris returns for our next MindShift Zoom call by supporting the show on Patreon--the link is below.

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This week's conversation is with self-professed liberal Christian and writer for Salon, Nate Manderson.

Nate and I had a great chat about his backstory, how he came to walk away from fundamentalist Christianity, and now how his writing is taking on the mainstream evangelical church in America today. Having sold most of its soul to Trumpism, Christian nationalism and a dominionist dream, what's next? Is there any hope for the church, going forward?

In his role as "pastor to the public," Nate uses his platform to write incisive critiques of what evangelicalism has become today. I hope you enjoy this chat and hopefully we'll see Nate again on an upcoming MindShift Zoom call!

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Welcome to this, our FINAL instalment in the ongoing and exhaustive look into controversial pastor and influencer, Doug Wilson.   This episode begins by defining and discussing the similarities and differences between the "complementarian" and "biblical patriarchy" views, assesses Wilson's views in light of that overview, then moves into a definition of the "manosphere."   What exactly is it? And why is it even important to look at? Turns out that the toxic message of biblical patriarchy is moving into the secular "manosphere"--and if you've never heard of it, after this episode, I believe you'll be more concerned than you were at the beginning.   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!

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This week's episode features a fascinating conversation with Marissa Hackett, who grew up in a right-wing cult started by controversial radio host, Roy Masters. Originally starting out in the early 1960s, Masters spread his message nationwide through his radio show, tapes, and book sales.

Based originally out of Los Angeles, Masters bought a ranch near Grants Pass, Oregon, in 1979--and urged his followers to move there. Along with connections to survivalists, conspiracy theories, and far-right political ideas, Masters acted as a form of messianic cult leader.

He performed exorcisms, taught that women are subordinate to men, and that all problems in a family are the fault of the mother. Thus, Marissa grew up in a controlling environment combined with a strong message behind it...and somehow, she survived and is doing well today.

Connect with Marissa on her "Breaking the Cycle" Substack.

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We're nearly finished with our deep dive into controversial pastor--cult leader?--Doug Wilson out of Moscow, Idaho. This week's episode features an absolutely fascinating conversation with his former professor at the University of Idaho, Dr Nick Gier.

Their relationship goes back to the late 1970s when Dr Gier was a professor of philosophy and Wilson was a young student, keen to evangelize, debate, and spread his version of the Christian faith. Over the decades they've had numerous run-ins, and Dr Gier has written extensively about Wilson and the various scandals and controversies he's been involved in.

The next episode concludes our deep dive into Wilson--stay tuned for the final chapter!

Dr Nick Gier's Website

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In this special bonus episode, returning guest David Johnson and I took another in-depth look at the question we covered in our recent podcast on a so-called "Christian" defense of slavery.

What was meant to be our February MindShift Zoom call turned into a great follow-up conversation on this subject, examining a few questions and comments listeners of the first episode raised after hearing the show. 

As a result, David and I were able to go back and do a closer examination of some of the New Testament passages we didn't get a chance to cover in the first one. I hope you enjoy this conversation and learn a lot from it!

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As we're nearing the end of our exhaustive--and potentially exhausting--deep dive into all things Doug Wilson, back in October of 2022 I reached out to former guest David Johnson, host of the Skeptics and Seekers as well as the Red Letters podcasts for some help.   This episode has been a long time coming, but it's definitely worth the wait. David and I start with Wilson's book Southern Slavery as it Was and then branch out from there into both historical as well as modern defenses of slavery from a Christian point of view.   We'll conclude the episode by taking a long look at some Old Testament passages--do they justify slavery and if so, how might those teachings impact on the modern Christian today in terms of a defense of slavery?    Help support the show by becoming a Patreon supporter!   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018  

We're back for our inaugural episode of 2023, continuing our exploration of all things Doug Wilson, the controversial pastor/cult leader running a sprawling religious empire out of Moscow, ID.   In this long-form episode, I'll cover three of Wilson's more controversial---and ultimately toxic--theological distinctives: the "federal vision" theology, general equity theonomy, and finally biblical patriarchy.   In each case, not only will I explain the position itself as best I can, I'll also touch base on why exactly they are toxic, damaging to individuals, and lead to things like religious trauma syndrome and other forms of abuse.   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Like the MindShift Podcast Facebook Page

In this third instalment examining the controversial pastor Doug Wilson out of Moscow, ID, we're diving into the decades--yes, decades--of scandals and controversies that have been attached to him and his associated ministries.   In our continuing investigation of all things Wilson, this episode demonstrates that not only has Wilson's teachings and leadership style created a culture that is rife for abuses, due to his nepotism, politicking and cronyism, Wilson has so far not only managed to evade all consequences, he's been insulated from any meaningful accountability.   Despite all of these scandals, nonetheless Wilson continues to be platformed by leading evangelical leaders. As we saw in the first episode, due to his incredible reach into multiple evangelical homes and churches, his teaching is promoted widely. This episode will shed some light on the real Doug Wilson--buckle up and pour yourself a strong drink, because it's another long one!   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

As I was doing all of my research on controversial pastor Doug Wilson out of Moscow, Idaho, I came across his troublesome teachings on so-called "biblical patriarchy." That also led me to a disturbing movement called the "stay-at-home-daughters" (SAHD)--something which is also within Wilson's orbit.

This week's guest, Cait West, is a survivor of both. She grew up in a Christian homeschooling environment and also was also a part of the SAHD too. Having escaped both, Cait is not only speaking out and writing about her experiences and the trauma she suffered, she is now an advocate for those like herself who experienced forms of religious or other traumas.

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This episode marks the first foray into the sprawling religious empire created by Doug Wilson, pastor of Christ Church in Moscow Idaho. Already on my radar from several years ago when I did an episode with Mark Potok, formerly of the Southern Poverty Law Center, who investigated the controversial pastor back in 2004.

In this 2+ hour episode, we'll uncover Wilson's backstory: where did he come from? How did he become the pastor of Christ Church? How has he gone on to establish a controversial religious empire based out of Moscow? And finally, we want to start looking at the question: is he just a misunderstood pastor, trying his level best to get his version of the Christian gospel out there, or is he on the spectrum of cult leaders?

More content is coming soon--watch this space for more information on Wilson!

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This week's episode features a conversation with Jennifer Cohn, an investigative journalist who primarily writes for the Bucks County Beacon.

Through her work investigating issues such as election integrity in the runup to the 2016 election, Jennifer became aware of the NAR--the New Apostolic Reformation--and the key players who've been pushing Trump's "Big Lie" following the 2020 election.

In their quest to take dominion, these so-called "apostles and prophets" are pushing the Lie--but what's their motivation? Jennifer and I touch on this as well as numerous other related topics, key leaders, and influencers within this movement that is currently threatening American democracy in its aim to achieve dominion.

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Returning guest Dr André Gagné from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, is an expert on the field of dominion theology, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Christian Right and what's going on in Trump world.

Thus: what better thing to do than to reach out to him after a few years to catch up on what's going on in that universe? The good news is that André's book on the evangelicals behind Trump will be soon translated into English--and I'm sensing another episode coming up!

Will the evangelicals promoting Trump's "Big Lie" go away anytime soon? What's their strategy for taking dominion? Find out the answers to those questions and more in this fascinating, if chilling, conversation.

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Continuing our theme of speaking with ex-pastors, this week's conversation is another good one, featuring my friend Bruce Gerencser. A former Independent Fundamental Baptist preacher of several decades, Bruce has a lifetime's experience unpacking not only the church and the Bible, as an avowed atheist now, he has an incredible story to tell about his journey.   In this chat Bruce and I swap stories of life as a pastor, break down the differences between fundamentalism and mainstream evangelicalism, and finally conclude by looking at helpful coping strategies to rebuild your life and reclaim your authentic identity after leaving religion behind.   Visit Bruce's Blog here   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Contact Details Follow Bruce on Twitter @brucetheatheist Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

In this conversation with journalist and author Sarah McCammon, we discuss her book that just came out in March, called The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church.

Not only does Sarah do a masterful job of explaining why so many "exvangelicals" have left the white evangelical church behind, she shares her own story of growing up evangelical, deconstructing, and ultimately walking away from her childhood faith.

Along the way, Sarah's work blends diligent research with authentic examples of why people like her, and so many others, have simply had enough--for whatever reason--and couldn't deal with the cognitive dissonance, the "tension points" in their belief system, or whatever it was that led them to make the difficult decision to abandon their cherished belief system.

Find Sarah's book here on Amazon!

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I'm super happy to be reconnecting with my good friend Dave Warnock of "Dying Out Loud"--it's been at least 3+ years since we last talked last, maybe more.

In the meantime, Dave has come out with a brand-new book called Childish Things: A Memoir. I listened to it on Audible, which I'd highly recommend as Dave himself reads the text. This makes his memoirs even more poignant, especially if you grew up in evangelicalism in the 1970s-1990s--the "Jesus Movement" and all that went with it.

Dave and I discuss his time as a Christian, including his stint as a pastor of several churches; how he ended up deconstructing, becoming an atheist, and dealing with a terminal illness. I hope you not only enjoy this conversation, but also get a lot out of it too.

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This week's episode features a fascinating discussion with returning guest, Dr David D'Andre, on the subject of his brand-new book entitled TULIP: The Poisonous Flower of Calvinism.

Why Calvinism, of all the theological systems that are out there? As David makes clear, this theology in particular has a number of problems associated with it, both historically and currently. For many of us who identify as "exvangelical," we came out of churches that preached various aspects of Calvin's theology. Just to name a few: biblical patriarchy, dominion theology, and Christian nationalism.

We will also conclude by discussing how you can recover and rebuild your life, if you've come out of this toxic system.

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This week's guest is Kerry Noble, former member of the Christian militia group The Covenant, Sword & Arm of the Lord (CSA). This group operated out of Arkansas primarily in the 1970s and 80s--and Kerry was one of the major leaders involved in the movement.   Built on conspiracy theories, twisted theology, and a dystopian vision of the future, the CSA in many ways was the forerunner to a number of alt-right, white supremacist militia groups we see today. Kerry's story is not only an unbelievable one, it also gives a step-by-step illustration of how a person can be recruited into what essentially became a cult-like movement that planned and nearly executed a number of violent, extremist acts.   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!   Contact Details   Follow Kerry's Facebook Page    Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This episode features Luna Corbden, whom I met through a mutual friend--Janice Selbie--when we both were presenters at the recent CORT2022, the Conference on Religious Trauma.

Luna grew up as a Mormon, deconstructed their faith, and subsequently left the church--but not without a lot of baggage and religious trauma. Similar to many of us who've left controlling religions, Luna has done a tremendous amount of work unpacking the teachings, figuring out the psychology behind it, and rebuilding their life moving forward.

Whether or not you had any association with Mormonism, but have experience with controlling cults or religions, then you'll no doubt identify with what Luna and I discuss in this episode--and find helpful resources on your journey of reconstructing your authentic self post-religion.

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Find Luna's Book on Amazon