Rebekah Sturghill, a mother and school teacher, shares her captivating journey from a strict Texan evangelical upbringing to converting to Orthodox Christianity. She discusses her teenage atheism, the influence of feminist activism, and the struggles with religious authority and sexuality. Rebekah reflects on the complexities of conversion influenced by online communities and critiques the trend of internet-driven faith shifts. Her story illustrates the intersection of personal identity, belief, and the transformative nature of spiritual exploration.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Rebekah’s Faith Journey
Rebekah grew up in a Protestant church in Texas but left by age 17 due to conflicts about sexuality and church authoritarianism.
She later encountered Orthodox Christianity through a trusted friend, leading to a powerful personal conversion experience.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Conflict Over Sexuality in Church
Rebekah’s questioning of her sexuality and the church's inability to discuss it led to anger and her family's exit from church.
She recalls church members excusing hateful protests by saying "their hearts are in the right places," which horrified her.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Discovering Atheism Online
Rebekah discovered atheism largely through internet resources like Bill Maher and Richard Dawkins, becoming outspoken and militant about it.
Her intellectual curiosity and anger fueled her extensive engagement with atheist thought.
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In 'The Great Divorce', C.S. Lewis presents an allegorical narrative where souls from a gray, dreary town (representing hell) are given the opportunity to visit heaven. The story follows the narrator and various ghosts as they encounter spirits in heaven, engaging in dialogues that reveal the nature of their choices and the reasons they remain in hell. The book emphasizes that hell is a self-imposed state, and individuals choose to remain there due to their inability to let go of their earthly attachments and sins. Through these encounters, Lewis explores themes of redemption, the afterlife, and the importance of spiritual choices, underscoring that true joy and salvation are available to those who seek them sincerely.
In this episode I am joined by Rebekah Sturgill, mother, school teacher, and convert to Orthodox Christianity.
Rebekah details her upbringing in a Texan evangelical church and how encounters with authoritarianism and questions about her sexuality saw her leave the religion.
Rebekah describes a period of passionate teenage atheism before becoming deeply involved in feminist activism beginning in university. Rebekah explains why she remains a feminist but left activism and how, through a powerful visionary experience, she converted to Orthodox Christianity.
Rebekah also explores the mechanisms of conversion, considers the line between faith and extremism, and comments on the pros and cons of a new trend of conversions to Orthodox Christianity driven by internet influencers and discussion communities.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep302-my-conversion-to-orthodox-christianity-rebekah-sturghill
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Evangelical Christian upbringing in Texas
04:17 - Studying theology and philosophy at St Johns College
04:38 - Encountering Jesus through reading the Gospels
05:39 - Feminist activism
06:09 - Joining the Orthodox Church
08:18 - Anger at religion and questioning sexuality
11:22 - Authoritarianism in the church
12:26 - Why Rebekah’s family left the church
14:05 - Religious community vs contemplative practice
16:19 - Contemplative emphasis in the Orthodox Church
17:10 - Youth groups and community emphasis
18:16 - Radical atheism phase and the impact on family
23:18 - Becoming a feminist activist
25:50 - Questioning feminist theory, struggles with relativism and essentialism
26:52 - Becoming a 2nd wave feminist
28:34 - Influence of the internet on Rebekah’s various conversions
31:35 - Conversion or coming home?
33:42 - What feminism really is
35:18 - Frustrations with 3rd wave feminism
40:08 - Why feminist activism?
44:34 - Still a feminist? Which views Rebekah still holds
48:00 - Orthodox Christian view of the individual and equality
49:47 - Are Rebekah’s views controversial?
51:43 - In-fighting and leaving activism
54:17 - Religious extremists and extreme activism
55:53 - Losing oneself in extremism
57:50 - Critical mass of buy-in needed for conversion
58:13 - Embracing the dharma or losing oneself?
01:01:46 - CS Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”
01:03:36 - Dying to oneself
01:04:54 - Theosis and losing oneself
01:05:42 - Popularity of Orthodox Christianity online, a new wave of converts
01:07:26 - The practice of Orthodoxy Christianity and the supernatural
01:09:05 - Lent
01:09:55 - High profile conversions to Orthodoxy and an internet pipeline
01:11:22 - Rebekah’s conversion through relationships and community
01:13:15 - The moment of conversion
01:14:41 - Powerful first conversation with an Orthodox priest
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- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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