The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

This bonus episode features a discussion with Fred Clarkson: journalist, publisher and author and most importantly for our purposes, Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates. In addition to breaking the story about Project Blitz a few years ago, Fred has been researching and writing about the Christian Right and dominion theology for literally decades now. As such, he is one of the leading experts in this field, and in this episode we draw on all of Fred's knowledge to help unpack not only the historic foundations of the Christian Right, we take a look at what some of their current projects are now, moving forward in the post-Trump era. Help Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Follow Fred on Twitter @FredClarkson Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift YouTube Channel

In this fantastic bonus episode, returning guests Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman--authors of the classics Snapping and Holy Terror--take us on a trip back in time...to the origins of the Christian Right, with a close assessment of the various strategies that were used to sway and influence millions of impressionable evangelicals to get involved in politics. What's perhaps not so surprising? The playbook that many of the architects of the Christian Right constructed decades ago is still in operation. The current evangelical Trump base, for example, is an extension of the work that these key players installed decades ago. We also look at the impact these strategies had on the individual evangelical. We'll explore the story of Diane, "the first ex-evangelical," that Flo and Jim encountered in their travels across America researching this movement. Help Support the Work of MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Contact Jim and Flo at http://stillpointpress.net/ Ex-Evangelical Experience Survey 2021 Link Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel

In this episode, we round out our examination of the Falwell family legacy by speaking with Calum Best, who is himself an alumni of the Christian University founded by Jerry Falwell Sr., which was then taken over by his son after his death. Beyond objecting to Jerry Falwell Jr's leadership style and negative example he set, we also discuss Charlie Kirk and the Falkirk Center, which until recently was headquartered at Liberty. Although he still identifies as an evangelical, Calum is definitely critical of many aspects of the movement...I hope you find this conversation intriguing and informative! Help Support the work of MindShift Podcast on Patreon Contact Information Save 71 Website Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel

In this special bonus episode, I finally was able to get together with Hemant Mehta, "The Friendly Atheist," for a fascinating discussion about his journey. Hemant became an atheist out of the religion of Jainism, which is fascinating in and of itself--his story is quite different than the sort of "typical" atheist one might encounter who rejects the Christian version of God. As a result of that journey of exploration, Hemant went on to develop the "Friendly Atheist" platform--blogging and podcasting--in an attempt to engage people from all walks of faith, belief systems and life in a respectful and mutually expanding dialogue: common ground, despite massive differences. Help Support the Work of MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information The Friendly Atheist Blog on Patheos Follow Hemant on Twitter @hemantmehta Follow Me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel

In this second episode in my new 2021 series "Profiles of the Christian Right," I'm following up on last week's chat with Frank Schaeffer and doing a very deep dive into the legacy of Jerry Falwell Sr and his Moral Majority organization, which ran from 1979-1989. Not only do I do a thorough investigation into Falwell himself, I'll conclude by analyzing the many and varied through-lines from what he and other far-right evangelical political activists were up to decades ago, and how that laid the groundwork for the overwhelmingly white, evangelical Trump base. Help Support the Ongoing work of MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel

In this very informative and educational episode, returning guest Frank Schaeffer and I break down not only some of the early movers and shakers of the Christian Right--like Falwell Sr., Pat Robertson and others--we move on to discuss the legacy of what that movement has led us to today. Frank and his famous dad, Francis Schaeffer, were there when so much of this was all happening--and of course, we know that the Schaeffers helped promote the anti-abortion issue to the front and center of both Christian identity politics, as well as the Republican Party. What is the legacy that we see all around us today from the Christian Right? An industry of hate that can do nothing less than to try and dress up its core message in an effort to salvage itself. Help Support the Ongoing Work of MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Follow Frank on Twitter @Frank_Schaeffer Follow Me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel

This week's guest features Thomas Hanna, who's had a very interesting path indeed--he's gone from being a pastor to embarking on a journey of discovery that led him to becoming an atheist. He is now a therapist who specializes in helping clients deal with religious trauma syndrome and other issues from their time in religion. Thomas and I reminisce about our time as pastors, why that career so often leads to burnout and other issues, and also examine religious trauma and belief systems that cause many problems within evangelicalism. Help Support the work of MindShift Podcast on Patreon Contact Information Find Thomas at the Tempest Counseling site Follow Thomas on Twitter @TSicarii Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel

This special bonus episode features returning guest, sociologist and cult expert, Dr Janja Lalich. I reached out to her once again to talk about the NXIVM cult and how specifically it worked from a cult psychology point of view. As someone who not only has been in a cult herself, but has also researched and written a tremendous amount of material about cults, Dr Lalich is an invaluable resource. In addition, she was also heavily involved in the trial and has been filmed for at least 2 documentaries about NXIVM. I think that not only will you find this episode fascinating about Raniere and NXIVM itself, as we describe cult psychology in general it will prove to be a helpful resource in terms of your own reconstruction--if you come out of controlling religions or groups with undue influence. Help Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift YouTube Channel

This week's incredible conversation features Janeen Puckett, host of the Deconstruction Stories website--a place where you can share your journeys deconstructing out of religion, anonymously and safely. Janeen herself has an absolutely incredible story of deconstruction too--she comes out of a prophetic, charismatic version of Christianity that had an unbelievably damaging effect on not just her life, but that of her family too. I'll let her share this amazing story--and please, let us know your thoughts, comments and questions! And if you want to post your story--here's the link to her site! Deconstruction Stories site link Help Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Details Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel

I finally got a chance to edit and release my first episode of my new series for 2021, "Profiles of the Christian Right." For this inaugural episode, I reached out to Mark Potok, who worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center for 20 years and is an expert on the radical Right and the Christian Right. Mark wrote an article for the SPLC in 2004 exposing, perhaps for the first time publicly, Pastor Doug Wilson and his growing cult-like empire located in Moscow, Idaho. In this chat, we not only break down aspects of Wilson's theology and influence of Christian Reconstructionism on his worldview, we look at the expanding influence Wilson has currently even in mainstream evangelical and Christian homeschooling households. Help Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Mark Potok's Website Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Subscribe to the MindShift Podcast YouTube Channel