This week's episode features an information-packed chat with Dr Milton Gaither, widely considered one of America's foremost leading experts on the subject of Christian homeschooling. Dr Gaither wrote the book on the subject--literally. His 2008 book Homeschool: An American History (revised in 2017) contains a wealth of information not just on the development of homeschooling in general, but specifically Christian homeschooling. This is the subject we spend the most time unpacking and exploring. Why does this topic matter? Generally speaking, much of the Christian homeschool movement today has been influenced by the work of RJ Rushdoony, "the father of Christian Reconstructionism." Why does that matter? Listen in to find out why! Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon Dr Gaither's Homeschooling Research Notes site Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week we are taking another break from talking about dominion theology and Christian nationalism to focus on a topic I've dealt with a lot in the past--how to reconstruct your life, and rebuild, after leaving one's faith or religious beliefs behind.   My guest this week is David, host of "The Graceful Atheist" podcast. We have a fantastic discussion comparing notes both as ex-pastors who walked away from our former Christian beliefs, but are still doing a lot of "pastoral" work--helping others who have deconstructed, or are thinking about starting the process.   You'll find this a helpful and informative episode that covers a lot of ground!   Help Support the Show on Patreon   Contact Details Follow David on Twitter @GracefulAtheist Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018   Like the MindShift Podcast Facebook Page

In this special episode, I'm chatting with author, ex-evangelical and now atheist, John Loftus.   John is the author of the recent book The Case Against Miracles, an anthology that aims to discuss miracles from a scholarly point of view. Along with several other noted academics, John takes aim at this topic, seeking not only to define miracles--but to ask whether or not there is even evidence to believe that such a thing exists.   Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon   John Loftus's Website Debunking Christianity   Contact Details Follow John on Twitter @loftusjohnw Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

I apologize in advance for the long title, but when you hear this show, I promise it will be worth the listen! This week's guests are the legendary returning guests, Conway & Siegelman. They wrote the hugely important and influential books Snapping in 1978 and then, just a few years later, came out with Holy Terror.  With their incredible, on-the-ground field research, they were among the first to track and study in depth the "cult phenomenon" of the 1970s, and then later the rise of the Christian Right in the late 1970s-80s.  In this episode we'll cover a lot of ground, so strap yourself in and hold on! Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon http://patreon.com/mindshiftpodcast Contact Conway & Siegelman http://stillpointpress.net Follow Me on Twitter @MindShift2018

Off the back of a recent Medium article I recently wrote on this subject, I decided to riff on this topic and so turn it into a podcast episode on its own.   In this episode, I describe what life was like for me, growing up as a loyal foot soldier in "The Lord's Army." Thoroughly indoctrinated by my church and Christian school experiences alike, I had never heard the names of influencers like RJ Rushdoony and others who later came along and helped spread his Christian Reconstructionist and dominion agenda. If you grew up in church, or attended a Christian school--then you'll resonate with this bonus episode.   Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's guest is sociologist and author Sam Perry, who co-wrote the book together with Dr Andrew Whitehead Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States. What makes their book on Christian nationalism different? The authors take a sociological approach to the subject, distilling data from nationwide surveys on religion, to uncover the motives and inspiration behind Christian nationalism. Along the way, they discovered some fairly disturbing trends about what's going on in the intersection of evangelical Christianity and the American political scene today. Support the work of MindShift Podcast on Patreon Contact Details Follow Sam Perry on Twitter @socofthesacred Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Like the MindShift Podcast Facebook Page

In this special bonus edition, I have the pleasure of bringing together three ex-evangelical pastors: myself, Tim Sledge, and David Hayward (better known as "The Naked Pastor.")   A former megachurch pastor from Texas, Tim is the author of the bestselling books Goodbye Jesus and Four Disturbing Questions With One Simple Answer. David is of course best known for his poignant cartoons that, while poking fun at the church, often reveal the inbuilt patriarchy and misogyny of much of evangelicalism today. He is also the author of The Liberation of Sophia.   Together, we not only analyze and unpack some of the more bizarre Christian responses to Covid-19, we'll also explore some of the motives that may perhaps be driving them from a theological and biblical point of view.   If you're a Christian struggling with anxiety and are contemplating deconstructing your faith, then this episode is for you!   Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon   Contact Information Tim Sledge on Twitter @goodbye_Jesus David Hayard on Twitter @nakedpastor Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's guest is Katherine Stewart, author of the book The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.   Katherine has devoted the last ten years of her life to uncovering, and telling the story publicly, of the many and varied ways in which the Religious Right and other Christian nationalist groups have infiltrated American society, from education to the top levels of politics.   Should you be concerned about this movement? According to Katherine, religious nationalists don't want merely to establish a religion--they grasp political power. In their aim to establish a theocracy in America, the rights of many have already been trampled underfoot, with more on the way--if they achieve their agenda.   Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon   Contact Details Follow Katherine on Twitter @kathsstewart Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018   Check out my article, "An Interview with Katherine Stewart" on Medium

This week's guest is Stephanie McCown, author of Razed Evangelical: Losing My Faith But Finding Myself.  Stephanie is an unbelievable survivor--not only has she come out of a very toxic experience within evangelical Christianity, she is a cancer and addiction survivor also. But she had to navigate all of those experiences without God...and in the process, lost her faith--but found herself. Also huge thanks go to Daniel Moore, who provided the song for the outro that he wrote and performed himself. Enjoy "On High" at the end of the show! Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Follow Stephanie on Twitter @StephanieMick75 Find Razed Evangelical on Amazon Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

In this special bonus episode I am joined by therapist and friend from Canada, Janice Selbie, who has been a guest on the show a few times before.   Janice was due to host the CORT2020 conference on religious trauma in just a few days--that is, until the COVID-19 outbreak forced her to cancel the conference. Hopefully it will be rescheduled at some point in the future.   However, along with the unfortunate cancellation of the conference came a number of trauma-inducing events in her life in just the short space of a few weeks. How she has coped with those is unbelievable--and that she is willing not only to share her own story, but to help others during this unprecedented time, is nothing short of amazing.   Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon!   Contact Information Follow Janice on Twitter @Wise_Counsellor or @divorcereligion Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018