This week's guest is psychologist, author and speaker Dr Marlene Winell, who--in many ways, it could be said--almost literally "wrote the book" on the subject of religious trauma syndrome, or RTS. As you'll no doubt hear us discuss, this recording took place prior to the unfortunate cancellation of the CORT2020 conference which was to be held in Vancouver, BC. Dr Winell was meant to be one of the keynote speakers there. Dr Winell authored the important book in 1994 entitled Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion. Off the back of that work, she went on to write articles identifying RTS, and has since devoted her life and practice to helping individuals who have left religion and struggle with various aspects of RTS. I am sure that you will find this interview insightful, challenging and helpful on your journey out of religion, whatever that may look like. Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information Follow Dr Winell on Twitter @marlenewinell More Resources on the JourneyFree website Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

Do you identify as an ex-evangelical or as a post-evangelical? What is the difference between the two terms, and why should it matter?   This week's episode features a conversation with Dan Koch, self-identified progressive Christian and host of the You Have Permission podcast. Dan's aim with his show is literally to "give permission" to people within Christianity who might be questioning various aspects of their faith.   Believe it or not, one has the freedom to explore possibilities and options outside of what they may have been taught in their particular church or tradition. In this conversation we'll model what it's like to have a respectful and mutually-beneficial dialogue between two people who, as it turns out, have far more in agreement than disagreement!   Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon!   Contact Information Follow Dan on Twitter @DanKoch Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's episode features a discussion with Julie Ingersoll, an expert on the oftentimes strange and bizarre world of Christian Reconstructionism. Julie wrote an extremely helpful book on this subject, entitled Building God's Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstructionism.   We cover 3 major aspects of this movement: first its origins, second its impact on Christian education (and specifically Christian homeschooling), and conclude by looking at the impact of Christian Reconstructionism on the Christian Right--the politicization of evangelicalism today, seen most critically in the evangelical involvement in the Trump administration.   Concerned? If you're not by now, you will be after listening to this episode!   Support Independent Media Like MindShift Podcast on Patreon!   Contact Information Follow Julie on Twitter @julieingersoll Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018   Find out more about Christian Reconstructionism in my Medium article on the subject.

In this special bonus episode, I take a closer look at what Dr Robert Jay Lifton refers to as "the psychology of the pawn." Maybe you will resonate as I discuss 3 different examples from my  experiences in the church and how I now realize that in many ways, I was but a pawn in much larger movements--of which I was totally unaware at the time. This concept also relates to Lifton's category of "mystical manipulation" in which cults, religions and groups with undue influence exercise mind control over their followers. We think we have free will and are making informed choices...but perhaps not! Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Like the MindShift Podcast Facebook Page

This week's guest is Andrew Seidel, constitutional and civil rights attorney and atheist who works for the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF.org) as the Director for Strategic Response.    Andrew is also the author of the book The Founding Myth: How Christian Nationalism is Un-American. In this well-researched work, Andrew explodes the popular Christian revisionist history that "America was a Christian nation--and should become one again."   Andrew and I discuss the fact that not only was America not a  "Christian nation" historically, that hasn't stopped Christian nationalists from spreading this myth far and wide. What possible danger could this lie pose? Listen in to find out more!   Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon!   Contact Information Freedom From Religion website Follow Andrew on Twitter @AndrewLSeidel Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 The MindShift Podcast Blog

Why should you be concerned about dominion theology, and specifically the version of it known at "7 Mountains Dominion Theology," or the "7 Mountains Mandate"? Although you may have never even heard of this movement, or are only slightly aware of it--you should be troubled. Right now, evangelicals have a major influence on the Trump administration, encouraging him to pass laws that favor "religious freedom"---in other words, their brand of white evangelical Christianity. Prominent among many of those evangelicals are those who hold to dominion theology, and specifically the 7 mountains version of it. Recently, many of the key leaders of the movement held the "Awaken 2020" rally, featuring Kanye West as a headlining act that drew tens of thousands--but most of the speakers were 7 mountains dominionists. They have an incredible reach in America and in the world today. This bonus episode will help you to unpack the often confusing and disorienting theology behind this incredibly pervasive movement. Support Independent Media like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Info Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

The inaugural episode of MindShift podcast for 2020 features returning guest, Dr  André Gagné of Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. As an expert on this vast and frankly confusing field of dominion theology, and its many streams, Professor Gagné  is the perfect guest to continue the conversation I started with him on our episode last year. The evangelical support for Donald Trump should be an area of concern for anyone who values their liberties. And not only are there a great deal of conservative evangelicals pushing their agenda, increasingly we are discovering prominent dominion theologians among their ranks. Dr  Gagné and I discuss this, along with many other facets of this movement that is daily growing in influence not just in America, but indeed the world. Support Independent Media Like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! MindShift Patreon Link Contact Information Follow Dr Gagné on Twitter @profagagne Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 The Open Letter Response to Christianity Today my article on Medium

In this final end-of-year episode, I take a look back not just on the year 2019 in terms of podcast episodes and great guests I've been privileged to talk to, but I get into my own deconversion story too.   What's more important--to deconstruct your former beliefs, or to reconstruct your identity? I'll hopefully answer that question as I tell a bit more of my own personal story, as well as previewing a bit of what's coming ahead in 2020.   Thanks for listening to MindShift Podcast in 2019--looking forward to what comes up in 2020!   Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon in 2020! MindShift Podcast Patreon Link   Contact Information Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Like The MindShift Podcast Facebook Page MindShift Podcast Blog

This week's guest is interfaith chaplain and specialist in the area of grief, death, dying and toxic theology: Dr Terri Daniel. She literally wrote the book on this subject, which is entitled Grief and God: When Religion Does More Harm than Healing.   Rev. Dr. Terri Daniel is also a certified trauma specialist and end-of-life educator certified in death, dying and bereavement by the Association of Death Education and Counseling. The focus of her work is to assist dying and grieving individuals to discover a more spiritually-spacious understanding of death and beyond.     Support Independent Media Like MindShift Podcast! MindShift Podcast Patreon Link   Contact Information http://danieldirect.net Follow Terri on Twitter @DrTerriDaniel1 Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018   MindShift Podcast Blog

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with ex-Jehovah's Witness and now independent filmmaker, Kamila Dydyna, who is attempting to raise funds for an important short film project entitled "Debutante." This work will explore the psychological aspects of what it's like to experience shunning as a JW--and what the people who are commanded to shun have to go through also.  But before we discuss her upcoming film, we discuss Kamila's backstory in the Watchtower, how it compares to identifiable cult markers, and what gave rise to her desire to produce this important work. Contribute to Debutante on Indiegogo here Contact Information Follow Debutante Film on Twitter @DebutanteFilm Debutante Short Film Facebook Page Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018