The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

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

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