The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

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

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