The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

Deconstruction of the Christian faith looks different for everyone. Some have become angry atheists; angry theists; or agnostic. Some, like Stacie Rae "The Resting Traveller," have not only deconstructed--they've reconstructed their former views of God. In this episode Stacie and I discuss how she overcame crippling anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide to do just that--combined with a new understanding of the Bible, too.

Where are you along the path of this thing we call "the spiritual journey"? If you're deconstructing your former Christian faith, have you been able to retain a view of God? How do you read the Bible now, if you still do? These are all questions Stacie Rae "The Resting Traveller" and I tackle in this week's episode. Despite a very traumatic upbringing in the church, and questioning her very identity, Stacie has been able to retain a view of God and of the Bible--but not without experiencing major loneliness, anxiety, and depression first.

Why burn down patriarchy in religion? Sarah Smith, the host of Theosophia podcast, is passionate about promoting women's voices in theology and in religion. She is passionate about bringing out this perspective, since historically patriarchal religions have long silence, oppressed and marginalized women. Sarah opens up about her backstory--yet through all the pain of growing up in a toxic evangelical background, she has somehow retained her beliefs in God and the Bible. But how?

There is no question: religion is incredibly important to humanity. It has permeated every single aspect of human life: music, language, politics, literature, our communities and more. Yet what has been the effect of religion on women? It turns out that religion has not exactly been kind to women, both historically and presently. Karen Garst, "the faithless feminist" and I discuss this issue related to her upcoming new book Women v. Religion: The Case Against Faith...and For Freedom. In the book, multiple women contributed chapters, and discuss both the historical and current effects of all 3 Abrahamic religions on women--Judaism, Islam and Christianity.    

How does the African-American civil rights movement impact upon the state of black churches in America today? And should it be important to understand the legacy of African-American atheists and free thinkers? Today's conversation features the continuation of last week's discussion related to the history of African-American peoples and how that has affected black churches (and treatment of African-American women specifically). Deanna Adams is an atheist, womanist and author who brings a fascinating perspective to the table, as an African-American woman. 

How did the transatlantic slave trade and the resulting cultural violence affect Africans? Add to this the introduction of "white Christianity" into the mix and what results helps to explain much of the current situation within many African-American churches today. This week's episode features a fascinating conversation with Valerie Wade: author, historian, and "cultural Christian." Valerie shares a particular fascination not just with history, but specifically focuses upon the treatment of African-American women in black churches currently. Even though African-American women make up a large majority of black churches in terms of attendance and finance, they have historically not been allowed to have leadership roles, or to able to preach. Valerie offers up some fascinating historical and cultural insights on this issue.    

In this second episode we pick up Dana's story from last week: coming out as a transgender woman and having to formulate a plan to do so, without her entire world falling apart. Part 2 continues that story and also develops what happened when she and her spouse decided to talk to the pastor of their church, where they were both heavily involved in leadership. Would either end well? And where is Dana now, in terms of her own faith journey, as well as her transition? Listen in to find out!  

What's it like to grow up in the evangelical church culture, with parents who were pastors, but all the while struggle with your own gender identity? What do you do when you're married with a family, involved in church leadership, yet have the feeling inside that you're not being honest with yourself about your own gender? How does God factor into all of this also? This week we're going to hear exactly what it's like from my friend, Dana Stinson. Making it all the more difficult for Dana was the cognitive dissonance--the conflicted thinking--of trying to balance what the church taught about gender identity and her own, internal feelings and struggles. If you don't know a trans person at all, well...now you do! Listening to another person's experiences and points of view--with an open mind--is one of the best ways to enter into their world and see things from their perspective.

What's it like to attend a Christian school? And what happens if you've never had any experience of Christianity or the Bible? This week's guest, Tim Malins, is an old friend from way back--he moved up from Southern California to Washington State at the tender age of just 12 or 13. We met at the Christian fundamentalist school I and several other church friends attended. This is Tim's story: how fundamentalism affected his mental health; introduced conflicted thinking via the concepts of "secularism;" scared him with end-times prophecy  creationism, and more. He's since become an atheist...

If Jesus of Nazareth did not exist--as the Gospels indicate he did--what are the implications for Christianity? Find out more in Part 2 of my conversation with mythicist and atheist David Fitzgerald, author of Nailed: 10 Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed at All and Jesus: Mything in Action. We explore the implications for Christianity, society, culture, and as a planet. Christianity is losing its best and brightest, most thoughtful and compassionate people--so who will be left to carry the torch? Find out in the second half of our conversation!