Michael Gungor shares his spiritual story with Nathaniel Schweinberg and me today, as well as discussing the intersection of spirituality and creativity and why it’s important to let go of our spiritual labels. We discuss songs and concepts from his new album “Love Song to Life” coming out 11/11/22.https://linktr.ee/gungormusic--- Support this podc…

Today I am thrilled that my friend and former guest Makcum Novikov joins me to talk about a word we don’t often hear concerning deconstruction: gentleness. How can we treat ourselves and others gently a we investigate our beliefs and practices? Check out episode 13 in Season 1 on the podcast for another awesome chat with Makcum!Instagram:@makcum.no…

On today’s bonus episode I chat with Trey Ferguson—a pastor, author, and “theologizer” who writes and speaks publicly about faith and race. He provides such a refreshing view of Christianity, a curious faith, the intersection of technology and religion, and a reframing of what the Good News of Christ might be about after all.Website:https://www.pas…

Today’s guest and I chat about her book “Giving Up God,” her journey of deconstructing, and then finding herself on the other side of Christianity as an awe-filled agnostic-atheist who sees life as full of opportunity and wonder now. Connect with Sarah on Instagram at @shayward writes and at her website sarahhennhayward.comFind her book “Giving Up …

Thanks everyone for being a part of Season 3! In today’s episode I answer listener questions --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtmpod/support

Today's guest is spiritual director and professor Frank Rogers Jr. who, as a young adult, begin to be deeply tormented by the trauma of suppressed childhood sexual abuse. Wracked by depression, he was on the cliff edge of suicide. From intense despair, he set off on a quest—for answers, for sanity, for a credible God to see him through. We discuss …

Season 1 guest Nathaniel Schweinberg—and host of Purity Cult Pod—returns to discuss sexuality, various relationship models outside of monogamy, and much more that challenge ideas we’ve been taught in purity culture within Evangelical Christianity. Models of Consenthttps://www.idcprofessionals.com/blog/defining-consent-from-fries-to-crisphttps://www…

Today I chat with an often requested guest—David Hayward, the Naked Pastor! An artist, former pastor, and exvangelical himself, David beautifull articulates his deconstruction journey, current spirituality, and how it all intersects with his art.Website:nakedpastor.comInstagram:@nakedpastor --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/p…

Today I chat with Catherine Quiring, a licensed trauma therapist, self-trust coach, and exvangelical who helps exvangelicals learn to trust their desires and reconnect to their inner wisdom. She is the creator of the Trust Yourself Again Program: Reclaim your Inner Compass after Leaving Evangelical Subculture. Instagram@catherinequiringCourses:Trus…

What an inspiring chat I had with author and pastor Kevin Sweeney about his latest book “The Joy of Letting Go.” Kevin shares the various aspects of his spiritual journey, from the point of coming to God after mushrooms, to pursuing seminary yet feeling confined by the rigid parameters he found there set before him. We talk about how so much of the…

Today I have such a fun chat in store for you all with comedian and podcast host Sydney Davis Jr. Jr. We talk about her journey leaving Christianity, discovering her passion for podcasting, and we bond over our love of giving others a platform to share their stories.Instagram:@sydneydavisjrjrPodcast:Growing Up Fundie--- Support this podcast: https:…

Today I talk with Austin Noll about American Christian culture and how it influenced him deeply in his Los Angeles nondenominational church setting. We discuss why churches can be so harmful and how he believes they might redeem their purpose in a more healthy way. Instagram:@austin_nollBook:A Jumble of Crumpled PapersPodcast:The Crumpled Papers Po…

Today’s guest is podcast host, author, and mother Liz Enns Petters who chats with me about her childhood anxiety and how it intersected with deconstruction, what it’s like to have a well known a parent in academic theological scholarship, and how parenting during faith transitions has been for her. Instagram:@lizzennspetters@deconstructedmamasFaceb…

Today’s conversation is with Michael Lecey who I found over at his podcast, A Certain Wandering. Michael shares his deconstruction story as well as how he’s now discovering a rich new spiritual walk. As a therapist and spiritual director who has experienced deconstruction and church hurt first hand, Michael seeks to walk people safely through the t…

My guest today Esther Goetz shares her story of growing up as a missionary kid who is now a deconstructed adult. She shares her experiences and wisdom about how to navigate a shifting faith in light of being a parent and someone who receives criticism for her public deconstruction platforms. We have such a great chat in store for you!estherjoygoetz…

Today I get to chat with singer/songwriter Alanah Sabatini who is a former evangelical worship leader. We discuss her deconstruction, how it impacted her songwriting and life, her new single “True Colors,” and more! Instagram@alanah.don’t.wannaTikTokAlanahsabatini.bandcamp.comDiscord https://discord.com/invite/6Gfdkw77m8True Colors (Hymn Rewrite of…

My guest today is Grace Dellis—the creator and curator of Hyssop + Laurel, a grassroots arts and literary magazine for religious deconstructionists. We discuss her deconstruction journey, the intersection between trauma and religion, and the bridge that art can make for creatives leaving behind toxic religous systems and idealogies. Instagram:@grac…

Today’s guest is podcaster, speaker, former pastor, and musician Matt Kendziera who shares his story of being kicked out of the urban church he started and suddenly finding himself on the outside looking in and deciding to try a new approach. We discuss his new book Bring it Home: The Adventure of Finding Yourself after Being Lost in Religionand on…

Today’s guest is Keith from @unnecessarynoisesman . As a neurodivergent who found the Evangelical environment he grew up in to be extremely detrimental for his mental and social health/development, Keith shares some of his darkest moments, how he found the way through them, and how he hopes to build a brighter future for those who may find themselv…

My conversation today is with Cynthia Vacca Davis about her book “Intersexion: A Story of Faith, Identity, and Authenticity” concerning her intersex friend Danny. We discuss how seeking to bring Danny’s story to the public caused unique tension in the Evangelical spaces Cynthia was a part of, as well as how to navigate the grey spaces of our faith …

Welcome to Season 3! Today’s guest is a prolific writer who has been a source of comfort and wisdom for me and so many others experiencing deconstruction. Liz Milani from the Practice Co. discusses the power of nuance, the importance of naming and unnamming things during deconstruction, and how deconstruction intersects with parenting. Connect with…

In today’s episode we answer questions we received during this past season about the podcast and our own spiritualities.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtmpod/support

Nervous about discussing your deconstruction journey with critical relatives and friends? This episode is for you! We unpack 8 tips that can help you navigate uncomfortable conversations based around deconstruction.1. Take honest inventory of the situation2. Reframe your goal in “coming out” about deconstruction so it’s not based on their response …

In our final episode of Season 2 we deconstruct the concept of slavery in the Bible concerning how it compares to chattel slavery in America and how Christian leaders and preachers have incorporated the Bible in their arguments for and against slavery. Join us, Liz Mall (Biola M.A. in Christian Apologetics) and historian Jenny White (Harvard M.A. i…

“Should I read my Bible during deconstruction?” This week your host Liz Mall shares her thoughts and experiences concerning this commonly asked question. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtmpod/support

In this week’s episode we discuss a confusing passage found in 2 Numbers 2:23-24 where the prophet Elisha curses a group of boys who just insulted him for being bald, which is followed by two bears emerging and mauling 42 of the youths.This passage brings up issues concerning translation errors and modern interpretative lenses imposed on an ancient…

22. Today we discuss a troublesome Bible passage found in Genesis 22 where God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering, and Abraham nearly carries out the command. While Isaac is spared at the last moment, this passage raises a lot of moral and theological questions, as well as questions about Abraham’s mental health and relationship…

This week, we take a break for our usual deconstruction series as Liz Mall shares her views on why deconstruction is so important for Christianity and NOT the enemy of the Evangelical church—unless the church insists on making it the enemy.Liz Mall has her Masters in Christian Apologetics and shares a vision for a new way of using apologetics to en…

How does the concept of hell impact our minds and mental health, and how do our minds and mental health impact our view of hell? Join us, Liz Mall (Biola M.A. in Christian Apologetics) and historian Jenny White (Harvard M.A. in Museum Studies) as we begin to deconstruct the psychology of hell together by asking the tough questions and providing res…

For many who deconstruct, the Christian concept of hell is a big problem. In this three part series, we will deconstruct the concept of hell alongside you! For today’s episode, we discuss how people from different worldviews systemize ideas about judgement, evil, and cosmic justice. We look at views from atheists (naturalism), world religions, Juda…

For many who deconstruct their Evangelical faith, the topic of hell is a hot button topic—for good reason. The historical, logical, and moral issues surrounding the topic of hell are important for any Christian to dissect, whether they are deconstructing or not. For today’s episode, we discuss words and phrases that are commonly translated as “hell…

In 1 Corinthians 15:29, a confusing and often ignored Bible passage refers to baptizing dead bodies. Is this a passage Christians conveniently ignore? Does it have implications for baptism? Does baptism itself have implications of a cosmic fear of hell? Join Jenny White and Elizabeth Mall as we deconstruct this odd Bible passage. Check out our show…

In 1 Corinthians 11 we read Paul telling women to cover their heads as well as giving commentary on marriage and gender. While many churches are intent on taking Paul’s commands seriously, the command on head covering is usually ignored. Why? And what are we to make of the rest of Paul’s thoughts on gender, women, and marriage in this controversial…

Some would consider accounts of genocide in the Old Testament to be the greatest hurdle to the Bible’s (and Christianity’s) validity. It raises big theological questions about Biblical inerrancy, the character of God, and the morality of mass killings. But has the key to correctly interpreting these passages been lost due to our misunderstanding of…

The account of Sodom and Gomorrah is often dubbed as a “clobber passage” by the LGBT community, as it is commonly cited as a clear example of the Bible condemning homosexual practices. But is the point of Genesis 18-19 really to illustrate that God doesn’t approve of homosexual behavior, as so many of us have been taught our whole lives? Or have we…

What can you expect in Season 2 of DTM the podcast? This season we are joined by Jenny White, a recent Harvard graduate and M.A. in Museum Studies. We will be unpacking the history, archaeology, and theology around some of the Bible’s most difficult passages. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtmpod/support…

I wanted to introduce you to a gem I found online! Makcum Novikov can be found at @makcum.novikov on Instagram. He talks about growing up Evangelical, leaving Christianity entirely after discovering he was gay as a child, and eventually finding his way back to his Christian roots but within an entirely different framework. We discuss whether or not…

In our final episode this season, listen to your host’s own story of deconstruction and her current spirituality, as well as what she found to be Christianity’s most compelling arguments. We also share what to expect in season 2 of DTM. Elizabeth references The Resurrection of Jesus by Michael Licona.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spo…

Amanda Smith is my guest today, and we discuss her experience living in the middle of deconstruction, what she needs (and doesn’t need!) from the church right now, and how her journey was deeply impacted by sexism and sexual harassment in the church. She mentions the book, “Out of Sorts” by Sarah Bessey and “A Woman Called” by--- Support this podca…

My guest Nathaniel Schweinberg returns this week and presents his top 5 Bible objections. We discuss why they are important, how they impacted his deconstruction journey, and the Christian responses to each one. Resources Nathaniel mentions and/or recommends:Holy Koolaid’s “Christianity’s Fatal Flaw”Religion for BreakfastPete Enns’ book ‘How the Bi…

Nathaniel shares why injustice in America led to him reevaluating everything he believed to be true about God. We explore the question, “Can God be real, good, just, and all-powerful and still allow evil and suffering?” Nathaniel references YouTube Channels Holy Koolaid and Religion for Breakfast.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify…

My guest Kenny White (not to be confused with his wife Jenny from earlier this season!) discusses being part of a church plant gone horribly wrong and why the structure of non-denominational Evangelical churches so often harms its members, focuses on the wrong aspects of Christianity, and eventually fails. --- Support this podcast: https://podcaste…

My guest Stephanie discusses growing up Evangelical and seeking to follow hard after Jesus even after trauma and unanswered questions. Eventually though, the political landscape of America caused her to turn her attention towards whether or not her faith was based in truth. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtmpod/su…

Jenny White discusses purity culture from a Christian perspective, including the topics of modesty, abstinence before marriage, and Christian men objectifying women. She discusses ways we might move forward as Christians from the damaging effects purity culture has left on our society. Jenny references Sheila Wray Gregoire who wrote “The Great Sex …

My guest Jenny worked at an evangelical church and experienced spiritual manipulation and abuse. She discusses how someone can tell it’s time to leave their church and what it’s like for her now as an Eastern Orthodox Christian. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtmpod/support…

Rachel Harrold was happy with her Evangelical faith and not looking to deconstruct in the least, but deconstruction snuck up on her. She shares her journey to Catholicism and some beautiful lessons she’s learned along the way. She mentions “Mama Bear Apologetics” by Hillary Morgan Ferrer and “Evangelical is Not Enough” by Thomas Howard.--- Support …

Maria Stewart is my guest today, and we dive into the background of purity culture and why it’s so damaging in the church today, as well as why we so often misunderstand and misapply the Bible. Maria mentions the podcast “Unbelievable” and the books “How (Not) to Read the Bible” by Dan Kimball and “Pure” by Linda Kay Klein--- Support this podcast: …

Today, my guest Dillon Stewart describes his spiritual background growing up in the Church of Christ, his thoughts on hell and science vs. religion, and what happens when religion becomes our basis of identity. Resources and quotes mentioned in today’s episode:Richard Dawkins Demonstrates Laryngeal Nerve of a Giraffehttps://youtu.be/cO1a1Ek-HD0“All…

What is Deconstructing the Myth the podcast all about? We dive into what to expect this season! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtmpod/support