Afleveringen
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Today weâre chatting with Mako! In this episode, Mako shares his experience traveling the world as a (white, male) Christadelphian before spending the years following his baptism serving in Jamaica as a missionary. After marrying his (Jamaican) wife and settling in America, his eyes were opened to racism & sexism among the Christadelphians when it became directed towards his family and as Christadelphians grappled with the Black Lives Matter movement. Mako also shares the story of how his small ecclesia split, how white Christadelphians online refused to even acknowledge racism in the Christadelphian community, and how he struggled to get distance from the Christadelphian community when they held the memorial service in his house every week! We also learn about his epic baptism, that time a Sunday School teacher crushed his dreams, and about his enduring love for the beach and ocean. Towards the end of the episode we also get philosophical as we speculate about ghosts, the Kingdom of God, and on the impact on society if everyone simply decided to âlet God fix itâ.
Please join us for another episode of fellowship among the heathens!
Listener discretion advised.
White Savior Complex:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_savior
https://www.health.com/mind-body/health-diversity-inclusion/white-savior-complex
Microaggressions:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microaggression
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/08/872371063/microaggressions-are-a-big-deal-how-to-talk-them-out-and-when-to-walk-away
Black Lives Matter Movement:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter
https://library.law.howard.edu/civilrightshistory/BLM
https://blacklivesmatter.com/
Pascalâs wager
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager#The_wager
Barbie Movie (2023)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517268/
Makoâs exhortation on Love:
Available on our Facebook Page (too long for the show notes!)
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Today weâre chatting with Chloe! In this episode, Chloe shares her experience being raised to be homeschooled by Christadelphians and sent to a Canadian Christadelphian Heritage College before being discouraged from pursuing higher education and having to learn how to navigate the âoutside worldâ once she hit adulthood. We also discuss mental health issues she experienced while she was a Christadelphian, how the Arranging Brothers refused to accept her resignation, and her method of using note taking to lure in a godly man. Chloe also shares her childhood ghost stories, discusses the anxious thoughts she had about the âKingdom of Godâ, and opens up about the peer pressure around her baptism. We also ask, why would we ever want to be like the angels? Why is it so hard to develop close relationships as a Christadelphian? And how can we get the best roast dinner recipes now that weâve left?
Please join us for another episode of fellowship among the Heathens!
*Please note that we had a technical difficulty about 58 minutes in which interrupted the conversation, whoops!
Listener discretion advised.
Resources and References:
Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209563856-gay-the-pray-away
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55338982-cultish
Thought Terminating Cliches:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought-terminating_clich%C3%A9
https://psychology.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/aps-in-the-media/2024/explaining-thought-terminating-cliches-and-why-we
Cult Signs- Keeping Members Busy and Exhausted:
â#11 Time Domination- Members are kept constantly busy to prevent independent thinkingâ
https://blog.earkick.com/25-signs-youre-in-a-cult-how-cult-leaders-keep-you-hooked/
âIf you experience pressure to take part in any (or all) services, rites or rituals, and feel it would be socially costly not to take part (i.e. you might be excluded from other things, disapproved of or left out of friendship groups), you should be concerned.â
https://secularliturgies.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/the-25-signs-youre-in-a-high-control-group-or-cult-by-anastasia-somerville-wong/
Neville Goddard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Goddard
Harry Potter and Apparating:
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Apparition
History episode mentioning âbeing like the angelsâ: Episode 13: Hypnosis, Telepathy and Ghosts
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6s3SJuLRYSk1QNWK8vY7fm?si=4d187dddb9f147e3
Ex-Christadelphian website:
https://www.ex-christadelphians.com/p/ex-christadelphians-support.html
Ear Biscuits Podcast: Rhettâs Spiritual Deconstruction (2020):
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7hVSkiyffPFDL5IDud26kw?si=JDtFjlrYTuafnm6fyuNOhw
Ear Biscuits Playlist on Spiritual Deconstruction:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLxmqs8vQskUbE_KnXQhA2gXmEg5dVMp3
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Today weâre chatting with Sylvia! In this episode, Sylvia tells us about growing up in a family that read (and debated) the Bible together every day as âa little hippie kidâ. She discusses her âradicalâ experience as a Christadelphian starting in the 1960âs and â70âs in Canada where she helped found a new ecclesia, create a new bible school, and push for women to teach. She also turned heads in her meeting when her parents approved her underage marriage to an unbaptized First Nations âoutsiderâ. Zinnia and Sylvia also discuss how her ideas were plagiarized for exhortations, the beliefs of First Nations people, and how David is definitely the sexiest Bible character! We also speculate about what we would want to see at an Ex-Christadelphian event. Come join us for another fellowship among the heathens and to hear about the ecclesia that was created to be âjust a lot more funâ!
Listener discretion is advised.
Resources and References:
Sylviaâs Website:
https://sylviaolsen.com/
Sylviaâs Blog:
https://sylviaolsen.com/blog/
Sylviaâs Blog Post on being âThe Zealotâs Daughterâ
https://sylviaolsen.com/2024/11/04/more-from-the-zealots-daughter-2/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI8Vk5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHU9phq2FI6_3u1oi_vJNicsdYh5YgKL7jLVfQndNS-okYYaf0RPK_P0f2g_aem_zOKOmP6BS84u2oVdl_07cw
Christadelphian âTruth Corpsâ via the Christadelphian Bible Mission of the Americas and Canada
https://cbma.net/the-mission-field/truth-corps/
Wrested Scriptures by Ron Abel (1990)
https://www.amazon.com/Wrested-Scriptures-Christadelphian-Suggested-Explanations/dp/B000BT11GW
Christendom Astray by Robert Roberts
https://www.antipas.org/pdf_files/astray.pdf
Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braiding_Sweetgrass
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In todayâs episode, Zinnia does a deep dive on the history of Christadelphian âpropheciesâ and apocalyptic predictions! She starts with the origins of the âprophetic arithmeticâ methods by a rather infamous American in the 1840âs, follows the early prophecies by John Thomas and Robert Roberts, and leads into conversations around prophecies, high control groups, and cognitive dissonance in the modern era. We also chat about aliens, people on Instagram talking about the modern feelings of doom, and some incriminating definitions around their prophetic beliefs that make the Christadelphians look more than just a little bit culty.
Ready to learn some Christadelphian history? Letâs get into it!
Listener Discretion Advised.
Resources and References:
Toy Story (1995) âThe Clawâ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atUUjSLMSiM
William Miller and the Great Disappointment:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Disappointment
The Great Disappointment of William Miller:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thereligioushistorynerd/2024/04/the-great-disappointment-of-willliam-miller/
Millerism:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millerism
The Seekers:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seekers_(rapturists)
The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance and the book âWhen Prophecy Failsâ
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Prophecy_Fails
Wikipedia: History of the Seventh-day Adventists Church:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Seventh-day_Adventist_Church#:~:text=The%20Seventh%2Dday%20Adventist%20Church%20formed%20out%20of%20the,known%20today%20as%20the%20Millerites.
More Millerite History:
https://st.network/analysis/top/the-second-coming-files-a-2000-year-investigation-part-vii-adventism-after-the-great-disappointment-adventist.html
https://lineagejourney.com/read/the-advent-movement-beyond-the-great-disappointment/
The Disappointed: Millerite Adventists and Their âNew Worldâ
https://adventistdigitallibrary.org/features/the-disappointed
The Advent Movement Beyond the Great Disappointment:
https://lineagejourney.com/read/the-advent-movement-beyond-the-great-disappointment/
The Christadelphian Magazine/ The Ambassador of the Coming Age:
January 1866, October 1893, May 1893, October 1897
https://thechristadelphianlibrary.com/category/digital-library/magazines/
John Thomas: His Friends & His Faith by Peter Hemingray
https://www.amazon.com/John-Thomas-Friends-Christadelphian-Tidings/dp/B0CJSQFWF9
Joseph Marsh:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Marsh_(Adventist)
Eureka: An Exposition of the Apocalypse by John Thomas
https://www.antipas.org/pdf_files/eureka_vol_1_lg.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka:_An_Exposition_of_the_Apocalypse
Elpis Israel, 7th edition 1897
https://coggc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Elpis-Israel-John-Thomas-1897.pdf
Elpis Israel with Publishers Comments (2000)
https://antipas.org/pdf_files/elpis_israel_1.pdf
âMy Days and My Waysâ by Robert Roberts
https://www.antipas.org/pdf_files/my_days_and_my_ways.pdf
âRobert Roberts: A Study of Life and Characterâ by Islip Collyer
https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Roberts-Study-Life-Character/dp/B002IA7KJE
Whose line is it anyways âThe show where everythingâs made up and the points donât matterâ
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Today weâre chatting about Bible Prophecy! In this episode Iâm joined by Rob, a Professor of Statistics & Statistical Forecasting, and Steve, a Professor of Biblical Studies to explore the prophecies they learned (and even taught!) from their time as Christadelphians. Now as ex-Christadelphians, we discuss what theyâve learned about history, statistics, and biblical literature to explore non-Christadelphian perspectives on some common prophecies related to the Bible and Christadelphian culture. We explore prophecies that were supported by a selective view of history, unfulfilled prophecies, and even prophecies that were wrong in the Bible! In this episode we also learn about Robâs attempt to have his fortune told in India, Steveâs thoughts on satire in the Bible, and learn about the relationship between the Bible and Tarot Cards!
Please enjoy another week of fellowship among the heathens!
Listener discretion is advised.
Resources and References:
Unbelievable: A Journey from Faith Via Evidence. Why A University Professor Gave up Religion and Became an Unbeliever by Rob Hyndman
Excerpt from Robâs Book: Chapter 8- The biblical crystal ball: https://robjhyndman.com/unbelievable/ch8.html
Eureka by John Thomas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka:_An_Exposition_of_the_Apocalypse
https://www.antipas.org/pdf_files/eureka_vol_1_lg.pdf
Revelation: A Biblical Approach by Harry Whittaker 1976
https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Biblical-Approach-H-Whittaker/dp/B007PYEBZY
The first book of Enoch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Enoch
Fourth Book of Esdra/ 4 Ezra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Esdras
The Second Book of Baruch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Baruch
The Bible, Ezekiel 26 A Prophecy Against Tyre
National Treasure (2004)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Treasure_(film)
The Anchor Bible Series:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_Bible_Series
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary:
https://www.theologyandreligiononline.com/anchor-yale-bible-dictionary
The Anchor Bible Commentary:
https://www.theologyandreligiononline.com/anchor-yale-bible-commentaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:
https://www.internationalstandardbible.com/
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Today weâre chatting with Brian about religious trauma! After hearing so many guests discuss traumatizing events that they experienced within the Christadelphian community, we decided to bring in a licensed religious trauma therapist to explore what religious trauma is and what we can do about it. We started with discussing some key definitions and concepts to understand, exploring what modalities Brian uses with clients, and talking about some things to consider when trying to find a therapist to work with, including knowing the difference between searching for a therapist with a specialty in âspiritualityâ compared to âreligious traumaâ. We also ask some thought provoking questions such as, is pressuring minors to be baptized truly consensual? Why doesnât the group have an exit plan for members and why is that important to have? And is holding Christadelphian beliefs a cure for mental health struggles? Letâs talk about it!
Please enjoy another week of fellowship among the heathens! If you enjoy this episode and would like us to have another episode on religious trauma, please submit your comments and questions to [email protected]
Listener discretion is advised.
Resources and References:
Marlene Winell's website who coined "Religious Trauma Syndrome"https://www.journeyfree.org/rts/
Reclamation Collective (religious trauma directory/support groups/trainings) - https://www.reclamationcollective.com
Spiritual Power Inventory Tool - https://www.reclamationcollective.com/spiritual-power-inventory-tool
Secular Therapy Project (directory) - https://www.seculartherapy.org/
Religious Trauma Institute (research/trainings, mostly for therapists) - www.religioustraumainstitute.com
IFS Institute (Internal Family Systems directory) - https://ifs-institute.com/practitioners
"No Bad Parts" by Richard Schwarz (Client-friendly intro book to IFS) - https://ifs-institute.com/nobadparts
Terror, Love, and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems by Alexandra Stein
https://www.amazon.com/Terror-Love-Brainwashing-Attachment-Totalitarian/dp/1138677973
Alexandra Stein Talking About Cults - https://youtu.be/26ozOHPADSw?si=vH-OOqEV6M8OQlJ5
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents https://www.newharbinger.com/9781626251700/adult-children-of-emotionally-immature-parents/
Ex-christian subreddit (discussion, support, and tons of extra resources) - https://www.reddit.com/r/exchristian/wiki/faq/
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEâs) Test:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean
ACE Aware:
https://www.acesaware.org/ace-fundamentals/
EFT Tapping:
What Is EFT Tapping? 5-Step Technique for Anxiety Relief
âHow to Start Deconstructing your Christian Faithâ with Kristi Burke
https://youtu.be/G4ROPDr7Hgo?si=JIhSOT6WIU_E5w9K
âWhen a Relationship with God Turns Unhealthyâ with Kristi Burke
https://youtu.be/0Nu8KIAQl50?si=HuEVR1Yc4oM8IqyQ
Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing From Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
Escaping Twin Flames, Netflix
The 25 Signs youâre in a High-Control Group or Cult by Anastasia Somerville-Wong
https://secularliturgies.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/the-25-signs-youre-in-a-high-control-group-or-cult-by-anastasia-somerville-wong/
What is a High Control Group?
https://medium.com/@shariwoodbury/what-is-a-high-control-group-887839bd26c5
How to Recognize a High-Control Church
https://theglorioustable.wordpress.com/2022/03/21/how-to-recognize-a-high-control-church/
Religious Trauma Therapists in Australia: â https://www.thereligioustraumacollective.com/australia-practitioners
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Today weâre chatting with Kelli! In this episode, Kelli shares her experience preparing for what she thought would be the hardest test in her life (the baptismal exam!), learning that playing hymns on guitars would qualify as âstumbling blocksâ for some sisters in Christ, and sharing her experience as a woman who was able to have more of a role when growing up associated with the COGAF group. She also shares some funny stories of sleeping in a pool floaty at a Bible weekend, an unexpected insect encounter during a church service, and shares the joke that ended her involvement in her church newsletter! Zinnia and Kelli also reminisce on long denim skirts, reading Harry Potter as religious children (scandalous!), and on how gross the term âseedâ is! (Bleh!)
Please join us for another episode of fellowship among those who have left the fold!
Listener discretion is advised.
Resources and References:
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
The Joke That Got Taylor Tomlinson Fired From a Church Comedy Gig
Youtube: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pQVshDcE28
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamistâs Wife by Irene Spencer
Deconversion Therapy podcast (last episode aired 7/2024)
https://www.deconversiontherapypodcast.com/about
Misquoting Jesus by Bart Ehrman
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels
The United Nations: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts
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Today weâre chatting with Vanessa! Vanessa shares her experience of growing up feeling supported as a neurodivergent child in the Christadelphian community with her family. Over time though, she had a feminist awakening and found that her views on women's roles within the ecclesia didnât quite fit. Eventually she began studying psychology and realized that she was in a high control religion! After pressure to bring her children in for instruction and hearing explicitly that they wanted to brainwash the children, she decided she wanted better for her family and left the group. Since leaving, Vanessaâs found a sense of purpose that she hadnât experienced as a Christadelphian and she has finally embraced her authentic self.
Please join us for another episode of fellowship among those who have left the fold!
Listener discretion advised.
Resources and References
What So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Religious Harm Recovery Newsletter: https://www.religiousharmrecovery.com/links
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
Podcast: Itâs A Little Bit Culty Podcast with Sarah and Nippy
Podcast: Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation hosted by Lola and Meagan
Clementine Morgan on Instagram and host of the Fucking Cancelled Podcast
The Little Book of Attachment: Theory to Practice in Child Mental Health with Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy by Daniel Hughes and Ben Gurney-Smith
Raising a Secure Child: How Circle of Security Parenting Can Help You Nurture Your Child's Attachment, Emotional Resilience, and Freedom to Explore by Kent Hoffman, Glenn Cooper, and Bert Powell
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Today weâre chatting with Steve! Steveâs story takes us from his childhood reading the works of Dr. Thomas and Robert Roberts through his slow departure from the Christadelphians and finally into his current position teaching Biblical Studies! Steve shares the important lessons his father taught him about character and standing up for your beliefs (even if that includes refusing to hide the Christmas tree), the punitive response of his former ecclesia when he asked questions about Revelation and ultimately joined another ecclesia, and his ultimate realization that some members of the Christadelphians âwere prepared to lie in defense of The Truthâ. Please join us for another episode of fellowship among those who have left the fold!
Listener discretion advised.
Resources and References:
Steveâs Biblical Studies Blog, Mikra:
https://stephencook.com.au/
Biblical Humor on Steveâs Blog:
https://stephencook.com.au/category/biblical-humour/
Revelation: A Biblical Approach by Harry Whittaker
Life From Scratch: A memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness by Sasha Martin
http://sashamartin.com/book/
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Today weâre chatting with Brian! Brian is our first guest to come on the podcast from the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith (COGAF). While they technically have a different name than Christadelphians, the groups were founded by former associates at about the same time. Members of COGAF hold the same beliefs as Christadelphians, fellowship with them, and even attend Christadelphian activities, camps, and bible schools! In todayâs episode, we hear about Brianâs former ecclesia using pancakes to convince people to attend services, about that time he was brought to Jamaica for a school project to learn about the life of Christadelphian missionaries as a teenager, and about the âwave theoryâ of doubt and faith that eventually washed him ashore to solid ground without faith in God. We also chat about surprise ambushes by Christadelphians who create confrontations about faith and church attendance in the most unexpected times and places. Please join us for another episode of fellowship among those who have left the fold!
If you have any questions that you would like addressed in the upcoming episode on religious trauma, please email â [email protected]â
Listener discretion advised.
Resources and References:
Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith (COGAF)/Church of the Blessed Hope:
â https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Blessed_Hopeâ
Church of the Blessed Hope Beliefs:
https://www.cotbh.org/Our-Belief/our-belief.html
â https://www.cotbh.org/Who-Are-We/who-are-we.htmlâ
John Thomas: His Friends and His Faith by Peter Hemingray
Page 132, 153-154, 189, pages 197-207 âChapter 21: Dr. Thomas, Marsh, and Wilson- Founders of COGAFâ
Netflix: Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
Terror, Love, and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems by Alexandra Stein â https://www.amazon.com/Terror-Love-Brainwashing-Attachment-Totalitarian/dp/1138677973â
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Today weâre flipping the script and Heather is chatting with Zinnia! Zinnia shares her story of growing up as an undiagnosed neurodivergent child and being bullied during her childhood inside and outside of the ecclesia. The first half of this episode is a bit heavy as Zinnia discusses how her environment contributed to severe depression and how growing up in a high control environment among other factors may have groomed her for domestic violence in her relationships. However, things took a turn for the better when Zinnia chose to leave the group, shut down their harassment, reported perpetrators to the police. She also reclaimed her life and her voice by changing her name, moving out on her own, creating a new environment where she could thrive in secular friendships and relationships, and connecting with other ex-Christadelphians in the Facebook community. She also shares her story of living in a haunted apartment, explains why she is skeptical of Christadelphians claiming that theyâll report the criminal activity of other Christadelphians, and about the circumstances that led her to create this podcast.
This episode was also released alongside Episode 13 on Spiritualism due to some overlapping themes and topics. We hope you enjoy this podcast double feature! See you in 2025!
Thank you to Heather for editing this episode!
Listener Discretion Advised.
Resources:
Vibe Music:
If I die young Pt 2 by Kimberly Perry
And
The Wolves by Madeline Edwards
On Leaving Cults & High Control Groups:
Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich
Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper
The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner
Educated by Tara Westover
Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Women and How I Broke Free by Linda Kay Klein
Chocolat by Joanne Harris (Okay, this one is more of a role model for living outside religious influence & not bending to that pressure)
Quarter Life Crisis Netflix special, Taylor Tomlinson
The Holy Bible: The Best Damned Version by Steve Ebling
Instagram: religious.harm.recovery
On Sexual Assault:
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
On Childhood Trauma & Relationships:
Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson (And Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents)
Running on Empty: Overcome your Childhood Emotional Neglect by Jonice Webb (Sequel: Running on Empty No More)
The Journey from Abandonment to Healing by Susan Anderson
Healing Your Aloneness: Finding Love and Wholeness Through Your Inner Child by Erika Chopich and Margaret Paul
Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller
The Emotionally Absent Mother: A Guide to Self-Healing and Getting the Love You Missed by Jasmin Lee Cori
Mothers Who Canât Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters by Susan Forward
When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate
On Embracing Neurodivergence, Masking, and Susceptibility to Abuse:
Hayley Honeyman Ted Talk âUnmasking ADHDâ
â https://youtu.be/fRUkPHnltuI?si=foRFIm5fEK2NumuOâ
On the impact of growing up undiagnosed Neurodivergent:
â https://medium.com/@nikkibutler_autisticjoyologist/the-negative-narrative-and-the-impact-on-being-autistic-adhd-61ce7d4c1d6bâ
And
â https://medium.com/@nikkibutler_autisticjoyologist/bullying-and-autism-adhd-the-shocking-truth-dc9383d5d7b8â
Feminism & Politics:
Rage becomes her: The Power of Women's Anger by Soraya Chemaly
On Healing through Humor:
â https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-humor-can-help-you-get-through-hard-times/â
On the Paranormal:
Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned About Ghosts by Amy Bruni
Do Dead People Watch You Shower? By Concetta Bertoldi
âEcclesia Safeâ Initiative:
â https://tidings.ecclesiasafe.org/resources-for-elders/ecclesiasafe-consultation-group-engagement/â
â https://tidings.ecclesiasafe.org/â
â https://tidings.org/articles/caring-for-the-vulnerable/â
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Today weâre chatting about ghosts! More specifically, about how the Christadelphians have historically tried to disprove the existence of ghosts and the beliefs of Spiritualists to their followers! Itâs time for science class with John Thomas as he explains the (now considered pseudoscience) "science" of odology, explains how Jesus Christ (electric medium) used hypnosis on his disciples, speculates on whether followers will be able to be invisible and teleport when theyâre resurrected (sorry, you can only hold eyeballs), and how Godâs Holy Spirit is actually⊠electricity. We discover the story of a Christadelphian with psychic abilities and end the episode with the most legendary ghost story to ever be told in Christadelphia! Itâs going to get spoooooooky!
This episode was also released alongside Episode 14, Fellowship with Zinnia, due to some overlapping themes and topics. We hope you enjoy this podcast double feature! See you in 2025!
Resources and References
âOther Powers: The Age of Suffrage, Spiritualism, and the Scandalous Victoria Woodhullâ by Barbara Goldsmith, Page 78
Some background information on Spiritualism in the Britannica:
â https://www.britannica.com/topic/spiritualism-religionâ
Dr. Thomas: His Life and His Work by Robert Roberts
Popular Figures who were Spiritualists:
â https://www.history.com/news/spiritualism-communication-dead-figuresâ
The First Woman to Run for President in the US, Victoria Woodhull:
â https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-first-woman-to-run-for-president-victoria-woodhull.htmâ
Talking to the Dead: Kate and Maggie Fox and the Rise of Spiritualism by Barbara Weisberg
The Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith:
â https://christadelphianvideo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BASF.pdfâ
The Oprah Winfrey Show
Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, July 1852
â https://antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Herald%20of%20the%20Kingdom%20and%20Age%20to%20Come%20(JT)/Herald52.PDFâ
2023 Pew Research:
â https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spiritual-beliefs/â
2024 Article:
â https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4400922-americans-ghosts-aliens-devil-survey/â
Last Week Tonight: Psychics
â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhMGcp9xIhYâ
Harry Houdini:
â https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-harry-houdini-seances-and-spiritualism-were-just-an-illusion-180978944/â
The Ambassador of the Coming Age:
July 1868, Aug1868 and Sept 1868
The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come by John Thomas, July and August 1852
A Demonâs Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
The Princess Bride Movie, 1987
Prosopagnosia, medical condition
Jim Jones Healings
â https://people.com/crime/jim-jones-jonestown-massacre-demagogue-biography-jeff-guinn/â
Rapidash Pokemon
â https://pokemondb.net/pokedex/rapidashâ
The Bible:
1 Kings 19
2 Corinthians 12
Habakkuk 2:2-3
Joel 2:28
Job 33
Acts 10
Revelation 1
Matthew 22
1 Samuel 28
Odology: â https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odic_forceâ
Louis Cahagnetâs âCelestial Telegraph, or Secrets of the Life to Come revealed through Magnestismâ
Robert Roberts: A Study of Life And Character by Islip Collyer
The Christadelphian:
April 1869
February 1895
February 1888
May 1887
June 1876
January 1877
May 1955
November 1919
August 1913
November 1926
Spiritualistsâ Association Bookstore:
â https://nsac.org/bookstore/â
The Girl with Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts
The Wizard of Oz (movie), 1939
Spiritualism by Michael Ashton
Read Online at: â https://thisisyourbible.com/library/show/175â
The Christadelphian, Nov1871
The Christadelphian, January 1872
Medium and Daybreak, Nov 24 1871 edition
Full article provided from the University of Oxford Bodleian Library and from the Hamilton College.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town That Talks to the Dead by Christine Wicker
Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I learned about Ghosts by Amy Bruni
Other Resources:
If you want to learn more about Spiritualism, check out the Dig Podcast:
â https://digpodcast.org/category/spiritualism/â
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Today weâre chatting with Paul! In this episode, Paul shares his story of joining the Christadelphians with his parents as a young convert, to stirring up trouble in the capital city as a young man handing out pamphlets on the Holy Spirit, to eventually not only leaving the Christadelphians, but eventually becoming an atheist studying theology! Paul also shares his controversial experience giving his one and only public lecture as a Christadelphian, his time as part of a group of Christadelphians nicknamed âthe four horsemen of the apocalypseâ, and about his thesis project on the roots of Christianity which he started after going back to school *again*. Thereâs no box big enough to fit Paul into as heâs explored careers, countries, and theology throughout his lifetime. I hope you enjoy this episode and hearing about the twists and turns of his fascinating life!
Resources and References
Harry Whittaker, Author
List of Books here: https://bibliabooks.org.uk/harry-whittaker-books/
Carl Sagan; astronomer, scientist, author, and science educator:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan
Richard Dawkins; biologist, author, prominent atheist:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins
Christopher Hitchens, Author
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hitchens
Paulâs website, âReligion Free Worldâ:
https://religionfreeworld.org/
A link to Paulâs Book âOn Christian Originsâ:
https://religionfreeworld.org/books/
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Today weâre chatting with Luke! Luke shares his experience growing up in a small, insular ecclesia disconnected from the wider community of Christadelphians and singing the same hymns every week. In this episode, weâll hear about his process of trying to fit into the wider Christadelphian world after growing up in isolation, about his first experience attending an ecclesia that drank Christâs blood from a shared cup (ew), and on the pressure to leave his new ecclesia and to end his relationship with a non-Christadelphian. We also speculate on his prospects of an American speaking tour, argue for Australia to have its own major winter holiday, and wonder if Christadelphian music will ever be a topic for a pub trivia night at last!? And remember⊠watch out because the âChristadelphian Policeâ can be anywhere!
Please join us for yet another fun episode of fellowship among the heathens!
Listener discretion is advised.
Resources and References:
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Movie)
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Today weâre chatting with Mako in this âmini-episodeâ on beards and their cultural history within Christadelphia. Mako and Zinnia discuss the experiences shared by some ex-Christadelphians about beards and compare it to the historical views of Christadelphians during the time of Doctor John Thomas and Robert Roberts. We also joke about drag names, the British slang for penis, and moustaches on firemen! Please join us for a chat about this hairy topic!
As a friendly reminder, please be advised that the humor in todayâs episode is pretty âworldlyâ and this podcast is marked âexplicitâ across platforms. Listener discretion is advised.
Resources and References:
Monty Pythonâs The Meaning of Life:
https://youtu.be/Xt53afFXbrg?t=74
Dictionary entry for âJohn Thomasâ:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/John_Thomas
The Bible, 2 Samuel 10
The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come by John Thomas, May 1856, Page 113 âThe Gentile and the Jewâ
https://antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Herald%20of%20the%20Kingdom%20and%20Age%20to%20Come%20(JT)/Herald56.PDF
The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come by John Thomas, March 1852, Page 62 (782 if using link below)
https://antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Herald%20of%20the%20Kingdom%20and%20Age%20to%20Come%20(JT)/Herald%20Jan1851%20through%20Feb1854%20-%20Text.pdf
Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come by John Thomas December 1851 Page 280-281(Page 626 if using the link below)
https://antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Herald%20of%20the%20Kingdom%20and%20Age%20to%20Come%20(JT)/Herald%20Jan1851%20through%20Feb1854%20-%20Text.pdf
The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, May 1853, page 119 by John Thomas reprinting âWhy Israelites were Forbidden to Shaveâ from the âJournal of Sacred Literature pp. 65, 66â
https://antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Herald%20of%20the%20Kingdom%20and%20Age%20to%20Come%20(JT)/Herald53.pdf
My Days and My Ways by Robert Roberts, page 5, 67, 139
https://www.antipas.org/pdf_files/my_days_and_my_ways.pdf
âRobert Roberts: A Study of the Life and Characterâ by Islip Collyer
https://christadelphianlibrary.com/products/robertroberts-collyer
Drag Name Inspo and the name âLourdes Prayerâ
https://chelseacommunitynews.com/2021/01/12/the-150-best-new-drag-names-try-one-on/
On my comments on Leviticus:
https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-700876
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/world/africa/03iht-moses.4.5130043.html
On some religions using beards as a statement:
https://dralun.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/the-medical-case-for-beards-in-the-19th-century/
https://credomag.com/2016/07/they-will-know-we-are-calvinists-by-our-beards-timothy-raymond/
The Christadelphian July 1871
https://www.antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Christadelphian%20Magazine/The%20Christadelphian%20-%201871.pdf July edition starting page 199, quote on page 219
On the Victorians using hair from the dead for mementos:
https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/article/theyre-not-morbid-theyre-about-love-the-hair-relics-of-the-midwest/#:~:text=Hair%20was%20sometimes%20taken%20from,a%20year%20and%20a%20day.
Misc Research into Beards:
https://www.theenglishshavingcompany.com/en_gb/blog/beard-psychology-science/#:~:text=Beards%20also%20impact%20perceptions%20of,than%20the%20clean%2Dshaven%20men
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Today weâre chatting with Mike! Mike shares his story of growing up in the Brotherhood with many surprises including sourcing bootleg copies of the Simpsons for the Christadelphian youth group, finding a wife at the Christadelphian nursing home, and about his path to eventually becoming âunequally yokedâ before leaving the group. Mike also shares his experience of unintentionally framing the Editor of the Christadelphian magazine for vandalism (whoops) and answers whether or not he saw any unattached beard hair in the Christadelphian Magazine Archives. And of course, he asks the hard hitting questions such as â...have you got a hat?â. Please join us for yet another fun episode of fellowship among the heathens!
Resources and References:
Praise the Lord Hymn Book: https://www.christadelphianbooks.com/detail/2059
Music can be listened to here: https://www.wcfoundation.org/praise-the-lord
The Book of Mormon:
On Broadway: https://bookofmormonbroadway.com/
Watch online at: https://archive.org/details/book.-of.-mormon.-broadway-upscale-720x-480
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Today weâre learning about the unofficial president of the John Thomas fan club, Robert Roberts. In this episode, weâll be taking a critical look at whether this famous Christadelphian leader was actually just a follower. Iâll be sharing with you ârespectable heathensâ stories about Robert Robertsâ childhood, his quirks, and the chance he missed to leave behind the drama of the Christadelphians forever. I hope youâre as surprised as I was to learn the bizarre ways that he honored John Thomas throughout his lifetime, and even in death. Iâll also share a Christadelphian exhortation drinking game, a request for the whereabouts of a lost object, and a story about a legendary exhortation at the Moorestown ecclesia. Please also stay tuned to the end for another âadâ from one of our âsponsorsâ.
Resources and References:
âMy Days and My Waysâ by Robert Roberts, 1894
https://www.antipas.org/pdf_files/my_days_and_my_ways.pdf
âRobert Roberts: A Study of the Life and Characterâ by Islip Collyer
https://christadelphianlibrary.com/products/robertroberts-collyer
John Thomas His Friends and His Faith by Peter Hemingray, 2003
https://christadelphianlibrary.com/products/johnthomashisfriends-hisfaith-hemingray
GIlmore Girls tv series, Season 6 episode 8 âWhy did you drop out of Yale?â
âElpis Israelâ by John Thomas
https://christadelphia.net/PDF/jtEI.pdf *fourteenth edition
https://ia803407.us.archive.org/7/items/elpisisraelexpos00thomiala/elpisisraelexpos00thomiala.pdf *ninth edition
Goosebumps tv series, âWelcome to Dead Houseâ
Ex-Christadelphians.com, âWho was Robert Roberts?â
https://www.ex-christadelphians.com/2021/02/who-was-robert-roberts.html
âEscaping Twin Flamesâ Documentary, Netflix
Jonestown, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown
The Christadelphian magazine,formerly The Ambassador of the Coming Age, accessed via https://thechristadelphianlibrary.com/category/digital-library/magazines/ (Subscription required)
-November 1869, free version available to view at: https://www.antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Christadelphian%20Magazine/The%20Ambassador%20&%20The%20Christadelphian%20-%201869.pdf
-July 1871 edition, free version available to view at:
https://www.antipas.org/library/Magazines/The%20Christadelphian%20Magazine/The%20Christadelphian%20-%201871.pdf July edition starting page 199, quotes can be found page 217 and 219
âThe Early History of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in Britain with Historical, Critical, and Social Reminiscences of Persons, Places, and Eventsâ compiled by William Norrie, Vol III
https://christadelphia.net/PDF/norrie3.pdf
Ancestry.com, Roberts Family Tree
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/174807481?cfpid=272267503058&dtid=100
Tidings article mentioning Robertsâ son Edward leaving the Christadelphians:
https://tidings.org/articles/robert-roberts-in-north-america/
Coraline (book) by Neil Gaiman, 2002
Coraline Movie adaption 2009
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Today weâre chatting with Leah! Leah shares her story of pushing the boundaries of respectable behavior for a Christadelphian woman by saying prayers at the podium, giving exhortations, and pushing the community to support the fair-trade movement. Leah wasnât about to let gender roles get her down and now sheâs living her best life re-enacting Sister Act, voting in elections, and saying farewell to her good enemies in the ecclesia. Leah also shares her one rule that sets her new standard when visiting and evaluating a church. Please also enjoy a special guest appearance by Leahâs cats⊠meowâŠ
References & Resources:
Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari
I Donât by Clementine Ford
See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control, and Domestic Violence by Jess Hill
Leahâs choir performance:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18G6pRecip/
Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
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Today we're chatting with Keturah about true crime stories from the Christadelphians! History certainly isn't always boring with Zinnia sharing the history of five notorious Christadelphians from around the world. Just in time for spooky season, let's talk about body snatchers, poison, and even murder...
References mentioned in this episode:
Story One: John Thomas Story References:
John Thomas: His Life and His Work by Robert Roberts
John Thomas: His Friends and His Faith by Peter Hemingray, Page 90-92
John Thomasâs article in the Lancet on the Anatomy Bill in May 1829 (Full article received via email after contacting Elsevier) â https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(02)98765-9/fulltextâ
Articles on the Richards Riot:
-YouTube video on Richardâs Riot & the identity of the young woman â https://youtu.be/CecD1prIOZsâ
-Patch.com
â https://patch.com/illinois/stcharles-il/bp--grave-robbing-riots-and-murder-the-story-of-a-st-19dfeab964â
-St Charles History Museum
â https://www.stcmuseum.org/history-news/2020/4/18/grave-robbing-gunfights-and-sances-the-story-of-the-richards-riot-of-1849â
-The Resurrectionists
â https://www.howderfamily.com/blog/resurrectionist/â
Story Two: Albert Chernov Kidney Stealing Story:
â https://www.haaretz.com/2003-11-26/ty-article/police-believe-organ-trafficking-suspect-has-fled-israel/0000017f-dbf1-df62-a9ff-dff784dd0000â
The report on âJerryâ is not publicly available and was sourced from a member of the Ex-Christadelphian Facebook Group. The full section of the report that was referenced is quoted here: âAlbert Chernov, baptized by [âJerryâ real name redacted], was financially supported by BBFU (CCM) as a recruiter for the Brotherhood. Chernov was arrested in Jul 2003 on suspicion of rounding up Russian immigrants in Israel and compelling them, with threats and extortion, into undergoing nephrectomies (removal of a kidney). The charges detailed that the organs were sold, by Chernov and his two accomplices, on the black market. [Source: Haaretz.] He was released on bail in Nov 2003 and fled the authorities. [Source: Washington Post.]â
United Nations definition of organ trafficking:
â https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2024/June/explainer_-understanding-human-trafficking-for-organ-removal.htmlâ
Story Three: Judith Ann Venn Murder:
Article 1:
â https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/28/queensland-woman-who-laced-husbands-soup-with-pills-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughterâ
Article 2:
â https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-04/judith-ann-venn-jailed-for-killing-abusive-husband-spiked-soup/102689162
-Chicago, the musical. Song: Cell Block Tango
Story Four: âUncle Murderâ/ Roger Hammond:
Phoenix New Times: âMr. Fix-it is Guiltyâ March 1 1989 â https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/mr-fix-it-is-guilty-6412893â
Man convicted in Arkansas in Louisville woman's death Associated Press
â https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/109894222/â
Obituary
â https://vermontjournal.com/obituaries/roger-hammond-1945-2022/â
Story Five: Gary Schaefer Murders:
Book: In The Shadow of Death: The Hunt for a Serial Killer by Philip Ginsburg
â https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-schaefer-plea/41890009/â
Podcast: Haunted New England, Episode 10
Podcast: Thrice Cursed: A True Crime and Paranormal Podcast: Heavens'ta Betsy aka Gary Lee Schaefer
â https://www.reformer.com/local-news/vermont-convicted-murderer-kidnapper-dies-in-kentucky-prison/article_ec3d2b9c-8dfe-11ee-a2f9-77f7c5811a85.htmlâ
â https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Schaeferâ
â https://www.newspapers.com/article/rutland-daily-herald-schaefer-arrested/41893267/â
â https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/schaefer-gary-lee.htmâ
Book Mentioned by Keturah:
To Believe In Women: What Lesbians Have Done For America - A History by Lillian Faderman
https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Women-Lesbians-America-History/dp/0618056971
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Today we're chatting with Heather! Let's cozy up by a babbling stream with our favorite transcendental books for this one!
You can visit Heather's blog at:https://callunararis.com/category/religion-spirituality/
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