The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

Bonus Episode: Coping with Anxiety During the Coronavirus Outbreak (with Janice Selbie)

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.
 
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Follow Janice on Twitter @Wise_Counsellor or @divorcereligion
Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018
 

A Deep Dive into Religious Trauma Syndrome (with Dr Marlene Winell)

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.
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Follow Dr Winell on Twitter @marlenewinell
More Resources on the JourneyFree website
Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

A Conversation with a Progressive Christian (with Dan Koch)

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!
 
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Follow Dan on Twitter @DanKoch
Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

Inside the World of Christian Reconstructionism (with Julie Ingersoll)

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!
 
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Follow Julie on Twitter @julieingersoll
Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018
 
Find out more about Christian Reconstructionism in my Medium article on the subject.

Bonus Episode: The Psychology of the Pawn

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!
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The Psychology of Scientology (with Chris Shelton)

As an ex-Scientologist of more than 25 years, and a Sea Org member of 17 years, this week's guest--Chris Shelton--is uniquely positioned to provide amazing insight into this destructive cult. Not only do we delve into the psychology behind Scientology, we discover that much of its practices are mirrored in other cults and religions, too.
 
We discuss how it is that people are drawn into cults, why they stay, and what steps you can take to recover your identity post-cult, or post-religion. For more information on Chris's valuable work, check out his excellent Sensibly Speaking podcast!
 
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Follow Chris on Twitter @sheltondesigner
Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

The Myths of Christian Nationalism (with Andrew Seidel)

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!
 
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Freedom From Religion website
Follow Andrew on Twitter @AndrewLSeidel
Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018
The MindShift Podcast Blog

Bonus Episode: Unpacking the Theology behind 7 Mountains Dominion Theology

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.
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Taking a Deeper Dive into Dominion Theology (with Dr André Gagné)

The inaugural episode of MindShift podcast for 2020 features returning guest, Dr  André Gagné of Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. As an expert on this vast and frankly confusing field of dominion theology, and its many streams, Professor Gagné  is the perfect guest to continue the conversation I started with him on our episode last year.
The evangelical support for Donald Trump should be an area of concern for anyone who values their liberties. And not only are there a great deal of conservative evangelicals pushing their agenda, increasingly we are discovering prominent dominion theologians among their ranks.
Dr  Gagné and I discuss this, along with many other facets of this movement that is daily growing in influence not just in America, but indeed the world.
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Follow Dr Gagné on Twitter @profagagne
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The Open Letter Response to Christianity Today my article on Medium

Bonus Episode: Reflecting on 2019, Looking Ahead to 2020

In this final end-of-year episode, I take a look back not just on the year 2019 in terms of podcast episodes and great guests I've been privileged to talk to, but I get into my own deconversion story too.
What's more important--to deconstruct your former beliefs, or to reconstruct your identity? I'll hopefully answer that question as I tell a bit more of my own personal story, as well as previewing a bit of what's coming ahead in 2020.
Thanks for listening to MindShift Podcast in 2019--looking forward to what comes up in 2020!
Support MindShift Podcast on Patreon in 2020!
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Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018
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MindShift Podcast Blog