The Life After Leaving Podcast: An Ex-Christadelphian Podcast

• S3 Ep. 32 Fellowship with Ben

  Today we’re chatting with Ben! In this episode, we explore how Ben went from a youth role model as the son of a renowned conservative Christadelphian preacher to pushing the limits of even the most liberal Christadelphians before leaving. Raised in a conservative branch of Christadelphia, Ben was told that some of their family had “left the faith” but was surprised to discover that there were actually just attending other, less conservative, Christadelphian ecclesias nearby! Even at Ben’s baptism, which surprisingly morphed into a roast, Ben defied convention by asking a member of the “Shield” group to baptism them  at a “Logos” hall as Ben began to resist the labels and expectations they had been raised with. Throughout the episode, Ben and I also discuss Christadelphian music. From singing our favorite songs from “Fruit of Our Lips” to discussing what instruments and songs were allowed to be played to learning about their incredibly popular music nights at SCYP, we dive into what was a pivotal moment in Christadelphian music as Ben and their contemporaries created new music that pushed the limits and was even met with walk-outs and bullying. As a singer-songwriter, Ben left a lasting legacy on Christadelphian music as their songs continue to be popular in the present day. However, most Christadelphians probably don’t know that one of their favorite songs was written by a gay man and a non-binary person who both left the faith! We also talk about puppet plays, the Portland frog, and their experience helping create a LGBTQ affirming evangelical church in New York City.   Listener discretion advised.  If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at [email protected] Resources and References:   Left handedness and sexual orientation   Fruit of our Lips CD (2002)   El Shaddai (Youtube)   As the Deer (unable to find CD Version)   A New Commandment (Youtube)    Shout Living Moving Being Wonder Every day Songs in a strange land Endless   Sydney Christadelphian Young People   Flamy Grant    Bible Belt Baby (Spotify)   Drag Queen Album Tops Christian Music Charts   Hymnary.org School of Rock   Christadelphian Art Trust   Yahweh's Youth from Living Moving Being (Youtube)   Purple Worship Book   Worship Books Audio   With All My Heart by Ben Grace, Worship Vol 1 Track 88   Rob Bell and the Mars Hill Church   Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell   Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller   David Crowder   Hurricane/ Superstorm Sandy   The Liturgists Podcast   Secular Humanism   What is Christian Nationalism   The Danger of Christian Nationalism   Christian Nationalism is neither Christian nor Patriotic   Experts Discuss Christian Nationalism    The Portland Frog :  ICE Protest Frogs Have a Long History  Frogs For Peace: How the Portland Frog Became a Symbol of Resistance and Hope     It’s a Wonderful Life Movie (1946)   It’s a Wonderful Life and World War II   Sean Feucht   Jane Goodall's Final Message to the World   Audrey Hepburn: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”   Heathen Happy Hour Podcast   Story and Tune    Purity Culture Trauma   Purity Culture Support   “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver   Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor   Ben Grace Music   Ben Grace Music (IG)    As if Words Could Heal the Wounds   Ex Mormon Bookclub Podcast   Ben Grace: Naked and Unashamed Podcast Episode    As if Words Could Heal the Wounds Podcast

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• S3 Ep. 31 Biblical Studies 101 for Ex-Christadelphians with Steve

  Today we’re chatting with Steve about one of his favorite topics, Biblical Studies! In this episode, we learn about the Bible from a former Christadelphian brother who left behind Christadelphian dogma for an open-minded scholarly approach to the Bible. In this episode, Dr. Steve reframes and explores many topics that we thought we knew about to see how context, translation, and history play a part in truly understanding the Bible. We learn that the Dead Sea Scrolls do *not* prove that the Bible hasn’t changed (like some of us were told), that the Bible underwent editing, redaction, and other changes throughout history (rather than being the perfect, unchangeable word of God), and that numerous passages in the Bible actually quote texts that are not found in the KJV Bible we read at all (and we never noticed?!) Steve’s expertise also brings about interesting discussion about the evolution of the doctrine of resurrection, the idea of atonement, whether God forbids homosexuality in Leviticus, and whether “Paul” actually wrote that women should be silent in the ecclesia. We also had fun exploring “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll” in the Bible, reading “Solomon’s top ten pick-up lines”, and listening to Steve’s memory of a satirical prayer given at a Christadelphian ecclesia. Be warned, you’ll need to leave your Strongs Concordance at home for this episode, otherwise you’ll fail this class!      Listener discretion advised.    If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at [email protected]   Resources and References:   Reading the Bible Again For the First Time by Marcus Borg   Grimms’ Fairy Tales   The Documentary Hypothesis   Who wrote the Bible? By Richard Elliot Friedman   Redaction Criticism    National Treasure   Pseudopigrapha   Catholic Bible   Orthodox Bible   Coptic Bible   Ethiopic Bible   Testament of Moses   Testament of the 12 patriarchs   The Wisdom of Solomon   Solomon's Top Ten Pick-Up Lines   3 books of Isaiah   Wisdom of Sirach/ Ben Sira   The Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith   Hapax legomenon (a word that occurs in only one place)   Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres   Testament of Job    Strong’s concordance   The Book of Judith   Judith beheading Holofernes (Caravaggio)   Judith Slaying Holofernes (Artemisia Gentileschi)   The Talmud   Cult Bride: How I was Brainwashed- and How I Broke Free by Liz Cameron   Book of Enoch   Instagram video on pseudepigrapha    The Ancient Greeks and Quotation Marks   The Bible: Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13, James 5:11, Ezekiel 18:20,  2 Tim 3:16, Song of Solomon 1:9, Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2, 1 Timothy 2:11-12, 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

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• S3 Ep. 30 Pies, Theft, and Murder: More Christadelphian True Crime with Zinnia & Pete

  In today’s episode, Zinnia and Pete discuss six more historical examples of criminality among the Christadelphians that were not covered in our first true crime episode- from investigations into meat pies and hate speech, to missing charitable funds, and even murder! Let’s get into the spirit of spooky season as we discuss childhood medical neglect and speculate on why religious communities are so skeptical of modern medicine and vaccines, the passivity of believers who follow a “Jesus take the wheel” approach to their life, and about how the “punishment” for embezzlement looks a lot like a reward, or even condoning theft of charitable funds! We also look at how criminal investigations were handled during the early days of Christadelphia under Robert Roberts compared to the present day (hint: there were no secret meetings or letters). And we also have a few laughs as we learn about the Christadelphian view on sex toys, contrast modern medicine with biblical medicine, and discover (while recording!) that the thisisyourbible.com website was apparently hacked years ago and no one noticed!    Also, please don’t send me your opinions on vaccines. However, feel free to send me your favorite “biblical loopholes” or additional information relating to any of these stories to [email protected]! Thanks in advance!    Listener discretion advised.   TW: Childhood Medical Neglect, Manslaughter Charges, Domestic Violence, Violent Murder   Resources and References:   Spooky Intro Music Inspired by The Addams Family Theme Song Thank you to the ex-CD who snapped with me for this!   John Thomas, honorary mention:   The Life After Leaving Podcast: Episode 6 True Crime with Keturah   Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz   The Life After Leaving Podcast: Episode 26 Liar, Liar   The Case of the Bad Meat:   “The History of the Christadelphians 1864-1885” by Andrew Wilson   The Christadelphian Magazine: November 1881, December 1881, and January 1882   The Christadelphian Ecclesial Guide by Robert Roberts (1883)   Mid-Atlantic Christadelphian Bible School History Skit Performance    Naegleria fowleri     Sweeney Todd   East Kilbride Scandal:   National Secular Society: NSS refers Christian charity to regulator for anti-vax memes   Daily Record in February 2022    Another Daily Record Article in February 2022   Daily Record in June 2022   East Kilbride Christadelphians Facebook   Medicine in the Bible   The Satanic Temple   Satanists Unveil Lucifer Statue Design for Oklahoma Capitol (2014)   One Christadelphian on the East Kilbride Christadelphians   Does the rainbow “belong only to God”? (IG)   Can Christadelphians Use Sex Toys?   Charity or Hate Group?   2019 Article investigating hate group claims/ This Is Your Bible     NSS Dossier on Christadelphian Charities   ThisIsYourBible.com on Human Rights   United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights   Cambridge University: Autistic Individuals More Likely to be LGBTQ+   Cambridge University: Autistic Individuals have increased risk of Physical Health Conditions   Autism Unemployment Rate   TIME Magazine: Asperger’s Syndrome, the Nazi Regime, and the Dangerous Power of Labeling People   Autism and Disability in Nazi Vienna   Describing neurotypicals like they describe autistic people (FB)   “Neurotypical Spectrum Disorder” (Reddit)   Anti-Defamation League Definition of a Hate Group   Christadelphian Care Homes Report   This is Your Bible Website shares bizarre (broken?) link under “Human Rights”   Wayback Machine: The Christadelphian Daily Journal on Human Rights “[1] In passing, we remark that God has not given anyone demandable rights of any sort.”    Report of Charity Commissions Investigation and Compliance Case Work: 2012-2013   The Paradox of Tolerance    Michael Ashton Embezzlement:   Birmingham Christian charity faces probe over alleged disappearance of hundreds of thousands of pounds Feb 2012   Christadelphian Research Web Archive June 2015   The Christadelphian Magazine, January 2012, April 2016, July 2022   Ex-Christadelphians.com Michael Ashton Books   Ex-Christadelphians.com Forgiving Your Brother   Ecclesial Guide by Robert Roberts   The Danger of Cults by Michael Ashton   Medical Neglect and Death of a Child:   “Girl Dies on Water Diet” November 1975   The Lancet ‘A Case of Imperforate Anus’ by John Thomas   Joe Dispenza, chiropractor   2023 study of the Followers of Christ church   The Guardian article on Religious Medical Neglect   1998 Study on Medical Neglect Deaths   2011 Study on Faith Healing Deaths   Dr. Alec Burton- HealthScience.org   Fasting For Health and Recovery (Video) by Alec Burton   Alec Burton Obituary   Thank you God- Tim Minchin (Youtube)   Brother Brian Murder, Murder Plots, and Attempted Prison Escape:   BBC News Jealous Man Gets Life For Murder   BBC News: Isle of Wight Prison Helicopter Escape Foiled   HeraldNet UK murderers outlandish jail escape plot foiled   Helicopter Prison Escapes   Murderers Isle of Wight Escape Plot Foiled   BBC News Isle of Wight Prison Security Lapse Let Drugs In    The Guardian ‘Blindsided wife of Long Island serial killer suspect files for divorce’   The Telegraph ‘Teacher So Jealous He Tried to Kill All His Rivals’   The Telegraph ‘Jealous ex-teacher convicted of murder’   Berkshire Live ‘Obsessed Teacher Guilty of Murder’   BBC News ‘Jealous ex killed lover’s friend’   The Guardian ‘Murderer’s Isle of Wight escape plot foiled’   BBC News ‘Isle of Wight Prison Helicopter Escape Foiled’   Herald Net ‘Murderer’s Outlandish Prison Escape Plot Foiled’   Isle of Wight prison security lapse ‘let drugs in’

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• S3 Ep. 29 Fellowship with Tim

  Today we’re chatting with Tim! In today’s episode, we hear from a survivor of the movement of a small group of Christadelphians who traveled to Israel because of an article in a Christadelphian magazine in order to meet Jesus, who they believed had returned but was living “in cognito” as an Israeli politician. Tim tells us about when his family prayed to a literal burning bush they believed was a sign from God, about his sister becoming a shepherdess in the Promised Land, and about the repeated abuse, attempted murders, and other traumatic experiences that marked his childhood in Israel. This episode is a doozy… we discuss “bullets for Jesus”, severe PTSD, and the difficulty Tim experienced trying to escape the nightmare that his family's beliefs in Christadelphian doctrines had led him and his siblings into…    Listener Discretion Advised.   TW: Emotional, Physical, Psychological and Sexual Child Abuse, Kidnapping, Physical Assault, Murder-Suicide Attempts, Gun Violence, PTSD   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at [email protected]   Resources and References:   “Who is this…?” by Charles J. Hall of Boise, Idaho in Testimony Magazine. Email [email protected] to request a PDF   Lod Airport Massacre   The Branch Davidians at Waco and David Koresh   The Jonestown Massacre and Jim Jones   Moshe Dayan    Sylvia Plath   "A Child Called 'It' " by David Pelzer   The Ecclesial Guide (1883)   Branhamites   Poseidon Adventure (1972 Movie)   "High Demand Group Recovery Group."  Hosted by Mary Moore via Zoom. Email [email protected] for Mary’s email address.

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• S3 Ep. 28 Fellowship with Pete

  Today we’re chatting with Peter! In this episode, we hear from a former brother about the difficulties of growing up in a family perpetually changing ecclesias, of struggling to build friendships within the Christadelphian community, and of trying to meet the complicated standards for public prayers and bible readings. Peter shares how he had felt so mentally immobilized by fear that he had never questioned any of the doctrines until he met a Christadelphian who did, setting Peter on a path of asking questions, fact checking Christadelphian teachings, and eventually realizing that some Christadelphians share incorrect information (sometimes knowingly!) Peter also speaks up against the harmful views he was taught about “marital rights”, the intense schedule of attendance that was expected of Christadelphians every week in England, and of his struggles to create his own identity, beliefs, and community as an ex-Christadelphian adult.  Listener discretion advised.   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at [email protected]   Resources and References:   Wiki mentioning Central Name Change based on location  “Birmingham Temperance Hall ecclesia (so known after the location of their rented rooms)... In 1952 the majority of the Berean Christadelphian Fellowship rejoined the "Birmingham Central" body of Christadelphians ("Temperance Hall" was now known as the "Central Fellowship", since Birmingham Central had ceased renting rooms at Temperance Hall in 1932”   Thou, Thee, and Archaic Grammar   Thou Grammer Wikipedia   Who wrote the Bible by Richard Elliot Friedman   Genie the feral child article   Israeli Gas Find (Testimony Magazine Archive)   Mount Tabor and the Jezreel Valley   Daily Mail- Pope sacks astronomer over evolution debate   Update: Christian Century:  Vatican astronomer’s backing of evolution no factor in his exit   Cosmic Skeptic with Alex O’Connor on Youtube   Holy Koolaid on Youtube   Good Omens (TV Show)   Chimp Paradox: How Our Impulses and Emotions Can Determine Success and Happiness and How We Can Control Them by Steve Peters   Complex PTSD books   Your logical fallacy is website   Your bias is website

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