The Life After Leaving Podcast: An Ex-Christadelphian Podcast

• S3 Ep. 28 Fellowship with Peter

  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.   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   Mount Tabor and the Jezreel Valley   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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• S3 Ep 27. Fellowship with Sarah

  Today we’re chatting with Sarah! In this episode, Sarah answers all of my questions about the subgroup of Christadelphians called the “Bereans”, shares her experience of growing up in a small ecclesia as a victim of child m*lestation by Christadelphian brothers, and the story of how the Berean Christadelphian community discovered and responded to the abuse (Surprise! NOT WELL!) We also learn about Sarah’s second baptism, the revelations that shocked her as she learned more about the outside world, and discuss the harmful consequences of some of the Berean-specific Christadelphian beliefs for victims of child abuse. Sarah also shares the positives in her life now that she left the Christadelphian community, the lessons she’s learned about trying to heal, and about the joy and freedom she has in her adult life.   Listener discretion advised. TW: child sexual abuse, pedophilia, depression, attempted suicide   Resources and References:   Wikipedia on Berean Christadelphians   Berean Christadelphian Website   Church law and tax website: “Minimizing the Risks of Child Molestation in Churches”   American Mandatory Reporting Laws   “KidFlix” platform busted news article   Wrested Scriptures by Ron Abel (Book- PDF Link)   Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber (Book)   Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle   Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans   The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels    Jim Palmer Substack “Deconstructionology”   The End of Faith by Sam Harris   Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches About the Unseen World and Why it Matters by Dr. Michael Heiser   On The Origin of Time by Stephen Hawking    Donald Hoffman (Author)   Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Annaka Harris   Frederico Faggin on Consciousness   Dr. Tara Swart   Dr. Gabor Mate   Dawn Smith: TedX “Why I Left an Evangelical Cult”

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• S3 Ep. 26: Liar, Liar, M.D. on Fire: Dr. John Thomas’ Medical Qualifications with Zinnia

  Today we’re investigating the medical qualifications of “Doctor” John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians. In this episode, we’ll debunk some questionable claims allegedly recorded in mysterious letters, examine damning evidence hidden in plain sight regarding Thomas’ medical education, and explore the shocking reason why John Thomas really left England to pursue a medical career in the United States. We also deep dive into John Thomas’ background in “male midwifery”, his forgotten role as a teacher for the Royal Western Hospital School, and his published treatment plan for cholera. Zinnia also uncovered a new biography of John Thomas’ medical background while researching this episode and unveils brand new information and insights about his medical background for this episode! Please join us for another exciting history episode as John Thomas’ lies and criminal activity get exposed by Zinnia, namely, a woman.   Many thanks to Dr. Craig Fairweather of Sydney, Australia, to the other ex-Christadelphians who have reached out to share resources, and to the amazing archivists and librarians who helped me uncover an amazing new resource for this episode!   Please stay tuned for Part Two!   Listener discretion advised. Resources and References: *Please email me at [email protected] if interested in seeing a resource that isn't readily available that is listed here. Dr. Thomas: His Family and the Background of His Times’ by Charles Blore (1982) John Thomas: His Friend and His Faith” by Peter Hemingray The Life After Leaving Podcast, Episode 6 The Life After Leaving Podcast, Episode 2 The Life of Dr. Thomas Archives: Royal College of Surgeons of England, Hackney Archives, & Southwark Archives The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 edition Dr. Thomas: His Life & Work By Robert Roberts 1873 “Dr. John Thomas - the man and his work” by S. M. Algar from 'The Dawn Ecclesial Magazine' September 1969, from the Hackney, London Archives The Lancet articles by John Thomas: “On the Immateriality of the Mind” by John Thomas Improvements on Civiale’s Lithoniritic Instruments by John Thomas Synopsis of the Treatment of the Malignant Cholera by John Thomas ESSAY ON ASPHYXIA ;OR AN ATTEMPT TO Illustrate the Pathology, and to simplify the Treatment, of SUSPENDED ANIMATION by John Thomas Case of Imperforate Anus by John Thomas On the Nature and Treatment of Burns and Scalds by John Thomas Anatomy Act of 1832 “Medical Training in the United States Prior to the Civil War” by Robert Slawson British Newspaper Archive: Evidence for the Existence of the Royal Western Hospital in 1830 Thomas Leigh Blundell Source 1 and Source 2 Body Snatching in the UK The Real Mr Frankenstein - Sir Anthony Carlisle, Medical Murders, and the Social Genesis of Frankenstein by Donald Shelton (2020) Physician, Apothecary, or Surgeon? Why are male surgeons still addressed as Mr? - PMC Catholic Controversy by John Thomas in the Millennial Harbinger Apostalic Advocate Vol 1 1834 Apostalic Advocate in 1836 M.D. Not D.D. October 1850 edition of New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal John Thomas M.D. in the St Charles Patriot Newspaper Jimmy Neutron Brain Blast “The History of Medicine” by Alexander Wilder (1901) Catch Me If You Can (2002) “The New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal” by Calvin Newton Vol 2, No 8, Page 122, April 16, 1848 The Independents Oliver Cromwell Trail of Tears Cholera Statistics Cholera in England American Heritage- Doctors of the Frontier Alanis Morissette- Ironic Calomel Tidings Devotional by Alan Eyre (2005)(Why Dr. Thomas Really Left England) British Health and Medicine Historically Speaking: Victorian-era doctors lacked tools to help patients Hackney, London - Wikipedia

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• S3 Ep. 25 Fellowship with Vanessa R

  Today we’re chatting with (another) Vanessa! In this episode, we interview our first ex-Christadelphian raised in the “Old Paths” sub-group of the Christadelphian sect. Vanessa shares some stories from their community such as their caravan tent version of Bible School, the strict rules baptized members were required to agree to such as never going to the movies, and about how her family refused to fellowship with “Central” Christadelphians while visiting. However, Vanessa was always excited to learn and even startled her Sunday School teacher with the surprising facts she shared from reading Malcolm X. Despite her then-husband’s disapproval as a young woman, she continued to read and study outside of traditional domestic fields, eventually getting her PhD (and divorcing her Christadelphian husband). We also chat about wine so watered down that even thieves returned it, people pleasing and abusive relationships after being raised in high control religion, and the therapeutic creative project she undertook after leaving. Also, this episode is dedicated to our new podcast patron saint Keanu Reeves.  Please join us for another episode of fellowship among the Heathens! Listener discretion advised.    Resources and References:   Speed (1994 Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/   Keanu Reeves: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keanu_Reeves   Goodreads- Cult Memoirs: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/cult-memoirs   Vanessa’s first book ‘Holy Bible: https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Vanessa-Russell-ebook/dp/B085DLDJWF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12PM33O8KXBTM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P2UQqnx3tzVC00lQZU8J1A.UwnyG3mR0ZIKtTEP206TUR3FytgSL6LAFRXG5D6N6jg&dib_tag=se&keywords=vanessa+russell+holy+bible&qid=1746401165&s=books&sprefix=vanessa+russell+holy+bible%2Cstripbooks%2C87&sr=1-1   Vanessa's second book ‘The World is Not Big Enough’ https://www.amazon.com/World-Is-Not-Big-Enough/dp/1743796838   Netflix: American Murder: Gabby Petito (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35590630/   Netflix: American Murder: Laci Peterson (2024) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33079160/   Gary Schaefer (1951-2023), Christadelphian Serial Killer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Schaefer   EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):  https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing

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• S2 Ep. 24 Fellowship with Mako

  Today we’re 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 “let God fix it”. 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/   Pascal’s wager   Barbie Movie (2023)   Mako’s exhortation on Love:  Available on our Facebook Page (too long for the show notes!)

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