The Life After Leaving Podcast: An Ex-Christadelphian Podcast

Today we’re chatting with Steve to explore what the Bible actually says about the future “Kingdom of God”! Join us for heathen “Sunday School” as we explore the evolution of some of the ideas in the Bible that are necessary to believe in an eternal “future kingdom” including- the messiah, the resurrection, and the idea of a kingdom itself. In this episode, we also look to answer whether the Christadelphians assertion that the “kingdom of God” doctrine was present throughout the Bible is true and we examine the places where this doctrine conspicuously seems to be missing. Steves shares cultural and historical context throughout the episode to understand why the monarchy was not re-established in Israel, where some of these beliefs actually originated, and what the evolution of these ideas tells us about what people believed during different time periods. Steve also shares the story behind Christadelphians bizarre obsession with a biblically inaccurate portrayal of Ezekiel’s Temple and explains John Thomas’ Bible Math “rules” which Thomas inconsistently used for interpreting the book of Revelation. We also laugh about Samuel and his nepo babies, sweaty Jesus, and discuss *even more* failed prophecies. 

 

Please join us for this first episode in a two-part series exploring the Christadelphian belief in the “Kingdom of God” and the end times! 

 

TW: There is one reference to a Christadelphian who is excited to act out violence against queer people during “the end times”.

Listener discretion advised.

 

If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at [email protected]

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Want to join our community? Find ex-Christadelphians on Facebook here

References:

 

Life After Leaving Podcast: Episodes 16, 21, and 31

 

The Temple of Ezekiel's Prophecy by Henry Sulley (Full Book)

 

Eureka by John Thomas (Wiki)

 

Eureka by John Thomas, Vol 1 (Full PDF)

 

Youtube series on Ezekiel's Temple:

An Accurate visual of Ezekiel's Temple Ch 40

 

An Accurate Visual of Ezekiel’s Temple, Ch 41

 

An Accurate Visual of Ezekiel’s Temple, Ch 42 & 43

 

Hymnary.com Who is this come from Edom?

 

The Kingdom of God on Earth by Stephen Hughes (Full Book)

Today we’re chatting with Andy! In today’s episode, Andy shares his experience of growing up as a Christadelphian in the UK. Ever since he was a young boy performing in Sunday School, Andy was uncomfortable in the spotlight. He shares his memories of anxiety around traditional Christadelphian expectations for men including being baptized in front of large crowds and being asked to do the readings from the platform. Andy also speaks up about what it felt like to grow up in the Christadelphian community as a child experiencing sexual abuse. He shares his thoughts about how being in a community that doesn’t value sexual education or personal autonomy made it harder to ask for help and how their belief that sex before marriage is a sin perpetuates further harm against child sexual abuse survivors by creating feelings of shame. We also talk about authoritarian parenting, post-baptism lows, and motorcycle gangs! Please join us for yet another episode of fellowship among the heathens!  

 

TW: Child sexual abuse

Listener discretion advised.

 

If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at [email protected]

 

Follow us on Instagram⁠ or ⁠Facebook⁠!

 

Resources:

Proposed law in Japan  “Other acts that will constitute neglect include… blocking their interaction with friends due to a difference in religious beliefs and thereby undermining their social skills.”

 

Christmas apocalypse has been cancelled, says Ghana 'prophet', buys Mercedes with donations Dec 2025

 

Déjà rêvé

Today we’re finishing our investigation of the medical qualifications of “Doctor” John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians. In this history episode, we’ll follow John Thomas’ career during his time in the United States from the 1830’s into the 1850’s. We once again debunk persistent myths that have been repeated by Christadelphians for generations. Instead of accepting these myths, we critically examine them and speculate on the real reasons behind Thomas’ career choices. We also question John Thomas’ motives for his marriage, his reasons for moving frequently, and the credibility of the school that issued his M.D. degree in 1848. Zinnia also shares numerous new historical resources to do a deep dive into claims of extortion against John Thomas by the Richmond Campbellites and into the strange and questionable school, the “Scientific and Eclectic Institute” of Petersburg, Virginia, where John Thomas claimed to have earned his degree. Throughout this episode, we also reflect on what these stories indicate about John Thomas’ personality, his motivations, and why his persistent claim to have “the truth” isn’t actually something for Christadelphians to be proud of.

Please join us for another exciting history episode as John Thomas’ lies and criminal activity get exposed by Zinnia, a harbinger of destruction. 

Listener discretion advised

Resources and References:

Thank you to the ex-Christadelphians for sharing information about these Lancet articles!

⁠The Lancet 1829-1830 ⁠ 

See: Oct 10, 1829; Jan 16, 1830; Jan 30th, 1830

⁠John Thomas: His Friend and His Faith” ⁠

⁠Dr. Thomas: His Life & Work ⁠

⁠Monty Python and the Holy Grail ⁠

⁠Professor James Staughton⁠

⁠The Millennial Harbinger, 1835⁠

⁠“The New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal” Vol 2, No 8, Page 122, April 16, 1848⁠

⁠Population of Cincinnati in 1830 and 1840⁠

⁠Physicians in Ohio 1819-1850⁠ (used 1831 Directory)

⁠University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine⁠

⁠Population of Cincinnati⁠ (1830: 24,831)

⁠Cincinnati population in the 1800s⁠

America’s current population (2025): 333.3 million

Current number of American physicians (2025): 1,044,734

⁠Population of Philadelphia 1830 ⁠

⁠Desilver’s Philadelphia Directory (1831)⁠

⁠Doctors in Philadelphia ⁠

⁠The Millennial Harbinger (Feb 1835)⁠

⁠Demon Of Unrest by Erik Larson⁠

⁠James H Hammond⁠

Philadelphia & Virginia

⁠The Millennial Harbinger, 1834 ⁠

“A Review of the Defence of Dr. John Thomas" (Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ for a digital copy)

⁠The Apostalic Advocate, May 1837⁠ pg 18-19

Dr. Thomas: His Family and the Background of His Times’ by Charles Blore

⁠Inflation Calculator⁠

⁠Payment of Doctors⁠

⁠Doctor Fee Bills⁠

⁠Millennial Harbinger, Feb 1838 ⁠

⁠Take Back Your Life by Janja Lalich and Madeline Tobias⁠

⁠John Thomas M.D. Newspaper⁠

The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886

⁠A Muppet Christmas Carol⁠

LAL Podcast: S1 Ep 6: Christadelphian True Crime 

⁠Rush Medical College⁠

The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 “Dr. Thomas’s Professional Status”

⁠Formation of the AMA⁠

⁠Incorporation of the S&E College March 1st 1847⁠ 

⁠1847 “J Thomas M.D.” ⁠

⁠1846 Oct Classes⁠

⁠The New England Botanic and Medical Journal, 1848⁠ “Biography of John Thomas M.D.”

⁠Nov 1847 “Virginia Institute" ⁠

⁠Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati⁠

⁠Philadelphia Diploma Mill ⁠

 ⁠Degree Mills by Allen Ezell and John Bea⁠r

⁠Dr. John Buchanan⁠

⁠The Rise and Fall of Dr John Buchanan⁠

⁠Alexander Campbell on the S&E School⁠

⁠Worcester, MA school⁠

⁠S&E College to Send Diplomas to MA⁠

⁠The History of Medicine by Alexander Wilder⁠

⁠Eclectic Medical Journal 1844-1848⁠

⁠Eclectic Medical Journal 1849-1850⁠

⁠August 1848 Ad⁠

⁠THOMSONIANISM IN VIRGINIA by JAMES O. BREEDEN ⁠

*email ⁠[email protected]⁠

⁠“Medical Training in the United States Prior to the Civil War”⁠

⁠Harbinger, 1853 “Dr of Opinions”⁠

⁠Harbinger 1854 “not D.D. or M.D.”⁠

⁠Impeachment & John Thomas’ Farewell⁠

⁠Eclectic Schools⁠ 

⁠Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati ⁠

⁠The Early Development of Medical Licensing Laws in the US ⁠

⁠Herald 1851, p 279⁠

Today we’re chatting with Katie! Katie’s story is an eye-opening account of the harms and pressure of sexism in Christadelphian culture on young girls. As a child, Katie was pulled out of the public school system in order to spend her time primarily caring for her brothers and taking care of the household tasks. As she grew older, was pressured to find a husband and begin to follow a “timeline” which would lead to staying home and having children while being told that she shouldn’t get an education at university. Despite the lack of encouragement and guidance, Katie escaped the Christadelphians, explored life as an independent woman, and attended university. In this episode, Katie also shares what it was like to join the Christadelphians as a child with her family, about Christadelphian dating culture, and about the poor behavior of the “brothers” in her former ecclesia that ultimately lead to her leaving Christadelphia once and for all. Please join us for yet another episode of fellowship among the heathens!  

Listener discretion advised.

 

If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at ⁠[email protected]⁠

 

⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠!

 

References:

Corinthians 11:8-9 "For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man made for woman, but woman for man"

 

⁠Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell⁠

 

Meghantschanz on IG ⁠“The Role of a Godly Husband (if women butchered the Bible the way men have)”⁠

 

Clarabelltoks on IG 

⁠Flipping Vacation Bible School⁠

⁠If we spoke to men the way we speak to women⁠

⁠If we spoke to boys the way we speak to girls⁠

⁠If we spoke to boys the way we speak to girls (2)⁠

⁠If we spoke to boys the way we speak to girls (3)⁠

⁠Flipping misogyny and homophobia in the church⁠

⁠Flipping misogyny in the church⁠

Today we’re chatting with Bec! In this episode, Bec shares her experience growing up as a “Logos” Christadelphian in Australia and trying to follow the ‘straight and narrow’ path until she made the difficult decision to leave her marriage and embrace her identity as a lesbian! Bec shares some vulnerable stories of life inside the ecclesia. From trying to be a good daughter and getting baptized as her mom was dying, to learning about her mother’s hidden heartbreak which had become fodder for gossip at their ecclesia, and to growing up and meeting Christadelphian men who wanted to marry her… if they could control her. Despite some heavy topics, we also enjoyed a few laughs as we asked, what did Solomon’s wives really do together while he was busy? If Christadelphian brothers see rainbows and assume it’s a queer symbol then have they voluntarily given “God’s symbol” to the gay community? And does sage really work to get rid of ghosts in your house??

Please join us for yet another episode of fellowship among the heathens!  

 

TW: Domestic violence, coercive rape, postpartum depression, suicidal ideation

 

Listener discretion advised.

 

If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at [email protected]

 

Follow us on Instagram⁠ or ⁠Facebook⁠!

 

References:

 

⁠Underworld with Kate Beckinsale (2003)⁠

 

Proverbs 3:15 “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”

 

Forced Adoptions in Australia:

⁠SBS News: “I was told my baby had died. Decades later, I learned that was a lie”⁠

⁠“Social worker tells of forced adoptions”⁠

⁠“Catholic Hospitals Apologize for Forced Adoptions” ⁠

 

⁠From God to Gay Podcast⁠ 

 

⁠Will I ever be good enough by Dr. Karyl McBride⁠

 

⁠Joyce Meyer (Author)⁠

 

⁠Lee-Ann Cipri (Medium)⁠