Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism

Sarah Caton, a young preacher’s daughter growing up in a small Mormon town in Utah is beginning to doubt her faith. Highly observant, and stubborn, Sarah tends to see and point out inconsistencies which keeps getting her in trouble, especially in church. But ultimately, the very traits she thinks will be her downfall are what lead to her starting the deconstruction process. By following her own tr...

In this episode, Rebecca Worthington shares her personal journey, from her upbringing as a Freewill Baptist, and to her years at Bob Jones University. She provides a candid account of the expectations and pressures she faced growing up, and the impact of purity culture and fundamentalism. Rebecca also discusses her experiences at BJU, from navigating its rules system to discovering her bi/pan iden...

In this episode, we delve into the life of Mary Hubbard, who shares her experiences growing up at Dyer Baptist Church in the IFB movement. Dyer Baptist is an offshoot of FBC Hammond Baptist Church. She also shares her experiences attending BJU. She discusses the controversial events that led to her expulsion from BJU, including a relationship with a staff member and the aftermath, which involved c...

Ashley Easter is a cult survivor turned survivor advocate. She is the founder of Courage 365, a non-profit for abuse survivors (especially those abused in faith contexts) and a television producer focused on highlighting stories of meaning and mission. She is also an intuition life coach specializing in helping women take back their power and confidently make decisions for themselves. (description...

Today, we're joined by Dan Parsons, a former student and staff of Bob Jones University. Before BJU he attended North Love Baptist Church. A church with its own scandals. This church also started the Christian IFB addiction program called Reformers Unanimous (RU). I highly recommend listening to the Preacher Boys Podcast as he covers this church extensively. (scroll to the bottom for links) In this...

Eric Skwarczynski is a versatile media professional with a passion for storytelling. Over the past 7 years, he has held various roles, including videographer, photographer, writer, and graphic designer, leading him to explore over 20 states and 13 countries. His mission revolves around shedding light on the significant issue of mental, physical, and sexual abuse within Independent Baptist Churches...

On May 7, 2024, Bob Jones University declared the appointment of their sixth president. Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153866318625322/ Join my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger My Substack: https://speakingupandrewpledger.substack.com/ Social Media: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leah Worley’s time at BJU was marked by an invasive surveillance regime and a suffocating culture of authoritarianism. Targeted for her appearance, she found herself under constant scrutiny, with every aspect of her identity dissected and judged under the unforgiving lens of the university's rigid moral compass. Leah recounts chilling episodes of being stalked, publicly shamed, sexually harassed,...

In this episode, we delve into the experiences of Joshua Bellis, whose family was intricately entwined with Bob Jones University (BJU). He shares his experiences of growing up as a missionary kid in Canada. His parents were missionaries with the Gospel Fellowship Association, a mission agency operated by BJU. Joshua also shares the story of his grandfather (James Bellis) who, despite his dedicated...

In this episode, Erin Burchwell shares stories about her travels with BJU's missions teams. She also discusses her upbringing in Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville. Erin Burchwell is a Columbus, Ohio-based florist, designer and illustrator. She grew up as a faculty kid on the campus of Bob Jones University. In 2014, Erin interviewed with GRACE, an independent ombudsman who reviewed the Uni...

CONTENT WARNING: sexual abuse and victim blaming - Read the full GRACE Report here: https://www.netgrace.org/bju In this episode, I read some highlights of the GRACE Report of BJU. In this updated episode, I add some of the recommendations section. The GRACE report is a 301-page report on the mishandling of sex abuse allegations at Bob Jones University. The report shows Bob Jones University r...

Erin Burchwell is a Columbus, Ohio-based florist, designer and illustrator. She grew up as a faculty kid on the campus of Bob Jones University. In 2014, Erin interviewed with GRACE, an independent ombudsman who reviewed the University’s mishandling of sexual assault reports. She and others chose to break their anonymity in the report when the school fired the GRACE team. Andrew's Links Facebook Di...

This is an episode I did with the IndoctriNation Podcast which is hosted by Rachel Bernstein LMFT, Cult Specialist. Listen to the IndoctriNation Podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and other platforms . Andrew Pledger is a content creator, activist, and writer who uses social media to share his story and inspire others. He is a religious trauma survivor who was homeschooled K-12 and raised in a...

Rich Merritt is an author, attorney, and LGBTQ+ activist who has led a remarkable life. He was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to fundamentalist Christian parents. He was in the Bob Jones school system from first grade through the university. He attended Bob Jones University for two years and in 1988 transferred to Clemson University. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and served a...

Rich Merritt is an author, attorney, and LGBTQ+ activist who has led a remarkable life. He was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to fundamentalist Christian parents. He was in the Bob Jones school system from first grade through the university. He attended Bob Jones University for two years and in 1988 transferred to Clemson University. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and served a...

Dr. Camille Lewis attended BJU in the 90s, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees. She joined the faculty at BJU and completed her Ph. D. from Indiana University. In 2007, she left BJU after being given an ultimatum: either resign or permit the BJU daycare to spank her 2-year-old son. She chose her son. In this episode, she provides an overview of the history of Bob Jones Univer...

Dr. Camille Lewis attended BJU in the 90s, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees. She joined the faculty at BJU and completed her Ph. D. from Indiana University. In 2007, she left BJU after being given an ultimatum: either resign or permit the BJU daycare to spank her 2-year-old son. She chose her son. In this episode, she provides an overview of the history of Bob Jones Univer...

Dr. Camille Lewis attended BJU in the 90s, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees. She joined the faculty at BJU and completed her Ph. D. from Indiana University. In 2007, she left BJU after being given an ultimatum: either resign or permit the BJU daycare to spank her 2-year-old son. She chose her son. In this episode, she provides an overview of the history of Bob Jones Univer...