I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. An Exvangelical podcast.

Bree was born into Pentecostalism. She claims to have filled her Christian Bingo card by doing most things a good Christian girl should do, including marrying a pastor's son and being a superstar on the overhead projector. She remembers what it was like as a girl in a culty Word of Faith church and then later as a woman in Great Big CCC (aka c3). Bree's blog is found here: http://breemorel.com/  ...

This is a special crossover episode with Dr Clint Heacock of the Mindshift Podcast . Clint was a teenage fundamentalist, pastor, Bible College teacher, and completed a PhD on the Book of Ezekiel and preaching. We ask him how he came to jettison his Christian faith after being so dedicated for so many decades. For part 2 of this episode, please check out Clint's podcast here: https://mindshiftpodca...

Brian & Troy do a deeper dive into the ideas of Spiritual Warfare. This is the Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian belief that society and the broader world is controlled by Satan and his demon hordes and that these can be defeated by prayer.  The News.com.au article mentioned in this episode is found here: https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/gold-coast-mayor-tom-tates-spiritual-adv...

Brian McLaren was a Charismatic Evangelical pastor for twenty-four years. Now he's an author, activist, public theologian, and arguably the poster boy for Progressive Christians everywhere. In this episode, Troy and Brian chat with Brian McLaren about his new book, Do I Stay Christian?  which gives reasons why people should stay but also why people should leave. You'll really enjoy this interview...

Troy recounts how his desire to find out about the history of the Revival Centres/ Revival Fellowship and the evolution of their beliefs turned into an obsession that not only took him to university, but also helped bring the truth about the cult to others damaged by them. If you would like to explore the research and counter-Revival Centre work, see the links below: http://revivalprophecy.blogspo...

Well-known Australian journalist Tom Tilley has interviewed some of the most influential people in the world. What was not so well-known until recently was that Tom grew up as the oldest son of a Pentecostal pastor. In this episode, Troy and Brian chat with Tom about his memoir, Speaking in Tongues , and how his Pentecostal upbringing shapes who he is now. You can find Tom's book here: https://www...

Brian and Troy talk with Rachel Bernstein, a licensed therapist who specialises in cult intervention and re-acclimation. She is the host and producer of the podcast IndoctriNation which explores cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control. This episode is the second of a crossover we did with Rachel. You can hear her interviewing us on her podcast here: https://www.podpage...

Brian and Troy chat with Phil Drysdale about Deconstruction , which he defines as the process of questioning one’s core foundational beliefs and upon finding these are flawed, discarding them. Phil asserts that deconstruction most often comes from a place of passionate faith where religious questions go unanswered and where people are forced to explore new beliefs. You can connect with Phil at Phi...

In this episode, Brian continues to recount his post-Pentecostal journey. He remembers the joys and pains at the start of his deconstruction process while living in Cairns in Australia's far north. --- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf   Email: hhandhillsong@gmail.com   Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not a...

Dr Ray is an atheist psychologist and author who specialises in the secular treatment of religion-induced trauma. He founded the non-profit organisations Recovering from Religion and the Secular Therapy Project . He is also a regular speaker at the Conference on Religious Trauma . Most importantly, he is the current High Priest of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster . --- Transcript of the...

As Brian did in Episode 45, Troy recounts his short-lived time in the Baptist Union. It was here that he started a homegroup made up of a few Pentecostal refugees and reengaged the pop culture around him. --- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf   Email: hhandhillsong@gmail.com   Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You ar...

In Episode 49, Brian & Troy spoke with best-selling Evangelical author, Philip Yancey. In this episode, they reflect on that conversation and what it brought up for them. What do Exvangelicals do about Evangelicals who are really good people? You may not agree with the conclusions the hosts reach, but hopefully you resonate with their honesty. --- We're on YouTube here. Want more? Check out our ex...

Brian & Troy talk with best-selling Evangelical author, Philip Yancey about his memoir, ' Where the Light Fell', that chronicles his time growing up fundamentalist. They also talk with Philip about how his books impacted them as they journeyed out of fundamentalism into more moderate versions of Christianity in the late-90s. You can find Philip's new book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Where-Ligh...

If there's one thing that characterises megachurches in Australia and around the world, it's nepotism. Brian & Troy cite some tangible examples of nepotism in the Australian Christian Churches and Hillsong and discuss why this needs to change and what members can do about it. Note: It is this New York Post article that reported Michael Guglielmucci, 'and his spouse, or “Team Gug,” should resign th...

In this special episode, Brian & Troy discuss the recent moral allegations brought against Brian Houston of Hillsong, by the online publication Crikey .  The Crikey article we quote is here: https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/03/18/brian-houston-revelations-hillsong/   Warning: This episode touches on issues concerning sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. If you are in Australia and require suppor...

Elle Hardy is an accomplished Australian journalist who wrote Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity is taking over the world. Brian and Troy chat with Elle about how and why she undertook this project and what she discovered about the global Pentecostal phenomenon. You can find her book at all the usual places online and access Elle's website here: https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/beyond...

Brian journeys away from Pentecostalism and fundamentalism to a more moderate Baptist space. He remembers being pulled back into Pentecostalism and even trying it back on for size, only to find it no longer fit. --- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf   Email: hhandhillsong@gmail.com   Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith?...

In this second of two episodes, we continue our chat with Frank Schaeffer, author and son of the late theologian and Evangelical author, Francis Schaeffer. While Frank was once a teenage fundamentalist, he now describes himself as an atheist who believes in God. Frank talks about his new book, Fall in Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy , a well-researched and entertaining bri...

In this first of two episodes, we talk with Frank Schaeffer, author and son of the late theologian and Evangelical author, Francis Schaeffer. While Frank was once a teenage fundamentalist, he now describes himself as an atheist who believes in God. Frank tells his back story and how he went from a founding member of the Religious Right to one of its harshest critics. You can access Frank's website...

This first episode for Season 3 comes out swinging as Brian and Troy discuss the Hillsong news that Brian Houston has stepped down as its Global Senior Pastor . They then go for a walk down memory lane, discussing Christian bookstores and what they sell. --- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf   Email: hhandhillsong@gmail.com   Doubting your beliefs? Have ques...

In this final episode for Season 2, B&T take questions from podcast listeners and reflect on the podcast so far.   -- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf   Email: hhandhillsong@gmail.com   Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recover...

In this crossover episode, B&T are interviewed by the co-hosts of the podcast, What Should I Think About..? They are asked, "What is Evangelicalism? Is it a cult? What do Pentecostals believe? Why do they speak in tongues?" They also discussed the rise of megachurches and in particular Hillsong, its history, beliefs and methods of recruitment.   You can access the very interesting WSITA..? podcast...

B&T talk with Geoff Bullock, one of the founding pastors of Hills Christian Life Centre, which later became Hillsong. He talks frankly about how and why he left Hillsong in 1995, and his journey since then. Geoff Bullock was appointed as the church's worship pastor and was the convenor of the annual Hillsong conference from 1987 to 1995. He was also a creative and driving force behind Hillsong's f...

The time has come...at last! Tune in to hear B&T trigger like MOFOs and tell how they finally left Great Big AOG. This episode makes reference to "The Toronto Blessing" which was discussed in Episode 22: https://iwasateenagefundamentalist.podbean.com/e/episode-022-heaven-bent-with-tara-jean-stevens/   -- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf   Email: hhandhillso...

T comes back from Country Town AOG and B has risen in the ranks of the Great Big AOG youth group. T doesn't like what he sees and B is not so sure about T. Our links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf   Email us: hhandhillsong@gmail.com   --- We're on YouTube here. Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here. Our blog is here . Join the conversation and connect with others here . The transcript...