I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. An Exvangelical podcast.

C was in full-time paid ministry at Christian City Church (now known as c3) in the mid to late-90s. In this episode she shares how she joined, the culture of the organisation, and why she eventually walked away. -- 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 episode, T recounts his time in formal ministry as the youth pastor of Country Town AOG. Spoiler alert: it didn't go too well. -- 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:...

This is the second half of our time with Bart Campolo, a secular community builder, counsellor and writer who serves as the Humanist Chaplain at the University of Cincinnati. He is the son of Evangelical celebrity preacher and author, Tony Campolo, with whom he made a movie about leaving Evangelical Christianity. You can connect with Bart at bartcampolo.org/ and find his podcast, Humanize Me on al...

Bart Campolo is a secular community builder, counsellor and writer who serves as the Humanist Chaplain at the University of Cincinnati. He is the son of Evangelical celebrity preacher and author, Tony Campolo, with whom he made a movie about leaving Evangelical Christianity. You can connect with Bart at bartcampolo.org/ and find his podcast, Humanize Me on all good platforms. You can stream Leavin...

In this episode, T goes deeper into a story he told in Episode 26 and shares how he was rejected by a very high profile family at Great Big AOG because he didn't have enough faith to be 'comfortable'.  -- 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 no...

Anji Barker has 30 years experience in neighbourhood based community work in poor urban communities in Australia, Thailand and the UK. In this episode, she shares her own story of leaving fundamentalism and why she's happy to still call herself a 'follower of Jesus'. You can connect with Anj at https://newbigintrust.uk/ and find her book, Missionary Not Just A Position on Amazon. -- Transcript of...

Heaven was the ultimate reward that B&T looked forward to as teenage fundamentalists. In this episode, they look back and remember what they believed about this final destination. And just like Heaven, you won't want to miss this episode. The two books recommended in this episode are: Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife : Ehrman, Bart D. Beyond: How Humankind Thinks About Heaven eBook : Wo...

B&T remember all the hours they gave to the church as volunteers and how some in the Church didn't always handle donations of time and money in the most ethical manner.  Warning: This episode briefly touches on rape and sexual abuse. If you are in Australia and require support, please reach out to 1800RESPECT by phone or online at www.1800respect.org.au/ or Lifeline on 13 11 14. --- We're on YouTu...

Fiona Newton, former Teenage Fundamentalist and co-author of the petition to stop Hillsong evangelising in public schools, joins B&T to tell about her own fundy past and why she thinks that Hillsong deserves no place in the public education system. You can sign Fiona's Change.org petition here: https://www.change.org/p/federal-minister-for-education-hillsong-church-is-trying-to-proselytise-their-r...

As Pentecostals, both B&T crossed paths with sexual predators in church. This episode recalls those meetings and also some of the scandals that plagued Pentecostalism in recent years. The articles mentioned in this episode are: Findings released into Australian Christian Churches and affiliated Pentecostal churches Royal Commission sex abuse inquiry censures Hillsong head Brian Houston Assemblies...

As you might have guessed, dating and marriage within Fundamentalism weren't often egalitarian and were usually controlled by the pastors and leaders.  Warning: This episode touches on issues concerning rape and domestic violence. If you are in Australia and require support, please reach out to Rape and Domestic Violence Services via: https://www.rape-dvservices.org.au/ or Lifeline on 13 11 14. --...

Dr Josie McSkimming, author of Leaving Christian Fundamentalism and the Reconstruction of Identity, shares her own story as a teenage fundamentalist within Sydney Anglicanism and her ongoing clinical work with those leaving Fundamentalist Christianity. To contact Josie, please visit her website: https://mcskimming.com.au/   -- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwa...

Did B&T ever see a real and verifiable miracle while in the Pentecostal scene? Listen in to find out. -- 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.recoveringfromreligi...

B&T discuss the prevalence of narcissists and psychopaths in Pentecostalism and their experiences with these kinds of people. They also ask why the church attracts these people and if Pentecostalism helps to create them. Warning: This episode touches on issues concerning psychological abuse. If you are in Australia and require support, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14. The articles mention...

Tara Jean Stevens, the host of the amazing Heaven Bent podcast shares her own history as a teenage fundamentalist and some of the backstories behind her two podcast seasons on the Toronto Blessing and Bethel Church. -- 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 fai...

We kick-off Season 2 by remembering our favourite CCM artists and a few songs. We invite you to clap along at home. The links to the songs mentioned in this episode are: Living in Laodicea - https://youtu.be/g_8Pas8qoWc   Asleep in the Light - https://youtu.be/7XeEL0mRBHo   Creed - https://youtu.be/jy4JA5uStB0   Maranooka - https://youtu.be/7f-JdFPazMo   -- Transcript of the episode is here. Podca...

B&T take questions from podcast listeners and reflect on Season 1.   -- 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.recoveringfromreligion.org/   --- We're on YouTube he...

B&T talk about how they saw the supposed Son of God as Pentecostals, and their 'relationship' with this first-century Jew.   -- 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://w...

Ultimately, fundamentalist Christianity really centres around God. In this episode, B&T look back on how they saw God as good Pentecostals.     --- 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 of this episode is here. All our other links are here .  Doubting your beliefs?...

B&T have ‘a word’ for you as they share their stories around the use of prophecy in their time as Pentecostals.   --- 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 of this episode is here. All our other links are here .  Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing...

"Take your partner by the hand, speak in tongues and understand."  - Debbie Harry   --- 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 of this episode is here. All our other links are here .  Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You ar...

It isn't enough to be a Teenage Fundamentalist yourself, Pentecostals are expected to bring others into the fold. In this episode, B&T remember their times as evangelists and short-term missionaries.    -- 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 n...

B&T remember their time believing the unique claims of the Faith Movement/ prosperity gospel ( Spoiler Alert: it didn’t deliver and it messed them up a bit).   -- 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 he...

In part three of this special three-part episode, we interview former AOG evangelist/pastor and now #GayAmbassador, Anthony Venn-Brown.   TRIGGER WARNING: If you find that some of the material in this episode disturbing, we encourage you to talk with a close friend who will understand or contact your local help/crisis/support telephone line.  Lifeline Australia  https://www.lifeline.org.au/   Beyo...

In part two of this special three-part episode, we interview former AOG evangelist/pastor and now #GayAmbassador, Anthony Venn-Brown.   TRIGGER WARNING: If you find that some of the material in this episode disturbing, we encourage you to talk with a close friend who will understand or contact your local help/crisis/support telephone line.  Lifeline Australia  https://www.lifeline.org.au/   Beyond...