David Teachout is a licensed therapist specializing in religious abuse, as well as the host of Humanity’s Values podcast and author of Journeys of a Spiritual Atheist. In today’s episode, we explore: what differentiates a religion from a cult? According to David, there’s no clear distinction, but much of it comes down to mind control. How do people who have been indoctrinated into mistrusting their own minds and senses learn to regain trust in their inner guidance? And how does a fervent obsession with moral purity obscure well-intentioned people from recognizing true injustice?

David Teachout is a mental health therapist and photographer, focused on and teaching how creativity intersects with mental flexibility in working through the inevitable difficulties in life. David grew up as a Christian fundamentalist, attending a bible college and receiving a bachelor’s in theology and psychology. During his studies there, David de-converted and has been on a journey of appreciating the many faces of humanity. David has a master’s in both forensic psychology and counseling psychology, and is currently at work on a doctorate in clinical psychology. David has been actively working within the field of psychology as therapist, social worker, advocate, and subject-matter-expert, for over fifteen years. In his spare time, David enjoys reading a copious amount, both fiction and non-fiction, exploring perspective through photography, and maintains a blog at www.lifeweavings.com and a podcast at www.humanitysvalues.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @lifeweavings.

In this episode several books were mentioned. You can find each of these in my bookshop or by following the Amazon affiliate links below. A small portion of each purchase helps support the show.

David Teachout’s own book: Journeys of a Spiritual Atheist

John McWhorter - Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America

Steven Hassan - Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs

Katherine Schulz - Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error

Francis Fukuyama - Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

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