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Ep. 12 – Farewell Evangelicalism – Final Episode
In search for better, life-giving, community where all to be whole.
Episode 12 arrives, the final episode in the serial series ‘Farewell Evangelicalism‘, designed to name problems in evangelical/conservative thought and belief to help folks leave, and when you exit, find the tools for your liberation.
This episode summarizes key problems in conservative Christian spaces. What dominates evangelical thought and belief? Then, I posed a question to each guest that went something like this, “what does better look like?” I included their thoughts in this episode. We are fortunate to hear from the voices of: Scott Coley, Jared Stacy, Marlena Graves, Robert Callahan, Kristian Smith, Cait West, Ed Ng, DL Mayfield, Celeste Irwin, Daniel Wheat, and me, your host, Rohadi Nagassar.
Episode 12 Final: Show Notes
(00:00) Introduction with Rohadi and the final episode of Farewell Evangelicalism
(4:00) Scott Coley summarizes core attributes that inform evangelical and fundamentalist beliefs.
(11:42) Jared Stacy on apostasy as an act of faith.
(21:00) Robert Callahan on Aslan…revealing the true nature of evangelicals.
(23:45) Finding your people after your leave with DL Mayfield.
(30:50) What does a better way look like? Love thy neighbor with Marlena Graves.
(33:30) What does liberation and life giving community look like?
(35:00) Cait West
(40:48) Celeste Irwin
(49:52) Examples of life giving community/churches doing things differently with Kristian A Smith.
(1:03:05) Final reflections on steps to exit with Ed Ng.
(1:10:22) Outro
Guests Including Your host: Rohadi Nagassar (he/him)
Rohadi‘s books can be found here, including his latest publication, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins, and his forthcoming title (Spring 2026) called Whole & Human. Forty Meditations for Liberating Body and Spirit. Find his online church community: https://abeautifultable.ca/
Scholar/Author – Scott Coley
Scott Coley Scott M. Coley holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University. His research interests include philosophy of religion, moral epistemology and political philosophy. His book is entitled, Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
Theologian/Author – Jared C Stacy
Jared Stacy is a theologian and ethicist and former pastor to evangelical churches. He received a PhD in moral & practical theology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His research focuses on the intersection of theology and politics. Specifically on ethics, extremism/conspiracy theory and US evangelicalism. Jared’s work & story has been featured on platforms like TIME, NPR, NBC News, the BBC, and Christianity Today.
Author/Attorney – Robert Callahan
Robert Callahan is a writer and accomplished attorney, dedicated to his practice at Callahan & King in the heart of Waco, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gonzaga University and a Juris Doctorate at Baylor University School of Law, where he now serves as adjunct professor of Integrating Faith and Legal Practice. His latest book is called, Fire in the Whole: Embracing Our Righteous Anger with white Christianity and Reclaiming Our Wholeness.
Dr. Marlena Graves – Professor/Author
Marlena received her PhD in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH where she is researching the influence American culture has on Evangelicals’ view of immigration, race, and poverty. Marlena’s book, “The Way Up Is Down” (with IVPress) released in July 2020.
Author/Podcaster – D.L. Mayfield
D.L. Mayfield (they/them) is a podcaster and author. After a decade of writing for Christian spaces, they now write primarily about issues of neurodivergence and healing from high-control religion. D.L. and their partner Krispin Mayfield are currently working on a multimedia publishing project entitled STRONGWILLED, which is available on Substack. You can read along here.
Kristian A Smith – Pastor and Podcaster
Find Kristian on Instagram. Community Builder; Founder & Pastor @tfc.virtual; Host @holysmokesmovement; Curator of Greatest Commandment Theology. Find him over at kristianasmith.com
Psychologist – Dr. Ed Ng
Ed Ng is a Registered Psychologist in private practice in Vancouver and is the founder and director of Eastgate Psychological Services. He is also the founder of the Eastgate Project and hosts its podcast, which focuses on the intersections of psychology, theology, and the experiences of the Asian diaspora.
Celeste Irwin (she/her) – Trans Activist and Writer
Celeste is a transgender, lesbian woman. She is a writer and advocate for transgender rights and inclusion in Christian spaces. Having survived an abusive church, she also writes about spiritual abuse. Visit her website/Substack and find her on BlueSky.
Cait West – Author of Rift. A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy
Cait West has been published in The Revealer, Religion Dispatches, Fourth Genre, and Hawaii Pacific Review, among others. As an advocate and a survivor of the Christian patriarchy movement, she serves on the editorial board for Tears of Eden, a nonprofit providing resources for survivors of spiritual abuse, and cohosts the podcast Survivors Discuss. Find out more. Substack | Instagram | TikTok
Bumper music by Daniel Wheat; Intro by Jesse Peters
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By Rohadi
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In search for better, life-giving, community where all to be whole.
Episode 12 arrives, the final episode in the serial series ‘Farewell Evangelicalism‘, designed to name problems in evangelical/conservative thought and belief to help folks leave, and when you exit, find the tools for your liberation.
This episode summarizes key problems in conservative Christian spaces. What dominates evangelical thought and belief? Then, I posed a question to each guest that went something like this, “what does better look like?” I included their thoughts in this episode. We are fortunate to hear from the voices of: Scott Coley, Jared Stacy, Marlena Graves, Robert Callahan, Kristian Smith, Cait West, Ed Ng, DL Mayfield, Celeste Irwin, Daniel Wheat, and me, your host, Rohadi Nagassar.
Episode 12 Final: Show Notes
(00:00) Introduction with Rohadi and the final episode of Farewell Evangelicalism
(4:00) Scott Coley summarizes core attributes that inform evangelical and fundamentalist beliefs.
(11:42) Jared Stacy on apostasy as an act of faith.
(21:00) Robert Callahan on Aslan…revealing the true nature of evangelicals.
(23:45) Finding your people after your leave with DL Mayfield.
(30:50) What does a better way look like? Love thy neighbor with Marlena Graves.
(33:30) What does liberation and life giving community look like?
(35:00) Cait West
(40:48) Celeste Irwin
(49:52) Examples of life giving community/churches doing things differently with Kristian A Smith.
(1:03:05) Final reflections on steps to exit with Ed Ng.
(1:10:22) Outro
Guests Including Your host: Rohadi Nagassar (he/him)
Rohadi‘s books can be found here, including his latest publication, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins, and his forthcoming title (Spring 2026) called Whole & Human. Forty Meditations for Liberating Body and Spirit. Find his online church community: https://abeautifultable.ca/
Scholar/Author – Scott Coley
Scott Coley Scott M. Coley holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University. His research interests include philosophy of religion, moral epistemology and political philosophy. His book is entitled, Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
Theologian/Author – Jared C Stacy
Jared Stacy is a theologian and ethicist and former pastor to evangelical churches. He received a PhD in moral & practical theology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His research focuses on the intersection of theology and politics. Specifically on ethics, extremism/conspiracy theory and US evangelicalism. Jared’s work & story has been featured on platforms like TIME, NPR, NBC News, the BBC, and Christianity Today.
Author/Attorney – Robert Callahan
Robert Callahan is a writer and accomplished attorney, dedicated to his practice at Callahan & King in the heart of Waco, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gonzaga University and a Juris Doctorate at Baylor University School of Law, where he now serves as adjunct professor of Integrating Faith and Legal Practice. His latest book is called, Fire in the Whole: Embracing Our Righteous Anger with white Christianity and Reclaiming Our Wholeness.
Dr. Marlena Graves – Professor/Author
Marlena received her PhD in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH where she is researching the influence American culture has on Evangelicals’ view of immigration, race, and poverty. Marlena’s book, “The Way Up Is Down” (with IVPress) released in July 2020.
Author/Podcaster – D.L. Mayfield
D.L. Mayfield (they/them) is a podcaster and author. After a decade of writing for Christian spaces, they now write primarily about issues of neurodivergence and healing from high-control religion. D.L. and their partner Krispin Mayfield are currently working on a multimedia publishing project entitled STRONGWILLED, which is available on Substack. You can read along here.
Kristian A Smith – Pastor and Podcaster
Find Kristian on Instagram. Community Builder; Founder & Pastor @tfc.virtual; Host @holysmokesmovement; Curator of Greatest Commandment Theology. Find him over at kristianasmith.com
Psychologist – Dr. Ed Ng
Ed Ng is a Registered Psychologist in private practice in Vancouver and is the founder and director of Eastgate Psychological Services. He is also the founder of the Eastgate Project and hosts its podcast, which focuses on the intersections of psychology, theology, and the experiences of the Asian diaspora.
Celeste Irwin (she/her) – Trans Activist and Writer
Celeste is a transgender, lesbian woman. She is a writer and advocate for transgender rights and inclusion in Christian spaces. Having survived an abusive church, she also writes about spiritual abuse. Visit her website/Substack and find her on BlueSky.
Cait West – Author of Rift. A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy
Cait West has been published in The Revealer, Religion Dispatches, Fourth Genre, and Hawaii Pacific Review, among others. As an advocate and a survivor of the Christian patriarchy movement, she serves on the editorial board for Tears of Eden, a nonprofit providing resources for survivors of spiritual abuse, and cohosts the podcast Survivors Discuss. Find out more. Substack | Instagram | TikTok
Bumper music by Daniel Wheat; Intro by Jesse Peters