In this episode I am joined by Rebekah Sturgill, mother, school teacher, and convert to Orthodox Christianity.

Rebekah details her upbringing in a Texan evangelical church and how encounters with authoritarianism and questions about her sexuality saw her leave the religion.

Rebekah describes a period of passionate teenage atheism before becoming deeply involved in feminist activism beginning in university. Rebekah explains why she remains a feminist but left activism and how, through a powerful visionary experience, she converted to Orthodox Christianity.

Rebekah also explores the mechanisms of conversion, considers the line between faith and extremism, and comments on the pros and cons of a new trend of conversions to Orthodox Christianity driven by internet influencers and discussion communities.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep302-my-conversion-to-orthodox-christianity-rebekah-sturghill

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:00 - Evangelical Christian upbringing in Texas

04:17 - Studying theology and philosophy at St Johns College

04:38 - Encountering Jesus through reading the Gospels

05:39 - Feminist activism

06:09 - Joining the Orthodox Church

08:18 - Anger at religion and questioning sexuality

11:22 - Authoritarianism in the church

12:26 - Why Rebekah’s family left the church

14:05 - Religious community vs contemplative practice

16:19 - Contemplative emphasis in the Orthodox Church

17:10 - Youth groups and community emphasis

18:16 - Radical atheism phase and the impact on family

23:18 - Becoming a feminist activist

25:50 - Questioning feminist theory, struggles with relativism and essentialism

26:52 - Becoming a 2nd wave feminist

28:34 - Influence of the internet on Rebekah’s various conversions

31:35 - Conversion or coming home?

33:42 - What feminism really is

35:18 - Frustrations with 3rd wave feminism

40:08 - Why feminist activism?

44:34 - Still a feminist? Which views Rebekah still holds

48:00 - Orthodox Christian view of the individual and equality

49:47 - Are Rebekah’s views controversial?

51:43 - In-fighting and leaving activism

54:17 - Religious extremists and extreme activism

55:53 - Losing oneself in extremism

57:50 - Critical mass of buy-in needed for conversion

58:13 - Embracing the dharma or losing oneself?

01:01:46 - CS Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”

01:03:36 - Dying to oneself

01:04:54 - Theosis and losing oneself

01:05:42 - Popularity of Orthodox Christianity online, a new wave of converts

01:07:26 - The practice of Orthodoxy Christianity and the supernatural

01:09:05 - Lent

01:09:55 - High profile conversions to Orthodoxy and an internet pipeline

01:11:22 - Rebekah’s conversion through relationships and community

01:13:15 - The moment of conversion

01:14:41 - Powerful first conversation with an Orthodox priest

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- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James