Growing Up Christian

Maybe the best way to preface this episode is with a powerful statement from Physical Science 1, a textbook from Accelerated Christian Education. *Ahem…

“Man should never trust his own reasoning – his reasoning may be incorrect because man’s reasoning is not God’s reasoning.”

With that in mind, join us as we discuss the allure of conspiracy theories, the perils of power, Tim Lambesis burning his chest into pork rinds, and the magic of Christian metalcore. Pour one out for Chester Bennington, thank your mom for putting up with your scene-y weenie identity crisis, and hail the almighty Norma Jean!

P.S. We have some guests booked that are going to blow your mind. Next week, we'll be talking with our friends Karen and Bonnie from Deconversion Therapy - a very funny podcast that you are going to love. Follow us on the socials so you can chime in, and if you're having a good time, share the show with a friend!

In theory, racism and Christianity go together about as well as sausage gravy and strawberry cheesecake. 2020, however, was a lot like a church potluck, and it saw a bunch of seemingly well-intentioned parishioners shoveling in big mouthfuls of mystery casserole (you know, the one that was always in the tan dish from 1972), and forcing a smile as they choked it down. Pretending that you didn't just eat a heaping plate of potatoes and pet hair might seem polite, but the fact is that the whole congregation now has food poisoning... I really appreciate you following along with this analogy, by the way!

Josh White is a law student, activist, and Liberty University graduate that has experienced, first hand, the troubling contradictions of white evangelicalism. Thrust into environments where, too often, racial prejudice was either unacknowledged or rationalized, he resolved to take action against the injustices he saw around him. 

Our conversation with Josh was an eye opener, and couldn't be more relevant and consequential, given the state of the country. We hope you find it as thought-provoking as we did! We would love to hear your thoughts, and you can share them by joining the Growing Up Christian facebook page. Like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more!

First things first: if you play this episode backwards, you'll hear a distinctly satanic voice humming "Flood" by Jars of Clay. Spoiler alert - it still slaps!

More importantly, we were very excited to talk to the founder of @christian_nightmares, one of our absolute favorite accounts on Instagram! "Chris," as we call him, uses social media to shed light and levity on the more ridiculous figures and organizations in the evangelical movement, both past and present. From everyone's favorite elf on the shelf, Jerry Falwell Jr, to no one's favorite faith-healing bridge troll, Kenneth Copeland, Chris finds the humor in some of the most embarrassing and brazen aspects of contemporary religion, and it's the absolute best. Do yourself a favor, and follow him!

Thank you so much for the outpouring of support, thus far! If you're enjoying the show, we would really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on the podcast platform of your choice, and subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes. Have a great week, everyone!

This week, we were #blessed to speak with our former dormmate, Liberty University Spiritual Life Director (SLD), and gay conversion therapy defector, Matt Robbie! Matt shares his unique perspective on growing up in conservative evangelicalism as young man coming to grips with his sexuality. He relates his experiences dealing with family members' expectations, navigating the entrapment mechanisms at a Christian college, reckoning with internalized homophobia, and learning to love himself and his community. So much of the conversation about Christianity and the LGBTQIA+ community is engulfed by theoretical or theological debates. Hearing how these beliefs, policies, and institutions affect real people is eye-opening and impactful. We hope you enjoy this episode, because we certainly did!

If you or someone you know is a young person in crisis, or contemplating self-harm, the Trevor Project is here to help. Their trained counselors have been helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth since 1998. You can find more information at www.thetrevorproject.org

This week, we talk to longtime Liberty University RD, social media debate moderator, and worship ministries major (yes, that's a real thing) Chris Deaton! Chris discusses his progression from apathetic youth, to dedicated LU staffer, to philosophical renegade over the course of 15 years. We were fascinated by his perspective, and it made for a really fun conversation!

Growing Up Christian is now available through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Audible, and pretty much anywhere podcasts are found. Like, subscribe, and send us your thoughts on the things we discussed!

This week we're joined by our old friend, Chad Daniels. Chad is a data analyst, Creationism apologist, closet rat breeder, Calvanist (I know, yuck), outdoorsman, and one of the most fun and frustrating people to talk to that I've ever met! We discussed his upbringing, college misadventures, the evolution of his faith, and his views on the church's involvement in the political process. We had a great time catching up with Chad, and even managed to keep the hostility to a minimum! Enjoy the episode, and subscribe to Growing Up Christian on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Audible, and most other podcast apps.

The best (and sometimes toughest) part of leaving home is meeting new people. Even within the confines of a Christian college, you can't avoid being exposed to different cultures and ways of life that tend to challenge your preconceived notions. In episode 3, Sam talks about the people and experiences that forced him to reexamine his faith, and his overall view of the world.

Identity is an important part of growing up, regardless of your background. Sooner or later, everyone has to make some choices about who and what they want to be. On this episode, Casey recounts the story of how a miserable first year of college finally pushed him out of his comfort zone, and facilitated his transition from awkward, self-loathing youth group tween to self-righteous, straight edge, scene douche!

Welcome to Growing Up Christian - a podcast for wayward Awana kids, homeschoolers, and youth center loiterers who spent the 90's/2000's listening to Christian rock and practicing their sword drills! Whether you forsook your purity ring long ago, or you're still guarding your heart for your future spouse, this podcast is for you. So dust off your WWJD bracelet and throw on your "Real Fear" t-shirt while Sam and Casey give a little context to the show by explaining their childhood (let's be honest: all of our childhoods). Subscribe to Growing Up Christian on Podbean, or copy and paste the URL into your podcast player of choice, and enjoy the show!