Episode 87: Institutional Christianity—Reasons to Leave. Reasons to Stay. Part IV

This is part FOUR of a five part series analyzing Brian McLaren’s book “Do I Stay Christian”. In each of these episodes, Val and Nathan go through McLaren’s 10 compelling reasons to LEAVE institutionalized Christianity and 10 compelling reasons to STAY.

In this episode the two reasons discussed to LEAVE are as follows:

7) Because Christianity is STUCK due to its “belief policing” and its accompanying resistance to scientific advancements that might push up against traditional religious ideas, and

8) Because Christianity as a religious system has arguably failed in its prime purpose: to transform people into loving, caring human beings.

Reasons to stay in this episode are as follows:

7) Leaving complex and messy systems is arguably buying into a similar superiority complex that often draws people into Christianity in the first place, and

8) Christianity is both getting better and it is getting worse.

On the side of better:

Christianity in some traditions is finally waking up after “hitting bottom” due to the internet’s built-in ability to demand openness and accountability.

Christianity is arguably getting worse in that ‘Christian Nationalism’ and other toxic co-opting of the Christian name is proving to be a brand of belief that waits in the wings to fill the pews and the airwaves if Christian-reformers leave.

Val and Nathan respect McLaren’s straightforward, honest look at our Christian history and share in his trust that each of us is wise enough to look truth straight in the eye in order to forge our own path towards spiritual health and wholeness.

Book referenced in this episode

Do I Stay Christian?: A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned, by Brian D. McLaren

The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, by D. Michael Quinn

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