💡 Speaker bios

Susan Cottrell and her husband were deeply involved in the evangelical church for 20 years, finding a sense of community and family within it. However, their perspective changed when two of their five children came out as queer. This prompted a re-examination of their beliefs, as one of their children expressed that they had tried to resist their identity but ultimately realized they could not deny who they were. This experience led Susan to become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community within religious spaces, and she has since dedicated herself to supporting and affirming queer individuals within faith communities.

ℹ️ Introduction

Welcome to "Lesbi-Honest," where we dive into the stories and experiences of the LGBTQ community and those who advocate for their rights and acceptance. In this episode, we are joined by the inspiring Susan Cottrell, founder of Freehearts, an organization dedicated to helping families accept and support their LGBTQ children. Susan shares her powerful journey of questioning traditional religious teachings and finding a new path of embracing love and acceptance. She challenges the notion that God wants parents to reject their LGBTQ children and urges them to seek a community that aligns with unconditional love. From discussing the concept of hell as a metaphor to unpacking the church's resistance to change, Susan offers profound insights and encouragement. Join us as we explore her wisdom and experience, and embrace the message of love and inclusion.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

Primary Topic: Susan Cottrell's Work with Freehearts

- Susan Cottrell's encouragement for parents to accept their LGBTQ children

- The challenge against the idea that God wants parents to reject their LGBTQ children

- The importance of separating God from the church's teachings

- The advice for parents to seek a new community that embraces acceptance and love

- Understanding LGBTQ issues through the Freedhearts community

Primary Topic: Susan Cottrell's Personal Journey and Freehearts Organization

- Susan and her husband's experience in the evangelical church

- Founding Freehearts as a blog and expanding it to include resources, online groups, and a podcast

- Susan's ongoing work on a book about deconstruction and reconstructing faith

Primary Topic: Concept of Hell and the Church's Teachings

- The absence of the concept of hell in the Jewish Bible

- Hell as a pagan belief introduced between the Old and New Testaments

- Criticism of the traditional teaching that humans are inherently sinful and wretched

Primary Topic: Jesus' Teachings and the Church's Responsibility

- Jesus' deconstruction of empires and his focus on valuing regular people

- Jesus' criticism of religious leaders in the Bible

- The church's teaching of contempt against LGBTQ individuals, contrary to Jesus' teachings

Primary Topic: The Future of the Church Regarding LGBTQ Issues

- The potential trend towards affirmation for LGBTQ individuals within the church

- Resistance to change within the church due to reluctance to admit wrong

Primary Topic: Interpretation of Hell in the Bible

- The interpretation of hell as metaphorical rather than a literal place of torment

- The belief that the idea of a punishing God goes against the essence of God's love and the freedom of humanity

Primary Topic: Encouragement and Reassurance

- Reassurance to the queer community that feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and unworthiness are not from God

- The encouragement to trust in the God that loves them

- The emphasis to rely less on the religious community that tells them God doesn't

Primary Topic: Conclusion

- Sarah St John's appreciation for Susan's time and her thanks for reaching out

📚 Timestamped overview

00:00 Reevaluating faith and community after kids come out.

04:32 Recognizing church's contempt for LGBTQ community.

08:42 Ted talk on LGBTQ acceptance and rejection.

12:06 Reject the fear, embrace freedom; change inevitable.

14:56 God refining people through hardship, not torment.

18:43 Pagan belief, Gehenna, misinterpreted over centuries.

20:24 Fear of punishment reveals lack of understanding.

23:43 Sin contrasts with our pure, loving nature.

27:09 Challenging beliefs, finding love, trusting God's guidance.

30:27 Finding acceptance and love in a new community.

32:59 Reject fear and seek God's truth.

❓ Questions

1. How can the distinction between God's love and the teachings of the church impact an individual's acceptance of LGBTQ individuals, especially within religious communities?

2. In what ways can the concept of hell and the traditional teaching of sin affect a person's understanding of God's unconditional love and acceptance of humanity?

3. What are the potential psychological effects of being part of a religious community that teaches contempt or rejection towards LGBTQ individuals, as discussed in the episode?

4. How can the deconstruction of religious beliefs and the reconstruction of faith impact an individual's relationship with their community and their understanding of God's love?

5. What role can support communities like Freehearts play in helping parents and LGBTQ individuals navigate the challenges of acceptance and understanding within religious contexts?

6. How can the teachings of Jesus about love and inclusion be reconciled with the historical and current attitudes of some conservative Christian churches towards LGBTQ individuals?

7. In what ways can the resistance to change within religious institutions affect the future of the church's stance on LGBTQ issues and the acceptance of diverse identities within faith communities?

8. How can the reassurances of God's love and acceptance, as highlighted in the episode, help individuals in the LGBTQ community overcome feelings of rejection and unworthiness perpetuated by religious teachings?

9. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of identifying as a Christ follower, distancing oneself from the label of "Christian" to emphasize a focus on the teachings of Jesus over institutionalized religion?

10. In what ways can the deconstruction of negative religious beliefs and the emphasis on God's pure love help individuals in their journey towards self-acceptance and understanding of their place within faith communities?

These questions can be used to spark thoughtful discussions and reflections on the key themes and insights from the episode.

Resources

FreedHearts.org

Freed Hearts Podcast

Susan's TedX Talk