Former evangelicals and ex-megachurch youth workers Emily Arnold & Heather Leith hold curiosity-driven conversations about deconstruction, spirituality, and rediscovering who they are. From meeting way back in their megachurch's junior high ministry to working on the same youth ministry team to going to Christian college together, these two dear friends are now processing the evangelical culture they grew up in...and out of.
Along with guests who are on various paths of deconstructing Christianity, they'll be unpacking their church-kid baggage, addressing once-taboo topics, asking their once-suppressed questions, embracing mystery & uncertainty, and having a good time being Baddies as they figure out their way forward.
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Former evangelicals and ex-megachurch youth workers Emily Arnold & Heather Leith hold curiosity-driven conversations about deconstruction, spirituality, and rediscovering who they are. From meeting way back in their megachurch's junior high ministry to working on the same youth ministry team to going to Christian college together, these two dear friends are now processing the evangelical culture they grew up in...and out of.
Along with guests who are on various paths of deconstructing Christianity, they'll be unpacking their church-kid baggage, addressing once-taboo topics, asking their once-suppressed questions, embracing mystery & uncertainty, and having a good time being Baddies as they figure out their way forward.
Deconstruction Update: Atheism, Spirituality & Finding Meaning
Church Girls Gone Bad
1 hour 54 minutes
1 year ago
Deconstruction Update: Atheism, Spirituality & Finding Meaning
Do we still believe in God? Let's chat: losing belief, spiritual encounters, and leaving the church "just to sin"! Emily introduces the new co-host of CGGB and former guest, Heather Leith. We talk about where we've been since the listeners last heard from us and spill the tea on why Lauren is no longer hosting.
Heather comes out as an atheist! She explains how she went from identifying as a progressive Christian back in Season 1 to now being a big, bad ex-Christian. She discusses how digging into her faith caused it to fall apart and where she finds meaning now as a nonbeliever.
Emily chats about her newfound freedom in being curious without certainty as the end goal, and shares about a recent spiritual experience that she can't quite explain. She also talks about being more settled in her post-evangelical life and why she's not going as crazy for deconstruction stuff as she used to.
We also touch on:
Developing a sexual ethic without purity culture
"Church hurt" and what happens when you were the one doing the hurting
How heartbreaking deconstruction can be when you're in the middle of it
Feeling brainwashed about women pastors in the past
Thinking they were cool for going to "deep" churches
Critiquing the Southern Baptist Convention
Secretly watching debates with atheists while at Bible college
Resources mentioned in the episode:
The Atheist Experience YouTube channel — Heather likes Matt Dillahunty and Forrest Valkai episodes in particular, but beware this channel can get INTENSE!
Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus podcast — Helpful for understanding how the gospels were written and how the Bible was put together
Some podcasts that Emily's partner works on that you might like: You Have Permission, Emerged
This Dear Evan Hansen song lol
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Church Girls Gone Bad
Former evangelicals and ex-megachurch youth workers Emily Arnold & Heather Leith hold curiosity-driven conversations about deconstruction, spirituality, and rediscovering who they are. From meeting way back in their megachurch's junior high ministry to working on the same youth ministry team to going to Christian college together, these two dear friends are now processing the evangelical culture they grew up in...and out of.
Along with guests who are on various paths of deconstructing Christianity, they'll be unpacking their church-kid baggage, addressing once-taboo topics, asking their once-suppressed questions, embracing mystery & uncertainty, and having a good time being Baddies as they figure out their way forward.
