In this provocative and insightful episode, Clint and Rachelle dive headfirst into a question many have thought but few have said aloud: Is the Church a cult?

Prompted by a listener’s message about cult definitions, they explore the overlap between religious systems and cultish behavior — not to condemn, but to awaken awareness. This isn’t a “church-bashing” episode; it’s an honest look at how control can quietly replace curiosity in any human system — from religion to politics to wellness and even awakening spaces.

Together, they unpack the key markers of cultish dynamics — fear-based loyalty, unquestioned leadership, behavior control, and “us vs. them” thinking — while sharing their own experiences navigating these patterns. They discuss why good people get caught in manipulative systems, how belonging and certainty can be used against us, and why awareness, not anger, is the path to freedom.

✨ Cults aren’t defined by beliefs — they’re defined by behavior.
✨ Awareness, not anger, is what frees us.
✨ True community creates freedom, not conformity.

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🌀 Unchurching is for the spiritually curious, the deconstructing, and the awakening.

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⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome & Listener Inspiration
01:00 – Why We’re Talking About This
02:45 – Defining Cult Behavior (Without the Anger)
04:30 – Cultish Patterns Beyond Religion
06:00 – The Cult in All of Us
07:45 – Belonging, Control, and Sovereignty
09:30 – What Defines a Cult?
11:15 – The Anointed Leader: Unquestioned Devotion
14:30 – Fear-Based Loyalty & “Us vs. Them” Thinking
17:00 – Control of Thoughts and Behavior
19:00 – Doctrine Over the Person
20:55 – Community vs. Control
23:00 – Why We Stay: Belonging, Certainty, Purpose
25:45 – The Human Need for Safety & Meaning
28:00 – When Systems Use Those Needs Against You
31:00 – The Psychology of Cult Behavior
33:15 – Fear of Doubt & Suppression of Curiosity
35:30 – Emotional Control and Behavior Policing
38:00 – Why Good People Get Trapped
41:00 – Authority Obedience and Group Pressure
43:30 – Cognitive Dissonance: Defending the System
46:30 – Belonging and Manipulation
48:30 – Unity Consciousness and True Belonging
53:00 – Cultish Patterns in Awakening Spaces
56:00 – Spiritual Hierarchies and “Next-Level” Selling
58:00 – The Myth of the Trigger and Spiritual Ego
01:00:30 – Awareness, Not Anger, Brings Freedom
01:02:00 – Reflection Questions for Self-Awareness
01:04:30 – Awakening: From Belonging to Love, Not Control
01:06:00 – Outro & What’s Coming in Part 2