This episode talks about one woman's fascinating life experiences and how they changed her relationship with Christianity and organized religion. Amber Rose West welcomes Chandrika Phea, author of "Lord, I Don't Want To Die a Christian," to talk about her evolution from Christianity towards love and service.

Chandrika was born into a devoutly religious family; she is the daughter, niece, and grandchild of Christian clergy, and she is ordained and has a degree in Biblical studies. Discover how a bad breakup led her to do missionary work in China and how that experience helped shape her present ideas of doctrine and gave her the courage to be authentic. 

She also shares about her current service projects, helping women of color get outdoors in a safe and accepting environment. 

Please note: The intent of this episode is not to comment on Christianity but to discuss Chandrika's personal experience.

Highlights in this Episode:

•  Chandrika describes her background as a pastor's daughter and about how a voice in a dream inspired her to study the Bible in college.
• Find out how a bad breakup and a fateful conversation led Chandrika to move to China. 
• Chandrika talks about the difference between teaching Christianity and teaching about God's love and how she had taught the latter in China. 
• Learn why, when Chandrika returned to the US, she no longer felt she fit into the constructs of the Christian faith. 
• Amber asks Chandrika what it was like to write a book when it wasn't really a planned idea, and Chandrika talks about how the idea hit her while watching the news.
• Does religion steal our own stories? Chandrika talks about trading her own story of heartbreak for the Bible when asked for advice from one of her Chinese students.
• Chandrika discusses what authenticity is for her: daring to be who you believe yourself to be. 
• Discover why Chandrika doesn't want to have her experience of life, people, love, and the world to be limited by religion. 
• Chandrika started serving women of color by starting Bikes and Breakfast, creating a safe place for women to be outside.
  

Links from this Episode:
Get a copy of “Lord, I Don’t Want to Die a Christian”


Connect with Amber Rose West:
Instagram: @vibrantamberrose
Facebook: @vibrantamberrose
Website: www.vibrantconfidence.com
Podcast Page: www.vibrantconfidence.com/wocconfidence

Connect with Chandrika Phea
Website: https://chandrikadphea.com/
Facebook: @chandrika.phea
Instagram:@chan_drika1025
Twitter: @ChandrikaPhea
LinkedIn: @chandrika-d-phea-6a41133a