Real Without Religion

James W Kiger
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Real Without Religion is a podcast for anyone who’s walked away from church but hasn’t walked away from their soul. Hosted by James Kiger, a former evangelical pastor turned spiritual teacher, this show reclaims the power of thought, intuition, and universal truth—without the guilt trips, dogma, or endless worship songs. We talk about what actually helps: healing from fear-based faith, learning to trust your inner voice, seeing the Bible in a new light (or letting it go entirely), and living a spiritually connected life on your own terms. This isn’t about arguing with fundamentalism—it’s about freedom. It’s about becoming who you truly are and realizing you were never broken to begin with. If you’ve ever asked, “What now?” after leaving religion, this is your space. Come get curious, get real, and maybe even get free.

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  1. Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 1 – The Kingdom Isn’t in the Sky

    EPISODE 1

    Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 1 – The Kingdom Isn’t in the Sky

    Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 1 – The Kingdom Isn’t in the Sky 🔍 Episode Summary In this first episode of Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong, James rethinks one of the biggest ideas many of us grew up with: that heaven is a city in the clouds you go to when you die. We were told to say the prayer, behave enough, and someday we’d get our mansion and walk streets of gold. But Jesus never said that. What he did say was, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” This episode looks at how that changes everything. What if heaven isn’t about escape, but about waking up? What if the “city” and “gold” in Revelation were never meant to be real estate listings, but symbols of presence, peace, and community? And what if the Kingdom isn’t only about later — but also about now? ✨ What You’ll Learn Why the “heaven in the sky” version came from fear and tradition, not JesusWhat Jesus meant when he said, “The Kingdom of God is within you”Why the “city with golden streets” in Revelation was symbolic, not literalHow Paul’s words, “Eye has not seen,” point to a hope better than anything we imagineHow to recognize heaven breaking through in forgiveness, peace, laughter, and love🧠 Key Quotes “Heaven was never meant to be a consolation prize for what you gave up. It was about waking up to life now.” “If this is just a feeling, that’s not that great. I gave up a lot to get my mansion next to Elvis! And see—that attitude shows how far we missed it.” “The Kingdom isn’t a future prize. It’s a present reality. Not looking up, but waking up.” 📿 Spiritual Practice to Try Pause today and ask: “What if the Kingdom is already here?” Then notice it in something small — a laugh, a deep breath, or the peace that sneaks up on you when you stop trying so hard. If You are Moved to Do So, Support our Work:

    11 min
  2. Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 2 – Born Again Doesn’t Mean Start Over

    EPISODE 2

    Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 2 – Born Again Doesn’t Mean Start Over

    Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 2 – Born Again Doesn't Mean Start Over 🔍 Episode Summary In this episode, James unpacks one of the most familiar — and misunderstood — phrases in Christianity: born again. For many of us, it meant endless altar calls, rededications, and the fear of hell if we didn’t get it right. But when Jesus first used the phrase, he wasn’t talking about rituals, emotions, or membership. He was pointing to something already inside us. You’ll hear the story of Jesus’ late-night talk with Nicodemus, discover why “born of Spirit” has nothing to do with pressure or performance, and explore what it means to wake up to who you already are — whether in church, by a lake, or even playing with your golden retriever. ✨ What You’ll Learn Why “born again” was never about fear, formulas, or altar callsWhat Jesus actually meant when he said, “Be born of Spirit”Why rebirth isn’t becoming someone else — it’s uncovering what’s always been in youHow spiritual awakening can happen anywhere, not just in churchWhy being “born again” isn’t a one-time event, but something you live again and again🧠 Key Quotes “Being born again isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about letting out what’s always been in you.” “When you were born the first time, you didn’t change your behavior from womb to air — you just came alive.” “You don’t need religion to wake up — the spark of life is already in you.” 📿 Spiritual Practice to Try Ask yourself: “What would waking up look like for me right now?” Then spend one hour living as if love, not fear, is your truest self. If You are Moved to Do So, Support our Work:

    11 min
  3. Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 3 – Repent Doesn’t Mean Grovel

    EPISODE 3

    Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 3 – Repent Doesn’t Mean Grovel

    Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Episode 3 – Repent Doesn’t Mean Grovel 🔍 Episode Summary When you hear the word repent, what comes to mind? For a lot of us, it’s crying at the altar, begging God for forgiveness, and hoping this time it sticks. But that’s not what Jesus meant at all. In this episode, James digs into the real meaning of repentance. You’ll hear the story of Grandma’s roast (and why everyone cut the ends off without knowing why), and learn why Jesus’ word metanoia wasn’t about tears or shame — it was about changing how you think. Repentance isn’t wallowing in guilt; it’s turning around, seeing differently, and walking in a new direction. ✨ What You’ll Learn Why the church turned repentance into guilt and grovelingWhat Jesus actually meant when he said, “Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand”How Grandma’s roast shows us the danger of never questioning what we’ve been taughtWhy real repentance feels more like turning a car around than crying at an altarHow to spot everyday opportunities to think differently and live freer🧠 Key Quotes “Repentance was never about wallowing. It’s about walking.” “When you realize you’re going the wrong way, you don’t pull over and cry about it. You just turn around.” “Repentance isn’t about groveling. It’s about God saying, ‘There’s another way to see this — and I want you to have it.’” 📿 Spiritual Practice to Try This week, pay attention to one everyday moment where you’d normally beat yourself up — a harsh word, a negative thought, a habit you fall back into. Instead of spiraling in guilt, pause and ask: “What if I just turned around here? What if I chose to see this differently?” That’s repentance in action.

    9 min
  4. Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Trailer

    SEASON 4 TRAILER

    Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Trailer

    📝 Trailer Show Notes Title: Season 4 Trailer – Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong Description: What if Jesus wasn’t confusing — we were just taught him wrong? Welcome to Season 4 of Real Without Religion, a series called Jesus’ Teachings: What We Got Wrong. This season isn’t about throwing out Jesus — it’s about hearing him clearly, without the fear, shame, or religious pressure. Each episode reclaims a familiar teaching you may have heard in church… …and reframes it through the lens of awakening, not legalism. Because when you take the fear out, his words actually feel like freedom. Start with Episode 1: “The Kingdom Isn’t in the Sky.”

    1 min
See All Season 4 (4)

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About

Real Without Religion is a podcast for anyone who’s walked away from church but hasn’t walked away from their soul. Hosted by James Kiger, a former evangelical pastor turned spiritual teacher, this show reclaims the power of thought, intuition, and universal truth—without the guilt trips, dogma, or endless worship songs. We talk about what actually helps: healing from fear-based faith, learning to trust your inner voice, seeing the Bible in a new light (or letting it go entirely), and living a spiritually connected life on your own terms. This isn’t about arguing with fundamentalism—it’s about freedom. It’s about becoming who you truly are and realizing you were never broken to begin with. If you’ve ever asked, “What now?” after leaving religion, this is your space. Come get curious, get real, and maybe even get free.

Information

  • Creator
    James W Kiger
  • Episodes
    50
  • Seasons
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © @realwithoutreligion 2025
  • Show Website
    Real Without Religion