The Life After Leaving Podcast: An Ex-Christadelphian Podcast

lifeafterleavingpodcast
  • 5.0 (6)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

A podcast by ex-Christadelphians for ex-Christadelphians. Together, we dive into the history of the Christadelphians, share stories of former members leaving the sect, and cultivate community among ex-members worldwide.

  1. FEB 22

    S4 Ep. 39 Fellowship with Andy

    Today we’re chatting with Andy! In today’s episode, Andy shares his experience of growing up as a Christadelphian in the UK. Ever since he was a young boy performing in Sunday School, Andy was uncomfortable in the spotlight. He shares his memories of anxiety around traditional Christadelphian expectations for men including being baptized in front of large crowds and being asked to do the readings from the platform. Andy also speaks up about what it felt like to grow up in the Christadelphian community as a child experiencing sexual abuse. He shares his thoughts about how being in a community that doesn’t value sexual education or personal autonomy made it harder to ask for help and how their belief that sex before marriage is a sin perpetuates further harm against child sexual abuse survivors by creating feelings of shame. We also talk about authoritarian parenting, post-baptism lows, and motorcycle gangs! Please join us for yet another episode of fellowship among the heathens!     TW: Child sexual abuse Listener discretion advised.   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com   Follow us on Instagram⁠ or ⁠Facebook⁠!   Resources: Proposed law in Japan  “Other acts that will constitute neglect include… blocking their interaction with friends due to a difference in religious beliefs and thereby undermining their social skills.”   Christmas apocalypse has been cancelled, says Ghana 'prophet', buys Mercedes with donations Dec 2025   Déjà rêvé

    1h 53m

  2. FEB 15

    S4 Ep. 38 Liar, Liar, M.D. on Fire Pt. 2: The Ego, Extortion, and Lies of “Dr.” John Thomas

    Today we’re finishing our investigation of the medical qualifications of “Doctor” John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians. In this history episode, we’ll follow John Thomas’ career during his time in the United States from the 1830’s into the 1850’s. We once again debunk persistent myths that have been repeated by Christadelphians for generations. Instead of accepting these myths, we critically examine them and speculate on the real reasons behind Thomas’ career choices. We also question John Thomas’ motives for his marriage, his reasons for moving frequently, and the credibility of the school that issued his M.D. degree in 1848. Zinnia also shares numerous new historical resources to do a deep dive into claims of extortion against John Thomas by the Richmond Campbellites and into the strange and questionable school, the “Scientific and Eclectic Institute” of Petersburg, Virginia, where John Thomas claimed to have earned his degree. Throughout this episode, we also reflect on what these stories indicate about John Thomas’ personality, his motivations, and why his persistent claim to have “the truth” isn’t actually something for Christadelphians to be proud of. Please join us for another exciting history episode as John Thomas’ lies and criminal activity get exposed by Zinnia, a harbinger of destruction.  Listener discretion advised Resources and References: Thank you to the ex-Christadelphians for sharing information about these Lancet articles! ⁠The Lancet 1829-1830 ⁠  See: Oct 10, 1829; Jan 16, 1830; Jan 30th, 1830 ⁠John Thomas: His Friend and His Faith” ⁠ ⁠Dr. Thomas: His Life & Work ⁠ ⁠Monty Python and the Holy Grail ⁠ ⁠Professor James Staughton⁠ ⁠The Millennial Harbinger, 1835⁠ ⁠“The New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal” Vol 2, No 8, Page 122, April 16, 1848⁠ ⁠Population of Cincinnati in 1830 and 1840⁠ ⁠Physicians in Ohio 1819-1850⁠ (used 1831 Directory) ⁠University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine⁠ ⁠Population of Cincinnati⁠ (1830: 24,831) ⁠Cincinnati population in the 1800s⁠ America’s current population (2025): 333.3 million Current number of American physicians (2025): 1,044,734 ⁠Population of Philadelphia 1830 ⁠ ⁠Desilver’s Philadelphia Directory (1831)⁠ ⁠Doctors in Philadelphia ⁠ ⁠The Millennial Harbinger (Feb 1835)⁠ ⁠Demon Of Unrest by Erik Larson⁠ ⁠James H Hammond⁠ Philadelphia & Virginia ⁠The Millennial Harbinger, 1834 ⁠ “A Review of the Defence of Dr. John Thomas" (Email ⁠lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com⁠ for a digital copy) ⁠The Apostalic Advocate, May 1837⁠ pg 18-19 Dr. Thomas: His Family and the Background of His Times’ by Charles Blore ⁠Inflation Calculator⁠ ⁠Payment of Doctors⁠ ⁠Doctor Fee Bills⁠ ⁠Millennial Harbinger, Feb 1838 ⁠ ⁠Take Back Your Life by Janja Lalich and Madeline Tobias⁠ ⁠John Thomas M.D. Newspaper⁠ The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 ⁠A Muppet Christmas Carol⁠ LAL Podcast: S1 Ep 6: Christadelphian True Crime  ⁠Rush Medical College⁠ The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 “Dr. Thomas’s Professional Status” ⁠Formation of the AMA⁠ ⁠Incorporation of the S&E College March 1st 1847⁠  ⁠1847 “J Thomas M.D.” ⁠ ⁠1846 Oct Classes⁠ ⁠The New England Botanic and Medical Journal, 1848⁠ “Biography of John Thomas M.D.” ⁠Nov 1847 “Virginia Institute" ⁠ ⁠Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati⁠ ⁠Philadelphia Diploma Mill ⁠  ⁠Degree Mills by Allen Ezell and John Bea⁠r ⁠Dr. John Buchanan⁠ ⁠The Rise and Fall of Dr John Buchanan⁠ ⁠Alexander Campbell on the S&E School⁠ ⁠Worcester, MA school⁠ ⁠S&E College to Send Diplomas to MA⁠ ⁠The History of Medicine by Alexander Wilder⁠ ⁠Eclectic Medical Journal 1844-1848⁠ ⁠Eclectic Medical Journal 1849-1850⁠ ⁠August 1848 Ad⁠ ⁠THOMSONIANISM IN VIRGINIA by JAMES O. BREEDEN ⁠ *email ⁠lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com⁠ ⁠“Medical Training in the United States Prior to the Civil War”⁠ ⁠Harbinger, 1853 “Dr of Opinions”⁠ ⁠Harbinger 1854 “not D.D. or M.D.”⁠ ⁠Impeachment & John Thomas’ Farewell⁠ ⁠Eclectic Schools⁠  ⁠Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati ⁠ ⁠The Early Development of Medical Licensing Laws in the US ⁠ ⁠Herald 1851, p 279⁠

    2h 58m

  3. FEB 1

    S4. Ep. 37 Fellowship with Katie

    Today we’re chatting with Katie! Katie’s story is an eye-opening account of the harms and pressure of sexism in Christadelphian culture on young girls. As a child, Katie was pulled out of the public school system in order to spend her time primarily caring for her brothers and taking care of the household tasks. As she grew older, was pressured to find a husband and begin to follow a “timeline” which would lead to staying home and having children while being told that she shouldn’t get an education at university. Despite the lack of encouragement and guidance, Katie escaped the Christadelphians, explored life as an independent woman, and attended university. In this episode, Katie also shares what it was like to join the Christadelphians as a child with her family, about Christadelphian dating culture, and about the poor behavior of the “brothers” in her former ecclesia that ultimately lead to her leaving Christadelphia once and for all. Please join us for yet another episode of fellowship among the heathens!   Listener discretion advised.   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at ⁠lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com⁠   ⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠ or⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠!   References: Corinthians 11:8-9 "For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man made for woman, but woman for man"   ⁠Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell⁠   Meghantschanz on IG ⁠“The Role of a Godly Husband (if women butchered the Bible the way men have)”⁠   Clarabelltoks on IG  ⁠Flipping Vacation Bible School⁠ ⁠If we spoke to men the way we speak to women⁠ ⁠If we spoke to boys the way we speak to girls⁠ ⁠If we spoke to boys the way we speak to girls (2)⁠ ⁠If we spoke to boys the way we speak to girls (3)⁠ ⁠Flipping misogyny and homophobia in the church⁠ ⁠Flipping misogyny in the church⁠

    1h 53m

  4. JAN 25

    S4 Ep. 36 Fellowship with Bec

    Today we’re chatting with Bec! In this episode, Bec shares her experience growing up as a “Logos” Christadelphian in Australia and trying to follow the ‘straight and narrow’ path until she made the difficult decision to leave her marriage and embrace her identity as a lesbian! Bec shares some vulnerable stories of life inside the ecclesia. From trying to be a good daughter and getting baptized as her mom was dying, to learning about her mother’s hidden heartbreak which had become fodder for gossip at their ecclesia, and to growing up and meeting Christadelphian men who wanted to marry her… if they could control her. Despite some heavy topics, we also enjoyed a few laughs as we asked, what did Solomon’s wives really do together while he was busy? If Christadelphian brothers see rainbows and assume it’s a queer symbol then have they voluntarily given “God’s symbol” to the gay community? And does sage really work to get rid of ghosts in your house?? Please join us for yet another episode of fellowship among the heathens!     TW: Domestic violence, coercive rape, postpartum depression, suicidal ideation   Listener discretion advised.   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com   Follow us on Instagram⁠ or ⁠Facebook⁠!   References:   ⁠Underworld with Kate Beckinsale (2003)⁠   Proverbs 3:15 “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”   Forced Adoptions in Australia: ⁠SBS News: “I was told my baby had died. Decades later, I learned that was a lie”⁠ ⁠“Social worker tells of forced adoptions”⁠ ⁠“Catholic Hospitals Apologize for Forced Adoptions” ⁠   ⁠From God to Gay Podcast⁠    ⁠Will I ever be good enough by Dr. Karyl McBride⁠   ⁠Joyce Meyer (Author)⁠   ⁠Lee-Ann Cipri (Medium)⁠

    2h 21m

  5. 12/07/2025

    S3. Ep 35 The History of Christadelphian Hands-On Energy Healing

    Today we’re learning about the history of hands-on energy healing in the early Christadelphian community! In this episode, Zinnia discusses the founding of an ecclesia in Edinburgh, Scotland that quickly became interested in practicing hands-on energy healing. These new believers were radical free thinkers who offered sassy -but scriptural- retorts to the demands of Robert Roberts and John Thomas around the validity of baptisms. They also hosted lectures and classes for anyone interested in learning the art of “curative mesmerism”. The Edinburgh ecclesia not only became practitioners of “curative mesmerism” themselves, but also became involved in creating and supporting a local mesmerism organization and promoted the practice as part of the “doctrine of health” to other ecclesias while attributing their healing abilities to God. We also discuss the attitudes that attracted these early believers to Mesmerism and the various theories around what may have contributed to the decline of the practice of mesmerism in this ecclesia. We also learn about Robert Roberts “irresistible” experience with another man, the reason why Robert’s wife was re-baptized after their marriage, and hear about Zinnia’s experiences with hands-on energy healing in the modern day. Please join us for another fun blast to the past learning more forgotten history about the Christadelphians!    Listener discretion advised.   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com   References:   The Early History of the Kingdom of God in Britain" by William Norrie  Part one Pg. 128 “The Edinburgh Church of Baptised Believers of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God” Pg 167 Sassy Rebuttals Pg 178 Edinburgh Church Page 202 Curative Mesmerism Pg 245 On Jane Norrie’s rebaptism   The Life after Leaving Podcast Episodes: S1 Ep 8 Robert Roberts and the Fandom of John Thomas S1 Ep 10. The Bearded Wisdom of the Christadelphians S1 Ep. 13 Hypnosis, Telepathy, and Ghosts S1. Ep 4 Fellowship with Rob S2. Ep 16. Fellowship with Steve S3. Ep 32 Fellowship with Ben   ‘John Thomas: His Friends and His Faith’ by Peter Hemingray  P 131-132 Declaration of Beliefs in 1847 P 127-129 John Thomas’ Rebaptism P 192-194 The Marturion Magazine   My Days and My Ways by Robert Roberts  Mesmerism story pages 78-79   “Dr. John Thomas: His Life and Work” by Robert Roberts   Mesmer (1994)    Alan Rickman   The Brief and Strange History of Mesmerism and Surgery   The phony health craze that inspired hypnotism (Youtube)   The Mesmerist by Wendy Moore    Drake-Kendrick Lamar Feud   Referenced by William Norrie: “Messenger of the Churches” issued in July 1858 No. 2   Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come by John Thomas, May 1858   The Zoist: A Journal of Cerebral Physiology & Mesmerism and Their Applications to Human Welfare Volume 12 Christadelphians named as members of the Scottish Curative Mesmeric Association   Reiki   Prana    Qi    The Astrological Roots of Mesmerism   Mesmerising Science: The Franklin Commission and the Modern Clinical Trial   Royal Commission on Animal Magnetism   Mesmerism (History of Hypnosis Documentary Series - Episode 02)   The History of Bad Ideas: Mesmerism (Podcast)

    1h 34m

  6. 11/30/2025

    S3 Ep. 34 Fellowship with Rebecca

    Today we’re chatting with Rebecca! In this episode, we hear from a former Christadelphian who had no intention of leaving the community until the day she walked out the door. Rebecca shares how she was raised in a small ecclesia in a rural area with the expectation that she would get baptized, become a wife and mother, and play piano for the Sunday memorial services. Despite asking a lot of questions during her childhood, she generally conformed to the traditional Christadelphian path for a woman, married a Christadelphian “brother”, and even raised her children to be Christadelphians. But as her children reached adolescence and began to grow into their identities, she was faced with a choice between accepting her children or allowing them to be harmed by the community she loved and served. Unlike most of our guests, Rebecca hadn’t been preparing to leave mentally or emotionally. But motivated by her love for her family, she navigated the unexpected turbulence of leaving the Christadelphian community and shares both the positives and negatives of life outside the group. We also talk about the guilt of recognizing the harms of authoritarian parenting, raising sensitive children in an environment focused on doomsday theology, and about deconstructing Christadelphian views on the LGBTQ community.   Listener discretion advised.   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com   References:   Shippensburg/ Mid-Atlantic Christadelphian Bible School   Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- Mailbox Scene (Youtube)

    1h 23m

  7. 11/23/2025

    S3 Ep. 33 Fellowship with Kate

    Today we’re chatting with Kate! In this episode, Kate begins by discussing her childhood in religious education where she grew up attending a Seventh Day Adventist School before later commuting over an hour to a Christadelphian Heritage College in Australia. We also discuss her family’s religious split over a relatives’ divorce and about the high expectations for “appropriate dress” for a “sister in Christ”- even outside the meeting. We discuss questions like, how much hair does a head covering need to cover in order to be an acceptable head covering? Do hoodies count as a head covering? And how can we style floor length denim skirts without a head covering or hat now that we’ve left?? We also chat about religious opinions on the Harry Potter series, the perils of Christadelphian relationships, and the name of a touch rugby team that was right on the [bottle]nose- the “Crystal Dolphins”!   Listener discretion advised.   If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com   References:   Seventh Day Adventists   Life After Leaving Podcast, Episode 21 (The Millerites split and many became Seventh Day Adventists while a small number became Christadelphians)   Christadelphian Heritage Colleges   Charlie Chaplin   “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto   The Christian Dolphin’s website is no longer available to view   The Religious Trauma Collective   God to Gay podcast

    1h 36m

  8. 11/09/2025

    S3 Ep. 32 Fellowship with Ben

    Today we’re chatting with Ben! In this episode, we explore how Ben went from a youth role model as the son of a renowned conservative Christadelphian preacher to pushing the limits of even the most liberal Christadelphians before leaving. Raised in a conservative branch of Christadelphia, Ben was told that some of their family had “left the faith” but was surprised to discover that there were actually just attending other, less conservative, Christadelphian ecclesias nearby! Even at Ben’s baptism, which surprisingly morphed into a roast, Ben defied convention by asking a member of the “Shield” group to baptism them  at a “Logos” hall as Ben began to resist the labels and expectations they had been raised with. Throughout the episode, Ben and I also discuss Christadelphian music. From singing our favorite songs from “Fruit of Our Lips” to discussing what instruments and songs were allowed to be played to learning about their incredibly popular music nights at SCYP, we dive into what was a pivotal moment in Christadelphian music as Ben and their contemporaries created new music that pushed the limits and was even met with walk-outs and bullying. As a singer-songwriter, Ben left a lasting legacy on Christadelphian music as their songs continue to be popular in the present day. However, most Christadelphians probably don’t know that one of their favorite songs was written by a gay man and a non-binary person who both left the faith! We also talk about puppet plays, the Portland frog, and their experience helping create a LGBTQ affirming evangelical church in New York City.   Listener discretion advised.  If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com Resources and References:   Left handedness and sexual orientation   Fruit of our Lips CD (2002)   El Shaddai (Youtube)   As the Deer (unable to find CD Version)   A New Commandment (Youtube)    Shout Living Moving Being Wonder Every day Songs in a strange land Endless   Sydney Christadelphian Young People   Flamy Grant    Bible Belt Baby (Spotify)   Drag Queen Album Tops Christian Music Charts   Hymnary.org School of Rock   Christadelphian Art Trust   Yahweh's Youth from Living Moving Being (Youtube)   Purple Worship Book   Worship Books Audio   With All My Heart by Ben Grace, Worship Vol 1 Track 88   Rob Bell and the Mars Hill Church   Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell   Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller   David Crowder   Hurricane/ Superstorm Sandy   The Liturgists Podcast   Secular Humanism   What is Christian Nationalism   The Danger of Christian Nationalism   Christian Nationalism is neither Christian nor Patriotic   Experts Discuss Christian Nationalism    The Portland Frog :  ICE Protest Frogs Have a Long History  Frogs For Peace: How the Portland Frog Became a Symbol of Resistance and Hope     It’s a Wonderful Life Movie (1946)   It’s a Wonderful Life and World War II   Sean Feucht   Jane Goodall's Final Message to the World   Audrey Hepburn: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”   Heathen Happy Hour Podcast   Story and Tune    Purity Culture Trauma   Purity Culture Support   “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver   Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor   Ben Grace Music   Ben Grace Music (IG)    As if Words Could Heal the Wounds   Ex Mormon Bookclub Podcast   Ben Grace: Naked and Unashamed Podcast Episode    As if Words Could Heal the Wounds Podcast

    2h 16m
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

A podcast by ex-Christadelphians for ex-Christadelphians. Together, we dive into the history of the Christadelphians, share stories of former members leaving the sect, and cultivate community among ex-members worldwide.

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