The Recovering Evangelical Podcast

i really just want to thank Rachel for this podcast. without telling my entire life story, i have been ‘unchurched’ for more than half my life, so i’ve been in a pretty lonely space of deconstruction for about 17 years now (long before i knew there was a term or a community doing the same thing!)… but hearing your story, and the stories of everyone you have on your podcast, has been so healing and helpful to me. thank you for helping me face so much of the trauma i wasn’t ready to deal with before. and i’m just so thankful that you exist in this world at the same time that i do.

I started listening to this podcast recently. I am the quintessential Pastor’s Kid. Began my deconstruction about 17 years ago after a very tough time in my life. Anyhow, I think this podcast is very good for people who still are believers, but as someone who became atheist, the show can sound a bit preachy. I understand that the host still believes in Jesus and whatnot, but I found myself skipping the parts when she starts talking about Jesus and her love for him. I enjoy it the most when guests are there because the podcast becomes more neutral. Love when social issues are the main subject.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love Jennifer Knapp, so I was beyond excited to hear from her! She was one of my guest concerts back at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. It broke my heart when she was tossed out for coming out though at the time I was drinking the Kool-aid but even then it felt inherently wrong. Anywho “Hold me now” is still my faith song. I’m weak. I’m poor. I’m broken, Lord, but I’m yours. Hold me know. I cry every time.

When Rachel was talking to Pastor Paul and she said that she had a six year old girl in your heart I was convinced that God hated her, I just so resonated with that. I have that same little girl that is convinced that God hates me. There’s a lot to unpack in that. Now I’m an atheist/agnostic and I can intellectually believe that there is no God to hate me, but still there’s a little girl that feels completely rejected. It felt good to show that little girl that she’s not alone and she is heard.