Observations from Life Scott Schalchlin

Dave Canfield, a former member of Jesus People USA, shares his journey from being a holiday Catholic to joining the Christian counterculture community. He discusses the vibrant music scene, the impact of Christian rock and roll, and his involvement in promoting concerts and working backstage. Dave also talks about his experience with Mike Warnke, a Christian comedian and author who claimed to be a former Satanist high priest, and the role he played in helping expose Warnke's fraudulent ministry.  Other topics include the influence of books and movies, such as Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth" and the Pirkle-Ormond films, in promoting fear and trauma within the Christian community. Dave talks about the idea that faith is rooted in ambiguity and the importance of not rejecting faith based on negative experiences. Finally, the conversation touches on the need for relationships, connections, and empathy in faith communities. 

In this episode, I dive into fundamentalism and fear-based Christianity. This includes a revisit of the Satanic Panic of the 70s and 80s, Jack Chick, and movies like The Burning Hell and A Thief in the Night. What's it like to grow up in a church that uses the fear of Hell to convert lost souls? How does it impact people later in adulthood and what is the path to heal from it?

In this episode, I interview Reverend Joanna Fontaine Crawford, lead minister for the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Park, Texas. Joanna talks about her experience growing up a UU in Texas, how she came into the ministry, and the importance of building a spiritual community outside of traditional religions. 

What are the Akashic Records and how do they work? I talk about them, another experience with Emily, and a surprising discovery about one of my past lives.

This is the second episode related to my daughter, Emily's, recent death. In it, I discuss a series of Tarot and Oracle card readings, a couple of dreams, and Emily's surprise drop in to send me a message a couple of weeks after her death. I have also posted a series of blog posts with pics of the drawings so you can see what they look like as you listen.

This is the first of two episodes, talking about the recent passing of my daughter, Emily, and how, in the midst of it, I learned alot about love, empathy, and compassion and just how powerful they are. It's probably a little all over the place as I continue to work through the grief and loss of her in my life.