Conversations about the religious and spiritual life on the other side of fundamentalism
 
Category: <span>Faith Development</span>

382: Accepting the Shadow and Light of the Church

Photo Credit: Mini Malist

The shadow and light of the church are a part of the same story. Integrating the suffering and the healing that the church created is part of our necessary preparation for the next part of our journey.

Acceptance of our past life in church with its blessings is a wholesome alternative to staying locked in the fight with what has been.  In which case, there’s no freedom to move on. 

381: The Reconstruction Series: Encountering Fear at the Threshold of Leaving

It’s one thing to know that letting go is possible and even necessary.  But it’s another to stand at the threshold of leaving without feeling fear.  Most of us will carry some fear.  In this …

380: Letting the Church Go With Graciousness

In this episode: “Letting go needn’t be feared.  Letting go can become a friend to us, releasing us into the flow of an abundant and growthful life.”

379: The Beginning of the End: Gina Colvin

This episode opens up the last chapters of my time as host of A Thoughtful Faith Podcast.  I aim to hang up the mic at the end of 2022. The remainder of my time with …

378: When the Church isn’t Enough: Tali Aitofi

Some years ago, Tali Aitofi found Mormon podcasts and became hooked.  But Tali isn’t Mormon, he’s Pentecostal.  Yet, his own spiritual and religious journey has played out with the hum of Mormon faith crises in the background.

Tali recently came out as gay; he left his family church, and is currently suffering from a life threatening illness.  All of this has caused deep and searching questions.  

Tali joins me to talk about his life journey and how the Netflix series Midnight Mass spoke to his larger questions about church, God, Jesus, shame and forgiveness.

376: Doing Our Inner Work: Jana Spangler

Photo Credit: Ganymedes Costagravas

The 2022 A Thoughtful Faith Podcast season kicks off with a conversation about faith deconstruction and life reconstruction!


Utah based life coach, Jana Spangler, reflects on her extensive work with Mormons who are in the thick of deconstruction and reconstruction. She argues that being in healthy relationship with our bodies will yield precisely the wisdom we need to make critical life decisions.

374: Trauma & Moral Injury in Mormonism: Dr. Sean Aaron

At Syracuse University, moral injury is defined as, “… the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress one’s own moral beliefs, values, …

372:The Spiritual Formation of Children: Amanda Suarez and Drew Hansen

Author of the Spiritual Child, Professor of Psychology Lisa Miller writes in ‘The Spiritual Child’: “Spiritual development through the early years … provides a protective health benefit, reducing the risk of depression, substance abuse, aggression, …

366: Breaking Up Well: Dr. Nicola Petty

When I began questioning the LDS Church, I did not expect the Stake Relief Society president to join me. 

Nicola Petty went from orthodox and loyal member guided by the priesthood to a Stake Relief Society President who had been woken up by the Ordain Women movement. It was in this capacity that I watched her press priesthood button after priesthood button advocating intelligently and determinedly for the women in our stake. 

When the church was no longer reconcilable, rather than spit the church out, Nicola planned her exit well, and took up the challenge to build a new life. Nicola’s story is a story of integrity, integration, and extraordinary grace for a church she once loved deeply but no longer sees as essential to her human becoming.   

Photo Credit: Shellie Evans

Link to Dr Nick’s Maths and Stats Youtube Channel

365: Sealed: A Memoir by Katie Langston

Born and raised a devout Mormon in Utah, Katie Langston chronicles her unexpected conversion to orthodox Christianity with candor and theological depth. Her remarkable debut memoir explores themes of religious fundamentalism, mental illness, and family …