Christianity is about power, control, abuse, and covering for the abusers - Sarah Caton

Today I spoke with Sarah Caton, who grew up as a pastor's daughter and placed her faith in Jesus at an early age, but ultimately deconverted as the truth claims of Christianity fell apart. We touched on many topics, including: • Growing up the daughter of parents who were focused on pastoring and missions who were focused on planting Baptist churches in Mormon areas. • Becoming a very devout Christian from a very young age. • Living in constant fear of the Rapture occurring and Jesus taking everyone in her family except her to heaven. • Feeling intense pressure to be a "model Christian" in a "model Christian family." • Starting in childhood, leading others to the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus. • Constantly talking and praying to god, but never feeling any response from him. • Being steeped and groomed in patriarchy to the point that she regretted being a woman due the need to submit and relinquish her power and rights. • Within purity culture, having her body and normal desires demonized, and effectively being asked to deny her humanness. • Seeing hypocrisy in the pulpit as she heard pastors preach about loving everyone but then later on telling racist and sexist jokes. • Facing inconsistencies and issues in the Bible but finding ways to temporarily push aside the cognitive dissonance. • Realizing, as Christians, that our faith was being sustained in large part by mental gymnastics and the overarching fear of death. • Seeing the ways that Christianity turns people into moral monsters as they would be willing to sacrifice or kill their own children for the sake and commands of Yahweh. • Being cut off from her parents and "turned over to her sin" when she deconverted from Christianity. • Needing to stay away from most of her family due to the severe trauma and further indoctrination they were intent on inflicting on her. • Reclaiming her identity and self-worth and starting to heal from severe religious trauma after deconverting from Christianity. Many thanks to Sarah for writing her book and sharing her story with us today! _________________________________________ Connect with Sarah! Sarah's book, "Deconstructing: Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter" https://www.amazon.com/Deconstructing-Preachers-Daughter-Sarah-Caton-ebook/dp/B0CZW5J4L9/ https://www.facebook.com/DeconstructingMemoir Sarah's YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahCatonMusic/videos _________________________________________ Please subscribe to my other channels (many more channels and videos coming soon!) https://linktr.ee/harmonicatheist _________________________________________ Tim may be reached on FB (preferred) at: harmonictim Or by email at: [email protected] _________________________________________ Your support for my channel, Harmonic Atheist, is needed and appreciated! One time PayPal: paypal.me/harmonictim Venmo: @harmonicatheist Zelle email: [email protected] GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-tim-stay-full-time-on-harmonic-atheist Monthly https://www.patreon.com/harmonicatheist Thanks! --Tim _________________________________________ Ending music by Kazuya / Eyal Raz, "Friends" https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/friends/2825 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qbqNO6DdAQ _________________________________________ If you are facing emotional distress, please call 911 or the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255.