Today we’re chatting with Sarah! In this episode, Sarah answers all of my questions about the subgroup of Christadelphians called the “Bereans”, shares her experience of growing up in a small ecclesia as a victim of child m*lestation by Christadelphian brothers, and the story of how the Berean Christadelphian community discovered and responded to the abuse (Surprise! NOT WELL!) We also learn about Sarah’s second baptism, the revelations that shocked her as she learned more about the outside world, and discuss the harmful consequences of some of the Berean-specific Christadelphian beliefs for victims of child abuse. Sarah also shares the positives in her life now that she left the Christadelphian community, the lessons she’s learned about trying to heal, and about the joy and freedom she has in her adult life.
Listener discretion advised.
TW: child sexual abuse, pedophilia, depression, attempted suicide
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:
Wikipedia on Berean Christadelphians
Berean Christadelphian Website
Church law and tax website: “Minimizing the Risks of Child Molestation in Churches”
American Mandatory Reporting Laws
“KidFlix” platform busted news article
Wrested Scriptures by Ron Abel (Book- PDF Link)
Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber (Book)
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle
Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels
Jim Palmer Substack “Deconstructionology”
The End of Faith by Sam Harris
Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches About the Unseen World and Why it Matters by Dr. Michael Heiser
On The Origin of Time by Stephen Hawking
Donald Hoffman (Author)
Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Annaka Harris
Frederico Faggin on Consciousness
