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Losing Our Religion

A former megachurch pastor leaves religion behind to rid himself of the exclusivity created by its dogmas in order to open himself up to learn from the lives, stories, and experiences of everyone else. To prove we are more alike than we think and we can all get along no matter what we believe. Topics range via guest's experiences growing up in religious homes, where Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Secularism, Judaism, Hinduism, Tao, Heathenism, Satanism, Wicca and all forms of dogmas and ideologies programmed into the mind of a child. What happens when that child becomes an adult? What good things do they hold onto? What things do they lose? Where are they now, and in what ways are they finding the peace that we all desire, with or apart from the religions they were raised with? Losing Our Religion is a wild ride with a community of diverse humans each seeking their desired life away from dogma and exclusivity.
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Now displaying: January, 2016

Losing Our Religion is a hilarious and candid look at religion and culture, with former pastor, now commune living lover of sinners, Zac Gandara.  As he has drinks with former religious freaks, and others he used to shun.  Gays, Anarchists, Queers, Atheists, Transsexuals, Punk Rockers, and the rest of us that are considered rejects on this island of misfit toys.

EPISODE 027: Losing Ain't Easy: Part 2: Liz & Mat von Ehrenkrook 0
Jan 27, 2016

This is a very "Christiany" episode. If you're adverse to that, then you may want to skip this one. But it is a valuable conversation for those "of the faith". Mat (Raised Baptist former Non-Denominational Youth Pastor) and I even get into theology and biblical hermeneutics a bit while thankfully, Liz (Raised United Pentecostal Church International) brings us back down to earth.

The process of losing your religion isn't easy for a "Christian". As Lyn Morrow said, "It's like wiping the wipe board clean" of everything you ever believed and starting over. That creates so many PTSD triggers for so many of us because these are things that people we respected taught us, our parents may have given us, church leaders we trusted, all shared their concrete personal truths to us, full of certainty. Then finding out their certainty, isn't yours. What do I do now?

How do you own your faith?
Is the "church" just a business?
Should I proselytize?
Can I still believe and not go to "church"?
Do I need a pastor? Does God care?
When do I listen to other people's opinion?
Am I still "saved"?
Is it scary to lose your religion? Can I do it?
What's next after religion?

 

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Find Out More: http://www.losingourreligion.org

This Episode's Landing Page: http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/losing-aint-easy-part-2-liz-mat-von-ehrenkrook-upc-baptist-pentecostal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

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EPISODE 026: In Process of Losing Religion: Part 1: Liz & Mat von Ehrenkrook 0
Jan 20, 2016

If you've been a fellow loser or part of the CounterCulture Society, you know by now that we believe, enjoy, and embrace the second chance. Well, this weeks episode is the beginning of a second chance story.

Liz had an upbringing and coming out story from the UPC (United Pentecostal Church) years ago. Mat raised in the Baptist Denomination. Both are just a few months removed from their former lives non-denominational youth pastors. But their journey together has led them to now.

This is a beautiful, hilarious, misfit, couple that are coming out of the institutional religion that they've known all of their lives boldly joining the journey of what's next.

 

Join the CounterCulture Society: http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

Become a Producer: https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

Find Out More: http://www.losingourreligion.org

This Episode's Landing Page: http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/1/19/026-in-process-of-losing-religion-liz-mat-von-ehrenkrook-upc-baptist

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

EPISODE 025: A Felon's "Conviction": Part 2: C.J. Smith 0
Jan 13, 2016

CJ continues to share his transparent life journey of a drug user, why he lived that way, what motivated him, and learning to know himself and love himself through it all. Beginning in the Assemblies of God Denomination (Evangelical Pentecostal) CJ's indoctrination through the culture of the institutional church is where he learned the religion of wearing masks to fit the molds of other people.

As an ex-con, CJ lived in the American prison system under a 6 and then 18-month sentence. In many ways, prison gave him the opportunity of finally seeing himself as he really was. A sober awakening for sure. But he also got to see how problematic the American Prison system is. It's not so much like the movies. CJ refers to it as, "The most lonely place on earth." He has left his prison time, now living life as an ex-con with a great desire to change the system and make reducing recidivism a real thing.

Ever heard of the American School to Prison Pipeline? Is it brought on by white privilege? What can we do about it? Tune in!

 

Join the CounterCulture Society: http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Become a Producer: https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More: http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page: http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/025-excon-reducing-recidivism-felon-prison-religious-masks-bowie-tribute

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

 

EPISODE 024: A Felon's "Conviction": Part 1: C.J. Smith 0
Jan 6, 2016

Losing Our Religion and Ideologies comes in many ways, shapes and forms. Growing up in the south, Florida to be exact, was the beginning of CJ's. Most of us are pretty familiar with the bible beltness of the America South.

CJ was a "PK". For those of you that don't know that term - Preacher's Kid. CJ was also an addict, a felon, a convict, and now ex-con, husband, and dad. A life far from the goodie too shoes ideal of a Preacher's Kid, but not too far from the reality of a lot of us that grew up in "ministry" life. He is a constant learner and learned a lot in prison. This episode is his story.

 

Join the CounterCulture Society: http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Help Produce the Show: https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More: http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page: http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/1/5/024-a-felons-conviction-part-1-cj-smith-drugs-convict-ex-con

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

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