In this raw and necessary episode of The Backslider Diaries,T, J, and Lance sit down to unpack the difficult reality of abuse within faithcommunities. From personal experience and broader patterns, we break down themany faces of religious harm—childhood abuse, sexual misconduct, grooming,physical and emotional control, financial exploitation, and culturalmanipulation. No sugarcoating. No excuses. Just truth. If you've ever feltgaslit, silenced, or shamed in the name of God—this conversation is for you.Because faith should never be a weapon.

⚠️ Content warning: This episodediscusses sensitive topics including various forms of abuse. Listenerdiscretion is advised.

🎵 Opening music by The Demigs: • Black Valley Fight 🎵 Closing music by The Demigs: • Monochrome Blues

🌐 Resources: https://adultchildren.org – for support, healing, and recovery

#BacksliderDiaries#ChurchAbuse #ReligiousTrauma #Exvangelical #SpiritualAbuse #Deconstruction #FaithHealing #PurityCulture #AdultChildrenOfAbuse#LeavingChurch #ExFundie #ToxicFaith #ReligiousDeconstruction#RecoveringFromReligion#FaithShouldntHurt

They promised healing. They delivered a show. In this episode, we dive into the dark underbelly of faith healing—where staged miracles, emotional exploitation, and spiritual manipulation rake in millions. From televangelist theatrics to tent revival cons, we expose how desperate people are preyed upon in the name of God. This isn't just deception—it's a system built on false hope and fat wallets.

We talk the grift, the guilt, and the god-complex behind miracle ministries—and why the truth is often buried under a mountain of money and microphones

In this one, we dive into how political polarization—especially the rise of MAGA ideology—has created rifts in families across the U.S., and how it's become closely tied with modern evangelical culture. We share stories of strained relationships, lost connections, and the emotional cost of navigating belief systems that collide at the dinner table.

#FamiliesDivided

#PoliticalPolarization

#MAGA

#Evangelicalism

#FaithAndPolitics

#DeconstructingFaith

#Exvangelical

#ReligiousTrauma

#CultureWars

#BacksliderDiaries

#FamilyRifts

#FaithVsPolitics

#ChristianNationalism

#ToxicFaith

Growing Up LGBTQ+ in a Pentecostal Church

In this episode of The Backslider Diaries, our guest shares their powerful story of growing up queer in a strict Pentecostal household — and what it was like coming out not only to their preacher father and deeply religious family, but also to their wife and close friends.

We dive into the weight of religious expectations, internal conflict, and the path to self-acceptance after years of repression. This is a story about identity, truth, and the cost of living authentically.

If you've ever questioned who you are in the face of rigid belief systems, this one’s for you.

#Exvangelical #LGBTQ #Deconstruction #Pentecostal #ReligiousTrauma #TheBacksliderDiaries

In this episode, we unpack the dangerous blend of narcissism and spiritual authority often found in evangelical pulpits. What happens when a leader claims divine direction to justify control, manipulation, or abuse? We explore the “God told me” complex—how it silences dissent, elevates ego, and blurs the line between faith and fanaticism. Drawing from personal stories, psychology, and cultural trends, we examine the warning signs of spiritual narcissism and why so many are walking away from toxic authority in search of truth.