She&apos;s back for more!!!  We here at WBF are lucky to have Julie, aka Cornflower Girl, back to continue the conversation! She and I get hung up on our distinct versions of homeschooling (child-directed learning) and many of the casualties of evangelicalism. Pretty sure you&apos;re going to find the conversation pretty damn engaging!!Julie is a late diagnosed autistic who has amassed a sizable TikTok following for her relatable PTSD/neurodivergent and Exvangelical content. A writer and armchair philosopher, she lives in North Carolina with her husband, Phil and 2 neurodivergent kiddos. You can find Julie at www.musingsfromthecornflower.comOR on her IG handle or Tik Tok @cornflowerwomanSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Women Beyond Faith

Meet Julie Part 2 --

Rachael is a recently deconverted mama of two sweet boys, a wife, a therapist, a sometimes poet, and a fierce advocate for those recovering from trauma. Rachael believes in LOVE and imperfectly lives by that principle. Follow her work on Instagram @smallwords_bigstories or www.rcpstherapy.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Rachael Part 1 -

Charisse, born and raised in northern Utah, was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormonism) until 2017.  An abrupt divorce plunged her head-first into an existential crisis, leading her to walk away from the LDS faith and community. Leaving religion changed everything for Charisse - how she looked at herself and others -- she contemplated her very existence. She&apos;s been working on healing and navigating the religious trauma associated with those years in the church. One of the means Charisse has utilized to help process the trauma is The Existential Ginger podcast and platform. This platform provides a means for Charisse to share not only her voice -- but also the voices of others who find themselves on a similar journey. This Existential Ginger currently lives in Southern PA with her 3 four-legged pals (2 cats and a dog). She works as a Beer Sales Rep by day.  You can find out more about Charisse at https://linktr.ee/theexistentialginger.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Charisse -- The Existential Ginger

Here&apos;s the rest of the story Joy&apos;s story!   A 59-year-old mother of six , Joy&apos;s an elementary school teacher and former fundamentalist, pentecostal Christian currently residing in the Pacific Northwest.Joy spent over 5 decades loving Jesus with her whole heart, mind, and strength. She taught her children to do the same. Her oldest, at about age 19 or 20, came home from a year abroad declaring she was no longer a Christian. This devastating news forced Joy on a search for answers that could help win her eldest back to Jesus. However, as many of us who&apos;ve found ourselves in this very situation understand -- the evidence Joy discovered, after many months of reading, studying, and watching debates  completely dismantled those pillars she had erected to uphold her faith. And before she knew it, her entire belief system had collapsed with a deafening thud. The next several years were tremendously difficult and yet exhilarating as she left the church (her entire support system!!), ended her 30-year marriage, and started anew.During those troubled years, Joy wrote a memoir called Joy Unspeakable, Toxic Faith and Rose-colored Glasses, as a way to process and make sense of it all. "I chronicle the ways in which my rose-colored glasses (a metaphor for my faith) distorted reality and robbed me of agency from the time I was a small child until my 50s when the glasses finally fell off." You can find her memoir on Amazon -- here&apos;s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Unspeakable-Toxic-Rose-Colored-Glasses-ebook/dp/B08NFNT2GCSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Joy Part 2 --

Julie aka Cornflower Girl is a late diagnosed autistic who’s amassed a sizable TikTok following for her relatable PTSD/neurodivergent and Exvangelical content. A writer and armchair philosopher, she lives in North Carolina with her husband, Phil and 2 neurodivergent kiddos. You can find Julie at www.musingsfromthecornflower.comOR on her IG handle or Tik Tok @@cornflowergrl Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Julie - Part 1

Meet Joy Hopper. She is a 59-year-old mother of six.  An elementary teacher. And -- a former fundamentalist, pentecostal Christian who resides in the Pacific Northwest.Joy spent over 5 decades loving Jesus with her whole heart, mind, and strength. She taught her children to do the same. Her oldest, at about age 19 or 20, came home from a year abroad declaring she was no longer a Christian. This devastating news forced Joy on a search for answers that could help win her eldest back to Jesus. However, as many of us who&apos;ve found ourselves in this very situation understand -- the evidence Joy discovered, after many months of reading, studying, and watching debates  completely dismantled those pillars she had erected to uphold her faith. And before she knew it, her entire belief system had collapsed with a deafening thud. The next several years were tremendously difficult and yet exhilarating as she left the church (her entire support system!!), ended her 30-year marriage, and started anew.During those troubled years, Joy wrote a memoir called Joy Unspeakable, Toxic Faith and Rose-colored Glasses, as a way to process and make sense of it all. "I chronicle the ways in which my rose-colored glasses (a metaphor for my faith) distorted reality and robbed me of agency from the time I was a small child until my 50s when the glasses finally fell off." You can find her memoir on Amazon -- here&apos;s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Unspeakable-Toxic-Rose-Colored-Glasses-ebook/dp/B08NFNT2GCThe picture Joy chose for this episode is of her falling out of a raft while attempting to maneuver a huge rapid.  This reminds Joy of what her deconstruction felt like -- absolutely terrifying to be thrown off the boat, finding herself in the thick of the rushing current, but before too long --  she was okay. And free. And everything turned out just fine. :-)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Joy -- Part 1

"It’s so important that we take the time to check in with ourselves, especially when our relationship to the future brings a certain kind of weariness."  YWAIs 2021 shaping up to be better than 2020?? Is anyone else struggling with Uncertainty? Yoga for Uncertainty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLlFSWgK2y4Braver Angelshttps://braverangels.orgUseful Idiots Podcasthttps://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/useful-idiots-trump-reign-taibbi-podcast-1115406/Unregistered Podcasthttp://www.thaddeusrussell.com/podcastThe Hill -- Risinghttps://thehill.com/hilltv/rising#Recovering from Religionhttps://www.recoveringfromreligion.orgSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Uncertainty

Wendy grew up in a conservative right-winged home with an Evangelical Christian mother and Atheist father. The church she attended with her mother and brother was a Missionary Church.Wendy&apos;s life included submission, obedience and following rules, with guilt and shame as an integral part of her mindset. After attending a 1-room church school for 7 years (A.C.E. – Accelerated Christian Education curriculum), she was able to attend a more “normal” Christian school for the rest of her high school.  Wendy went on several overseas short-term mission trips in high school. This further cemented her goal of being a career missionary. She met her 1st husband (who was a Missionary Kid from Papua New Guinea) at Prairie Bible College. After they were married, they pursued their missionary career in Brazil. They had 3 kids and were part of the mission for 15 years. After many difficult events and challenges, Wendy’s first marriage ended. This was around the same time she started to question her conservative Christian beliefs.She left her marriage, left the church, started a new career and rebounded into a 2nd marriage all around the age of 40. The 2nd marriage involved blending 2 families. That turned out to be very stressful with crisis after crisis. That marriage ended after 8 years, in 2018. Back in 2017, Wendy started the Women Beyond Belief podcast and interviewed over 35 women. These women shared their harrowing stories of leaving religion. During that year, the #MeToo movement became mainstream. This created some difficult issues which Wendy found too challenging and stressful to deal with. Wendy tried to rebrand the podcast under the Just Us Women title but finally decided to end the podcast. Wendy passed me the torch and I continue the tradition of creating space for  women who have left religion to share their stories. Today, Wendy is trying to find her way on her own as a single-income household with her youngest still at home. She is learning to find romance and fun again through online dating. You can listen to many of the archive episodes of the Women Beyond Belief and Just Us Women podcasts. They are now under the umbrella title, Virtual Life Podcast.https://virtuallifepodcast.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Wendy -

Skylar Camp is an angry feminist who lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her two young kids, who describe themselves as her best friends. They have one cat and three nearly-dead plants. She writes creative non-fiction that mostly focuses on deconverting from Evangelical Christianity.You can connect with Skylar on Instagram @skylarcampwrites.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Skylar —

I know you've been clamoring for more of Jessica's beauty and badassery! You're in luck!  Here's more of her story! #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #womenspeakup #womenspeakout #dysautonomia #eosinophilicesophagitis #chronicillness #deconvert #emptythepews #exvangelical #psalm34:14Jessica grew up swimming in christian fundamentalism.  Despite the christian education, life at home was hard -- raised by a single dad and an abusive bipolar manic depressive mother who was in and out of her life. A revolving door of blended families, domestic violence, sexual assault, neglect, and mental and emotional abuse were the norm.  The christian schools grounded her and offered structure and stability. She found an identity and safe space to find refuge from the instability at home.  But it wasn’t enough. Jessica attempted suicide at the tender age of 10. Life was extreme. Ample finances granted travel to over 20 countries, outdoor educational school for weeks at a time, and a christian fundamentalist camp every summer. To outsiders, life looked like rich privilege, but money and Jesus were tied up in family power in a bid for approval and acceptance. In high school, Jessica became involved with a particular brand of Christianity focused on uncovering the Jewish identity of Jesus. This led her to 2 tours to Israel while still in high school, followed by a move to Israel for a year only 2 days after graduation. During her time in here she began a relationship with a Chabad Israeli Jew, which led to the discovery of her own sexuality. Jessica’s experiences (both personal and humanitarian oriented) in Israel set in motion her deconversion from fundamentalism. By her sophomore year of college at Kent State University, Jessica no longer identified as christian.  Jessica transferred to Temple University in 2007 and met an Israeli Jew. He followed her back home due to family obligations. She married him, had a baby shortly thereafter and divorced by early 2011. After completing a human rights program in Rwanda, she graduated in December 2011 with a Bachelors in Applied Conflict Management, a beautiful two year old greeting her off the stage. During this time, each of her Christian friends fell off the face of the earth. She dated, continually reinventing herself and attempting to discover her true north all while raising her child as a single mom. In 2013 Jessica met her current husband. They had a baby and married, but were soon beset by a myriad of serious undiagnosed health issues besieging Jessica. It was not until 2018 that Jessica had some answers for the conditions plaguing her: Dysautonomia, gastroparesis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, arthritis, small fiber neuropathy, and other debilitating issues. She currently resides in Ohio, with her husband and a 10 and 5 year old. She is happily atheist. A skeptic, realist, who is deeply uncomfortable with spirituality and religion, abhorring anyone and anything that discourages the asking of questions. Jessica enjoys evidence-based medical and cosmic science, fantasy book series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, piano, writing, gaming, animals, and dark humor. She is currently wading the intimidating waters of motherhood, marriage, medical professionals, and autonomy, striving to seek balance, while helping her children navigate life. And she does these things with while being chronically ill and preparing her funeral. She sports a tattoo in Hebrew on her back, obtained after deconversion. Part of it says “Desire peace, and hunt it down” Psalm 34:14.It’s a damn good conversation. You’ll be blown away by Jessica. She’s a brave, badass woman! #findingfreedom #onestoryataSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Jessica Part 2 -

Jessica grew up swimming in christian fundamentalism.  Despite the christian education, life at home was hard -- raised by a single dad and an abusive bipolar manic depressive mother who was in and out of her life. A revolving door of blended families, domestic violence, sexual assault, neglect, and mental and emotional abuse were the norm.  The christian schools grounded her and offered structure and stability. She found an identity and safe space to find refuge from the instability at home.  But it wasn’t enough. Jessica attempted suicide at the tender age of 10. Life was extreme. Ample finances granted travel to over 20 countries, outdoor educational school for weeks at a time, and a christian fundamentalist camp every summer. To outsiders, life looked like rich privilege, but money and Jesus were tied up in family power in a bid for approval and acceptance. In high school, Jessica became involved with a particular brand of Christianity focused on uncovering the Jewish identity of Jesus. This led her to 2 tours to Israel while still in high school, followed by a move to Israel for a year only 2 days after graduation. During her time in here she began a relationship with a Chabad Israeli Jew, which led to the discovery of her own sexuality. Jessica’s experiences (both personal and humanitarian oriented) in Israel set in motion her deconversion from fundamentalism. By her sophomore year of college at Kent State University, Jessica no longer identified as christian.  Jessica transferred to Temple University in 2007 and met an Israeli Jew. He followed her back home due to family obligations. She married him, had a baby shortly thereafter and divorced by early 2011. After completing a human rights program in Rwanda, she graduated in December 2011 with a Bachelors in Applied Conflict Management, a beautiful two year old greeting her off the stage. During this time, each of her Christian friends fell off the face of the earth. She dated, continually reinventing herself and attempting to discover her true north all while raising her child as a single mom. In 2013 Jessica met her current husband. They had a baby and married, but were soon beset by a myriad of serious undiagnosed health issues besieging Jessica. It was not until 2018 that Jessica had some answers for the conditions plaguing her: Dysautonomia, gastroparesis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, arthritis, small fiber neuropathy, and other debilitating issues. She currently resides in Ohio, with her husband and a 10 and 5 year old. She is happily atheist. A skeptic, realist, who is deeply uncomfortable with spirituality and religion, abhorring anyone and anything that discourages the asking of questions. Jessica enjoys evidence-based medical and cosmic science, fantasy book series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, piano, writing, gaming, animals, and dark humor. She is currently wading the intimidating waters of motherhood, marriage, medical professionals, and autonomy, striving to seek balance, while helping her children navigate life. And she does these things with while being chronically ill and preparing her funeral. She sports a tattoo in Hebrew on her back, obtained after deconversion. Part of it says “Desire peace, and hunt it down” Psalm 34:14.It’s a damn good conversation. You’ll be blown away by Jessica. She’s a brave, badass woman! #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #womenspeakup #womenspeakout #dysautonomia #eosinophilicesophagitis #chronicillness #deconvert #emptythepews #exvangelical #psalm34:14  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Jessica Part 1 --

Whew! It's been a hot minute since we've chatted. Here's a brief update of what's been going on over the last few months recorded at a lovely riverside cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains.Interviews with badass women starting back up in the very near future. You can get in touch with us on FB and Instagram @WomenBeyondFaith. Or via email at WomenBeyondFaith@gmail.com.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

We're back!!

We welcome back Bethany, 26 years old, married mom of two, to the Women Beyond Faith podcast!In this episode the conversation moves to pornography, marital relationships, working through tough stuff, isolation, misguided christian counsel, sex in marriage after receiving the Purity Culture narrative, pregnancy, parenting during deconversion, forgiveness, second chances, secular higher ed institutions, finding freedom, autonomy as women, and working hard to become the best version of oneself! Bethany brings me to tears -- yet again. There's something so esoteric and mystical in speaking to someone of the 'next generation' who embodies such beauty and a wisdom beyond her years...Young, fierce women like Bethany put forth a hope in humanity that I'm clinging on to! “Hope is the Thing With Feathers”  --  Emily Dickinson:Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune without the wordsAnd never stops at all.Enjoy the conversation. #braveassbeauty #womenspeakup #wewillnotbesilent #femalevoices #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #motheranddaughter #outspokenandopinionatedSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Bethany Part 2 --

Former conservative homeschooled good girl turns into outspoken liberal feminist.Bethany, 26 years old, is a married mom of two young boys. Currently enrolled in college with a 4.0 GPA, Bethany also loves painting, yoga, music, movies and reading.  After rejecting the faith she was raised in, she's now embracing the beauty within. Bethany has found a peace filled freedom this side of faith. We talk Purity Culture, homeschooling, failing to fit in to the christian cultural norms, giving up on dreams, amazing homeschool mamas and more. Enjoy the conversation. #braveassbeauty #womenspeakup #wewillnotbesilent #femalevoices #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #motheranddaughter #outspokenandopinionatedSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Bethany Part 1 —

Here's an opportunity to meet a few of the phenomenal women in my local circle; Kellie, Jillian & Dara. They briefly talk life under quarantine. Prompts were provided to get the conversation started -- if they so chose. We've attempted to keep it apolitical (for the most part). No bashing. No shaming. And do our best to rise above all of that negativity and offer some positive energy to the world. Basically - we wanted to know how women are surviving the pandemic this side of faith? If you, too, would like to participate here's the How To:1. Utilize a voice recorder. Apple has Voice Memo. You can use Zoom or any other recorder.2. Check the quality. Adjust as needed. You may have to change rooms or lock yourself in the closet or something creative like that. If you have a microphone, please use it.3. Email me the finished product womenbeyondfaith@gmail.com4. My producer will get them edited and then we'll put them out there to share with the world. The idea is we'll put a few clips together for each episode. 5. Let me know if you have any questions, ideas or better questions to add to the list.Here's what I've got (but feel free to ad lib) & no need to answer all of them. Please pick and choose.1. Brief Intro: Name (or pseudonym), where you live in this great big world, and the basics of your faith deconstruction story. 2. What are you grateful for today?3. Who are you checking in on or connecting with today?4. What are you struggling with most during the pandemic? 5. What are you doing for your mental health today?6. How are you getting outside today?7. How are you moving your body today?8. How are you managing the household today? Kiddos, partners, work, online schooling (kids or you)?9. What beauty are you creating, cultivating or inviting in today?10. How has leaving faith challenged and/or made easier living out this new day to day reality?#femalevoices #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #lovewillholdustogether #womenbeyondfaithSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

In the time of Pandemic — Voices from Cincinnati June 2020

Finding freedom on the other side.One story at a time.For women who have walked away from the faith, the challenges can be paralyzing. Trying to find a sense of identity is tough once you've realized you've been indoctrinated by patriarchal religion. After years of submitting to men, obeying scripture and following rules, women who leave religion need to know that there are others who will listen to our stories – we need to recognize that our voices absolutely matter. Each narrative we contribute has the potential to impact society-- one account at a time. We are Women Beyond Faith -- speaking up, sharing stories, appropriating our voices, rediscovering -- or finding for the first time -- our agency .

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Women Beyond Faith

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