The Life After Leaving Podcast: An Ex-Christadelphian Podcast

S3 Ep. 29 Fellowship with Tim

Today we’re chatting with Tim! In today’s episode, we hear from a survivor of the movement of a small group of Christadelphians who traveled to Israel because of an article in a Christadelphian magazine in order to meet Jesus, who they believed had returned but was living “in cognito” as an Israeli politician. Tim tells us about when his family prayed to a literal burning bush they believed was a sign from God, about his sister becoming a shepherdess in the Promised Land, and about the repeated abuse, attempted murders, and other traumatic experiences that marked his childhood in Israel. This episode is a doozy… we discuss “bullets for Jesus”, severe PTSD, and the difficulty Tim experienced trying to escape the nightmare that his family's beliefs in Christadelphian doctrines had led him and his siblings into… 
 
Listener Discretion Advised.
 
TW: Emotional, Physical, Psychological and Sexual Child Abuse, Kidnapping, Physical Assault, Murder-Suicide Attempts, Gun Violence, PTSD
 
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:
 
“Who is this…?” by Charles J. Hall of Boise, Idaho in Testimony Magazine. Email lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com to request a PDF
 
Lod Airport Massacre
 
The Branch Davidians at Waco and David Koresh
 
The Jonestown Massacre and Jim Jones
 
Moshe Dayan 
 
Sylvia Plath
 
"A Child Called 'It' " by David Pelzer
 
The Ecclesial Guide (1883)
 
Branhamites
 
Poseidon Adventure (1972 Movie)
 
"High Demand Group Recovery Group."  Hosted by Mary Moore via Zoom. Email lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com for Mary’s email address.

S3 Ep. 28 Fellowship with Pete

Today we’re chatting with Peter! In this episode, we hear from a former brother about the difficulties of growing up in a family perpetually changing ecclesias, of struggling to build friendships within the Christadelphian community, and of trying to meet the complicated standards for public prayers and bible readings. Peter shares how he had felt so mentally immobilized by fear that he had never questioned any of the doctrines until he met a Christadelphian who did, setting Peter on a path of asking questions, fact checking Christadelphian teachings, and eventually realizing that some Christadelphians share incorrect information (sometimes knowingly!) Peter also speaks up against the harmful views he was taught about “marital rights”, the intense schedule of attendance that was expected of Christadelphians every week in England, and of his struggles to create his own identity, beliefs, and community as an ex-Christadelphian adult. 
Listener discretion advised.
 
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:
 
Wiki mentioning Central Name Change based on location 
“Birmingham Temperance Hall ecclesia (so known after the location of their rented rooms)... In 1952 the majority of the Berean Christadelphian Fellowship rejoined the "Birmingham Central" body of Christadelphians ("Temperance Hall" was now known as the "Central Fellowship", since Birmingham Central had ceased renting rooms at Temperance Hall in 1932”
 
Thou, Thee, and Archaic Grammar
 
Thou Grammer Wikipedia
 
Who wrote the Bible by Richard Elliot Friedman
 
Genie the feral child article
 
Israeli Gas Find (Testimony Magazine Archive)
 
Mount Tabor and the Jezreel Valley
 
Daily Mail- Pope sacks astronomer over evolution debate
 
Update: Christian Century:  Vatican astronomer’s backing of evolution no factor in his exit
 
Cosmic Skeptic with Alex O’Connor on Youtube
 
Holy Koolaid on Youtube
 
Good Omens (TV Show)
 
Chimp Paradox: How Our Impulses and Emotions Can Determine Success and Happiness and How We Can Control Them by Steve Peters
 
Complex PTSD books
 
Your logical fallacy is website
 
Your bias is website

S3 Ep 27. Fellowship with Sarah

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
 
Dr. Tara Swart
 
Dr. Gabor Mate
 
Dawn Smith: TedX “Why I Left an Evangelical Cult”

S3 Ep. 26: Liar, Liar, M.D. on Fire: Dr. John Thomas’ Medical Qualifications with Zinnia

Today we’re investigating the medical qualifications of “Doctor” John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians. In this episode, we’ll debunk some questionable claims allegedly recorded in mysterious letters, examine damning evidence hidden in plain sight regarding Thomas’ medical education, and explore the shocking reason why John Thomas really left England to pursue a medical career in the United States. We also deep dive into John Thomas’ background in “male midwifery”, his forgotten role as a teacher for the Royal Western Hospital School, and his published treatment plan for cholera. Zinnia also uncovered a new biography of John Thomas’ medical background while researching this episode and unveils brand new information and insights about his medical background for this episode! Please join us for another exciting history episode as John Thomas’ lies and criminal activity get exposed by Zinnia, namely, a woman.
 
Many thanks to Dr. Craig Fairweather of Sydney, Australia, to the other ex-Christadelphians who have reached out to share resources, and to the amazing archivists and librarians who helped me uncover an amazing new resource for this episode!
 
Please stay tuned for Part Two!
 
Listener discretion advised.
Resources and References:
*Please email me at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com if interested in seeing a resource that isn't readily available that is listed here.
Dr. Thomas: His Family and the Background of His Times’ by Charles Blore (1982)
John Thomas: His Friend and His Faith” by Peter Hemingray
The Life After Leaving Podcast, Episode 6
The Life After Leaving Podcast, Episode 2
The Life of Dr. Thomas
Archives: Royal College of Surgeons of England, Hackney Archives, & Southwark Archives
The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 edition
Dr. Thomas: His Life & Work By Robert Roberts 1873
“Dr. John Thomas - the man and his work” by S. M. Algar from 'The Dawn Ecclesial Magazine' September 1969, from the Hackney, London Archives
The Lancet articles by John Thomas:
“On the Immateriality of the Mind” by John Thomas
Improvements on Civiale’s Lithoniritic Instruments by John Thomas
Synopsis of the Treatment of the Malignant Cholera by John Thomas
ESSAY ON ASPHYXIA ;OR AN ATTEMPT TO Illustrate the Pathology, and to simplify the Treatment, of SUSPENDED ANIMATION by John Thomas
Case of Imperforate Anus by John Thomas
On the Nature and Treatment of Burns and Scalds by John Thomas
Anatomy Act of 1832
“Medical Training in the United States Prior to the Civil War” by Robert Slawson
British Newspaper Archive: Evidence for the Existence of the Royal Western Hospital in 1830
Thomas Leigh Blundell Source 1 and Source 2
Body Snatching in the UK
The Real Mr Frankenstein - Sir Anthony Carlisle, Medical Murders, and the Social Genesis of Frankenstein by Donald Shelton (2020)
Physician, Apothecary, or Surgeon?
Why are male surgeons still addressed as Mr? - PMC
Catholic Controversy by John Thomas in the Millennial Harbinger
Apostalic Advocate Vol 1 1834
Apostalic Advocate in 1836 M.D. Not D.D.
October 1850 edition of New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal
John Thomas M.D. in the St Charles Patriot Newspaper
Jimmy Neutron Brain Blast
“The History of Medicine” by Alexander Wilder (1901)
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
“The New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal” by Calvin Newton Vol 2, No 8, Page 122, April 16, 1848
The Independents
Oliver Cromwell
Trail of Tears
Cholera Statistics
Cholera in England
American Heritage- Doctors of the Frontier
Alanis Morissette- Ironic
Calomel
Tidings Devotional by Alan Eyre (2005)(Why Dr. Thomas Really Left England)
British Health and Medicine
Historically Speaking: Victorian-era doctors lacked tools to help patients
Hackney, London - Wikipedia

S3 Ep. 25 Fellowship with Vanessa R

Today we’re chatting with (another) Vanessa! In this episode, we interview our first ex-Christadelphian raised in the “Old Paths” sub-group of the Christadelphian sect. Vanessa shares some stories from their community such as their caravan tent version of Bible School, the strict rules baptized members were required to agree to such as never going to the movies, and about how her family refused to fellowship with “Central” Christadelphians while visiting. However, Vanessa was always excited to learn and even startled her Sunday School teacher with the surprising facts she shared from reading Malcolm X. Despite her then-husband’s disapproval as a young woman, she continued to read and study outside of traditional domestic fields, eventually getting her PhD (and divorcing her Christadelphian husband). We also chat about wine so watered down that even thieves returned it, people pleasing and abusive relationships after being raised in high control religion, and the therapeutic creative project she undertook after leaving. Also, this episode is dedicated to our new podcast patron saint Keanu Reeves. 
Please join us for another episode of fellowship among the Heathens!
Listener discretion advised. 
 
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:
 
Speed (1994 Film):
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/
 
Keanu Reeves:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keanu_Reeves
 
Goodreads- Cult Memoirs:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/cult-memoirs
 
Vanessa’s first book ‘Holy Bible:
https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Vanessa-Russell-ebook/dp/B085DLDJWF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12PM33O8KXBTM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P2UQqnx3tzVC00lQZU8J1A.UwnyG3mR0ZIKtTEP206TUR3FytgSL6LAFRXG5D6N6jg&dib_tag=se&keywords=vanessa+russell+holy+bible&qid=1746401165&s=books&sprefix=vanessa+russell+holy+bible%2Cstripbooks%2C87&sr=1-1
 
Vanessa's second book ‘The World is Not Big Enough’
https://www.amazon.com/World-Is-Not-Big-Enough/dp/1743796838
 
Netflix: American Murder: Gabby Petito (2025)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35590630/
 
Netflix: American Murder: Laci Peterson (2024)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33079160/
 
Gary Schaefer (1951-2023), Christadelphian Serial Killer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Schaefer
 
EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): 
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing

S2 Ep. 24 Fellowship with Mako

Today we’re chatting with Mako! In this episode, Mako shares his experience traveling the world as a (white, male) Christadelphian before spending the years following his baptism serving in Jamaica as a missionary. After marrying his (Jamaican) wife and settling in America, his eyes were opened to racism & sexism among the Christadelphians when it became directed towards his family and as Christadelphians grappled with the Black Lives Matter movement. Mako also shares the story of how his small ecclesia split, how white Christadelphians online refused to even acknowledge racism in the Christadelphian community, and how he struggled to get distance from the Christadelphian community when they held the memorial service in his house every week! We also learn about his epic baptism, that time a Sunday School teacher crushed his dreams, and about his enduring love for the beach and ocean. Towards the end of the episode we also get philosophical as we speculate about ghosts, the Kingdom of God, and on the impact on society if everyone simply decided to “let God fix it”.
Please join us for another episode of fellowship among the heathens!
 
If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com
 
Listener discretion advised.
 
White Savior Complex:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_savior
https://www.health.com/mind-body/health-diversity-inclusion/white-savior-complex
 
Microaggressions:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microaggression
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/08/872371063/microaggressions-are-a-big-deal-how-to-talk-them-out-and-when-to-walk-away
 
Black Lives Matter Movement:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter
https://library.law.howard.edu/civilrightshistory/BLM
https://blacklivesmatter.com/
 
Pascal’s wager
 
Barbie Movie (2023)
 
Mako’s exhortation on Love: 
Available on our Facebook Page (too long for the show notes!)

S2 Ep. 23 Fellowship with Chloe

Today we’re chatting with Chloe! In this episode, Chloe shares her experience being raised to be homeschooled by Christadelphians and sent to a Canadian Christadelphian Heritage College before being discouraged from pursuing higher education and having to learn how to navigate the “outside world” once she hit adulthood. We also discuss mental health issues she experienced while she was a Christadelphian, how the Arranging Brothers refused to accept her resignation, and her method of using note taking to lure in a godly man. Chloe also shares her childhood ghost stories, discusses the anxious thoughts she had about the “Kingdom of God”, and opens up about the peer pressure around her baptism. We also ask, why would we ever want to be like the angels? Why is it so hard to develop close relationships as a Christadelphian? And how can we get the best roast dinner recipes now that we’ve left? 
 
Please join us for another episode of fellowship among the Heathens!
 
*Please note that we had a technical difficulty about 58 minutes in which interrupted the conversation, whoops!
 
Listener discretion advised. 
 
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:
 
Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
 
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
 
Thought Terminating Cliches: 
 
https://psychology.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/aps-in-the-media/2024/explaining-thought-terminating-cliches-and-why-we
 
Cult Signs- Keeping Members Busy and Exhausted:
“#11 Time Domination- Members are kept constantly busy to prevent independent thinking”
https://blog.earkick.com/25-signs-youre-in-a-cult-how-cult-leaders-keep-you-hooked/
 
“If you experience pressure to take part in any (or all) services, rites or rituals, and feel it would be socially costly not to take part (i.e. you might be excluded from other things, disapproved of or left out of friendship groups), you should be concerned.”
https://secularliturgies.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/the-25-signs-youre-in-a-high-control-group-or-cult-by-anastasia-somerville-wong/
 
Neville Goddard
 
Harry Potter and Apparating:
 
History episode mentioning ‘being like the angels’: Episode 13: Hypnosis, Telepathy and Ghosts
 
Ex-Christadelphian website:
 
 
Ear Biscuits Podcast: Rhett’s Spiritual Deconstruction (2020):
 
Ear Biscuits Playlist on Spiritual Deconstruction:
 
 

S2 Ep. 22 Fellowship with Sylvia

Today we’re chatting with Sylvia! In this episode, Sylvia tells us about growing up in a family that read (and debated) the Bible together every day as ‘a little hippie kid’. She discusses her ‘radical’ experience as a Christadelphian starting in the 1960’s and ‘70’s in Canada where she helped found a new ecclesia, create a new bible school, and push for women to teach. She also turned heads in her meeting when her parents approved her underage marriage to an unbaptized First Nations “outsider”. Zinnia and Sylvia also discuss how her ideas were plagiarized for exhortations, the beliefs of First Nations people, and how David is definitely the sexiest Bible character! We also speculate about what we would want to see at an Ex-Christadelphian event. Come join us for another fellowship among the heathens and to hear about the ecclesia that was created to be “just a lot more fun”!
Listener discretion is advised. 
 
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:
 
Sylvia’s Website
 
Sylvia’s Blog
 
Sylvia’s Blog Post on being “The Zealot’s Daughter”
 
Christadelphian “Truth Corps” via the Christadelphian Bible Mission of the Americas and Canada
 
Wrested Scriptures by Ron Abel (1990)
 
Christendom Astray by Robert Roberts
 
Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
 

S2 Ep. 21 The History of Christadelphian Bible Prophecy with Zinnia

In today’s episode, Zinnia does a deep dive on the history of Christadelphian “prophecies” and apocalyptic predictions! She starts with the origins of the “prophetic arithmetic” methods by a rather infamous American in the 1840’s, follows the early prophecies by John Thomas and Robert Roberts, and leads into conversations around prophecies, high control groups, and cognitive dissonance in the modern era. Ready to learn some Christadelphian history? Let's get into it!
Listener Discretion Advised.
Resources and References: ⁠Toy Story (1995) “The Claw”⁠
⁠William Miller and the Great Disappointment⁠
⁠The Great Disappointment of William Miller⁠
⁠Millerism⁠
⁠The Seekers⁠
⁠The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance and the book “When Prophecy Fails”⁠
⁠Wikipedia: History of the Seventh-day Adventists Church⁠
More Millerite History:
⁠https://st.network/analysis/top/the-second-coming-files-a-2000-year-investigation-part-vii-adventism-after-the-great-disappointment-adventist.html⁠
⁠https://lineagejourney.com/read/the-advent-movement-beyond-the-great-disappointment/⁠
⁠The Disappointed: Millerite Adventists and Their “New World”⁠
⁠The Advent Movement Beyond the Great Disappointment⁠
⁠The Christadelphian Magazine/ The Ambassador of the Coming Age⁠:
January 1866, October 1893, May 1893, October 1897 
⁠John Thomas: His Friends & His Faith by Peter Hemingray⁠
⁠Joseph Marsh⁠
Eureka: An Exposition of the Apocalypse by John Thomas
⁠https://www.antipas.org/pdf_files/eureka_vol_1_lg.pdf⁠
⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka:_An_Exposition_of_the_Apocalypse⁠
⁠Elpis Israel, 7th edition 1897⁠
⁠Elpis Israel with Publishers Comments (2000)⁠
⁠“My Days and My Ways” by Robert Roberts⁠
⁠“Robert Roberts: A Study of Life and Character” by Islip Collyer⁠
⁠Whose line is it anyways⁠ “The show where everything’s made up and the points don’t matter”
⁠Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett⁠
⁠Christendom Astray by Robert Roberts⁠ (including Chapter 16 and the prophecy on page 271)
⁠Wikipedia: ‘Christendom Astray from the Bible”⁠
“In the 1951 edition published by ⁠The Christadelphian⁠ Office, chapter 16 entitled 'Evidence that the End is Near' was deleted because the start of the millennium age did not start as predicted by 1910.”
⁠“What They Said Would Happen: A Review of Christadelphians Predictions”⁠ by John Hutchinson, January 2000 
⁠Emperor Nicholas I⁠
⁠The Crimean War⁠
⁠A Timeline of the Crimean War⁠
⁠The Life of John Thomas (1985)⁠
The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, September 1861. Quote recorded in “The Life of John Thomas”
⁠The Princess Bride (1987)⁠ “Have fun storming the castle!”
⁠World War I Timeline⁠
⁠Scooby Doo⁠
⁠Godzilla⁠
⁠Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (Netflix)⁠
⁠Clifford the Big Red Dog⁠
The Bible, Matthew 24:34: 
"Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled"
⁠Willy Wonka Golden Ticket⁠
⁠Finding Nemo (2003)⁠
⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ1KDf3O-qU⁠
⁠Dictionary.com definition of a Christadelphian⁠: a member of a Christian millenarian sect founded in the US about 1848, holding that only the just will enter eternal life, that the wicked will be annihilated, and that the ignorant, the unconverted, and infants will not be raised from the dead
⁠Millenarianism⁠: “Millenarianism is the belief by a religious, social, or political group or movement in a coming fundamental transformation of society, after which "all things will be changed"
⁠Apocalypticism⁠: “Apocalypticism is the religious belief that the end of the world is imminent, even within one's own lifetime”
⁠Doomsday Cult⁠: “A doomsday cult is a cult that believes in apocalypticism and millenarianism”
⁠Instagram: video by abbiesr⁠

S2 Ep. 20 Bible Prophecy with Rob and Steve

Today we’re chatting about Bible Prophecy! In this episode I’m joined by Rob, a Professor of Statistics & Statistical Forecasting, and Steve, a Professor of Biblical Studies to explore the prophecies they learned (and even taught!) from their time as Christadelphians. Now as ex-Christadelphians, we discuss what they’ve learned about history, statistics, and biblical literature to explore non-Christadelphian perspectives on some common prophecies related to the Bible and Christadelphian culture. We explore prophecies that were supported by a selective view of history, unfulfilled prophecies, and even prophecies that were wrong in the Bible! In this episode we also learn about Rob’s attempt to have his fortune told in India, Steve’s thoughts on satire in the Bible, and learn about the relationship between the Bible and Tarot Cards! 
Please enjoy another week of fellowship among the heathens!
Listener discretion is advised. 
 
Resources and References:
 
Unbelievable: A Journey from Faith Via Evidence. Why A University Professor Gave up Religion and Became an Unbeliever by Rob Hyndman
 
Excerpt from Rob’s Book: Chapter 8- The biblical crystal ball
 
Eureka by John Thomas
Eurkea PDF
 
Revelation: A Biblical Approach by Harry Whittaker 1976
 
The first book of Enoch
 
Fourth Book of Esdra/ 4 Ezra
 
The Second Book of Baruch
 
The Bible, Ezekiel 26 A Prophecy Against Tyre
 
The Anchor Bible Series
 
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
 
The Anchor Bible Commentary
 
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia