The Life After Leaving Podcast: An Ex-Christadelphian Podcast

S1 Ep. 9 Fellowship with Mike

Today we’re chatting with Mike! Mike shares his story of growing up in the Brotherhood with many surprises including sourcing bootleg copies of the Simpsons for the Christadelphian youth group, finding a wife at the Christadelphian nursing home, and about his path to eventually becoming “unequally yoked” before leaving the group. Mike also shares his experience of unintentionally framing the Editor of the Christadelphian magazine for vandalism (whoops) and answers whether or not he saw any unattached beard hair in the Christadelphian Magazine Archives. And of course, he asks the hard hitting questions such as ”...have you got a hat?”. Please join us for yet another fun 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
 
Resources and References:
 
Praise the Lord Hymn Book
 
‘Praise the Lord’ Music Audio
 
The Book of Mormon: 
On Broadway
Watch online

S1 Ep. 8 Robert Roberts and the Fandom of John Thomas

Today we’re learning about the unofficial president of the John Thomas fan club, Robert Roberts. In this episode, we’ll be taking a critical look at whether this famous Christadelphian leader was actually just a follower. I’ll be sharing with you “respectable heathens” stories about Robert Roberts’ childhood, his quirks, and the chance he missed to leave behind the drama of the Christadelphians forever. I hope you’re as surprised as I was to learn the bizarre ways that he honored John Thomas throughout his lifetime, and even in death. I’ll also share a Christadelphian exhortation drinking game, a request for the whereabouts of a lost object, and a story about a legendary exhortation at the Moorestown ecclesia. Please also stay tuned to the end for another “ad” from one of our “sponsors”. 
 
Resources and References:
 
“My Days and My Ways” by Robert Roberts, 1894
 
“Robert Roberts: A Study of the Life and Character” by Islip Collyer
 
John Thomas His Friends and His Faith by Peter Hemingray, 2003
 
Gilmore Girls tv series, Season 6 episode 8 “Why did you drop out of Yale?”
 
“Elpis Israel” by John Thomas 
Fourteenth Edition
Ninth Edition
 
Goosebumps tv series, “Welcome to Dead House”
 
Ex-Christadelphians.com, “Who was Robert Roberts?”
 
“Escaping Twin Flames” Documentary, Netflix
 
Jonestown
 
The Christadelphian magazine,formerly The Ambassador of the Coming Age  (Subscription required)
-November 1869, accessible to the public
-July 1871, accessible to the public, July edition starting page 199, quotes can be found page 217 and 219
 
“The Early History of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in Britain with Historical, Critical, and Social Reminiscences of Persons, Places, and Events” compiled by William Norrie, Vol III
 
Ancestry.com, Roberts Family Tree
 
Tidings article mentioning Roberts’ son Edward leaving the Christadelphians
 
Coraline (book) by Neil Gaiman, 2002 & Coraline Movie adaption 2009
 

S1 Ep. 7 Fellowship with Leah

Today we’re chatting with Leah! Leah shares her story of pushing the boundaries of respectable behavior for a Christadelphian woman by saying prayers at the podium, giving exhortations, and pushing the community to support the fair-trade movement. Leah wasn’t about to let gender roles get her down and now she’s living her best life re-enacting Sister Act, voting in elections, and saying farewell to her good enemies in the ecclesia. Leah also shares her one rule that sets her new standard when visiting and evaluating a church. Please also enjoy a special guest appearance by Leah’s cats… meow…
 
TW: domestic violence, sexual assault
 
If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com
 
References & Resources:
Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari
 
I Don’t by Clementine Ford
 
See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control, and Domestic Violence by Jess Hill
 
Leah’s choir performance (Facebook)
 
Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

S1 Ep. 6 Christadelphian True Crime with Zinnia and Keturah

Today we're chatting with Keturah about true crime stories from the Christadelphians! History certainly isn't always boring with Zinnia sharing the history of five notorious Christadelphians from around the world. Just in time for spooky season, let's talk about body snatchers, poison, and even murder...
 
 TW: domestic violence, child abuse, pedophilia, incest, violent murder
 
Resources and References:
 
Story One: John Thomas Story References:
 
John Thomas: His Life and His Work by Robert Roberts
 
John Thomas: His Friends and His Faith by Peter Hemingray
 
John Thomas’s article in the Lancet on the Anatomy Bill in May 1829
(Full article received via email after contacting Elsevier)
 
Articles on the Richards Riot:
-YouTube video on Richard’s Riot & the identity of the young woman 
-Patch.com on the Grave Robbings 
-St Charles History Museum on Richards Riot
-The Resurrectionists
Story Two: Albert Chernov Kidney Stealing Story:
News Article
 
The report on “Jerry” is not publicly available and was sourced from a member of the Ex-Christadelphian Facebook Group. The full section of the report that was referenced is quoted here:  “Albert Chernov, baptized by [“Jerry” real name redacted], was financially supported by BBFU (CCM) as a recruiter for the Brotherhood. Chernov was arrested in July 2003 on suspicion of rounding up Russian immigrants in Israel and compelling them, with threats and extortion, into undergoing nephrectomies (removal of a kidney). The charges detailed that the organs were sold, by Chernov and his two accomplices, on the black market. [Source: Haaretz.] He was released on bail in Nov 2003 and fled the authorities. [Source: Washington Post. *Not Found in WP Archives* ]”
 
United Nations definition of organ trafficking
 
Story Three: Judith Ann Venn Murder:
 
Article 1 in The Guardian
 
Article 2 in ABC News
 
Story Four: “Uncle Murder”/ Roger Hammond:
Phoenix New Times: “Mr. Fix-it is Guilty” March 1 1989
 
Man convicted in Arkansas in Louisville woman's death Associated Press
 
Obituary, Roger Hammond
Story Five: Gary Schaefer Murders:
 
Book: In The Shadow of Death: The Hunt for a Serial Killer by Philip Ginsburg 
 
Podcast: True Crime New England, Episode 10
 
Podcast: Thrice Cursed: A True Crime and Paranormal Podcast: Heavens'ta Betsy aka Gary Lee Schaefer
Note: Additional resources on Gary Schaefer are mentioned in the podcasts above
 
Reformer News Article on Schafer’s Death
 
Gary Schafer Wikipedia
 
Rutland Daily Herald Article on the Arrest
 
Murderpedia for Schafer
 
Book Mentioned by Keturah:
To Believe In Women: What Lesbians Have Done For America - A History by Lillian Faderman

S1 Ep.1 Fellowship with Heather

Today we're chatting with Heather! Let's cozy up by a babbling stream with our favorite transcendental books for this one! 
 
If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com
 
Resources:
⁠Heather's Blog⁠

S1 Ep. 5 Harbingers of Destruction! Talking with Amy about Women in Christadelphia

Today we're chatting with Amy! She has a master's degree in Religious Studies, and wrote her thesis using the Christadelphians as a test case for theories of conservative women.
There's no need to don a skirt or headcovering this Sunday morning! Join us as we delve into the reason why nothing ever changes in Christadelphia; talk about the limited roles for women in the ecclesia; reminisce on the dramas of headcoverings and pants-wearing (that's trousers for the Brits); and much, much more.
Resources:
 
Amy’s thesis
Not publicly available. Please email lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com to request a digital copy
 
Christadelphian Moms Survey Results, May 2024
 
Tidings magazine, May 2024 Issue
 
Tidings magazine, article on race from August 2020
 
The Ecclesial Guide by Robert Roberts
 
Esme Louie Tradwife Video
 
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
 
Books referenced:
 
The Psychology of Religious Doubt by Philip Helfaer
Educated by Tara Westover
The Holy Bible by Vanessa Russell (an ex-christadelphian!)
Leaving the Fold by Marlene Winell 

S1 Ep. 4 Fellowship with Rob

Today we’re chatting with Rob! Rob had reached the pinnacle of success as an international Christadelphian lecturer and prominent leader in his ecclesia before his journey to explore the root of his faith took him on an unexpected “reverse road to Damascus” and to leaving religion for good. This episode is the perfect accompaniment to a leisurely Sunday morning spent sleeping in, enjoying a fresh cup of coffee, and savoring not having to rush to the Sunday morning meeting anymore. Pull on your most colorful underwear for this episode and enjoy! 
If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com
Resources:
 
Unbelievable: A journey from faith via evidence. Why a university professor gave up religion and became an unbeliever 
 
Unbelievable on Amazon
 
Bibliography of Rob’s Book
 
Tidings Article on Seeking Truth
 
Book: Good without God by Greg Epstein
 
Book: The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion
By Jonathan Haidt

S1 Ep. 3 Fellowship with Keturah

Today we're chatting with Keturah! There are some heavy topics in today's episode but this was still so much fun! We wonder, why do Christadelphians love one room schoolhouses so much? What is the proper gender neutral term for a baptized Christadelphian? Why did tights have such a chokehold on Christadelphian women for so long? The world may never know but we can laugh about it anyway!
 
TW: domestic violence, child abuse, incest, depression
 
If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com
 
Resources:
Jezebel Vibes on Youtube⁠

S1 Ep. 2 John Thomas: The Man, the Myth, the Founder of the Christadelphians

Today we're diving into the origin of the Christadelphians and taking a look at their founder/rediscover-er Doctor John Thomas! Let's count how many times he got baptized and see what lengths he went to in order to get away from the priest-ridden society of England. This story is probably a little different than the Christadelphian origin story you thought you knew...
Resources and References:
 
Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889- Dr. Thomas entry on page 84
 
John Thomas: His Life and His Work by Robert Roberts
 
Joe Dispenza Article
 
John Thomas and his Rediscovery of Bible Truth by Norman Fadelle, 2004
 
Christadelphian History and Rediscovery 
 
 John Thomas His Friends and His Faith by Peter Hemingray, 2003
 
Ancestry.com, John Thomas in the England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1936, Page 46
 
Alexander Campbell Shipwreck and Journey to Glasgow, Scotland
Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, by Robert Richardson, Volume 1, Chapters 7 & 8, pages 104-128.
“The shipwreck which Thomas Campbell's family had suffered seemed to be a complete disappointment of all their hopes, as it was an entire frustration of their plans and purposes. But there was an important work for Alexander to accomplish, needing special preparation both of heart and mind; and this seeming calamity was afterward seen to be one of the most important of that train of events by which that preparation was secured. Already had it led him to a final determination as to his proper field of labor; and the [113] circumstances in which it directly involved him were those precisely adapted to qualify and guide him in that future life-work."
 
History of the Restoration Movement
“Alexander Campbell had splendid advantages for an education. His father was a teacher of no mean ability, as well as a preacher. He took great interest in the education of his son… Like many today he did not examine the Bible or search from its pages to find out the will of the Lord. He united with the church of his father, and because his father was a Presbyterian he became one. Of course in later years he studied the Bible to know the will of God and to do it. He soon began taking public part in the church work. … in 1812. He was now in full accord with the Baptist Church on what was called "the mode of baptism," and out of harmony with the Presbyterian Church. He soon discovered that he was out of harmony with the Baptist Church on its creed as well as much of its practice.”
 
Restoration Movement
“He affiliated for a time with the Baptist Church, but he saw that to follow the Scriptures he must repudiate all human institutions and exalt only the Church of our Lord. He had faith in this church and had the courage to stand by his convictions. He believed in the church of the Bible and had the courage to condemn sects and denominations with their creeds and human devices. He began calling upon people to worship as the New Testament directs, and he found many who were eager to do this. Local congregations were established on the New Testament pattern, and guided only by the New Testament in their work and worship. After he had been preaching independent of the Baptist Church for some time, the Baptist Church in some formal way condemned his action. Alexander Campbell was not excluded from the Baptist Church. He was never in full faith and fellowship with the Baptist Church. He was baptized by a Baptist preacher, and affiliated in a rather loose way with the Baptist Church while he was groping in darkness. But soon the light of God's truth dawned upon his soul, and he ignored the claims of the Baptist Church upon him and pursued a course independent of the Baptist Church… He simply called upon people to take the New Testament as their guide and the church of the New Testament as the only church which is authorized by the word of God”
 
Christadelphian Standards by H.P. Mansfield in 1961 Page 104
 
“My Days and My Ways” by Robert Roberts, 1894 Requesting Vigilantius and his Times
 
Eureka volume III
 
The preface of Eureka Vol III

Welcome, Start Here!

Welcome to the Life After Leaving Podcast! Check out this episode to learn about who we are, what we plan to do, and get some background on who the Christadelphians are before listening to our full episodes. 
If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com