The Life She Wrote

The conclusion of a two-part series about one of the most famous women evangelists in the early 20th century; Aimee Semple McPherson. Even though she spent many of her formative years in the Foursquare denomination, Em knew little to nothing about its founder. After pouring over biographies, newspaper articles and photo archives she wove together a narrative that proves opposing truths can be held in tension, while stumbling upon some of the earliest rumblings of modern Christian Nationalism. 

Work Cited 

Epstein, Daniel Mark (1993) Sister Aimee: The Life of Aimee Semple McPherson, Harcourt Brace & Co. New York, NY.

Sutton, Matthew Avery (2007) Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA

In this episode, Em begins the story of one of the most famous women evangelists in the early 20th century; Aimee Semple McPherson. Even though she spent many of her formative years in the Foursquare denomination, Em knew little to nothing about its founder, until now. After pouring over biographies, newspaper articles and photo archives she wove together a narrative that proves opposing truths can be held in tension, while stumbling upon some of the earliest rumblings of modern Christian Nationalism. 

Work Cited 

Epstein, Daniel Mark (1993) Sister Aimee: The Life of Aimee Semple McPherson, Harcourt Brace & Co. New York, NY.

Sutton, Matthew Avery (2007) Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA

As promised, we’re back for season 4. This week Em tackles a very specific aspect of purity culture, the taboo and stigma of differently-gendered friendships in evangelicalism. She answers the age old question: can people of different genders be friends without the desire to “hook up”? Among other things. As always, just a reminder this is just for funsies, if you’re struggling in your own romantic partnership please seek the advice of a licensed professional if you are able. 

The Life She Wrote

In this last episode of season 3, Em shares some updates on the format of the podcast moving forward as well as a piece of writing chronicling the intersection of autistic special interest, trauma and mental health. Thank you to all of the listeners for your kindness, enthusiasm and patience over the last few years, y’all are the best. We’ll be back for season 4 on Tuesday, Oct. 17th! 

The Life She Wrote

In this week’s episode, Em gets vulnerable about her own journey of self-discovery as it relates to autism, ADHD and religious trauma. She shares some of her own research as well as that of professionals, interpreting it through the lens of someone who grew up in white evangelical spaces. *Important note: Em is not a mental health professional and nothing in this episode should be taken as medical advice. If you or someone you know is in crisis, there are people who can help. Contact your doctor or see the list of resources below. 

Books mentioned in this episode:

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodivergence by Devon Price, PhD. 

Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, PhD. 

Mental Health Resources:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

In this episode Em sits down with author & scholar Audrey Clare Farley to talk about her latest book, Girls and Their Monsters and the intersections of gender stereotypes, mental health research and American political history. 

In this episode, Em and Matt (aka thesnarkygent) discuss the rest of the story of Jim Elliot and his fellow missionaries who were famously killed in Amazonian Ecuador in 1956. Over the years the facts were blurred or obscured by evangelical leaders so as not to tarnish the “good work” of foreign missionaries, and few have dared to set the record straight. This is the second episode in a 2 part series covering the events leading up to their death, the incident itself and what happened afterward–with analysis on its impact on evangelical culture and doctrine, white Christian Nationalism and beyond. If you just stumbled upon this podcast for the very first time today, it's highly recommended that you go back and listen to Part 1 first, or this episode will be very confusing. 

Work Cited 

Long, Kathryn T. (2019) God in the Rainforest: A tale of martyrdom and redemption in Amazonian Ecuador, Oxford University Press, New York, NY. 

In this episode, Em invited her friend Matt (aka thesnarkygent) to hear the story of Jim Elliot and his fellow missionaries who were famously killed in Amazonian Ecuador in 1956. Over the years the facts were blurred or obscured by evangelical leaders so as not to tarnish the “good work” of foreign missionaries, and few have dared to set the record straight. This is the first in a 2 part series covering the events leading up to their death, the incident itself and what happened afterward–with analysis on its impact on evangelical culture and doctrine, white Christian Nationalism and beyond. 

Work Cited 

Long, Kathryn T. (2019) God in the Rainforest: A tale of martyrdom and redemption in Amazonian Ecuador, Oxford University Press, New York, NY. 

In this episode, Em sits down with her good friend Missa about what it's like living with neurodivergence in a belief system that rarely admits there even is such a thing. From the roots of ADHD, to the stereotypes of the 80's and 90's, to the stigma around mental illness and seeking mental health care outside of the church- they discuss the many ways in which evangelicalism negatively impacts diagnosis and treatment and the obstacles they've faced as women in that belief system when they are clearly not neurotypical.

Guest Info:

In this episode Em discusses the ways in which conservative Christians, specifically white evangelical ones, love to demonize feminism and feminist movements. Over the decades white evangelicals have waged many culture wars, and their with feminism is no different. CW: brief mention of sexual assault, spiritual abuse and psychological abuse.

Books quoted in this episode:

Doyle, G. (2020) Untamed, “boys” The Dial Press, an imprint of Random House, NYC.

Evans, R.H. (2018) Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again. Ch.4 Wisdom Stories. Nashville, TN: Nelson Books, and imprint of Thomas Nelson.

Related blog posts:

In this episode, Em explores the traditional gender roles of marriage and motherhood within evangelical Christianity. Including small parts of her own story, she discusses the church’s role—from training up young girls to be wives and mothers, to the digital age where Christian mom life intersects with capitalism and the Mom Boss culture that fills our Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest feeds. CW: pregnancy loss, forced heteronormativity.

Links from this episode:

In this episode, Em kicks off what will be a 4 part series discussing The Women of Evangelicalism beginning with complementarianism and those who oppose it. For those in the audience that find themselves still a Christian wanting equality for women- but iffy on queer Christians- this episode offers some insight into the importance of intersectional feminism. While it might be the shortest episode she's ever recorded, it might be one of the most important. 

Related articles from thelifeshewrote.com:

Welcome to season 3! It’s been a minute but we're ready to dive into this again and keep bringing you thoughtful, informed content. In this episode, Em revisits the topic that started it all, purity culture, as it relates to recent discourse in deconstruction and progressive Christian spaces online. She then sat down with her friend Matt, who you may know as The Snarky Gent on socials, to discuss a certain new book on Christian sex & marriage that made waves recently. Matt is a homeschool survivor and ex-evangelical and speaks out regularly on the harms of purity culture and other toxic theology. He was also a contributor to the original series on purity culture that started this podcast nearly two years ago. CW: rape, sexual abuse, spiritual abuse

In this episode Emily and her guest discuss not just what we deconstruct, but the things we hold on to when we leave—what we choose to keep and what we shed in hopes of finding healing and a catalyst for change. Her guest this week is Ryan Mulkowsky. Ryan (he/him) is a hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator for a large hospice in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. He is also a Grief Recovery Method Specialist with the Grief Recovery Institute. He has earned a bachelor and two masters degrees in the areas of religion, philosophy and divinity. He is a former pastor and has also talked extensively about his spiritual deconstruction and his eventual leaving the Christian faith. Ryan is also the host of the podcast Some Random Thoughts where he discusses a wide variety of social and cultural topics.

Links From This Episode

Find Ryan on social media:

In this episode Emily talks with exvangelical and former English professor from Azusa Pacific University, Scott Okamoto. Scott candidly shares his experience navigating life as one of the only Asian American faculty at a primarily white Christian university while also having “one foot out the door” spiritually, as he puts it. Join Emily and Scott as they discuss the struggle of living up to evangelical expectations and the beauty that’s possible when we trust our gut find our truest selves buried under the rubble of deconstruction.

Links From This Episode

This week Emily brings you another story of deconstruction, this time from Amy Snidow. Amy accidentally went viral on TikTok this summer after sharing a video about her marriage to an evangelical pastor that ended when she realized that maybe “pastor’s wife” was not her highest calling after all. The process of deconstructing her religion and spirituality led to sharing her experiences on social media platforms. Her desire was to connect with a few others who may have also experienced similar pain. Amy’s story has resonated with thousands, and it is simply because the story is far too common, but far too often disregarded, dismissed, internalized.

Links From This Episode

Guest: Amy Snidow

In this episode, Emily listens to Dr. Laura Anderson tell her own story of growing up evangelical and finding her way out—to begin a career of helping others recover from the same trauma she herself experienced. They also discuss the complexities of religious trauma and why it’s so important to seek the help you need. Laura is a licensed psychotherapist in Nashville, TN and co-founder of the Religious Trauma Institute; which is dedicated to educating others in the health care field and help professions on the impact of religious trauma and adverse religious experiences. She's also founded The Center for Trauma Resolution & Recovery, an online coaching practice helping people recover from varying forms of trauma, including religious trauma.   

Links From This Episode

In this episode Emily talks to religion journalist and ex-evangelical Chrissy Stroop about the many facets of Christian Nationalism and why it’s so important to keep fighting for democracy in the United States. From Rushdoony to Russia, they discuss the many influences on the Christian Right and how ignoring them for too long is how we got here. For more on Chrissy and her work, including the articles and books mentioned in the show, see the links below.

Guest: Chrissy Stroop, PhD., Senior Correspondent for Religion Dispatches

Links From This Episode

In the first episode of her second season, Emily talks to communication professor and author Seth Pierce. In addition to holding a PhD in communication and teaching at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska—Seth is a former pastor who recently published a book called Seeking an Understanding: How to Have Difficult Conversations Without Destroying Your Relationships. In this episode, the professor offers candid advice from his book—and personal experiences—on how to have those hard conversations when our own beliefs change, but other people’s do not. Especially when those other people are our family and friends.

Links From This Episode

Guest: Dr. Seth Pierce, PhD.

Find Seth on social media:

In this episode, Emily has a conversation with ex-evangelical and mental health advocate Aaron Smith. Aaron speaks candidly about living with Bipolar II unknowingly until his late 20’s, partially due to his life in ministry in charismatic evangelical churches. In addition to writing for his own website, culturalsavage.com, his work has been featured on several websites and published anthologies. Aaron is currently a religious studies major at Oregon State University—making his home in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two kids. You can find him on the web and social media at all the links below.

Links From This Episode

In this episode, Emily chats with the women behind the podcast Sh*tty Pastor’s Wives, Charli and Jenny about the unrealistic expectations placed on women in white evangelicalism as wives and mothers. They discuss how their own childhoods shaped their experiences as adult women in the church and the steps they took to eventually free themselves from the very small cage that is “biblical womanhood.” To hear more from Charli and Jenny, you can listen to their podcast Sh*tty Pastor’s Wives wherever you listen to podcasts. All of the links mentioned in this episode are listed below. 

Links from this episode:

In this episode Emily brings you her highly anticipated conversation with activist and church abuse survivor advocate, Jo Luehmann. Jo has been speaking out against church abuse on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, as well as helping people decolonize their faith. Born in Columbia, she came to the US in her early 20’s to get her master’s degree in theology and ministry. After a decade of working and teaching in churches, she finally left the evangelical machine to help other survivors of church abuse and religious trauma reclaim their autonomy and spirituality. Together with other survivors she formed @doBetterChurch, an online community devoted to exposing church abuse which exploded into 5,000 members in a matter of weeks.

Join Emily and Jo as they discuss everything from ministry life to motherhood, from Christian Supremacy to the church’s questionable labor practices. If you want to learn more about Jo and her work, all applicable links mentioned in today’s episode are listed below.

Links from this episode:

In this episode, Emily chats with two grassroots political activists from Idaho to discuss their state’s unique relationship to the extreme Christian Right, and more specifically Christian Reconstructionism—better known to Idahoans as the American Redoubt. If you’ve been following the recent wave of arguments and initiatives from conservative Christian republicans, you may be surprised how much of it has been coming from this one state in the Pacific Northwest.

Guests:

In this episode Emily interviews Meghan Crozier, of thepursuinglife.com about her deconstruction journey so far and talk about growing up evangelical. You can visit Meghan's blog to learn more, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @thepursuinglife. 

Links from this episode: 

In this episode Emily wraps up her series on purity culture with Part V: Sexual and Gender Identity. She discusses the ways purity culture and white evangelical’s fear-based theology impede evangelical Christians from affirming and accepting LGBTQIA+ people, and the unique trauma that impacts gay and transgender children (of all ages) of evangelical parents.

Links from this episode: 

In this episode Emily covers Part III of her series on purity culture discussing Shame & Sexuality in Relationships. She explores the origins of the shame surrounding sexuality and the importance of grieving what was lost to this painful era. 

Created as an addition to her blog, The Life She Wrote: The Podcast will expand on the topics of faith deconstruction, religious trauma and other ex-evangelical topics by providing a more in-depth look at the content and sharing stories from readers and listeners.

In this very first episode* of The Life She Wrote: The Podcast, Emily introduces herself and her work in ex-evangelical spaces. Every week she will expand on her blog post from the previous week, providing a more in-depth look at the content and sharing stories from readers and listeners. This episode begins a month long series on purity culture and all the ways it has impacted a generation. She provides a working definition of purity culture and context in which she'll be discussing it, as well as some background on early 90's evangelical subculture in the United States and Christian pop culture. 

Link's from this episode: