Rick and Claudine dive into what it means to “take off the God glasses” and see life without a religious filter. They unpack personal journeys through faith, atheism, homeschooling, and purity culture, finding both humor and heartbreak in the absurdities of belief. Along the way they explore cognitive dissonance, feminism, science versus creation stories, and how tragedy can shatter—or reshape—faith. It’s a curious, candid, and often funny look at what happens when indoctrination gives way to honest questions.Julia Sweeney's "Letting Go of God":https://youtu.be/uE59PtBGqus?si=hqSJbLwVjSL2h-c_#GodGlasses #FaithJourney #Atheism #Feminism #PurityCulture #Homeschooling #Deconstruction #ReligiousTrauma #CognitiveDissonance #Exvangelical #Curiosity

Embracing reality beyond religion can be terrifying and liberating at the same time, especially if you’re deconstructing evangelical Christianity and wrestling with cognitive dissonance, purity culture, and fear of hell. In this episode, Claudine and Rick talk through life on the “other side” of faith, why it’s worth leaving an unhealthy belief system, and practical steps for deconstructing safely and finding community.

You’ll hear Claudine’s story of growing up strict evangelical, becoming a pastor’s wife, and then slowly realizing her moral compass was hers all along—not something handed down by a church, pastor, or holy book.

She shares what it was like to lose friends and community, navigate anxiety about hell and God “reading her thoughts,” and eventually experience more freedom, less judgment, and richer relationships after leaving religion.Rick and Claudine also discuss how religious indoctrination fuels cognitive dissonance—especially around gender roles, sexuality, and “submitting” in Christian marriages—and why so many people stay stuck because of fear, guilt, and social control.

They touch on purity culture, big‑brother theology (“God is always watching your thoughts”), and how both men and women are harmed by rigid gender expectations in evangelical spaces.If you’re questioning your faith, stuck in a high‑control religious environment, or secretly deconstructing, this episode offers both validation and practical ideas.

They talk about learning in private, finding safe online communities, and taking small steps (“cinch by the inch”) toward a life that actually feels like yours.

In this episode:

• What “embracing reality beyond religion” actually looks like day‑to‑day

• Losing friends, family, and church—and why life is still better on the other side • Cognitive dissonance: when what you’re told and what you experience no longer line up

• Leaving evangelical Christianity and discovering your own moral compass

• Fear of hell, constant anxiety, and the feeling that “God knows all your thoughts”

• Rigid gender roles, “head of the household” theology, and pressure to submit

• Queer kids and young adults trapped in religious homes, and why denial is so damaging

• How leaving religion can deepen your appreciation for this one life and the people in it

• Practical first steps for deconstructing in secret (including digital safety)

• Finding supportive, secular / ex‑religious communities online and in person

References mentioned in this episode:

• The Creepiest Dad & Daughter TikTok: https://youtu.be/asJ10zTgwgA

• Atheist Connection (private Facebook community) – https://www.facebook.com/groups/theatheistconnection/

• American Atheists local meetups map: https://www.atheists.org/activism/local-groups/

• American Atheists main site: https://www.atheists.org/

• Meetup secular / atheist groups: https://www.meetup.com/ (search “secular,” “atheist,” or “exvangelical” in your city)

• American Atheists local groups finder (alternative listing): https://www.atheists.org/local/

• Recovering From Religion (Doubting Your Beliefs? Have Questions About Changing Or Leaving Your Faith? Having problems after doing so? You Are Not Alone.): https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/

• The Clergy Project (Through it all The Clergy Project exists to offer you support, community, and hope. Hope for a better day, for a next chapter far surpassing anything the previous could have offered.): https://clergyproject.org/

If you’re in a high‑control or potentially dangerous situation, remember basic digital safety: use a private device if possible and clear your browser history after searching for deconstruction, atheist, or exvangelical content.

Your safety comes first.

If you’d like to share your story or ask questions (anonymously if you prefer), you can email the show—just let us know if you want your name kept private.

Email us at cogpodshow@gmail.com

What is the rapture, where did the idea first come from, and why did it loom so large in evangelical life?In this episode, Claudine shares her rapture-saturated evangelical upbringing—complete with “Left Behind” style movies and altar-call fear—while we unpack the theology, history, and pop‑culture behind rapture teaching.We have conversations about “rapture trauma” and deconstruction, we explore how this doctrine has no doubt screwed people up and probably embarrassed them.\\ DEFINITIONS //Cognitive Dissonance:A psychological state in which a person experiences discomfort or tension from holding two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values at the same time. This tension often motivates individuals to resolve the inconsistency, either by changing their beliefs or behaviors.Cognitive Alignment:A mental state where a person’s beliefs, attitudes, and actions are consistent and in harmony with each other, reducing internal conflict and promoting psychological comfort. Cognitive alignment is the opposite of cognitive dissonance, reflecting a well-integrated sense of self and worldview.#suddenlyraptured #rapture #endtimes #bibleprophecy #evangelical #exvangelical #deconstruction #rapturetrauma #christianpodcast #christianstories #leftbehind #rapturemovies #christianculture #faithjourney #churchtrauma #spiritualformation