This week's guests Brian and Troy used to be members and leaders in Pentecostal megachurches in Australia. Troy, a 21-year-old member of the Assemblies of God (AOG), the precursor to the Hillsong church was drawn in by Revival Centres International, Now known as the Revival Centres Church. Troy was on the path to becoming a minister before “years of questions, inconsistencies and manipulation” overwhelmed him and caused an emotional breakdown leading to him abandon his faith. Brian became involved with the Christian City Churches denomination, today known as C3 Church Global, which you can hear about from our previous guest Emily, before being recruited by the Assemblies of God. He described his time as exhibiting “cultish type behaviour” Brian and Troy's Podcast "I Was A Teenage Fundamentalist" takes an honest & irreverent look at one of the world’s fastest-growing religious movements and has been causing a stir among its church leaders.
Brian and Troy provide Rachel with some background on the history of the Australian Pentecostal movement and explain their respective reasons for becoming involved. They examine the controlling techniques these churches have employed to amass huge followings throughout the world. Rachel helps Brian and Troy unpack the emotional toll followers endure under the controlling hierarchy of the church's leadership and the existential anxiety that is the result of its unhealthy ideology. Both Brian and Troy describe their breaking points with Christianity and offer advice to those leaving high control groups.
Before You Go: Rachel reiterates the point Brian made about pre-planning for support when leaving a high control group. She explains the appeal of absolutes and the lure of leaving behind existential angst for a group's perfect formula for happiness.
Listen to I Was A Teenage Fundamentalist here:
https://iwasateenagefundamentalist.podbean.com/
Learn more about Brian and Troy's story here:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/3abyw8/leaving-the-church-makes-for-some-good-content
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