Off-Broadway play-writer, award-winner screenwriter, and theater and film producer Peter Fenton talks about his journey deconstructing the faith and discovering himself in his fictional writing. He particularly shares about his story called Abandon All Hope, which, spoiler, will definitely not have you abandon all hope but quite the opposite. This episode is about deconstructing the faith with humor and wit and keeping hope alive. 

Where to find Peter Fenton

Follow Peter on Instagram: @PeterFent

Visit Peter’s website: www.byPeterFenton.com

Go buy his book, Abandon All Hope!

Cynane Shay from Taking Off The Tin Foil Hat offers insight on American exceptionalism and common conspiracy theories that have made their way into the conservative Christian household.

Where to find Cynane Shay

Website: http://takingoffthetinfoilhat.com

For her list of resources: http://takingoffthetinfoilhat.com/resources

Instagram: @taking.off.the.tinfoil.hat

References

In response to Martin Luther King’s Dream speech, Billy Graham said, “Only when Christ comes again will the little white children of Alabama walk hand in hand with little black children.” (Source: https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/12/30/rev-billy-graham-obituary-preacher-to-the-powerful-223098/ ) 

Michael O. Emerson’s Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America

For this episode, I talked with Cynane Shay, though you may know her better by her Instagram name Taking Off The Tin Foil Hat where she debunks conspiracy theories, dismantles the patriarchy, and shares her journey leaving conservative Christianity. 

Cynane offers insight on cult mindsets and common conspiracy theories that have made their way into the conservative Christian household.

Where to find Cynane Shay

Website: http://takingoffthetinfoilhat.com

For her list of resources: http://takingoffthetinfoilhat.com/resources

Instagram: @taking.off.the.tinfoil.hat

General references

Holocaust Museum on the Protocols of the Elders of Zion: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/protocols-of-the-elders-of-zion 

Arthur Conan Doyle quote: “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” 

Books on cults

Dr. Janja Lalich, https://janjalalich.com/ — Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, is an international authority on cults, extremism, and coercion

Margaret Singer — clinical psychologist and researcher, proponent of the brainwashing theory of new religious movements

Steven Hassan — expert on mind control, cults, etc.\

Robert J Lipton — psychologist on mind control https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_Reform_and_the_Psychology_of_Totalism — has infographic on the spectrum of influence from cults 

Books on racism and white evangelicalism and Christian Nationalism: 

Anthea Butler’s White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America (A Ferris and Ferris Book) 

Jemar Tisby’s The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism 

Anne Nelson’s Shadow Network 

Khyati Y. Joshi’s White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equality in America

Andrew L. Seidel’s The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American 

Books on Biblical literalism

Pete Enns’ How the Bible Actually Works: In Which I Explain How An Ancient, Ambiguous, and Diverse Book Leads Us to Wisdom Rather Than Answers—and Why That’s Great News