Jordan Peterson is famous for inspiring many to take religion seriously — but for me, he had the opposite effect. In this video, I walk you through how reading Maps of Meaning turned me from a devout Catholic who almost became a priest into an atheist — and how Peterson’s ideas unexpectedly helped me accept myself as a gay man. We'll dive into belief, metaphorical substrates, value hierarchies, meta-narratives, and why I eventually walked away from Peterson too. Strap in — it’s a journey.

00:00 Discovering Jordan Peterson's Work
03:26 Realizing Natural Explanations for Religious Benefits
05:03 Understanding Peterson's Concept of God
08:07 Metaphorical Substrate and Its Influence
09:46 The Power of Stories and Archetypes
15:35 Meta-Narratives: Finding Purpose and Direction
17:43 Questioning the Need for a Supernatural God
18:50 The Role of Belief in Religion
25:54 Embracing My Sexuality: Peterson's Indirect Influence
28:58 Why I Left Jordan Peterson Behind
30:32 Critique of Peterson's Views and Methods
34:11 Conclusion: Life Beyond Dogma

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On today's episode, we react to a 27 page document that reports to take people from agnosticism to catholicism. Myself and Colin (ex-traditional catholics) debunk this document while getting an outsider's perspective from our friend Greg (never been very religious). Let's see how catholic apologetics play out to some experienced debaters and a fresh set of eyes.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
02:39 Discussion on Proving Religion
08:11 The Big Bang and God's Existence
09:30 Critique of the Big Bang Argument
15:54 Philosophical and Scientific Counterpoints
31:37 Historical Reliability of the Gospels
43:24 Exploring Historical Claims and Mystical Accounts
44:27 Miracle Claims Across Religions
45:31 Historical Evidence for Jesus
49:13 Manuscript Evidence and Reliability
51:41 Debating the Historical Accuracy of the Gospels
01:01:04 The Role of Apologetics in Reinforcing Belief
01:06:52 Introduction to Part Two: Converting Greg
01:09:04 Did Jesus Claim to Be God?
01:25:38 Introduction to the Debate
01:26:05 The Concept of the Trinity
01:26:39 Jesus' Divinity and Historical Context
01:29:01 The 'I Am' Argument
01:34:29 Miracles and Prophecies
01:39:15 The Trilemma Argument
01:44:02 Establishing the Church
02:04:56 Questioning the Trinity and Monotheism
02:05:14 Santa Claus and Apologetics
02:06:43 Jesus Establishes the Church
02:11:45 The Church's Succession and Authority
02:15:54 Faith and the Catholic Church
02:29:57 Natural vs. Supernatural Faith
02:42:11 Critique of Catholic Charity and Unity
02:43:39 Questioning the Infallibility of the Church
02:46:25 Debating the Authority of the Church
02:49:27 Concluding Thoughts on Faith and Apologetics
02:53:39 Final Reflections and Advice

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In this critical follow-up to our earlier reflections on Pope Francis’s passing, three gay ex-Catholics break down the truth behind the progressive myth. While headlines hail him as a revolutionary, we ask: did anything actually change for queer Catholics? From catechism clauses to conversion therapy, brunch with trans folks to doctrinal silence—this episode confronts the carefully curated optics of compassion.

We’re not here to hate—just to tell the truth. What could have changed? What stayed the same? What harm still hides behind a smile? Tune in to hear three ex-believers decode the Vatican’s most PR-friendly pope.

00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic
01:00 Initial Reactions to Pope Francis
03:01 Personal Journeys and Opinions
06:09 Pope Francis' Actions and Inactions
10:04 The Church's Stance on LGBT Issues
17:13 Comparing Traditional and Progressive Catholics
22:43 Pope Francis' Legacy and Future Implications
26:44 Cultural Significance of the Latin Mass
28:18 Pope Francis' Stance on Homosexuality
29:16 The Future of Pope Francis' Legacy
31:13 The Church's Harmful Teachings on LGBTQ+ Issues
32:30 Pope Francis' Missed Opportunities for Change
37:49 The Catholic Church's Influence and Power
39:42 Pope Francis' Actions and Inactions
46:22 Concluding Thoughts on Pope Francis
50:46 Final Remarks and Farewell

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

Pope Francis has passed—and within hours, I sat down with Justin from Empty Chairs for an off-the-cuff emergency podcast. As a gay ex-Catholic and a gay current Catholic, we unpack Pope Francis’s complicated legacy on LGBTQ issues. Did he really change anything? Did he do enough? Or was it all just nice-sounding words with no lasting impact?

We talk about our own experiences inside the Church, from being denied vocations to being fired for our sexuality. We also dive into the real theological documents vs. the media narrative, and what the Church might look like under the next Pope.

If you want an honest, emotionally raw, and well-informed queer Catholic perspective—you’re in the right place.

00:00 Introduction and Emergency Podcast Setup
00:46 Initial Reactions to Pope Francis' Passing
02:05 Pope Francis' Legacy on Queer Issues
03:06 Media Reactions and Public Perception
04:06 The 'Who Am I to Judge?' Controversy
05:53 Pope Francis' Ambiguity and Pastoral Approach
07:29 Conservative Backlash and Church Politics
09:06 Pope Francis' Stance on Homosexuality and Church Teachings
11:26 Personal Stories and Church Discrimination
22:45 Pope Francis' Impact on Vocations and Priestly Celibacy
27:35 Addressing the Pope's Controversial Statements
28:22 Personal Experiences with Church Rejection
29:28 Pope Francis' Legacy and Impact
30:37 Hopes and Fears for the Next Pope
33:40 Challenges for LGBTQ+ Catholics
38:53 The Future of the Catholic Church
42:42 Final Thoughts and Personal Reflections

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

Pope Francis has passed. And as someone who was once on the path to becoming a conservative Catholic priest—and now lives openly as a gay man—his death hits hard. In this video, I break down what Pope Francis actually did for LGBTQ Catholics. From his famous “Who am I to judge?” to his quiet yet revolutionary support of queer ministries, this pope changed the vibe of the church, even if he never changed the doctrine.

For outsiders, it may be hard to grasp how radical just saying “You are welcome here” really was. In this episode, I reflect on his legacy, what’s at stake in the election of the next pope, and why so many LGBTQ Catholics now feel uncertain and afraid.

If you want to join the conversation, hop in my Discord or support this work on Patreon

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
00:36 Pope Francis' Approach to LGBTQ Issues
01:04 Key Moments and Quotes from Pope Francis
01:45 Pope Francis' Actions
02:35 Impact on LGBTQ Catholics
04:02 Pope Francis' Legacy and Media Strategy
06:33 Concerns About the Future of the Church
09:08 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In this episode of the Intrinsically Ordered Podcast, I sit down with Minh ( @Kenapologeticscatholic ) a Catholic apologist and street evangelist, for one of the most intense and philosophical debates I’ve had on the show. We dive deep into the question of homosexuality from Catholic, secular, and philosophical angles—covering everything from natural law, metaethics, and sexual ethics to kink, bestiality, and gender abolition.

As a queer ex-Catholic, I challenge Minh on the idea that gay sex is somehow less moral or meaningful. Minh presents two dense arguments based on Catholic philosophy—and I try to pull them apart with both real-world data and a more progressive ethical lens.

This one isn’t for the faint of heart—but it’s a vital, rigorous discussion about what it means to be moral, sexual, and human.

YouTube: youtube.com/@kenapologeticscatholic
Instagram: kenio02
Gmail: minhhoangkinhthanh@gmail.com
Discord: kenapologeticscatholic

0:00 – Introducing Minh & the Debate Framework
3:12 – My Argument: Homosexuality Doesn’t Cause Harm
7:30 – Minh’s Claim: Morality Needs God
12:42 – Can You Prove Gay Relationships Are Good?
19:05 – “The Slavery Analogy” – Minh’s First Counter
24:40 – The Burden of Proof Debate
30:18 – Minh’s Argument #1: Bisexuality is Morally Preferable
40:11 – I Respond: Love Isn’t a Math Problem
47:50 – Minh’s Argument #2: Empty Pleasure & Gay Sex
59:15 – Can Gay Love Be Romantic Without Reproduction?
1:05:22 – Ice Cream, Moms, and Lesbian Dates
1:12:10 – Consent, Sex, and Society’s Role
1:18:44 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Minh

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In today's episode, I unpack the mental model I use when Christians try to impose their beliefs—especially around queer rights. I compare their moral arguments to veganism (yes, really) to show how the more forcefully someone wants to control others, the more evidence they need to bring to the table. Faith alone doesn’t cut it.

I walk through four levels of moral imperatives and the kind of proof each one demands. From personal convictions to theocratic dogma, I explain why your certainty should match your evidence—especially if you're trying to take away my rights. This isn’t just theology—it’s epistemology.

00:00 – I Treat Homophobic Christians Like Vegans
00:30 – What Counts as a Moral Imperative?
01:00 – My Journey: From Latin Mass to Deconstruction
01:36 – Level 1: Personal Belief Requires No Proof
02:57 – Level 2: Gentle Advocacy Needs Some Evidence
05:02 – Level 3: Telling Others What to Do? Prove It.
07:46 – Level 4: Forcing Belief = Irrefutable Proof Required
10:50 – Don't Get Stuck in the Weeds—Know the Burden
13:00 – Final Advice for Deconstructing Listeners

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

Leaving a fundamentalist or conservative form of Catholicism is more than just walking away from a church—it’s walking away from an entire worldview, identity, and sometimes your community. In this episode of Intrinsically Ordered, Evelyn from the podcast Leave Laugh Love joins us for an honest, vulnerable, and occasionally funny conversation about leaving faith as a queer person. We talk about the emotional process of leaving, what healing looks like, building a new life, and practical steps for anyone questioning their faith. Whether you’re deconstructing, doubting, or just curious, this is for you.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:27 Evelyn's Background and Journey
01:30 Starting the Podcast and Providing Resources
02:11 Personal Stories of Faith and Doubt
03:20 Understanding Fundamentalist Catholicism
05:50 The Process of Deconstruction
08:49 Navigating Relationships and Friendships
15:54 Making Practical Plans to Leave
18:19 The Role of Therapy and Support Networks
25:00 Life After Leaving Religion
38:09 Sunday Mornings Without Mass
38:35 Navigating Belief and Morality
39:06 Empathy and Self-Discovery
41:44 Finding Purpose After Leaving Religion
42:47 Exploring New Communities and Hobbies
44:34 Redefining Life and Meaning
49:20 Grieving and Reconstructing
52:17 Navigating Relationships Post-Religion
55:42 Embracing a New Life
01:05:23 Final Thoughts and Resources

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.