TRIGGER WARNING (Suicide, Abuse)

Hello, I’m your host Andrew Pledger and this is "Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult."

I grew up in fundamentalist Christianity, specifically the Independent Fundamental Baptist cult. I was homeschooled my entire life to be indoctrinated into this environment. I was subjected to psychological, spiritual, and emotional abuse. I experienced religious trauma from abusive theology on hell, the end times, purity culture, sexuality, and human nature. As a queer person, I experienced so much trauma from their hateful and violent speech towards the LGBTQ+ community and also harm from authoritarian parents. Fundamentalist Christianity was my whole world and I ended up at Bob Jones University. I was at BJU for 3.5 years from 2018-2021. While at Bob Jones I struggled with my mental health from religious trauma, sexual repression, and minority stress. I was driven to the point of nearly committing suicide from my traumas in this system of control. I knew I could not get the help I needed in this environment so I searched outside the group. I was able to connect with people on the outside who would eventually get me out of this cult. Series coming in 2023.

More stories on 'Beyond BJU' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms.

Music Credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

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Mental Health Resources

National Suicide Hotline (988)

Trevor Project Hotline

CDC Resources

Find a Therapist (Psychology Today)

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