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.

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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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Bob Jones University is a private Christian university located in Greenville, South Carolina. The university has a long and complex history, marked by controversies and legal battles over issues such as racial segregation, academic freedom, sexual abuse claims, discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students, and the toxicity of religious fundamentalism. In this episode, we will explore the history of Bob Jones University and its influence on politics.

Wut BJU Blog: https://wutbju.tumblr.com/

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

Sermons

Sermon 1: https://youtu.be/Smdmq5Hi7MQ

Sermon 2: https://youtu.be/oRWlUaKVw_o

Sources: https://www.tumblr.com/survivingbjupodcast/726104816669081600/sources?source=share

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Fundamentalism refers to a belief system that upholds a strict interpretation of religious or political ideologies, which are considered fundamental to the faith or cause. Fundamentalism is a mindset or an approach to an ideology and can happen in any social group. This episode will specifically examine the needs that fundamentalist Christianity provides for people, and the lengths people will go to protect the emotional high they get from its teachings and approach. The psychological underpinnings of fundamentalism, focus on the black and white/ us vs them mindset, authoritarianism, anti-intellectualism, justification of evil, narcissism, and claim of absolute truth.

Join the discussion group HERE https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153866318625322/

Connect with Camille K. Lewis

WutBJU Blog: https://wutbju.tumblr.com/

Connect with Andrew Pledger

Social Media: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links

Join my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger

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

Sources: https://www.tumblr.com/survivingbjupodcast/726104816669081600/sources?source=share

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.