The Divorcing Religion Podcast · Janice Selbie

Dr. Sarah Farrell - Shattering Into a Whole

·58 min·5 clips

Watching the church tie itself to white nationalism in 2020 made Sarah Farrell ask, 'What did they do to me?'

The episode begins with host Janice Selbie introducing her book and welcoming Dr. Sarah Farrell, who is a clinical social worker, therapist, professor, and stand-up comedian. Dr. Farrell shares two social media posts that caught Janice's attention, focusing on teaching daughters to fight injustice and the impact of Christian nationalism. She describes her upbringing in a small, insular religious group in California, where church was central to daily life and questions were discouraged. Dr. Farrell explains that she didn't realize how abnormal her abusive upbringing was until college, when peers reacted with shock. Her deconstruction process was slow, involving education and exposure to diverse perspectives, and intensified during events like 2016 and 2020, as she observed the church's alignment with white nationalism. This led to a period of grieving and research into religious trauma, which cost her relationships, including her marriage, though she now co-parents amicably. Dr. Farrell discusses the fear and loss of community inherent in deconstruction, comparing it to a tree dropping branches as it grows. She highlights her research, which redefines religious trauma and explores its empirical existence, with studies on millennials from evangelical backgrounds showing impacts like subjugation of self and loss of spirituality. The conversation touches on topics such as purity culture, attachment issues, and parenting differently to foster critical thinking and reduce fear. Dr. Farrell shares a personal anecdote about choosing a kiwi bird as her logo, symbolizing her family's neurodivergence and her therapeutic approach of connecting dots. The episode concludes with resources for listeners and ways to contact Dr. Farrell.

As heard by us

A calm conversation about religious trauma, deconstruction, and the slow work of changing perspective.

Janice Selby speaks with Dr. Sarah Farrell, a clinical social worker, therapist, professor, and stand-up comedian, about religious trauma and deconstruction. The episode follows how college, an MSW mentor, therapy, PhD study, and comedy can widen a person's sense of the world.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want a calm, sharp conversation about deconstruction, religious trauma, and what it takes to keep your footing.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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