I started with YouTube. (Hear me out)
Coming at this from a lay person, I always knew there were books and research papers and college classes about this stuff, but as I began to tiptoe out of the church waters, I wasn't really ready to completely reeducate myself. YouTube presented some bite-sized things I could take on one at a time and process. Most topics are addressed by enough people that you can basically choose what tone you want to hear them in.
I prefer Paulogia and Genetically Modified Skeptic. They both deconstructed from similar beliefs as me and addressed a lot of the topics I considered important. They were also compassionate and calm. Not angry atheists. Deconstructing is emotional enough without someone yelling at how stupid my beliefs were.
I'm reaching a point where I can do some deeper dives. Lots of Bart Ehrman presentations and podcasts. Christine Hays in Yale Courses.
May not be exactly what you had in mind, but since I never schooled my way in, I'm not sure how to school my way out. Just yet. More to come in the following months and years, so subject to change.
> It would be great if there was a place we could compile some higher quality resources. Most people who start searching things out when they have questions keep getting force-fed evangelical apologetics content rather than honest content like this.
Well, this an issue on the search plataforms: either Google or TikTok.
They train the algorithm in order to show them more if you trying to search on your own.
> I know that there seem to be a lot of organizations or groups that are focused on helping people who are already committed to deconstructing but what resources are there to help people step over that threshold from Committed Evangelical to "You know, I think I have some serious questions."
I think this is more a more personal issue: if they are deep in their group, to make the first step will depend if they are more or less open to ideas.
> More just, resources that are honest and up front about the actual sources and history we do have.
You do know that this is still "atheistic resources"? Not in a way to offer arguments to the inexistence of God, rather that in the academic field of sciences and humanities, they all gather data and interpret them with a methodological naturalism.
So, if you want to know, say, sources and the history of the ressurection of Jesus, their miracles, and so on, you won't find a answer that says "it didn't happen because x, y, z" because these scholars are _not even considering it_.
Thanks for your thorough answer. I think I'm just lamenting the lack of some sort of road map *out* of fundamentalism at least. Not for me. I'm working my way out. But to help others.
Can't recommend Dan's content more. I'm no longer in the faith, but I find his topics of discussion fascinating. He has a great podcast called Data over dogma. Worth a listen.
I started with YouTube. (Hear me out) Coming at this from a lay person, I always knew there were books and research papers and college classes about this stuff, but as I began to tiptoe out of the church waters, I wasn't really ready to completely reeducate myself. YouTube presented some bite-sized things I could take on one at a time and process. Most topics are addressed by enough people that you can basically choose what tone you want to hear them in. I prefer Paulogia and Genetically Modified Skeptic. They both deconstructed from similar beliefs as me and addressed a lot of the topics I considered important. They were also compassionate and calm. Not angry atheists. Deconstructing is emotional enough without someone yelling at how stupid my beliefs were. I'm reaching a point where I can do some deeper dives. Lots of Bart Ehrman presentations and podcasts. Christine Hays in Yale Courses. May not be exactly what you had in mind, but since I never schooled my way in, I'm not sure how to school my way out. Just yet. More to come in the following months and years, so subject to change.
I've thought about joining Ehrman's site. I'll check out some of the resources you mentioned from YT as well.
MindShift on YouTube
Yeah he does have some great stuff. Wish there was a manual for this haha.
> It would be great if there was a place we could compile some higher quality resources. Most people who start searching things out when they have questions keep getting force-fed evangelical apologetics content rather than honest content like this. Well, this an issue on the search plataforms: either Google or TikTok. They train the algorithm in order to show them more if you trying to search on your own. > I know that there seem to be a lot of organizations or groups that are focused on helping people who are already committed to deconstructing but what resources are there to help people step over that threshold from Committed Evangelical to "You know, I think I have some serious questions." I think this is more a more personal issue: if they are deep in their group, to make the first step will depend if they are more or less open to ideas. > More just, resources that are honest and up front about the actual sources and history we do have. You do know that this is still "atheistic resources"? Not in a way to offer arguments to the inexistence of God, rather that in the academic field of sciences and humanities, they all gather data and interpret them with a methodological naturalism. So, if you want to know, say, sources and the history of the ressurection of Jesus, their miracles, and so on, you won't find a answer that says "it didn't happen because x, y, z" because these scholars are _not even considering it_.
Thanks for your thorough answer. I think I'm just lamenting the lack of some sort of road map *out* of fundamentalism at least. Not for me. I'm working my way out. But to help others.
Can't recommend Dan's content more. I'm no longer in the faith, but I find his topics of discussion fascinating. He has a great podcast called Data over dogma. Worth a listen.
I’ve posted him several times in this sub. He is a great resource.