{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"I Was A Teenage Pharisee! (audiobook)","home_page_url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm","feed_url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/json","description":"Every kind of religious group has its zealots. Some of us were those zealots. Teenage pharisees. And we bought into the thing whole-heartedly to our own spiritual detriment. We grew up without televisions, pop music, movies, dancing, cards, alcohol, voting and a thousand other little things. We sacrificed these things so as to please God and know Him and be able to share Him with others. We went to church five times a week. Sober-faced, King James Only, Victorian church. And all that really didn't work out very well. We became prodigal's elder brothers, many of us. Unhappy, closed, cold, bitter, disappointed people. Old before our time. People who needed Jesus. This is a look at what it was like to be raised in a very specific sort of church culture. You know the kind: ... a strict, rule-focussed, isolationist, piety pageant. A place where listening to Christian rock is viewed with about as much suspicion as listening to death metal. A place where haircuts and shirts can be charged political and doctrinal statements. A place you learn a great deal about sin, the devil and hell, and what \"looks bad,\" but very little of love and mercy, grace and forgiveness. A place you go to church five times a week. A place where you learn very little about Jesus besides the fact that you sinned and so he had to die for you. A place that seems to encourage you to view him as like a protective mother, stepping between you and an abusive, control-freak father who is going to annihiliate you for breaking house rules, so that the rage can fall on her instead of her children. A place where you learn little about the fact that God makes endless variety and beauty, and sent Jesus. As a gift. Which hurt Him a great deal. Because you don't have to actually teach things that aren't true in order to skew focus and emphasis, and warp perspectives. You just need to have a weird focus that reads the bible more in terms of your own emotional baggage and daddy issues than in terms of what it's trying to say, and what it just plain doesn't. This book takes a look at what was missing in a legalistic church culture of this sort, and what it was like to go out looking for it. What it's like not to throw the Baby Jesus out with the holy water. It has quotes all throughout it from people who experienced different kinds of Plymouth Brethren groups all over the world, including the very scary Taylor-Hales Brethren.","_fireside":{"subtitle":"The audiobook, of the eye-opening book, about what it can be like to grow up in church groups that are one step away from being cults","pubdate":"2023-06-09T22:00:00.000-04:00","explicit":false,"copyright":"2026 by Wasp Tent Publishers","owner":"Mike Moore","image":"https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/2/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/cover.jpg?v=3"},"items":[{"id":"d09813ff-23b0-4d01-b707-a7bd2ab63100","title":"Episode 14: Chapter Thirteen : What Quelled the Ranting","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/14","content_text":"Part Three: Out But Not Down continues...\n\nLegalists Are People Too\nPride, Envy and Enemies\nGod and Governments Want Your Charity?\nThe Ordinary, Everyday Nature of Legalism","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Three: Out But Not Down continues...\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLegalists Are People Too\u003cbr\u003e\nPride, Envy and Enemies\u003cbr\u003e\nGod and Governments Want Your Charity?\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Ordinary, Everyday Nature of Legalism\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Three: Out But Not Down continues...\r\n\r\nLegalists Are People Too\r\nPride, Envy and Enemies\r\nGod and Governments Want Your Charity?\r\nThe Ordinary, Everyday Nature of Legalism","date_published":"2023-06-09T22:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/d09813ff-23b0-4d01-b707-a7bd2ab63100.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":40991663,"duration_in_seconds":5123}]},{"id":"34be981e-0445-47d2-90c2-9c47ba110c74","title":"Episode 13: Chapter Twelve : In and Out","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/13","content_text":"Part Three: Out But Not Down\n\nRedefining One's Understanding of \"Defilement\"\nBroadening You \"Us\" to Include More of \"Them\"\nIs Worship Style A Racial Thing?","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Three: Out But Not Down\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRedefining One's Understanding of \"Defilement\"\u003cbr\u003e\nBroadening You \"Us\" to Include More of \"Them\"\u003cbr\u003e\nIs Worship Style A Racial Thing?\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Three: Out But Not Down\r\n\r\nRedefining One's Understanding of \"Defilement\"\r\nBroadening You \"Us\" to Include More of \"Them\"\r\nIs Worship Style A Racial Thing?","date_published":"2023-06-09T22:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/34be981e-0445-47d2-90c2-9c47ba110c74.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":32073250,"duration_in_seconds":4009}]},{"id":"426e9b96-3ff1-4912-b97f-33b98f259ec0","title":"Episode 11: Chapter Ten : Finding Your Own Way","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/11","content_text":"Part Three: Out But Not Down\n\nConscience, Sin and the Flesh\nHigher Standards for Treating Others\nMaking Life Decisions\nComing to Terms With Grace\nJesus as Law-Bringer?\nGoing After Good Stuff, Instead of Staying Away From Bad Stuff\nGod With You\nShame and Self-Punishment\nWho Are You Now?\nA Dark, Epic Journey of Transformation and Self-Discovery","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Three: Out But Not Down\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConscience, Sin and the Flesh\u003cbr\u003e\nHigher Standards for Treating Others\u003cbr\u003e\nMaking Life Decisions\u003cbr\u003e\nComing to Terms With Grace\u003cbr\u003e\nJesus as Law-Bringer?\u003cbr\u003e\nGoing After Good Stuff, Instead of Staying Away From Bad Stuff\u003cbr\u003e\nGod With You\u003cbr\u003e\nShame and Self-Punishment\u003cbr\u003e\nWho Are You Now?\u003cbr\u003e\nA Dark, Epic Journey of Transformation and Self-Discovery\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Three: Out But Not Down\r\n\r\nConscience, Sin and the Flesh\r\nHigher Standards for Treating Others\r\nMaking Life Decisions\r\nComing to Terms With Grace\r\nJesus as Law-Bringer?\r\nGoing After Good Stuff, Instead of Staying Away From Bad Stuff\r\nGod With You\r\nShame and Self-Punishment\r\nWho Are You Now?\r\nA Dark, Epic Journey of Transformation and Self-Discovery","date_published":"2023-06-09T21:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/426e9b96-3ff1-4912-b97f-33b98f259ec0.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":94123888,"duration_in_seconds":11765}]},{"id":"b7954ffc-4f38-4022-9781-1732fee5ea3e","title":"Episode 12: Chapter Eleven : Stuff You'll Need","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/12","content_text":"Part Three: Out But Not Down\n\nOutside Perspectives\nMore Than One Kind of Person\nBoundaries\nDriving Your Own Car","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Three: Out But Not Down\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOutside Perspectives\u003cbr\u003e\nMore Than One Kind of Person\u003cbr\u003e\nBoundaries\u003cbr\u003e\nDriving Your Own Car\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Three: Out But Not Down\r\n\r\nOutside Perspectives\r\nMore Than One Kind of Person\r\nBoundaries\r\nDriving Your Own Car","date_published":"2023-06-09T21:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/b7954ffc-4f38-4022-9781-1732fee5ea3e.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":38105864,"duration_in_seconds":4763}]},{"id":"8db21a07-cfa0-49fe-a9cc-d70462c6b566","title":"Episode 10: Chapter Nine : Human Systems (cont.)","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/10","content_text":"Part Two: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\n\nHenry's Pamphlet (ESV: Standard English Version/Modern Language)\nJim's Story\nSects, Lies and Videotape\nSystems Seem Threatened By People Seeking Answers\nLeaving A Group\nSome People's Stories of Leaving\nWhy Discuss Legalistic Church Experiences?\nMore People's Stories\nWhy Does Legalism Lead, While Love Leaves?","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Two: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHenry's Pamphlet (ESV: Standard English Version/Modern Language)\u003cbr\u003e\nJim's Story\u003cbr\u003e\nSects, Lies and Videotape\u003cbr\u003e\nSystems Seem Threatened By People Seeking Answers\u003cbr\u003e\nLeaving A Group\u003cbr\u003e\nSome People's Stories of Leaving\u003cbr\u003e\nWhy Discuss Legalistic Church Experiences?\u003cbr\u003e\nMore People's Stories\u003cbr\u003e\nWhy Does Legalism Lead, While Love Leaves?\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Two: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\r\n\r\nHenry's Pamphlet (ESV: Standard English Version/Modern Language)\r\nJim's Story\r\nSects, Lies and Videotape\r\nSystems Seem Threatened By People Seeking Answers\r\nLeaving A Group\r\nSome People's Stories of Leaving\r\nWhy Discuss Legalistic Church Experiences?\r\nMore People's Stories\r\nWhy Does Legalism Lead, While Love Leaves?","date_published":"2023-06-09T21:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/8db21a07-cfa0-49fe-a9cc-d70462c6b566.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":101022932,"duration_in_seconds":12627}]},{"id":"167787d7-89f8-4297-ad77-08c56fbbdf0b","title":"Episode 9: Chapter Nine : Human Systems","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/9","content_text":"Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues\n\nShelley's Story\nWhat Systems Are For\nMaking Order\nDivision\nLofty Claims\nHenry's Pamphlet (read by Henry)","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Two: Starting to Wake Up continues\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShelley's Story\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat Systems Are For\u003cbr\u003e\nMaking Order\u003cbr\u003e\nDivision\u003cbr\u003e\nLofty Claims\u003cbr\u003e\nHenry's Pamphlet (read by Henry)\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues\r\n\r\nShelley's Story\r\nWhat Systems Are For\r\nMaking Order\r\nDivision\r\nLofty Claims\r\nHenry's Pamphlet (read by Henry)\r\n","date_published":"2023-06-09T20:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/167787d7-89f8-4297-ad77-08c56fbbdf0b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":71389625,"duration_in_seconds":8923}]},{"id":"421fb653-7e48-4d25-a25d-d010e99639f4","title":"Episode 8: Chapter Eight : The Rules","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/8","content_text":"Part Two : Starting to Wake Up continues...\n\nWriting the Unwritten Rules Down\nDevil on Your Christian Shoulder\nIdols\nA Higher Standard Than Rule-Following?\nKung Fu for Dealing With Pharisees","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Two : Starting to Wake Up continues...\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWriting the Unwritten Rules Down\u003cbr\u003e\nDevil on Your Christian Shoulder\u003cbr\u003e\nIdols\u003cbr\u003e\nA Higher Standard Than Rule-Following?\u003cbr\u003e\nKung Fu for Dealing With Pharisees\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Two : Starting to Wake Up continues...\r\n\r\nWriting the Unwritten Rules Down\r\nDevil on Your Christian Shoulder\r\nIdols\r\nA Higher Standard Than Rule-Following?\r\nKung Fu for Dealing With Pharisees","date_published":"2023-06-09T20:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/421fb653-7e48-4d25-a25d-d010e99639f4.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":43199114,"duration_in_seconds":5399}]},{"id":"80d078bb-2322-4ecd-a1d2-d0ec4dfa93c2","title":"Episode 7: Chapter Seven : The Word of God","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/7","content_text":"Part Two : Starting to Wake Up\n\nLost in Translations\nBlack and White Thinking\nIdeas\nNot Pretending the Bible Says Things\nThe Magic of the Bible","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Two : Starting to Wake Up\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLost in Translations\u003cbr\u003e\nBlack and White Thinking\u003cbr\u003e\nIdeas\u003cbr\u003e\nNot Pretending the Bible Says Things\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Magic of the Bible\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Two : Starting to Wake Up\r\n\r\nLost in Translations\r\nBlack and White Thinking\r\nIdeas\r\nNot Pretending the Bible Says Things\r\nThe Magic of the Bible","date_published":"2023-06-09T20:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/80d078bb-2322-4ecd-a1d2-d0ec4dfa93c2.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":60355921,"duration_in_seconds":7544}]},{"id":"1597641e-543d-4625-86ef-2a2a96603017","title":"Episode 6: Chapter Six : Regime Vs. Relationship","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/6","content_text":"Part Two : Starting To Wake Up continues...\n\nRelationship Steps\nActually Approaching God\nStuff That's Got To Go\nAddictions\nI Try to Approach God\nHarold Talks About Relationships\nWhat To Do With Feelings\nThe Number One Thing We Did To Avoid Feeling Our Feelings","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Two : Starting To Wake Up continues...\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRelationship Steps\u003cbr\u003e\nActually Approaching God\u003cbr\u003e\nStuff That's Got To Go\u003cbr\u003e\nAddictions\u003cbr\u003e\nI Try to Approach God\u003cbr\u003e\nHarold Talks About Relationships\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat To Do With Feelings\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Number One Thing We Did To Avoid Feeling Our Feelings\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Two : Starting To Wake Up continues...\r\n\r\nRelationship Steps\r\nActually Approaching God\r\nStuff That's Got To Go\r\nAddictions\r\nI Try to Approach God\r\nHarold Talks About Relationships\r\nWhat To Do With Feelings\r\nThe Number One Thing We Did To Avoid Feeling Our Feelings\r\n","date_published":"2023-06-09T19:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/1597641e-543d-4625-86ef-2a2a96603017.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":75478102,"duration_in_seconds":9434}]},{"id":"2252dff0-2ed3-4bef-902a-f87b0388d8f8","title":"Episode 5: Chapter Five : Why A Wrestling Match?","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/5","content_text":"Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues...\n\nSome Christian Kids Get Messed Up\nThe Answers to Everything\nFleeing Normal","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Two: Starting to Wake Up continues...\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSome Christian Kids Get Messed Up\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Answers to Everything\u003cbr\u003e\nFleeing Normal\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues...\r\n\r\nSome Christian Kids Get Messed Up\r\nThe Answers to Everything\r\nFleeing Normal","date_published":"2023-06-09T19:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/2252dff0-2ed3-4bef-902a-f87b0388d8f8.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":48891719,"duration_in_seconds":6111}]},{"id":"9b88138a-8e15-42b3-95cf-3b7da4cd7504","title":"Episode 4: Chapter Four : What's Wrong?","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/4","content_text":"Part Two: Starting To Wake Up\n\nA Missing Sense of Proportion\nPharisees and Christianese\n\"Sensible\" Voices\nModern Pharisees\nWhen's It Going To End?\nTaking the Wheel\nChrist Instead Of...?","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart Two: Starting To Wake Up\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA Missing Sense of Proportion\u003cbr\u003e\nPharisees and Christianese\u003cbr\u003e\n\"Sensible\" Voices\u003cbr\u003e\nModern Pharisees\u003cbr\u003e\nWhen's It Going To End?\u003cbr\u003e\nTaking the Wheel\u003cbr\u003e\nChrist Instead Of...?\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part Two: Starting To Wake Up\r\n\r\nA Missing Sense of Proportion\r\nPharisees and Christianese\r\n\"Sensible\" Voices\r\nModern Pharisees\r\nWhen's It Going To End?\r\nTaking the Wheel\r\nChrist Instead Of...?","date_published":"2023-06-09T18:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/9b88138a-8e15-42b3-95cf-3b7da4cd7504.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":53797723,"duration_in_seconds":6724}]},{"id":"75e208b1-a07c-4a3d-8437-e04eb417a385","title":"Episode 3: Chapter Three : Virtue","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/3","content_text":"Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\n\nBlind to Good\nVirtue = Abstaining From Good?\nFinal Thoughts on the Soil From Which I Sprang","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBlind to Good\u003cbr\u003e\nVirtue = Abstaining From Good?\u003cbr\u003e\nFinal Thoughts on the Soil From Which I Sprang\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\r\n\r\nBlind to Good\r\nVirtue = Abstaining From Good?\r\nFinal Thoughts on the Soil From Which I Sprang","date_published":"2023-06-09T18:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/75e208b1-a07c-4a3d-8437-e04eb417a385.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":12653403,"duration_in_seconds":1581}]},{"id":"309be4e8-032b-4843-b13a-0d84107c8a88","title":"Episode 2: Chapter Two : Joining Up","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/2","content_text":"Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\n\nOur Way Is The Only Right Way\nWhich Church Do You Go To?\nThe New Originals\nLiving For The Camera\nEarning Grace","content_html":"\u003cp\u003ePart One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur Way Is The Only Right Way\u003cbr\u003e\nWhich Church Do You Go To?\u003cbr\u003e\nThe New Originals\u003cbr\u003e\nLiving For The Camera\u003cbr\u003e\nEarning Grace\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...\r\n\r\nOur Way Is The Only Right Way\r\nWhich Church Do You Go To?\r\nThe New Originals\r\nLiving For The Camera\r\nEarning Grace","date_published":"2023-06-09T18:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/309be4e8-032b-4843-b13a-0d84107c8a88.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":40907444,"duration_in_seconds":5113}]},{"id":"fbf08a14-ef94-4a54-9fe5-44ddba0ca243","title":"Episode 1: Chapter One : My Roots","url":"https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/1","content_text":"In which the Plymouth Brethren movement is introduced.\n\nPart One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To\nForeword and Introduction\nIntroduction to God\nConversion Experiences\nTestimonies\nMy Own Conversion Experience\nPersonal Experiences of God\nOld Stuff Is Holier Than New Stuff\nThe \"Other Kind\" of Worship\nPulled Out Of Yourself.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn which the Plymouth Brethren movement is introduced.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePart One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To\u003cbr\u003e\nForeword and Introduction\u003cbr\u003e\nIntroduction to God\u003cbr\u003e\nConversion Experiences\u003cbr\u003e\nTestimonies\u003cbr\u003e\nMy Own Conversion Experience\u003cbr\u003e\nPersonal Experiences of God\u003cbr\u003e\nOld Stuff Is Holier Than New Stuff\u003cbr\u003e\nThe \"Other Kind\" of Worship\u003cbr\u003e\nPulled Out Of Yourself.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To\r\nForeword and Introduction\r\nIntroduction to God\r\nConversion Experiences\r\nTestimonies\r\nMy Own Conversion Experience\r\nPersonal Experiences of God\r\nOld Stuff Is Holier Than New Stuff\r\nThe \"Other Kind\" of Worship\r\nPulled Out Of Yourself.","date_published":"2023-06-08T20:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2058e703-3c0a-4c26-bb49-e4090d3f70fa/fbf08a14-ef94-4a54-9fe5-44ddba0ca243.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":76772731,"duration_in_seconds":9596}]}]}