web02.fireside.fm Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:21:48 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) I Was A Teenage Pharisee! (audiobook) - Episodes Tagged with “Fundamentalism” https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/tags/fundamentalism Fri, 09 Jun 2023 22:00:00 -0400 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. en-us serial 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 Mike Moore 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. no plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, cults, teenage pharisee, heaven, hell, music production Mike Moore wikkidperson@gmail.com Episode 14: Chapter Thirteen : What Quelled the Ranting https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/14 d09813ff-23b0-4d01-b707-a7bd2ab63100 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 22:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 14 Chapter Thirteen : What Quelled the Ranting full 1 Mike Moore Part Three: Out But Not Down continues... Legalists Are People Too Pride, Envy and Enemies God and Governments Want Your Charity? The Ordinary, Everyday Nature of Legalism 1:25:23 no <p>Part Three: Out But Not Down continues...</p> <p>Legalists Are People Too<br> Pride, Envy and Enemies<br> God and Governments Want Your Charity?<br> The Ordinary, Everyday Nature of Legalism </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Three: Out But Not Down continues...

Legalists Are People Too
Pride, Envy and Enemies
God and Governments Want Your Charity?
The Ordinary, Everyday Nature of Legalism

]]> Part Three: Out But Not Down continues...

Legalists Are People Too
Pride, Envy and Enemies
God and Governments Want Your Charity?
The Ordinary, Everyday Nature of Legalism

]]> Episode 11: Chapter Ten : Finding Your Own Way https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/11 426e9b96-3ff1-4912-b97f-33b98f259ec0 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 21:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 11 Chapter Ten : Finding Your Own Way full 1 Mike Moore Part Three: Out But Not Down Conscience, Sin and the Flesh Higher Standards for Treating Others Making Life Decisions Coming to Terms With Grace Jesus as Law-Bringer? Going After Good Stuff, Instead of Staying Away From Bad Stuff God With You Shame and Self-Punishment Who Are You Now? A Dark, Epic Journey of Transformation and Self-Discovery 3:16:05 no <p>Part Three: Out But Not Down</p> <p>Conscience, Sin and the Flesh<br> Higher Standards for Treating Others<br> Making Life Decisions<br> Coming to Terms With Grace<br> Jesus as Law-Bringer?<br> Going After Good Stuff, Instead of Staying Away From Bad Stuff<br> God With You<br> Shame and Self-Punishment<br> Who Are You Now?<br> A Dark, Epic Journey of Transformation and Self-Discovery </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Three: Out But Not Down

Conscience, Sin and the Flesh
Higher Standards for Treating Others
Making Life Decisions
Coming to Terms With Grace
Jesus as Law-Bringer?
Going After Good Stuff, Instead of Staying Away From Bad Stuff
God With You
Shame and Self-Punishment
Who Are You Now?
A Dark, Epic Journey of Transformation and Self-Discovery

]]> Part Three: Out But Not Down

Conscience, Sin and the Flesh
Higher Standards for Treating Others
Making Life Decisions
Coming to Terms With Grace
Jesus as Law-Bringer?
Going After Good Stuff, Instead of Staying Away From Bad Stuff
God With You
Shame and Self-Punishment
Who Are You Now?
A Dark, Epic Journey of Transformation and Self-Discovery

]]> Episode 12: Chapter Eleven : Stuff You'll Need https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/12 b7954ffc-4f38-4022-9781-1732fee5ea3e Fri, 09 Jun 2023 21:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 12 Chapter Eleven : Stuff You'll Need full 1 Mike Moore Part Three: Out But Not Down Outside Perspectives More Than One Kind of Person Boundaries Driving Your Own Car 1:19:23 no <p>Part Three: Out But Not Down</p> <p>Outside Perspectives<br> More Than One Kind of Person<br> Boundaries<br> Driving Your Own Car </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Three: Out But Not Down

Outside Perspectives
More Than One Kind of Person
Boundaries
Driving Your Own Car

]]> Part Three: Out But Not Down

Outside Perspectives
More Than One Kind of Person
Boundaries
Driving Your Own Car

]]> Episode 10: Chapter Nine : Human Systems (cont.) https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/10 8db21a07-cfa0-49fe-a9cc-d70462c6b566 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 21:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 10 Chapter Nine : Human Systems (cont.) full 1 Mike Moore Part Two: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues... Henry's Pamphlet (ESV: Standard English Version/Modern Language) Jim's Story Sects, Lies and Videotape Systems Seem Threatened By People Seeking Answers Leaving A Group Some People's Stories of Leaving Why Discuss Legalistic Church Experiences? More People's Stories Why Does Legalism Lead, While Love Leaves? 3:30:27 no <p>Part Two: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...</p> <p>Henry's Pamphlet (ESV: Standard English Version/Modern Language)<br> Jim's Story<br> Sects, Lies and Videotape<br> Systems Seem Threatened By People Seeking Answers<br> Leaving A Group<br> Some People's Stories of Leaving<br> Why Discuss Legalistic Church Experiences?<br> More People's Stories<br> Why Does Legalism Lead, While Love Leaves? </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Two: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...

Henry's Pamphlet (ESV: Standard English Version/Modern Language)
Jim's Story
Sects, Lies and Videotape
Systems Seem Threatened By People Seeking Answers
Leaving A Group
Some People's Stories of Leaving
Why Discuss Legalistic Church Experiences?
More People's Stories
Why Does Legalism Lead, While Love Leaves?

]]> Part Two: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...

Henry's Pamphlet (ESV: Standard English Version/Modern Language)
Jim's Story
Sects, Lies and Videotape
Systems Seem Threatened By People Seeking Answers
Leaving A Group
Some People's Stories of Leaving
Why Discuss Legalistic Church Experiences?
More People's Stories
Why Does Legalism Lead, While Love Leaves?

]]> Episode 9: Chapter Nine : Human Systems https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/9 167787d7-89f8-4297-ad77-08c56fbbdf0b Fri, 09 Jun 2023 20:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 9 Chapter Nine : Human Systems full 1 Mike Moore Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues Shelley's Story What Systems Are For Making Order Division Lofty Claims Henry's Pamphlet (read by Henry) 2:28:43 no <p>Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues</p> <p>Shelley's Story<br> What Systems Are For<br> Making Order<br> Division<br> Lofty Claims<br> Henry's Pamphlet (read by Henry)</p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues

Shelley's Story
What Systems Are For
Making Order
Division
Lofty Claims
Henry's Pamphlet (read by Henry)

]]> Part Two: Starting to Wake Up continues

Shelley's Story
What Systems Are For
Making Order
Division
Lofty Claims
Henry's Pamphlet (read by Henry)

]]> Episode 8: Chapter Eight : The Rules https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/8 421fb653-7e48-4d25-a25d-d010e99639f4 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 20:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 8 Chapter Eight : The Rules full 1 Mike Moore Part Two : Starting to Wake Up continues... Writing the Unwritten Rules Down Devil on Your Christian Shoulder Idols A Higher Standard Than Rule-Following? Kung Fu for Dealing With Pharisees 1:29:59 no <p>Part Two : Starting to Wake Up continues...</p> <p>Writing the Unwritten Rules Down<br> Devil on Your Christian Shoulder<br> Idols<br> A Higher Standard Than Rule-Following?<br> Kung Fu for Dealing With Pharisees </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Two : Starting to Wake Up continues...

Writing the Unwritten Rules Down
Devil on Your Christian Shoulder
Idols
A Higher Standard Than Rule-Following?
Kung Fu for Dealing With Pharisees

]]> Part Two : Starting to Wake Up continues...

Writing the Unwritten Rules Down
Devil on Your Christian Shoulder
Idols
A Higher Standard Than Rule-Following?
Kung Fu for Dealing With Pharisees

]]> Episode 6: Chapter Six : Regime Vs. Relationship https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/6 1597641e-543d-4625-86ef-2a2a96603017 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 19:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 6 Chapter Six : Regime Vs. Relationship full 1 Mike Moore Part Two : Starting To Wake Up continues... Relationship Steps Actually Approaching God Stuff That's Got To Go Addictions I Try to Approach God Harold Talks About Relationships What To Do With Feelings The Number One Thing We Did To Avoid Feeling Our Feelings 2:37:14 no <p>Part Two : Starting To Wake Up continues...</p> <p>Relationship Steps<br> Actually Approaching God<br> Stuff That's Got To Go<br> Addictions<br> I Try to Approach God<br> Harold Talks About Relationships<br> What To Do With Feelings<br> The Number One Thing We Did To Avoid Feeling Our Feelings</p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Two : Starting To Wake Up continues...

Relationship Steps
Actually Approaching God
Stuff That's Got To Go
Addictions
I Try to Approach God
Harold Talks About Relationships
What To Do With Feelings
The Number One Thing We Did To Avoid Feeling Our Feelings

]]> Part Two : Starting To Wake Up continues...

Relationship Steps
Actually Approaching God
Stuff That's Got To Go
Addictions
I Try to Approach God
Harold Talks About Relationships
What To Do With Feelings
The Number One Thing We Did To Avoid Feeling Our Feelings

]]> Episode 4: Chapter Four : What's Wrong? https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/4 9b88138a-8e15-42b3-95cf-3b7da4cd7504 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 18:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 4 Chapter Four : What's Wrong? full 1 Mike Moore Part Two: Starting To Wake Up A Missing Sense of Proportion Pharisees and Christianese "Sensible" Voices Modern Pharisees When's It Going To End? Taking the Wheel Christ Instead Of...? 1:52:04 no <p>Part Two: Starting To Wake Up</p> <p>A Missing Sense of Proportion<br> Pharisees and Christianese<br> "Sensible" Voices<br> Modern Pharisees<br> When's It Going To End?<br> Taking the Wheel<br> Christ Instead Of...? </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part Two: Starting To Wake Up

A Missing Sense of Proportion
Pharisees and Christianese
"Sensible" Voices
Modern Pharisees
When's It Going To End?
Taking the Wheel
Christ Instead Of...?

]]> Part Two: Starting To Wake Up

A Missing Sense of Proportion
Pharisees and Christianese
"Sensible" Voices
Modern Pharisees
When's It Going To End?
Taking the Wheel
Christ Instead Of...?

]]> Episode 3: Chapter Three : Virtue https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/3 75e208b1-a07c-4a3d-8437-e04eb417a385 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 18:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 3 Chapter Three : Virtue full 1 Mike Moore Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues... Blind to Good Virtue = Abstaining From Good? Final Thoughts on the Soil From Which I Sprang 26:21 no <p>Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...</p> <p>Blind to Good<br> Virtue = Abstaining From Good?<br> Final Thoughts on the Soil From Which I Sprang </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...

Blind to Good
Virtue = Abstaining From Good?
Final Thoughts on the Soil From Which I Sprang

]]> Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...

Blind to Good
Virtue = Abstaining From Good?
Final Thoughts on the Soil From Which I Sprang

]]> Episode 2: Chapter Two : Joining Up https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/2 309be4e8-032b-4843-b13a-0d84107c8a88 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 18:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 2 Chapter Two : Joining Up full 1 Mike Moore Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues... Our Way Is The Only Right Way Which Church Do You Go To? The New Originals Living For The Camera Earning Grace 1:25:13 no <p>Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...</p> <p>Our Way Is The Only Right Way<br> Which Church Do You Go To?<br> The New Originals<br> Living For The Camera<br> Earning Grace </p> Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...

Our Way Is The Only Right Way
Which Church Do You Go To?
The New Originals
Living For The Camera
Earning Grace

]]> Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To continues...

Our Way Is The Only Right Way
Which Church Do You Go To?
The New Originals
Living For The Camera
Earning Grace

]]> Episode 1: Chapter One : My Roots https://iwasateenagepharisee.fireside.fm/1 fbf08a14-ef94-4a54-9fe5-44ddba0ca243 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 20:00:00 -0400 Mike Moore 1 Chapter One : My Roots full 1 Mike Moore Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To Foreword and Introduction Introduction to God Conversion Experiences Testimonies My Own Conversion Experience Personal Experiences of God Old Stuff Is Holier Than New Stuff The "Other Kind" of Worship Pulled Out Of Yourself. 2:39:56 no <p>In which the Plymouth Brethren movement is introduced.</p> <p>Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To<br> Foreword and Introduction<br> Introduction to God<br> Conversion Experiences<br> Testimonies<br> My Own Conversion Experience<br> Personal Experiences of God<br> Old Stuff Is Holier Than New Stuff<br> The "Other Kind" of Worship<br> Pulled Out Of Yourself. </p> teenage pharisee, Plymouth brethren, fundamentalism, rapture, hell, depression, parents, music, home recording, therapeutic, Christianity, bible, guitar, music production, Exclusive Brethren In which the Plymouth Brethren movement is introduced.

Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To
Foreword and Introduction
Introduction to God
Conversion Experiences
Testimonies
My Own Conversion Experience
Personal Experiences of God
Old Stuff Is Holier Than New Stuff
The "Other Kind" of Worship
Pulled Out Of Yourself.

]]> In which the Plymouth Brethren movement is introduced.

Part One: Normal's Whatever You're Used To
Foreword and Introduction
Introduction to God
Conversion Experiences
Testimonies
My Own Conversion Experience
Personal Experiences of God
Old Stuff Is Holier Than New Stuff
The "Other Kind" of Worship
Pulled Out Of Yourself.

]]>