I was a Teenage Fundamentalist

We engage in a deep conversation with Luke Wilson, a Canadian scholar, about his experiences growing up in a fundamentalist environment and the impact of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ individuals. Luke shares his journey from being a teenage fundamentalist to confronting his sexuality, his time at Liberty University, and the harrowing experiences of conversion therapy. The discussion highlights the psychological and emotional toll of these practices, the importance of community support, and the need for awareness and advocacy against conversion therapy. Luke's book, 'Shame Sex Attraction: Survivor Stories of Conversion Therapy,' serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of survivors and the continuing but urgent need for change in church attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals. Where to get Shame-Sex Attraction In Australia In the U.S. In the U.K.? Luke on social media: Instagram:?@lukeslamdunkwilson Threads:?@lukeslamdunkwilson Bluesky:[email protected] Twitter/X:?@wilson_fw LinkedIn:? https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-wilson-2a0753b1/ Facebook:? https://www.facebook.com/luke.wilson.96 List of Books/Resources Brandan Robertson's Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table Matthew Vines' God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships Justin Lee's Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate Links: Takeaways Luke was raised in a Fellowship Evangelical Baptist environment. He became involved in the church during high school. His family had a mix of religious beliefs, influencing his journey. Luke's youth group experience was shaped by his desire for acceptance. He felt pressure to conform to religious expectations regarding his sexuality. Luke attended Liberty University, a prominent evangelical institution. He was heavily involved in campus activities and leadership roles. The church provided a way for Luke to mask his sexuality. He reflects on the challenges of reconciling faith and identity. Luke's academic work focuses on the harms of conversion therapy. Luke studied English, French, and history at Liberty University. Liberty University is heavily involved in conservative politics. Conversion therapy is framed as pastoral counseling at Liberty. Luke's plan was to pray the gay away through conversion therapy. He felt he had one foot in and one foot out of the church. Luke experienced a flirty advance from his spiritual life director. He wrote poetry to cope with his feelings of shame. Conversion therapy aimed to change sexual orientation and gender identity. The aftermath of conversion therapy led to self-hatred and shame. Deprogramming from conversion therapy takes significant mental energy. Showering became a sign of anxiety for many in conversion therapy. Shame is a common consequence of conversion therapy experiences. There are diverse yet unifying factors in conversion therapy stories. Some stories from conversion therapy are shocking and visceral. Conversion practices are often motivated by genocidal intentions. The impact of conversion therapy extends to identity and community. Community support is crucial for those affected by conversion therapy. The book aims to affirm survivors and raise awareness about conversion practices. Intervening against conversion therapy involves unconditional love and support. Finding community as ex-Christians can be a healing process. --- We're now on video on YouTube here. Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here. Our blog is here. Join the conversation and connect with others here. The transcript of this episode is here. All our other links are here. Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone, and Recovering from Religion is here to help.