My guest today is Erik Carlson. Erik is a secular humanist and an atheist. His background in the sciences and biology led him to question his young Earth creationist and Calvinist faith tradition. Discovering his sexuality led him to question the morality of his John Piper inspired Christianity. All of which culminated in deconversion.

Erik’s humanism is evident in his focus on loving people over ideology. He is hopeful for his generation’s ability to make positive change in the world from the secular, scientific and political perspectives. And he has good advice for those in the process of coming out: “Protect yourself, do it in your own timing.”

Erik’s book recommendations

Velvet Rage by Alan Downs

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Help for coming out

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/
https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/

Just for fun

Erik mentions Lady Gaga’s song Born This Way

I mention Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down:

Interact

Send in a voice message to the podcast:
https://anchor.fm/gracefulatheist/message

More Deconversion Anonymous episodes

Attribution

“Waves” track written and produced by Makaih Beats

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