Shame is a near-universal human experience, but high-demand religious systems can exacerbate it significantly. In this episode with Pastor Katie Langston, explore where shame comes from, why every culture has it even though the things people are ashamed of change from place to place, and three things high-control religious systems do to make it worse.

Then she explores something to put in its place—Jesus as the cosmic empathizer.

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Chapters

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to shame in faith deconstruction

01:57 Personal story of grace and deconstruction

04:01 The biblical view of grace and the question of 'all I can do'

05:57 Shame as a universal human experience and its cultural roots

07:59 The difference between guilt and shame, and their roles

10:04 How high-demand religions intensify shame

12:06 The silence of shame and the power of disclosure

14:14 Reimagining God as an empathizer rather than a judge

26:01 Jesus' incarnation and the embodiment of empathy

28:05 The cross as a symbol of shame and solidarity

29:49 Jesus' focus on outsiders and the marginalized

31:03 Closing thoughts and support options