16. Tim Whitaker (The New Evangelicals) – Rebuilding Faith Beyond Fundamentalism

🎙 16. Tim Whitaker – Rebuilding Faith Beyond FundamentalismThis week, Alexis welcomes Tim Whitaker @timwhitakerspeaks, founder and host of The New Evangelicals@thenewevangelicals, a digital-first community holding space for honesty, justice, and theological exploration. Tim’s story mirrors so many of ours: deep roots in white evangelical subculture, then courageous questions the old answers couldn’t hold—culminating in a movement inviting Christians into a wider house of faith. We ExploreFrom “basement” faith to a bigger house: conservative upbringing (AWANA, missions, purity culture), cracks of doubt, and the books/voices that opened windows (Irresistible Revolution, Pagan Christianity, BibleProject).The cost of conscience: losing a church role and friendships, and how grief gave way to healing.Christian nationalism: Ten Commandments in schools, pluralism, and why symbolism-as-power misses Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.Good-faith dialogue: critiquing ideas, not people; refusing dehumanization.Empathy isn’t a sin: why “toxic empathy” is propaganda, and why gospel-shaped empathy is essential.Beyond deconstruction: letting anger tell the truth, then building something better.💡 Key TakeawaysAccountability > “safety.” Real community risks hurt; healthy community repairs it.Dehumanization is a red line. Hold convictions without mocking image-bearers.Empathy is gospel-shaped. Love of neighbor demands proximity and policy concern.Reconstruction matters. Tearing down isn’t the finish line; rebuilding with Jesus’ fruit is.⛪ About Our GuestTim Whitaker is the founder of The New Evangelicals, a nonprofit creating pathways out of fundamentalism toward a Jesus-centered, justice-rooted faith. Through podcasts, content, and events, TNE models theology, good-faith dialogue, and a zero-dehumanization posture.📚 Resources & LinksThe New Evangelicals Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-new-evangelicals-podcast/id1557794865BibleProject Podcast: @thebibleprojectShane Claiborne @shane.claiborne– The Irresistible Revolution Frank Viola & George Barna – Pagan Christianity?Scott Coley – Ministers of Propaganda: https://www.eerdmans.com/9781467466004/ministers-of-propaganda/Theology Beer Camp (Homebrewed Christianity): @theologynerd Support the showAbout The Sacred SlopeWhere the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity.Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion.🎧 WATCH: YouTube / Spotify     LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere     FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky)🔗 Connect🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: [email protected]🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿Fruit of the Spirit:  ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control