Episode 2: There’s Something Rotten in the Church (And why we can’t ignore the smell)

Have you sensed it? Not a rotten smell from some far off place, but a "wake of destruction" closer to home. You were never a contaminant. You Still Belong.Religious institutions often become the very thing Jesus warned us about. I identify the "visceral glitch" (that physical knot in your stomach when you notice something is wrong but are told you are the problem).I share a story from college that changed how I see ministry. I break down the biology of contempt and the ways the church weaponizes disgust to maintain power. If you have felt disconnected or rejected, you aren't "falling away." You are finding a way back to the body of Jesus Christ.Key Highlights:(02:09) The Dairy Queen Story: Understanding the biological root of disgust.(04:04) Weaponized Contempt: How the church dresses up rejection as "holiness."(07:15) The Board Room Story: When a young man became a "contaminant."(12:02) The Solution: Moving from disgust to curiosity.About the Show: You Still BelongIf you walked away from the church feeling heart sick, gaslit, or told that you were the problem, this is your safe harbor. This is also your proof that you were not wrong to leave.You Still Belong is a podcast for survivors of church hurt, spiritual manipulation, and the visceral glitch of modern religion. I explore the intersection of neuroscience, theology, and radical spiritual recovery. As a pastor, I am taking responsibility for what the institution got wrong. If you are finished with the institution but still hungry for the Person of Jesus, you are in the right place.I am writing a book on finding Jesus after the church failed. Join the waitlist for early chapters and updates:www.nathanmcwherter.comJoin the Journey