Finding Holiness After Breaking Up with a Sadistic Daddy God with Melissa Duge Spiers

Welcome to the Liberated Porch podcast, where we explore the intersection of religion, spirituality, sexuality, gender, and identity. In this episode, host Kit Morgan, a trans and queer licensed clinical social worker, talks with Melissa Duge Spiers, an award-winning writer who recently released her new book (Holy Disobedience), former Seventh Day Adventist, human rights activist for religious trauma survivors, and member of the LGBTQ community. Together, they delve into the complexities of finding liberation after Purity Culture.Timestamps:0:00 - 1:53 Introduction to the podcast episode1:53 - 2:23 Kit and Melissa discuss breaking free from religious abuse.2:23 - 4:33 Melissa shares the story behind the title "Holy Disobedience."4:33 - 5:14 Behind the making of the Glory Whole5:14 - 7:13 Seventh-day Adventist Church's views on pleasure.7:13 - 10:29 The influence of religious teachings on autonomy10:29 - 12:25 The challenges of navigating sexual rules within religious contexts.12:25 - 16:17 The struggle with guilt and shame from religious teachings.16:17 - 18:41 The journey of self-discovery and breaking free from religious constraints.18:41 - 24:59 The challenges of leaving high-control religious groups.24:59 - 27:25 The emotional cycle within authoritarian religious teachings.27:25 - 34:41 Navigating moral and ethical dilemmas in leaving religious groups.34:41 - 40:22 Restructuring life after authoritarian religious involvement40:22 - 43:22 Reclaiming Holiness after high control religion