EPISODE · Feb 15, 2026 · 2H 57M
S4 Ep. 38 Liar, Liar, M.D. on Fire Pt. 2: The Ego, Extortion, and Lies of “Dr.” John Thomas
from The Life After Leaving Podcast: An Ex-Christadelphian Podcast · host lifeafterleavingpodcast
Today we’re finishing our investigation of the medical qualifications of “Doctor” John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians. In this history episode, we’ll follow John Thomas’ career during his time in the United States from the 1830’s into the 1850’s. We once again debunk persistent myths that have been repeated by Christadelphians for generations. Instead of accepting these myths, we critically examine them and speculate on the real reasons behind Thomas’ career choices. We also question John Thomas’ motives for his marriage, his reasons for moving frequently, and the credibility of the school that issued his M.D. degree in 1848. Zinnia also shares numerous new historical resources to do a deep dive into claims of extortion against John Thomas by the Richmond Campbellites and into the strange and questionable school, the “Scientific and Eclectic Institute” of Petersburg, Virginia, where John Thomas claimed to have earned his degree. Throughout this episode, we also reflect on what these stories indicate about John Thomas’ personality, his motivations, and why his persistent claim to have “the truth” isn’t actually something for Christadelphians to be proud of. Please join us for another exciting history episode as John Thomas’ lies and criminal activity get exposed by Zinnia, a harbinger of destruction. Listener discretion advised Resources and References: Thank you to the ex-Christadelphians for sharing information about these Lancet articles! The Lancet 1829-1830 See: Oct 10, 1829; Jan 16, 1830; Jan 30th, 1830 John Thomas: His Friend and His Faith” Dr. Thomas: His Life & Work Monty Python and the Holy Grail Professor James Staughton The Millennial Harbinger, 1835 “The New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal” Vol 2, No 8, Page 122, April 16, 1848 Population of Cincinnati in 1830 and 1840 Physicians in Ohio 1819-1850 (used 1831 Directory) University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine Population of Cincinnati (1830: 24,831) Cincinnati population in the 1800s America’s current population (2025): 333.3 million Current number of American physicians (2025): 1,044,734 Population of Philadelphia 1830 Desilver’s Philadelphia Directory (1831) Doctors in Philadelphia The Millennial Harbinger (Feb 1835) Demon Of Unrest by Erik Larson James H Hammond Philadelphia & Virginia The Millennial Harbinger, 1834 “A Review of the Defence of Dr. John Thomas" (Email [email protected] for a digital copy) The Apostalic Advocate, May 1837 pg 18-19 Dr. Thomas: His Family and the Background of His Times’ by Charles Blore Inflation Calculator Payment of Doctors Doctor Fee Bills Millennial Harbinger, Feb 1838 Take Back Your Life by Janja Lalich and Madeline Tobias John Thomas M.D. Newspaper The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 A Muppet Christmas Carol LAL Podcast: S1 Ep 6: Christadelphian True Crime Rush Medical College The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 “Dr. Thomas’s Professional Status” Formation of the AMA Incorporation of the S&E College March 1st 1847 1847 “J Thomas M.D.” 1846 Oct Classes The New England Botanic and Medical Journal, 1848 “Biography of John Thomas M.D.” Nov 1847 “Virginia Institute" Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati Philadelphia Diploma Mill Degree Mills by Allen Ezell and John Bear Dr. John Buchanan The Rise and Fall of Dr John Buchanan Alexander Campbell on the S&E School Worcester, MA school S&E College to Send Diplomas to MA The History of Medicine by Alexander Wilder Eclectic Medical Journal 1844-1848 Eclectic Medical Journal 1849-1850 August 1848 Ad THOMSONIANISM IN VIRGINIA by JAMES O. BREEDEN *email [email protected] “Medical Training in the United States Prior to the Civil War” Harbinger, 1853 “Dr of Opinions” Harbinger 1854 “not D.D. or M.D.” Impeachment & John Thomas’ Farewell Eclectic Schools Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati The Early Development of Medical Licensing Laws in the US Herald 1851, p 279
What this episode covers
Today we’re finishing our investigation of the medical qualifications of “Doctor” John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians. In this history episode, we’ll follow John Thomas’ career during his time in the United States from the 1830’s into the 1850’s. We once again debunk persistent myths that have been repeated by Christadelphians for generations. Instead of accepting these myths, we critically examine them and speculate on the real reasons behind Thomas’ career choices. We also question John Thomas’ motives for his marriage, his reasons for moving frequently, and the credibility of the school that issued his M.D. degree in 1848. Zinnia also shares numerous new historical resources to do a deep dive into claims of extortion against John Thomas by the Richmond Campbellites and into the strange and questionable school, the “Scientific and Eclectic Institute” of Petersburg, Virginia, where John Thomas claimed to have earned his degree. Throughout this episode, we also reflect on what these stories indicate about John Thomas’ personality, his motivations, and why his persistent claim to have “the truth” isn’t actually something for Christadelphians to be proud of. Please join us for another exciting history episode as John Thomas’ lies and criminal activity get exposed by Zinnia, a harbinger of destruction. Listener discretion advised Resources and References: Thank you to the ex-Christadelphians for sharing information about these Lancet articles! The Lancet 1829-1830 See: Oct 10, 1829; Jan 16, 1830; Jan 30th, 1830 John Thomas: His Friend and His Faith” Dr. Thomas: His Life & Work Monty Python and the Holy Grail Professor James Staughton The Millennial Harbinger, 1835 “The New England Botanic Medical and Surgical Journal” Vol 2, No 8, Page 122, April 16, 1848 Population of Cincinnati in 1830 and 1840 Physicians in Ohio 1819-1850 (used 1831 Directory) University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine Population of Cincinnati (1830: 24,831) Cincinnati population in the 1800s America’s current population (2025): 333.3 million Current number of American physicians (2025): 1,044,734 Population of Philadelphia 1830 Desilver’s Philadelphia Directory (1831) Doctors in Philadelphia The Millennial Harbinger (Feb 1835) Demon Of Unrest by Erik Larson James H Hammond Philadelphia & Virginia The Millennial Harbinger, 1834 “A Review of the Defence of Dr. John Thomas" (Email [email protected] for a digital copy) The Apostalic Advocate, May 1837 pg 18-19 Dr. Thomas: His Family and the Background of His Times’ by Charles Blore Inflation Calculator Payment of Doctors Doctor Fee Bills Millennial Harbinger, Feb 1838 Take Back Your Life by Janja Lalich and Madeline Tobias John Thomas M.D. Newspaper The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 A Muppet Christmas Carol LAL Podcast: S1 Ep 6: Christadelphian True Crime Rush Medical College The Christadelphian Magazine, April 1886 “Dr. Thomas’s Professional Status” Formation of the AMA Incorporation of the S&E College March 1st 1847 1847 “J Thomas M.D.” 1846 Oct Classes The New England Botanic and Medical Journal, 1848 “Biography of John Thomas M.D.” Nov 1847 “Virginia Institute" Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati Philadelphia Diploma Mill Degree Mills by Allen Ezell and John Bear Dr. John Buchanan The Rise and Fall of Dr John Buchanan Alexander Campbell on the S&E School Worcester, MA school S&E College to Send Diplomas to MA The History of Medicine by Alexander Wilder Eclectic Medical Journal 1844-1848 Eclectic Medical Journal 1849-1850 August 1848 Ad THOMSONIANISM IN VIRGINIA by JAMES O. BREEDEN *email [email protected] “Medical Training in the United States Prior to the Civil War” Harbinger, 1853 “Dr of Opinions” Harbinger 1854 “not D.D. or M.D.” Impeachment & John Thomas’ Farewell Eclectic Schools Ecl
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S4 Ep. 38 Liar, Liar, M.D. on Fire Pt. 2: The Ego, Extortion, and Lies of “Dr.” John Thomas
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