We Deconstructed Our Homeschool and Religious Experiences

Want to hear Liz's homeschool experience? Check out this episode: https://youtu.be/rvHUlhOM9hI?si=j7JGWwCJAMwtrChbLiz is back in the clubhouse to explore the role religion played in our homeschool upbringings and how those beliefs shaped our identities long after childhood. Liz shares what it was like growing up in an intensely Catholic homeschool environment, from her involvement in the Legion of Mary to embracing modesty culture, purity culture, and the expectation that she might one day become a nun.Together, we unpack the complicated process of questioning long-held beliefs, navigating religious trauma, and separating personal faith from the cultural expectations that surrounded us. We discuss purity culture, the lack of sex education in many homeschool environments, the experience of deconstruction, and the grief that can accompany rebuilding your worldview. Whether you're still religious, no longer religious, or somewhere in between, this conversation is about finding space to ask questions, heal, and better understand the stories that shaped us.Resources We MentionedWhen Religion Hurts You: https://drlauraeanderson.com/bookHomeschooled: A Memoir: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=tThe Body Keeps the Score: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-scoreInterview with D.L. Mayfield: https://youtu.be/ohzrQqPq0Dw?si=vi3cp1QPt8fy3wfiChapters00:00 Welcome Back Liz01:07 Homeschooler Connection03:32 Catholic Roots And Belonging06:21 Evangelical Upbringing08:33 Confirmation And Commitment11:11 Legion Of Mary Explained13:30 Conference Culture And War Talk19:37 Performing Faith Publicly21:29 Christian Mime And Evangelism24:00 Modesty Purity And Shame28:29 Deconstruction And Questioning31:55 Where Beliefs Came From33:11 Silence Around Sex And Expectations34:56 Nunhood and Holiness35:41 Purity Books Osmosis36:40 Period Shame Lesson37:51 Apple Pie Purity Talk41:06 No Sex Ed Basics43:27 Bridgerton Level Ignorance45:20 Study Abroad Cracks Bubble47:43 Grief and Quiet Deconstruction54:34 Naming Religious Trauma01:01:30 Inner Child Healing01:04:20 Finding Community Through Stories01:06:50 Closing Thoughts and ResourcesIf you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Follow Ex-Homeschoolers Club on Instagram and TikTok for updates, and send us a message – we’d love to hear from you!Connect with MeNewsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclubEmail me at [email protected]