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Former evangelicals reflect on their time in the church and why they left

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Talk of Iowa, hosted by Charity Nebbe

Two former evangelicals join Talk of Iowa host Charity Nebbe to share their personal reckonings and thoughts on the movement's evolution.

About a third of Americans identify as evangelical Christians. For decades, Daniel Henderson was one of them, but in the early 2000s he decided to leave the church. He’s the author of Confessions of a Recovering Evangelical: Overcoming Fear and Certainty to Find Faith Through Doubt and Questioning.

In this episode he shares how his evangelical identity developed and what led him to step away from it. He has turned his focus to connection with other people, including social justice work in Washington, Iowa. Henderson also discusses how the relationship between religion and politics has shifted in this lifetime.

Bob Cargill, another former evangelical, joins the conversation to speak about his experience with religion in his personal and academic life.

Guests:

  • Daniel Henderson, historian and author
  • Robert Cargill, director of undergraduate studies and associate professor of biblical studies, University of Iowa
Charity Nebbe is IPR's 'Talk of Iowa' host. She also hosts IPR's podcasts 'Garden Variety' and 'Unsettled'. Since 2010, Nebbe has interviewed, conversed with, and shared ideas from guests of all backgrounds and locations, and has helped listeners better understand, appreciate, and explore their state and the world around them. Nebbe has a bachelors degree from Iowa State University.
Samantha McIntosh is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University. Since 2022, McIntosh has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.
Natalie Dunlap is an award-winning digital producer and writer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa. Since 2024, Dunlap has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's digital audience.