Ep302: My Conversion to Orthodox Christianity - Rebekah Sturgill
Freitag, 18. April 2025 · 1 h 19
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Shownotes
In this episode I am joined by Rebekah Sturgill, mother, school teacher, and convert to Orthodox Christianity.
Rebekah details her upbringing in a Texan evangelical church and how encounters with authoritarianism and questions about her sexuality saw her leave the religion.
Rebekah describes a period of passionate teenage atheism before becoming deeply involved in feminist activism beginning in university. Rebekah explains why she remains a feminist but left activism and how, through a powerful visionary experience, she converted to Orthodox Christianity.
Rebekah also explores the mechanisms of conversion, considers the line between faith and extremism, and comments on the pros and cons of a new trend of conversions to Orthodox Christianity driven by internet influencers and discussion communities.
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Video version: guruviking.com/podcast/ep302-my-conversion-to-…
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
- Intro
- Evangelical Christian upbringing in Texas
- Studying theology and philosophy at St Johns College
- Encountering Jesus through reading the Gospels
- Feminist activism
- Joining the Orthodox Church
- Anger at religion and questioning sexuality
- Authoritarianism in the church
- Why Rebekah’s family left the church
- Religious community vs contemplative practice
- Contemplative emphasis in the Orthodox Church
- Youth groups and community emphasis
- Radical atheism phase and the impact on family
- Becoming a feminist activist
- Questioning feminist theory, struggles with relativism and essentialism
- Becoming a 2nd wave feminist
- Influence of the internet on Rebekah’s various conversions
- Conversion or coming home?
- What feminism really is
- Frustrations with 3rd wave feminism
- Why feminist activism?
- Still a feminist? Which views Rebekah still holds
- Orthodox Christian view of the individual and equality
- Are Rebekah’s views controversial?
- In-fighting and leaving activism
- Religious extremists and extreme activism
- Losing oneself in extremism
- Critical mass of buy-in needed for conversion
- Embracing the dharma or losing oneself?
- CS Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”
- Dying to oneself
- Theosis and losing oneself
- Popularity of Orthodox Christianity online, a new wave of converts
- The practice of Orthodoxy Christianity and the supernatural
- Lent
- High profile conversions to Orthodoxy and an internet pipeline
- Rebekah’s conversion through relationships and community
- The moment of conversion
- Powerful first conversation with an Orthodox priest
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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
