In this episode of 'Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus,' we follow Esther's compelling journey from spending her childhood in China and Canada as a missionary child in Pentecostal and Mennonite communities, to her deconversion during the pandemic.

Esther shares the challenges of navigating contrasting religious environments, her experience of missionary work, the conflicting teachings on purity, and how the political climate and her sister's coming out influenced her path to identifying as spiritual but not religious.

Along her journey, she finds healing through therapy, a supportive relationship with her husband, and the courage to embrace a life beyond entrenched religious dogma.

00:00 Introduction to Beyond Belief
00:19 Esther's Early Life and Religious Background
01:56 Missionary Work and Cultural Contrasts
06:18 Pentecostal and Mennonite Beliefs
09:02 Family Dynamics and Personal Struggles
14:06 Transition to Life in Canada
24:12 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth
27:43 Shared Values and Deconstructing Christianity
28:26 Pandemic Conversations and Personal Revelations
29:22 Questioning Sin and Social Justice
29:43 Political Disillusionment and Church Attendance
32:43 Struggles with Purity Culture
36:50 Leaving Religion and Finding Support
40:03 Therapy and Self-Compassion
41:57 Cultural Contexts and Hypocrisy
48:06 Final Reflections and Advice