Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus19 Marras 2025

Carl: Former Christian Scientist

In this episode of Beyond Belief, Shalom speaks with author Carl, who grew up in the little-known religion of Christian Science. Carl describes a childhood shaped by the belief that matter is unreal, illness is a mistaken thought, and negative emotions must be suppressed to “reflect God.”

He shares the contradictions inside the faith—parents who quietly take children to doctors while insisting sickness isn’t real, funerals avoided to deny death, and a community where secrecy becomes a survival skill.

He reflects on leaving the religion, the role that travel and language learning played in broadening his worldview, and how writing became the vehicle for healing and understanding his past. His first novel features characters shaped by Christian Science, allowing him to examine the psychological cost of denying reality and emotion.

Carl's website: https://carlvonderau.com/

Timestamps:

00:18 Carl's Religious Background

00:56 Understanding Christian Science

04:42 Theological Discussions and Comparisons

09:35 Growing Up with Contradictions

16:37 Questioning and Breaking Away

21:17 College and Drifting Away

27:03 Life After Religion

29:40 Language and Perception

31:23 Christian Science Around the World

32:21 The Rise and Fall of Christian Science

33:28 Personal Stories of Religious Leaders

34:36 Reconciling with Christian Science

37:03 Writing and Creative Process

43:17 Advice on Broadening Perspectives

45:30 Bright Siding and Positive Thinking

54:41 Final Reflections and Contact Information

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