E107: The Amway of Cults, Bad Perms & Other 1980s Atrocities with Rachel Roberts, Th.M.

During the decade when Evangelicalism was coalescing with politics, a homegrown cult, known as the Shepherding Movement, reached its zenith. A religious pyramid scheme that bilked people of their money, identity, and freedom quietly penetrated the Southern United States. Rachel Roberts escaped the cult and the 80s, and fortunately outgrew both, just like her teenage bad perm.

Rachel Roberts founded American None™, the first organization of its kind to serve the fastest-growing (non)religious demographic in our country– the Nones. She is the author of “Confessions of an American None: A Credo of Sorts”. Rachel is deeply motivated to help elevate the soul of our nation and believes that collectively Nones harness a vast power to do so. The study of religion has been her passion since young adulthood. She has a bachelor's degree with an emphasis on philosophy of religion, and a masters degree in Theological Studies from Southern Methodist University. She grew up in a Christian cult with her mother, yet her father was an atheist. After an on-again, off-again relationship with Christianity as an adult, Rachel found her truth and freedom in coming out as a None. Rachel has three children, a dog named Tito, and a cat named Strudel. Her guilty pleasures include gummy bears, a crisp IPA, and Star Trek.

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