EPISODE SUMMARY

Becky Garrison joins to discuss her new book, Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists. Per Becky’s research, self-styled spiritual saviors are out hawking salvation and spiritually abusing church members. Why are such spiritual narcissists drawn to so many evangelical churches (and some progressive ones) and becoming small or mega-church pastors and self-proclaimed prophets and apostles? Becky reveals the tactics of gurus who weaponize faith to build empires, including sharing 7 types of spiritual narcissists.

But this isn’t just a takedown. With humor and grounded hope, Becky charts a path for disentangling from toxic dynamics and finding healthier spiritual spaces. Don’t miss this critical conversation to help people expose control-freak faith leaders and find communities that truly nourish the soul.

EPISODE NOTES

Becky Garrison joins Michael to discuss her new book, Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists. Per Becky’s research, self-styled spiritual saviors are out hawking salvation and spiritually abusing church members. Why are such spiritual narcissists drawn to so many evangelical churches (and some progressive ones) and becoming small or mega-church pastors and self-proclaimed prophets and apostles? Becky reveals the tactics of gurus who weaponize faith to build empires, including sharing 7 types of spiritual narcissists.

But this isn’t just a takedown. With humor and grounded hope, Becky charts a path for disentangling from toxic dynamics and finding healthier spiritual spaces. Don’t miss this critical conversation to help people expose control-freak faith leaders and find communities that truly nourish the soul.

FYI - In this interview I referenced Robert Smyth when discussing #churchtoo abuses within the Church of England. The correct name is John Smyth. More information about this saga can be found here.

Find the book here

Learn more about Becky and here experience, expertise, and humor at:

https://www.beckygarrison.com/

In advance of Decult 2026 (October 24-25, 2026) where I will be one of the 50 speakers, here’s a list of cult documentaries culled together by Sarah and Nippy in their book “A Little Bit Culty: Navigating Cults, Control and Coercion.“ Recommend this highly readable book to help navigate our current cultish zeitgeist, from MAGA to MLM; knowledge is power. Together we can learn how to identify the claims of a charismatic charlatan who proves to be more predatory than prophetic. Your soul and sanity will thank you. FYI - Sarah and Nippy will also be presenting at Decult 2026. Get your tickets here.

• The Vow about NXIVM

• Stolen Youth about Larry Ray and the Sarah Lawrence cult

• Phoenix Rising about Marilyn Manson by Evan Rachel Wood

• Wild Wild Country about the Rajneeshpuram communit

• Holy Hell about the Buddhafield cult

• Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief about
  Scientology

• Scientology and the Aftermath about Scientology and its abuses

• Jesus Camp about an evangelical Christian summer camp

• One of Us about individuals leaving the Hasidic
  Jewish community

• Let Us Prey about abuse within the IFB movement

• Love Has Won about Amy Carlson

• Quiet on Set about Nickelodeon

• Bad Blood about Theranos

• Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey about the FLDS

• The Century of the Self about Edward Bernays

• Shiny Happy People about IBLP

• Escaping Polygamy about various cults

What I appreciate about this list is the absence of documentaries I consider to be “cult porn,” as these flicks are designed to titillate not educate.

Other cult documentaries released in the past twenty years that I recommend (including some that came out after this book was released).

• Shinny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War (2025) about Teen Mania

• Trust Me: The False Prophet (2025) about the FDLS featuring Dr. Christine Marie, one of the keynote speakers for Decult 2026

• Death of the Pastor’s Wife (2026) about the tragic death of Pastor John-Paul Miller’s second wife Mica Miller

• The Deep End (2022) about the abuse inherent in Teal Swan’s wellness woo-woo

• Sons of Perdition (2010) about the FDLS (see a pattern here?)

• American Commune (2013) about the Farm, a hippie commune that proved to be not so “free loving”

• The Source Family (2012) about this Southern California hippie commune, who laid the groundwork for the current wellness movement (again, see a pattern?)

• Escaping Twin Flames (2023) about the Twin Flames Universe (TFL)

• The Secrets of Hillsong (2023) and Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed (2022) about the abuses within the Hillsong Church network

• Sex Magic: Manifesting Maya (2010) about Baba Dez, the founder of the International School for Temple Arts (ISTA), a film I discovered during my research into abuses within the ISTA network. Maya, who is featured in this book, drew this carton for me for us in my book Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists.

Commission inquiries at Mayatoons.bsky.social

What I thought would be simply a fun transit on board the historic Schooner Adventuress from Lake Union to Shilshole Bay Marina via the Ballard Locks proved to be something magical I hadn’t anticipated.

A bit of back history - ever since I was a child water always healed me. No matter what was going on in my alcoholic extended family, I could go to the Narragansett Bay on Prudence Island and listen to the water. This island founded by my 12th great grandfather Roger Williams became my sanctuary, a place I could find a bit of inner peace away from my family’s scapegoating toward me for daring to dream and be different. (See my book Roger Williams’s Little Book of Virtues for my explorations into my beloved ancestor.)

My love to the water drew me to sailing where from roughly 1996 to 2006 I was a volunteer on board the Schooner Pioneer docked at the South Street Seaport. My tenure ended abruptly when a young buck was appointed to be the head captain of the ship. It soon became apparent that those women who presented themselves a flirty boat chick were given special status while those older ladies like me who were not into such antics were dismissed. Along those lines, those men who became his buddies were allowed to order others around even if these men weren’t crew members.

Most women endured this or left. However, as I tend to be a feisty sort I fought back. Simply put, I enjoyed sailing and didn’t see why I had to give up my joy being on the water because of these dudebros.

In hindsight, I freely admit that some of my responses to this abusive behavior were over the top. Thanks to the emerging research into trauma and narcissism, I can address such scenarios without getting triggered to the point where I’m deemed the “crazy one.” Also, I can now see now how those “boat chicks” were sexualized in ways that were not healthy either. Along those lines, given the #metoo movement had not begun during this time frame, I now understand how the South Street Seaport Museum did not the tools or the awareness to address this toxicity that prevented all from enjoying their volunteer crewing experiences.

Fast forward to 2015 when I began coming to Seattle regularly from Portland at least a few times a year. I received an invitation to join the Schooner Adventuress on a sail along with enjoying the free sails courtesy of the Center for Wooden Boats and a few other water adventures. As much as enjoyed being back on the water, I still felt this pang of anxiety from my Pioneer experiences that kept me from fully immersing myself in this experience.

During Covid, all water sports stopped except for a PDX based sailing meetup. The only boat that went out regularly was helmed by an aging pervert who used the boat as a means of garnering notches on his bedpost. While I could get him to leave me alone, this dynamic proved to be too toxic for me to actually enjoy being on the water.

On the positive side, research was emerging into trauma and narcissism. For me, EMDR proved to be the modality that finally released me from my childhood traumas that continued to impact my interactions with others. Armed with this awareness, I found myself exiting scenarios that used to bring me joy, but I now see were filled with narcissistic energies that proved to be more self-serving than satisfying. (See my book Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists if you’re interested in exploring these topics.)

In this process, I realized I had to go no contact with my extended family. While this move saved my soul and sanity, I knew this decision made no more excursions to Prudence Island. I remained waterless as it were.

Fortunately, during my last trip to Seattle, I was able to hit up both the Center for Wooden Boats and the Adventuress. This time when I went on the water, I just felt the wind and the water. Finally, I reconnected to the water like I did as a child. The healing I sought as a tyke finally came to fruition some six decades later.

Finally, I’m back home on the water. Healed and happy.

Some of my most delightful experiences exploring the PNW craft culture has been connecting with winery dogs. Their greetings when I enter their space remind me of how wine can connect us across the sociopolitical and religious divides that continue to separate us.

In tribute to these dogs, I penned this piece for SIP Magazine paying tribute to some of these winery dogs such as Connie, a beloved winery dog who died recently after being stung one too many times by a wasp.

During her ten-year tenure as Chief Security Officer for , Connie embodied the traits of a Kuvasz, a breed known as Hungary’s majestic guardian of flocks and companion of kings. She repelled unwanted two-legged or four-legged intruders on the farm, protected wimpy owners from cougars when they jogged around the vineyard, barked alerts about visitors, and thinned the ranks of gophers. Also, she disciplined the bears by keeping them away from the house while allowing them some access to apples and grapes a bit further from the house. Night and day, she would make the rounds of the farm, ensuring that nothing happened without her notice.

As Connie was referenced on their wine and cider labels as a “stern guard dog,” visitors to their “Pinot & Perspective” tastings and tours were sometimes surprised to be greeted warmly by her. According to Nick, “She understood that these humans were to be welcomed as distinguished guests -- but if any of them had shown up that evening, she might not have let them out of their vehicle.”

The Kristofs believe that while humans must line up after death at the Pearly Gates to be interviewed by Saint Peter, dogs are pre-approved for admission to Heaven. So, Connie may already be promoted to Chief Security Officer of a canine heaven where dogs chase squirrels that never get away (God’s nifty way to provide an afterlife simultaneously to virtuous dogs and malign squirrels).

The outpouring of support following Connie’s passing reflects how much dogs can unite us. The Kristof received many letters, gifts (including a portrait of Connie), and even a donation from the local human society made in her name fom people who felt they knew her or who in some cases had come for a tasting and met her.

They found a Kuvasz in Illinois who needed to be rehomed, so they will take her here to succeed Connie as Chief Security Officer. This dog will join Chloe, an 11-year-old Curly Coated Retriever, who is their Deputy Security Officer. She has a good bark but is less inclined to socialize with visitors. Also, Tux, an Aussie Doodle, lives in Seattle with their daughter Caroline. During his regular visits to the farm, he assumes the rule of Assistant Security Officer.

Connie represents a long legacy of winery dogs who perform many tasks throughout Pacific Northwest’s vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms. Here’s a few other canine characters who eat contributions to the unique craft culture help enhance the experience of savoring Pacific Northwest wines that I included in my SIP article.

Allora, a 100% Chihuahua who serves as Head of Security for Wilridge Vineyard Winery, & Distillery (Yakima, WA)

Beau, a hard working Grand Pyrenees for Troon Vineyard (Grants Pass, OR)

Brix, a Staffordshire Terrier Cross with the official title Head of Security for Telaya Wine Co. (Boise, ID) though all he does is greet people and nap

Bruno,Bernedoodle (Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle) who serves as Tasting Room greeter for Owen Roe Estate (Wapato, WA)

Cedar, a Golden Retriever at Archery Summit Winery (Dayton, OR) whose job description is extensive and largely self-appointed.

Sif, a Yellow Lab who greets visitors and helps the team at Blasted Church Vineyards (Okanagan Falls, BC)

Tater, an Australian Shepherd who is the ultimate multitasker as he gets involved in all aspects of Spring Valley Vineyard (Walla Walla, WA)

The Pack at 4 Whistles Winery (Kennewick, WA) is dog patrol consists of five members: Semillion aka Emi (Corgi-mix), Leonard (Chihuahua-mix), Nellie (Miniature Schnauzer), Guinness (Husky-mix) and Marechal Foch aka Marchie (Maltipoo).

In addition, here’s a list of some PNW wineries and wines named after dogs. This bit got cut from the SIP article but I’m including it here to extend the doggie love.

Wineries and Wines Named After Dogs

Some wineries express their devotion to their dogs by naming their wineries or wines after their beloved pets. Top of this list is Spoiled Dog Winery (Langley, WA), a winery named after the many spoiled dogs they’ve loved over the years. Their current canine companions are two older French bulldogs named Winnie and Murphy. They are often found napping and don’t move even when they stack cases of wine around them.

DoodleVines Winery and Event Center (Yakima, WA) is named after their Doodles. Their AussieDoodle Lulu serves as the tasting room greeter. and they named a Pinot Noir Rose called Bella after another AussieDoodle of theirs. Next year, they plan to release a Pinot Noir, Syrah, Malbec and Albariño next year all named after their Doodles.

Dunham Cellar’s (Walla Walla, WA) Three Legged Red features Port (named for having two legs on his left side, or “port” side), a Border Collie mix. Their founding winemaker, Eric Dunham, rescued Port as a puppy from another dog attack, which is how he became three legged. When they decided to create a more accessible table red wine, Port was their greeter at the winery so Eric thought “Everyone loves Port, let’s make him the face of the wine.” Port was with them from 1994-2008 and he and his story continue on every bottle of Three Legged Red.

Maryhill Winery’s (Goldendale, WA) Henry’s Red is a red blend wine inspired by their super mutt (25% Border Collie, 25% Black Lab, 25% Standard Poodle, and 25% of a lot of other things) with plans to make a white blend and a Rosé with him on the label.

Sound & Vision Wine Co.‘s (Talent, OR) Pig Missile Rosé is a blend of Sangiovese, Barbera, Primitivo, Syrah, Pinot named after their French bulldogs Lucy, whom they describe as teeny, piggy, and really fast.

Van Westen Vineyards‘ (Naramata, BC) Brewt 2024 is their first production of sparkling wine originating from the hardiest of our vinifera varietals that survived the harsh cold snap in January 2024. These bubbles were crafted with love using the charmat method in honor of Brewt, their late 18 year black lab who was their companion and mascot. He was a fixture at the winery and even had his own couch.

Finally, Triangle Wine Country Tours offers a pup wine tour featuring their 3-year old Bernese Mountain Dog Cassie. This tour is designed for guests who miss the dogs they had to leave at home or for dog lovers who don’t currently have access to a doggie friend. In addition to the winery staff, Cassie loves to greet anyone furry or human for a pet or a treat, as well as posing for any photo op.

Check out my latest podcast with the on her Holy Shenanigans podcast where we chat about what happens when a place meant to offer belonging, healing, and connection becomes a source of spiritual harm.

Here’s the show notes:

Becky discusses her new book, Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself From Spiritual Narcissists, and shares practical red flags to watch for—including a lack of accountability, unhealthy power structures, financial secrecy, and communities where saying “no” isn’t respected. She also offers some important green flags: being heard, feeling safe, having your boundaries respected, and knowing that you can show up as your authentic self.

The conversation explores why satire can be healing, how trauma can affect our search for belonging, and why sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is listen to our bodies and walk away from a community that isn’t healthy for us.

At the heart of this conversation is a simple message of hope: You are not alone. There are survivors, resources, and healthier communities where love, connection, and belonging can be genuine.

Come join Tara and Becky for a Holy Shenanigans conversation about smashing idols, finding shalom, and making room for spiritual communities that do no harm.

Check out the episode here.

AUSTRALASIA’S CULT AWARENESS CONFERENCE

VOICES OF COURAGE

PATHWAYS TO HEALING AND JUSTICE

DECULT 2026 returns bigger and bolder — 24–25 October at Christchurch Town Hall in Aotearoa New Zealand with 50+ speakers and a worldwide live-streamed program. Keynotes by cult experts Rachel Bernstein and Dr Christine Marie. Join survivors, experts and advocates in a safe space built to drive real change.

I’m one of the online US speakers for this dynamic conference focused around developing awareness and healing from the impact of high control groups (aka cults or cultish). I’m presenting findings about spiritual narcissism gleaned from my book Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists. The event will be live-streamed for those who cannot make it to NZ in person. Check out the lineup and purchase tickets here.

Check out my conversation with Kacey Baker, MSc, is a leading expert in the psychology of coercive control and host of The Cult Vault podcast.

Here’s the show notes …

In this episode, host Kacey interviews religious satirist and writer Becky Garrison about her book Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists

A satirical, research-anchored consumer guide to recognising spiritual narcissists and knowing when to walk away. Garrison discusses her background, the Wittenberg Door satire magazine, family experiences with alcoholism and narcissism, and how awareness, trauma healing (including EMDR), and boundary-setting help people discern healthy communities from coercive, exploitative ones. She defines narcissism as a lack of empathy and explains spiritual narcissism as using religious or spiritual language to control others by threatening their souls. They cover love bombing, consent, online influencer culture, psychedelics and untrained facilitators, institutional religion’s decline, and practical red flags like intolerance of pushback, shaming, conditional belonging, and leader-centered control.

Available on a range of platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Photo take of The Refuge at Pickathon 2026 by Becky Garrison

In my latest article for Spirituality & Health, Survivor and author shares practical tools for healing and finding wholeness after high-control religious experiences. I find this article particularly valuable as we contend with both the 25th anniversary of 9/11, as well as whatever the heck the Republicans are doing down in Dallas.

For those looking to heal from their own adverse experiences with spiritual abuse that can range from ardent fundamentalists to the most enlightened gurus, here’s some suggested reosurces to help you on your journey.

Photo taken by Becky Garrison

As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I’m reposting an article I posted at the Killing the Buddha site on September 11, 2013. A few minor edits were made to fix broken links and update the current status of this religious artifact. But the overall sentiment remains the same regarding the commercialization of Christianity in these Trumpian times.

When I first heard that a 17-foot cross-like structure was discovered by a construction worker in the wreckage of the World Trade Center, I was too busy feeding first responders to pay any attention. (I recounted my experiences as a 9/11 volunteer in Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church, 2005, Starred Review Publishers Weekly.) I viewed the news that a cross somehow “miraculously” appeared at the recovery site with the same skepticism I had toward the story of how St. Paul’s Chapel “miraculously” remained standing despite its close proximity to the World Trade Center. The real miracles would have been if more people had been discovered buried alive or if this disaster had been averted in the first place. But 12 years later, this experience gave me a perspective on how this cross evolved from a found object that inspired some during a harrowing recovery period to a commercialized symbol of Americana Christianity worshipped by a few and ignored by most.

As they had a number of post 9/11 relics, from heart-shaped teddy bears donated by Jesus-loving women’s groups to victims’ shoes left behind, global media outlets in their quest for feel good post 9/11 soundbites perpetuated the myth-making surrounding the cross. As Trinity Church Wall Street was the only ministry site in the area that allowed media to enter, they received the lion’s share of the press. Their own television crew joined in this media frenzy by documenting their recovery efforts at St. Paul’s Chapel, in videos that were available for sale while the recovery effort was still in progress. As per their website, profits from items sold in the Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel gift shop go to support their ministries. To date, they do not have a ministry dedicated to supporting those impacted by 9/11, though as of 2025, Trinity’s website states their endowment is valued at $6 billion.

Some clergy and 9/11 volunteers not affiliated with St. Paul’s Chapel tried to find novel ways to get attention to their work at the site. As I recounted in American Atheist (3rd Quarter, 2011) among the free-range chaplains circulating at the time was Father Brian Jordan, a Catholic Franciscan priest. Jordan seemed to be a man in search of a mission and in the Ground Zero cross, he found one. He succeeded in getting the cross to remain at Ground Zero, and conducted weekly services there, which were attended by Salvation Army volunteers, construction workers, and other non-uniformed personnel. Seldom would I see a first responder in attendance.

At one Easter season service opened to the public, I distinctly remember an individual handing out Ground Zero cross necklaces in the hopes that those present would spread the word and entice others to buy these wares. A few others were also trying to sell Ground Zero cross-related items though conversations about copyrighting the cross never came to fruition.

Once the recovery effort was deemed over in June 2002, some clergy explored ways to continue this spirit of service begun at the site, including the Rev. Lyndon Harris, the so-called 9/11 priest who was theoretically in charge of St. Paul’s Chapel. Despite claiming he formed the Sacred City nonprofit in 2005 to fulfill “a our sacred oath” to build the garden, as reported by the Associated Press in 2011 (reposted at Episcopal Cafe) no garden ever materialized at if site of the former World Trade Center.

Jordan, on the other hand, lacked Harris’s high profile and the media passed him by. Still, for months, Jordan said Mass at the foot of this cross and then led a religious ceremony to mark the cross’ transfer from St. Peter’s Church to the museum site. As someone who has covered religion since 1994, I can attest that secular objects do not get treated in this fashion.

Jordan did succeed in having the Ground Zero cross moved next to St. Peter’s Church in Lower Manhattan. There this forgotten icon stood silently in full view for those who wished to capture a photograph until it was moved to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum where it remains as part of their permanent collection. Those wishing to purchase Ground Zero artifacts can do so at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s store and the 9/11 Museum, as well as online outlets such as Etsy.

None of the emails I received from 9/11 family groups over the years mention the Ground Zero Cross or support for its inclusion the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. They were concerned instead with more pressing issues, such as health care for 9/11 first-responders, and the ongoing discovery of human remains during construction of the 9/11 Memorial.

The cross may be just a random sighting of steel turned spiritual and invested with symbolic meaning by the faithful and atheists alike. But the myth-making in light of the tragedy of 9/11 is not surprising. As KtB founder Jeff Sharlet (TAG SUBSTACK) puts it in his 2012 book Sweet Heaven When I Die, “Rightly or wrongly we search for a whole whenever we find a hole in our lives.”

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Protestant Accountability functions as an interactive computer service that distributes content created or provided by other users & content providers.

As per their website, their mission is to “document allegations of abuse, as well as individuals in a position of leadership who allegedly mishandled allegations of abuse within their organization.

Abuse and institutional failures are often hidden from public view. This organization exists to bring these matters into the light by collecting and organizing publicly available information concerning sexual abuse & misconduct in religious settings. They document allegations, investigations, legal proceedings, convictions, and documented efforts to conceal, enable, minimize or disregard abuse. By preserving these records, they seek to promote transparency, accountability, and the protection of those at risk.

Submit new information, report inaccurate information, or provide updates to existing profiles here.

Over at Only Sky, I highlight Emmy-winning filmmaker ’s latest film, the HBO Original Documentary The Welcome Table. In describing Fox’s work, journalist opined, “Superman could leap a tall building in a single bound. That ain’t nothing compared to Josh Fox. Fox created the anti-fracking movement in a single movie, Gasland.”

While this article is listed as “members only” subscribing to Only Sky is free. I started writing for Only Sky in 2022 and am grateful to be penning pieces for them following their relaunch in 2024. As noted on their website, their mission is to “explore life, culture, and the future through science, wonder, and human curiosity.” These themes resonate with my work as a religious satirist where I seek to smash those false religious idols who promote their platforms over prophecy. In these smashed fragments of a former faith, we can see glimpses of authentic connections via festivals, brewpubs & tasting rooms, D&D gatherings, and other grassroots-y gatherings. Here we can connect with others by exploring what we have in common in our shared humanity. The final chapter of Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself From Spiritual Narcissists explores how we can connect in community despite our polarizing climate.

Graphic courtesy of

To commemorate two milestone birthdays - mine at 65 and the US at 250, I’m offering a special Door-ish sale. The first nine people who purchase a vintage copy of The Wittenburg Door can receive a code for a free audiobook of Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself From Spiritual Narcissists. A list of Doors available for sale can be found here. Just send me a message once you’ve purchased a Door and I’ll send you the code when I mail the issue to you.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that satire is the salve that can soothe many wounds. This knowledge has saved my soul and sanity during these triggering Trumpian traumatic times ... and I hope the same salvation can be yours.

Top Photo courtesy of Pixabay, Other Photos taken by Becky Garrison

Following are some articles I’ve penned for Only Sky Media that touch on the intersection of wine and war.

In Drinking wine in a time of war, I reflect on my writing about the Pacific Northwest craft culture suggests that perhaps wine grown using organic and sustainable means can help connect us at a deeper level. That is, if we are willing to truly listen to the land. In this piece I cite two wineries Maysara Winery and who illuminate for me how the peace of winemaking is a sorely needed alternative to violent regimes warring in the name of God.

I further expound on the Persian hospitality I experience when visiting Maysara Winery in Persian hospitality: Connecting cultures through wine. Simply put, can ancient traditions of wine and hospitality bridge the divide between America and Iran?

While I used to keep my writing on #churchtoo abuses and the PNW craft culture separate, sometimes they intersect such as my piece Sexual violence against Palestinians: Justice for victims, or silence for abusers? In this piece, I question the blowback to Nick Kristof’s reporting on sexual violence perpetuated by Israeli soldiers on Palestinian prisoners.

Check out my latest conversation with where we ponder how we lost our moral compass.

Check it out at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

And check out Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists, now out in audiobook! The narrator Val did a not only did a kick ass job narrating the sucker but she also posted a lovely review of this book. And she’s also into wine as well. After you read her review, check out her substack and subscribe.

Other Gaslighting for God News

I was asked to speak about my story here ... Bold Journey: Becky Garrison

reviewed Gaslighting for God. Yes, The Door is still open. Come on in and check out their senses and.

And speaking of The Wittenburg Door, I have a number of vintage Doors for sale. See this link.

Join religious satirist and storyteller Becky Garrison for a conversation about her book Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists (Lake Drive Books, 2026). Learn how to not only survive but thrive during the US 2026 election cycle. In a world full of uncertainty, self-styled spiritual gurus join forces with partisan politicians to promote a faith-based form of salvation that’s godawful not godly. Garrison’s biting and hilarious exposé of how narcissism has become the unfortunate backbone of a politicized form of American spirituality. But this isn’t just a takedown—it’s a roadmap to escape toxic systems and find healthier, inclusive spaces for our lives going forward.

Garrison holds and MDiv/MSW from Yale Divinity School and Columbia University School of Social Work and is the author of nine books including the award winning Distilled in Washington: A History (The History Press, 2024) and Roger Williams’s Little Book of Virtues (Wipf & Stock, 2020). Her recent writing credits include work for Spirituality & Health, Only Sky, Religion Dispatches, Good Faith Media, Beverage Master/The Grapevine Magazine, Northwest Travel & Life, Edible Seattle, The Alcohol Professor, and SIP.

Her book will be available for sale at the event.

Admission: $10, or FREE for CFI Members. Membership is $60/year. Find out more and join here: https://cfiwest.org/donate/

Tickets are sold at the door only.

Gaslighting For God

Date: Sunday, May 17
Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Center for Inquiry West
2535 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026 United States
Get Directions

Organized by:
Center for Inquiry West
Phone: (323) 666-9797
Email: info@cfiwest.org

Commission inquiries at Mayatoons.bsky.social

Delighted to chat with @Cara Cardoni on her podcast “Fool’s Gold: Discernment in the Age of Grift.’ We delved into my book Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself From Spiritual Narcissists (Lake Drive Books, 2026) with a particular focus on my reporting on ISTA (International School of Temple Arts). Cara was an instrumental figure behind creating 3SC (Safer Sex-Positive & Spiritual Communities), a volunteer survivor advocacy organization formed in May 2022 to address reports of harm occurring at ISTA and Highden Temple.

Our convo is available on You Tube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Also, check out Cara’s conversation over at the Little Bit Culty podcast where she is joined by “Lina,” the survivor profiled in The Cut’s expose on ISTA.

Blast from the past ... This is a clip from the 2008 documentary “The Ordinary Radicals” produced and directed by Jamie Moffett. I recount my experience connecting with “ordinary radicals” in Jesus Died For This?: A Satirist’s Search for the Risen Christ, a book first published in 2010 and then republished in 2025 by LakeDriveBooks.

At this time I still believed that the church was indeed undergoing a transformation and might be reformed into actually resembling the body of Christ.

Cutting-edge ventures aimed at rebranding the church as “cool” used to draw in those disenchanted with traditional forms of institutional church, but these methods no longer appealed to twenty-first-century pious peeps. The liberal mainline Episcopal Church of my youth that once marched in solidarity with Martin Luther King, Jr., was now walking biblically bowlegged, so to speak (sans a few prophetic outliers like Manhattan-based St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery).

Conversely, conservative forms of religion, appealing to many, were appalling to many more, many of whom said they were “done” with religion and went on to live entirely secular lives . Once these people stop checking off the correct Christian category, the institutional church drops them from their membership list as though they committed a serious spiritual sin . Some religion writers call these secular people “nones” because that’s what they put on the census forms under “religion.”

In my reporting on American Christianity, I observed how these “nones” and “dones” felt free to choose a path that spoke to them, one without guilt-ridden dogmas. Some find occasional comfort in a church, synagogue, temple, or mosque that truly welcomes all, one that aims to be a place of healing, not a means of harm to others. Others choose to worship, reflect, or meditate outside of traditional religious structures. Simultaneously, for the first time in U.S. history, atheists began to come out of the closet in droves.

Unfortunately, in reviewing Jesus Died for This? before its republication by Lake Drive Books in 2025, I felt my heart sink when I realized the extent to which I’d been hoodwinked. Throughout the book, I referenced those whom I thought were peers and whose work I once praised, who proved to be plastic when they got their shot in the media spotlight. Others showed their narcissistic side in more subtle but equally sickening ways. When I first began to experience such negative energies, I’d pray for the day when we could all come together and rekindle that spiritual spark that once drew me to their work in the first place. But I’ve learned to stop dreaming. Whenever I’d show up to one of their gatherings, they’d talk and talk and talk about their mission to build a better church, but in the end, it all proved to be a mirage. No amount of wishing can bring back that magic.

In the same spirit, I’ve given up any hope that those in my life who possess extreme narcissistic characteristics will change. This awareness allows me to forgive them without expecting any connection I thought we once had. Yes, I’d embrace such an authentic change of heart, but I no longer hold out hope for an apology, knowing the odds of such a genuine reconciliation are akin to winning the lottery.

Freed from this empty hope, I can move on in faith.

With my latest book Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself From Spiritual Narcissists (Lake Drive Books, 2026), I profess I longer believe the institutional church can be saved. But I remain even more convinced than I was in 2008 when this video was released that I believe in us to be the change we are waiting for. (Credit to as the originator of this phrase.)

From the show notes:

Some people leave the church quietly. Becky Garrison stayed and took notes.

A satirist, journalist, and Yale Divinity School-trained religious critic, Becky spent over a decade as Senior Contributing Editor at The Wittenburg Door — the nation’s oldest, most irreverent Christian satire magazine — before the institution gave her more material than she bargained for. Her latest book, Gaslighting for God, is part exposé, part survival manual, and somehow genuinely funny. Because when the narcissist is behind the pulpit, sometimes the only sane response is satire.

Becky joins Behk & LAH to talk about what happens when the tactics we recognize in toxic relationships — the love bombing, the narrative rewriting, the coercive control, the manufactured reality — get wrapped in a scripture verse and called sacred. She traces her own journey from preacher’s kid to what she now calls an “epiphytic agnostic Anglican,” explains why progressive spiritual spaces can be just as dangerous as conservative ones, and makes the case that your gut instinct is one of the most underrated tools you have.

The conversation goes deep — from the NXIVM case and the prosecution of Keith Raniere, to the OneTaste orgasmic meditation case and why charging Nicole Daedone with human trafficking rather than prostitution was a critical distinction for survivors, to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s resignation following a pattern of sexual abuse among clergy in the Church of England. Becky also breaks down why narcissistic collapse looks exactly like a three-year-old’s temper tantrum, why you cannot rationalize with someone in the middle of one, and why learning to recognize the pattern is genuinely liberating.

Her parting advice: trust your gut. We are taught not to. But your intuition — nurtured, cared for, and freed from the trigger responses of unhealed trauma — is the most powerful narcissist detector you have.

Narcissists, Gaslighters, & Cheaters, Oh My! — real folks, real stories, survival & healing.

Resources & Links:
📖 Get the book: Gaslighting for God — Lake Drive Books
🌐 Website: beckygarrison.com
✍️ Substack: beckygarrison.substack.com

Cases mentioned in this episode: 🔗 NXIVM / Keith Raniere — women’s empowerment organization prosecuted for sex trafficking and racketeering 🔗 OneTaste / Nicole Daedone — orgasmic meditation organization prosecuted for human trafficking 🔗 Archbishop of Canterbury resignation — following reports of sexual abuse patterns among Church of England clergy

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of spiritual abuse, religious trauma, coercive control, sexual coercion, human trafficking, narcissistic abuse, and references to political and institutional abuse of power. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence of any kind, you are not alone. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 for free, confidential support — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Behk and LAH are not doctors or therapists. Nothing shared on this podcast should be taken as medical or professional advice.

In a fitting touch of irony, my conversation with Rachel Bernstein on her IndoctriNATION podcast dropped on April Fool’s Day. But our convo was no joke.

As per the show notes.

In this episode, Rachel Bernstein interviews Becky Garrison, author of “Gaslighting for God,” about spiritual narcissism, charismatic leaders, and how abuse is hidden behind a persona with little accountability. Garrison describes her background in religious satire, family alcoholism, and how research into trauma and somatic therapies helped her recognize narcissistic patterns without becoming triggered. They distinguish lying from gaslighting as deliberately altering someone’s perception of reality and discuss DARVO and institutional cover-ups, including examples involving clergy, money, and celebrity wellness figures. Garrison emphasizes prevention through education, following the money, testing groups with “gentle no” boundaries, watching for coercive demands (time, money, access), avoiding parasocial attachments, and finding support communities after leaving toxic leaders or groups.

Check it out on the platform of your choice.

Recently I’ve had the lovely experience of reconnecting with for some chats on his podcast. We first met back around 2008 at a Killing the Buddha event in New York City when both of us were still penning works for the Christian market. As you can hear in the podcast, we’ve both moved on as spiritual seekers operating outside institutional church structures.

The show notes do an excellent job of summarizing the gist of a 2 1/2-hour-long convo ...

In the first hour, we get into spiritual narcissism, not as an abstract idea but as something that shapes real communities and does real damage. We talk about MAGA as a kind of cult identity, Trump as a case study in personality-driven power, and how prosperity gospel culture helped prepare the ground for all of it. We also get into religious trauma and why, at least for me, institutional Christianity isn’t something that can be fixed from the inside. And we don’t let progressive spaces off the hook either. The same patterns show up there too, just with a different language.

In the second hour, we stop diagnosing and start asking what now. Becky talks about why she’s still hopeful despite everything, and we get into the limits of satire in a culture that already feels like parody. We talk about the collapse of celebrity-driven leadership, the exhaustion people feel with national politics, and why real change may be happening in smaller, local, less visible ways. It’s less about movements and more about relationships. Less about influence and more about staying human.

Check the show out here on your platform of choice.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

You Tube

Frank Schaeffer’s website

It Had to be Said: Frank Schaeffer’s Substack

After we did this podcast, the news about Caesar Chavez broke. Other outlets have done due diligence in reporting on the details and how swiftly communities are responding to replacing the symbols honoring him to better reflect the broader moment for good. (And yes, we should ask how quickly this removal would have gone if Chavez were a member of the Epstein class.)

Here I’d like to offer a gentle reminder to those in shock about the Caesar Chavez saga … this is the tip of the iceberg. I’ve lost count of the number of people (mostly women) who told me stories involving those who were saviors when in the spotlight but spiritual narcissists in private. I’m using the word “spiritual” to describe Chavez’s impact on many such as my late parents whose work inspired them to work toward a better world.

When I hear stories of abuse involving those in the spotlight, I look for patterns. Yes, false allegations do happen but they’re rare. In my 30+ years reporting on religion, I can count on one hand the number of times I heard allegations leveled against someone in pastoral power that were later proven to be false. In these instances, one could identify some underlying cause such as a case of Munchausen Syndrome or a parasocial relationship that turned toxic once their affections were not returned. But I’ve lost track of the # of times someone tried to get justice for abuses they suffered in a church or other spiritual setting but was dismissed, shamed, mocked, and worse.

So when you hear someone speak out about abuse, don’t ask for evidence. Just listen. Don’t judge. Just listen. Keep listening. Be especially mindful when you start to hear multiple people coming forward who don’t know each other but have very similar stories. This is a major red flag that something is amiss.

While you’re listening, see what happens when you switch from calling those impacted by abuse “survivors” instead of “victims.” Along those lines, why are male children who are sexually abused called “boys” but female children who are similarly abused called “young women?” Let’s name this dynamic of predation by the powerful for what it is …”child abuse.” Even if the person is a legal adult, they are caught in a power love bombing/trauma bonding dynamic where they’ve been convinced that walking away will have disastrous professional and personal consequences

Then watch how the person being accused of said abuses responds. Odds are they’ll start doing the DARVO dance (Deny, attack, reverse offender and victim). If so, walk away. You cannot argue with someone who can only see life from their own perspective. Your soul and sanity will thank you.

Yes, we’re in the midst of a global reckoning that goes well beyond politics. Yes, I see the Epstein Class undergoing a Caligula-style collapse. (Though given our country’s treatment of crimes against women, my hunch is we’re looking at an Al Capone scenario — if you can’t get them on the major crimes, then get them on the financial ones.)

But as all this comes down, you can’t be selective by giving a pass to those whose theology and politics align with your worldview. And NO this is not a witch-hunt but rather a rising of all those voices that were told to “be nice.” Let’s drop the word “nice’ as this word is too often used to downplay cries for justice. Instead, let’s aim for “kind.”

Pro tip to any progressives (and yes I used to consider myself to be a progressive Episcopalian until I became an apophatic agnostic Anglican) … if you are critiquing the conservative/moderate evangelicals for their sexcapades as perps (or in this case enablers), please, please, please take a look at the specks in your own eyes.

Take the abuses within the Church of England that led to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s resignation (Bear this in mind as you wax over the historic installation of the first female Archbishop in the church’s history including her historic pilgrimage. Celebrate progress but not at the expense of erasing the past. Trust me, the abuses remain imprinted in the bodies of those impacted by pastoral peccadilloes.)

In a similar vein, for any progressive still supportive of ANYONE who made their mark via the US Emergent church, please know there’s a long history of both on and offline abuses within this network that includes some of your favorite icons.Think why you continue to buy their bunk instead of believing those detailing their unbiblical behaviors? (For a more detailed analysis here check out my Spiritual Narcissism Case Study: Unpacking Mars Hill Church’s Missional Madness (Parts 1–3).

It’s time now to pick your lane. Do you stand with those who chose to maintain the status quo by fiddling Nero-style as the world burns behind them? If so, enjoy the fireworks cause it’s this kinda faith is flaming out as we speak.

Or do you stand with survivors in the fight for a world led by those who can express empathy or compassion? This is where I see the real transformation happening — once we smash the false idols erected by spiritual narcissists, then we can see glomming within the broken shards glimpses of good (or god depending on your spiritual leanings.