Show Notes
What happens after you leave church? How do you rebuild community after deconstruction without falling into another unhealthy system?
In this episode, I sit down with Kate Johnson for an honest conversation about deconstruction, religious trauma, church hurt, and rebuilding community after leaving high-control Christianity.
For many exvangelicals, church wasn't just a place to worship—it was your friendships, your identity, your purpose, your support system, and your sense of belonging. So when you leave, you're not just grieving your faith. You're grieving an entire way of life.
Together, we explore why loneliness is such a common part of deconstruction, how high-control churches become our "one-stop shop" for community, and what it actually looks like to build authentic, life-giving relationships rooted in freedom instead of obligation.
Whether you're navigating religious trauma recovery, healing from church hurt, or simply trying to figure out who you are after leaving evangelicalism, this conversation offers validation, practical ideas, and hope for creating a life that feels genuinely aligned.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why leaving church can feel so lonely The connection between religious trauma and isolation How high-control churches shape our understanding of community Why making friends after deconstruction can feel so difficult Practical ways to build authentic community after leaving church Creating belonging without sacrificing your individuality Healing from people-pleasing and finding relationships built on mutual respect
If you've ever searched for:
How do I make friends after leaving church? How do I heal from religious trauma? Why do I feel lonely after deconstruction? How do I find community after leaving evangelicalism?
…this episode is for you.
Come say hi to Allison Rose on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. And check out Kate Johnson's work at Instagram and Substack.
Keywords: deconstruction, religious trauma, exvangelical, church hurt, leaving church, high-control religion, spiritual abuse, purity culture, healing after church, rebuilding community, self-trust, authenticity, former Christian, evangelical deconstruction, religious trauma recovery.
More from The Recovering Radical
“I will never find it. It’s not here”
Just because you’re out of church doesn’t mean church is out of you.
What happens when purity culture doesn't just shame women—but also teaches men they're inherently dangerous?
“Women can be the most competent person in the room and still get told they’re not good enough to speak.”
Join Kate Johnson and Allison Rose as we discuss what it looks like to reconnect to the body after purity culture.