Reality in Ruins: How Conspiracy Theory Became an Evangelical Crisis with Jared Stacy, PhD
Jun 17, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min · 12 segments
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MSEd, sits down with Jared Stacy, PhD, who is a theologian and ethicist. He is the author of "*Reality in Ruins: How Conspiracy Theory Became an Evangelical…
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MSEd, sits down with Jared Stacy, PhD, who is a theologian and ethicist. He is the author of "*Reality in Ruins: How Conspiracy Theory Became an Evangelical Crisis*." They sit down for a deeply personal and clinically resonant conversation about radicalization, religious trauma, coercive belonging, and the courage it takes to say "I don't know." Jared grew up inside fundamentalist evangelical Christianity, attended Liberty University, and was a pastor before a years-long crisis of faith led him to Scotland — and eventually back home. His book draws on that journey to examine how conspiratorial thinking takes root in high-control religious communities, and why belonging and certainty can be prioritized — fueling everything from QAnon to Christian nationalism to the weaponization of forgiveness in abusive church settings. If you've ever watched someone you love disappear into a belief system you don't recognize, this conversation is for you. Jared Stacy’s Links Website: https://jaredstacy.com/about/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Ruins-Conspiracy-American-Evangelical/dp/0063453754 Connect with us on social media: https://linktr.ee/indoctrination Support IndoctriNation on Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes and more: https://www.patreon.com/indoctrination Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link: https://www.paypal.biz/indoctriNATION Watch full video episodes of IndoctriNation here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAi0T2hzH9dM029dkTfj635PzuXl67jS Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation: https://a.co/d/1ssz4Rm Restart and Restore: Companion Notebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4 Download a Free Chapter from Restart and Restore: https://education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign Journal App: https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restore-journal-app.html Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here: https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html IndoctriNation is edited by The Podcast Consultant: https://thepodcastconsultant.com/about Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MSEd, sits down with Jared Stacy, PhD, who is a theologian and ethicist. He is the author of "*Reality in Ruins: How Conspiracy Theory Became an Evangelical…
