Journalist and author Sarah Stankorb joined Bell on stage for a live recording of the show to discuss her upcoming book, “Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion.” She’s credited with bringing national attention to Wilson’s movement through her 2021 Vice article detailing allegations of abuse within the church community.
During the live recording portion, Stankorb discussed research showing that abuse — spiritual, physical and sexual — is one of the main reasons women leave churches.
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“Patriarchy isn’t new,” she said, noting common themes across different faith communities in her research.
After the live podcast recording, audience members lined up to share personal stories and ask questions about combating Christian nationalism while maintaining community relationships.
Moscow City Councilor Julia Parker was first to speak, asking how to “be a good, welcoming, kind community” while fighting “this Christian nationalist church.”
“We want to have respect for our neighbors at the same time we want to fight this,” Parker said, describing a dilemma she said many Moscow residents who are concerned about Christ Church’s influence face.
Stankorb encouraged organization and self-care, citing examples of communities that successfully countered organized minority groups through larger, civil responses.
Several attendees asked for advice on talking with Christ Church neighbors in helpful, loving ways, especially those who are considering leaving but who might feel scared.
Multiple speakers addressed from stage the isolation experienced by those questioning or leaving patriarchal faith communities.
“When you don’t fit, and then when you leave, it’s really pretty lonely,” Stankorb said, discussing research showing the comprehensive nature of loss when leaving close-knit religious communities.
One attendee who traveled from outside the area described feeling “virtually alone” in questioning her conservative evangelical background and expressed gratitude at seeing “so many people actually talking about stuff that’s been in my head for so long.”
The evening addressed tensions between political conservatives and progressives in addressing issues around Christ Church.
One attendee identified herself as a conservative Republican who works with other churches, saying she found herself in an awkward position during the last election when she saw “the voting bloc of Christ Church walk in to vote together.”
Bell thanked both conservatives and progressives in the audience for not “booing” each other, noting that Christ Church grows when “there’s Christ Church and there’s everybody else, and they fight against each other.”
“Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal, progressive, Black, white, whatever it is, this is why you guys can get together,” Bell said.
Stankorb emphasized finding common ground.
“Maybe we’re not agreeing on policy positions, but I want to believe there’s some core thing that binds us together, whether that’s our sense of rights or liberty or human freedom,” she said.
Wilson’s agreement to appear on the show marks a departure from his typical response to critics. When approached by reporters about “Sons of Patriarchy,” he has previously replied by referencing a letter from his attorneys. In other venues, he has dismissed the podcast’s claims as recycled defamation or slander.
“I have had an open invite to Doug to talk, and he has maintained silence,” Bell said during the event. “He does not want to talk.”
Wilson did not respond to a request for comment for this article.
The “Sons of Patriarchy” team announced plans to return to Moscow.
“This is not the only visit. We want to make this as much of a regular thing as we can,” said Bell, who is based in Georgia.
He also encouraged attendees to wear “Disobedient Women” T-shirts around Moscow throughout the Grace Agenda weekend, which continued Saturday. Half the proceeds from sale of the shirts will support Outreach Idaho.
The event concluded with Bell emphasizing the group’s role as a resource for those seeking help.
”We may not have resources, but we have people who can talk to you, who can help you. If you want to tell your story, we can point you to people who can help,” he said.
This article originally appeared here.
