Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Today I spoke with C.J. Cornthwaite, who placed his faith in Jesus as a child but ultimately deconverted as the truth claims of Christianity fell apart.
We touched on many topics, including:
• Growing up assuming Christianity was the default and everyone else was just missing it.
• Entering seminary thinking his version of the faith was the correct one.
• Realizing the Judas stories don’t line up and there’s no honest way to fix it.
• Realizing other Christians didn’t even agree on core doctrines he thought were settled.
• Noticing that his confidence came from repetition, not evidence.
• Losing the idea of an afterlife and lying awake thinking, “What if this is it?”
• Seeing human history and evolution stretch far past the biblical timeline he was given.
• Feeling his worldview crack when he saw problems in the text he couldn’t just explain away.
• Recognizing that the belief system was inherited, not discovered.
• Letting go of the fear that morality would collapse without a god.
• Coming to see religion as something humans build, not something handed down from above.
• Reclaiming his identity post-deconversion, while still appreciating academic aspects of the Bible and the origins of Christianity.
Many thanks to C.J. for sharing his story!
_________________________________________
Connect with C.J.!
cjcornthwaite.com
Podcast:
footnotefamous.com
YouTube:
@cjcornthwaite
IG: @cjcornthwaite
open.spotify.com/show/4lSzQzT052BhIjkwMqday5
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/footnote-famous/id1832009702
_________________________________________
Your support for my channel, Harmonic Atheist, is very needed and appreciated!
One-time donations:
PayPal: paypal.me/harmonictim
Venmo: @harmonicatheist
CashApp: $HarmonicAtheist
GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/help-tim-stay-full-time-on-harmonic-atheist
Monthly donations:
patreon.com/harmonicatheist
You can also "Join" the Harmonic Atheist YT channel to get access to perks, which will be coming soon:
youtube.com/channel/UCrPKXNg9PAL6bROvsaUFvAA/join
Thanks!
--Tim
_________________________________________
Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: streamyard.com/pal/d/4917726076600320
(FYI - using that link does help support me )
_________________________________________
If you are facing emotional distress, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
_________________________________________
Ending music by Kazuya / Eyal Raz, "Friends"
artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/friends/2825
youtube.com/watch?v=4qbqNO6DdAQ
_________________________________________
Description:
In this powerful interview, Dr. C.J. Cornthwaite shares how deep study of biblical scholarship completely unraveled his evangelical faith. From life as a youth pastor and Christian musician to earning advanced degrees in theology and Christian origins, C.J. describes the moment he realized the Bible wasn’t what he’d been taught—and how that discovery transformed everything. Join us for an honest, insightful, and moving conversation about faith, doubt, and the courage to follow truth wherever it leads.
Keywords (SEO): deconversion story, biblical scholarship, evangelical deconstruction, leaving Christianity, faith crisis, atheist journey, exvangelical interview, religious trauma, Christian origins, deconstructing faith, seminary deconstruction, Harmonic Atheist
Today I spoke with C.J. Cornthwaite, who placed his faith in Jesus as a child but ultimately deconverted as the truth claims of Christianity fell apart.
We touched on many topics, including:
• Growing up assuming Christianity was the default and everyone else was just missing it.
• Entering seminary thinking his version of the faith was the correct one.
• Realizing the Judas stories don’t line up and there’s no honest way to fix it.
• Realizing other Christians didn’t even agree on core doctrines he thought were settled.
• Noticing that his confidence came from repetition, not evidence.
• Losing the idea of an afterlife and lying awake thinking, “What if this is it?”
• Seeing human history and evolution stretch far past the biblical timeline he was given.
• Feeling his worldview crack when he saw problems in the text he couldn’t just explain away.
• Recognizing that the belief system was inherited, not discovered.
• Letting go of the fear that morality would collapse without a god.
• Coming to see religion as something humans build, not something handed down from above.
• Reclaiming his identity post-deconversion, while still appreciating academic aspects of the Bible and the origins of Christianity.
Many thanks to C.J. for sharing his story!
_________________________________________
Connect with C.J.!
cjcornthwaite.com
Podcast:
footnotefamous.com
YouTube:
@cjcornthwaite
IG: @cjcornthwaite
open.spotify.com/show/4lSzQzT052BhIjkwMqday5
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/footnote-famous/id1832009702
_________________________________________
Your support for my channel, Harmonic Atheist, is very needed and appreciated!
One-time donations:
PayPal: paypal.me/harmonictim
Venmo: @harmonicatheist
CashApp: $HarmonicAtheist
GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/help-tim-stay-full-time-on-harmonic-atheist
Monthly donations:
patreon.com/harmonicatheist
You can also "Join" the Harmonic Atheist YT channel to get access to perks, which will be coming soon:
youtube.com/channel/UCrPKXNg9PAL6bROvsaUFvAA/join
Thanks!
--Tim
_________________________________________
Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: streamyard.com/pal/d/4917726076600320
(FYI - using that link does help support me )
_________________________________________
If you are facing emotional distress, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
_________________________________________
Ending music by Kazuya / Eyal Raz, "Friends"
artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/friends/2825
youtube.com/watch?v=4qbqNO6DdAQ
_________________________________________
Description:
In this powerful interview, Dr. C.J. Cornthwaite shares how deep study of biblical scholarship completely unraveled his evangelical faith. From life as a youth pastor and Christian musician to earning advanced degrees in theology and Christian origins, C.J. describes the moment he realized the Bible wasn’t what he’d been taught—and how that discovery transformed everything. Join us for an honest, insightful, and moving conversation about faith, doubt, and the courage to follow truth wherever it leads.
Keywords (SEO): deconversion story, biblical scholarship, evangelical deconstruction, leaving Christianity, faith crisis, atheist journey, exvangelical interview, religious trauma, Christian origins, deconstructing faith, seminary deconstruction, Harmonic Atheist
