About The Apostate
"Finding myself outside of God was a challenge, but ultimately the most rewarding experience of my life. Only armed with ample evidence did I feel safe to discard the theology that has been tweaked through time to terrify just right. I invite you to deconstruct with me."
CASSANDRA BRANDT is a certified religious trauma coach, a scholar with a background in Sociology, an apostate of Evangelicalism and author of A Backslider’s Guide to Getting Over God: Journey of an Evangelical Apostate.
Raised in the Assembly of God- product of small-town charismatic Pentecostal pastors, Jesus Camp, tent revivals and a rod not spared, Cassandra began her deconstruction journey at age 22.
Reading the gnostics, the biblical scholars and the mythicists, and exploring formerly taboo science and history, afforded her an intellectual deconstruction.
Healing the emotional scars required more literature: psychology. Identifying the source of her own emotional disorders allowed her to work toward healing.
Religious Trauma Coaching Services
Do you have religious trauma? Exchange emails with someone who understands. Cassandra Brandt is certified in religious trauma studies.
At her LLC, Iron Minds, she offers a 12 step resilience program for survivors of trauma. Cassandra uses a unique blend of cognitive behavioral therapy strategies and ancient Stoic philosophy. If you are interested in corresponding, Cassandra offers free connection for survivors of religious trauma. Just send an email to ironmindsmentoring@gmail.com
A BACKSLIDERS GUIDE to GETTING OVER GOD
To those outside fundamentalism, A Backslider’s Guide presents a researched insider’s point of view of fundamentalist indoctrination. To fellow apostates, this book offers solidarity in sharing its psychological scars, and for those deconstructing, provides powerful arguments and compelling research that challenges the evangelical doctrine that teaches hate, fear and shame and calls it love.
Cassandra Brandt grew up in the Assembly of God, product of small-town charismatic Pentecostal pastors, terrifying televangelists and a rod not spared. Evangelist apologist in youth, tormented by doubt and shamed by purity culture, she recounts living in fear of the Rapture around Y2K.
Her journey from faith began with growing intrigue in the natural world, gnawing need to understand history, and disenchantment with the doctrine and dogma- compounded by cognitive dissonance and the pull of her heart toward a secular morality.
This book invites you along for the journey. Deconstruct scripture and evangelical eschatology through the work of biblical scholars, historians and mythologists- taboo literature essential for intellectual honesty. Explore alternative philosophies, universal ethics and religious trauma and its aftermath.
The book is free on Kindle Unlimited and there's also a version available on Audible.