Religious Trauma & the Mental Health Impact of Evangelical Christianity's Total Depravity Doctrine

For 15 years I was an evangelical pastor. Before that, I was the kid sitting in church pews, youth groups, Bible college classrooms, and sermons hearing the same message over and over: You are sinful. You are broken. There is nothing good in you apart from God. This video isn’t about attacking people of faith. It isn’t about mocking Christianity. It is about talking honestly about what those teachings did to my mental health and self-worth. I dive into ideas like original sin, total depravity, and why constantly believing you’re fundamentally broken can leave scars that last long after you’ve left church. I also talk about the young people I knew who struggled because they were told parts of who they were were unacceptable, and why I now believe every person deserves dignity, worth, and respect. If you’ve experienced religious trauma, deconstruction, or you’ve ever wondered why you never felt “good enough,” I hope this conversation reminds you that your value isn’t determined by shame. If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Please be respectful of one another. I know people watching will come from many different beliefs, and I want this to be a place for honest, compassionate conversation. Subscribe for more conversations about: * Mental health * Faith deconstruction * Religious trauma * Public lands * Hiking * Finding hope after difficult seasons