Hell, Whiteness, and the Myth of Punishment: A Conversation with Tamice Spencer-Helms & Brian Recker

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Right There With You

Cass Cooper, Ciarra Jones

18 episodes

2 days ago

A podcast community showcasing the human experience, emphasizing the extraordinary strength we find within ourselves during the journey we call life. We are dedicated to questioning conventional wisdom, reevaluating beliefs, and fostering interpersonal connections. We believe in the power of experiences to shape, inspire, and transform. This is an engaging space where we share stories of discovery with passion and delve deeply into the profound and transformative power of personal experiences. Our goal is to emphasize the value of questioning what we think we know and celebrating the resilience and strength that emerge from our unique journeys while continuously inspiring the exploration and reevaluation of what we think we know. Hosted by Cass Cooper, The Chaos Whisperer, and Ciarra Jones, The Gardening Theologian. Find Us On: ✨ Patreon: patreon.com/thecommunitygarden ✨ Cass: iamcasscooper.com | www.TikTok.com/just_cass2.0 ✨ Ciarra: ciarajonesconsulting.com | www.TikTok.com/thegardeningtheologian

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Hell, Whiteness, and the Myth of Punishment: A Conversation with Tamice Spencer-Helms & Brian Recker

Right There With You

50 minutes 58 seconds

1 month ago

Hell, Whiteness, and the Myth of Punishment: A Conversation with Tamice Spencer-Helms & Brian Recker

What if God was never a punisher—and hell was never the point?

In this powerful episode of Right There With You, hosts Cass Cooper and Ciarra Jones sit down with public theologians Tamice Spencer-Helms (Faith Unleavened) and Brian Recker (Hell Bent) to explore how fear, whiteness, and Christian supremacy have shaped American Christianity and the spiritual lives of millions.

Together, they unpack:

How hell theology produces fear, shame, and control
Why a punitive view of God leads to a punitive society
The role of whiteness in shaping Christian identity, belonging, and power
What it means to be Black, queer, and spiritually rooted outside colonized faith
How to heal from religious trauma and rebuild spirituality in love
Why restorative justice aligns more with Jesus than fear-based salvation
The wilderness between Trayvon Martin and George Floyd—and what liberation looks like after loss

This conversation is tender, challenging, funny, and liberating. It’s for anyone navigating deconstruction, exvangelical healing, racial justice, queerness, parenting, divorce, co-parenting, or redefining their relationship to God.

If you’ve ever feared hell, questioned God’s love, or felt pushed out of church spaces—you’re right there with us.

Featured Guests

Tamice Spencer-Helms

Author of Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd
Founder, theologian, cultural critic, and co-creator of The Ember Gathering, a post-evangelical liberation event.

Brian Recker

Author of Hell Bent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love
Former evangelical pastor, restorative justice advocate, and co-founder of The Ember Gathering.

🌿 Find Cass & Ciarra Online
✨ Instagram: @RightThereWithYouPod
✨ Patreon: patreon.com/thecommunitygarden
✨ Cass: iamcasscooper.com | TikTok @just_cass2.0
✨ Ciarra: ciarajonesconsulting.com | TikTok @thegardeningtheologian