Not only was I taught everything I ever needed for my faith in Christ could be found in that aisle but later, sadly, that was what I went on to teach others. 4K Followers. Its got a destination. We were in conversation. I have read and listened to many atheists over the years who have explained why they didnt believe, but what made Rhett and Links (anti) testimonies so disheartening is the fact that they use much of the same vocabulary to describe their faith as I do. Rather, he foretold, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think, pointing to Aldous Huxleys satirical Brave New World. To lose that community is a pretty scary thought. However, when they got to the point where they turned the corner away from the God of the Bible, our paths split and my heart broke. Childers has recently become the go to apologist for Evangelicals who go astray having flirted with deconstruction herself but then (whew) successfully managed to pull herself back from the postmodern abyss. you? But the same timeworn skepticism the church has interacted with since its inception is given a fresh dose of potency when delivered to a whole new generation by cool and funny guys whove become a fixture of their childhood. At this point in his story, Rhett uses some of the exact same language I use when trying to explain what its like trying to look at the world through a completely different lensjust to see if things look any clearer. But it wouldnt have shaken. And, in reality, hes not living that way either. These apostles of unbelief are on a mission to help others deconstruct with the same evangelistic zeal they learned from their previous tribe. But it wouldnt have shaken my own faith. Apologetics books arent written for the lost, theyre written for the saved. They exist to collect dust on the shelves of believers who will now sleep better knowing that someone took the time to think through all that stuff long enough to get it down into print. Only the dates and names were changed. 2 2.The REAL Reason Why Rhett and Link Fell Away from Christianity; 3 3.Rhett Bought a Bible - Rhett's Deconstruction 2 Years Later - YouTube; 4 4.Let's Deconstruct a Deconversion Story: The Case of Rhett and Link; 5 5.Why Rhett and Link Broke Up with Jesus | Neil Carter - Patheos; 6 6.Why Rhett & Link's Deconversion Feels So Right . admit in the podcast that moving to L.A. did free them of some constraints that Maybe the whole deconversion narrative is due for a bit of deconstruction. With guest appearances on, their stars have been rising for the past few years, swelling their net worth to an estimated $23 million. The stir online is probably exhausting. That the simple childlike answers of your youth which at one time gave such clarity and certainty no longer sufficed. I hope in the future they will explore that question a bit more, as well as their differing orientations toward hopefulness for the future of our species. The youth-group kids left flustered and agitated by doubt mightve been entirely unperturbed had they heard those arguments from another source. In fact, he said that he jumped out of the Christian ship, but not into another ship, per se, but into an ocean of uncertainty more on that later. He firsttells the story of how during college he fell in with a crowd of Young Earth Creationists who maintained that the universe is only 6,000-10,000 years old, give or takea perspective he would adopt for many years to come. Our media fueled siloed communities dividing us in politics, religion, race, culture, and various interests meant I was totally oblivious to Rhett & Link despite their being YouTube comedy sensations with nearly 17 million subscribers. Its okay to have doubts. Are you sure about that? Their shift away from Christianity, though, raises quite a few red flags, especially given so much of it seems to hinge on their own experiences and desire to embrace the LGBTQ community. Postman posited that in the future, we would be oppressed not by an outside force like Big Brother in George Orwells dystopian novel1984. They began their career as engineers and ended up in the field of comedy. Indeed they become: From the short exposure Ive had to the spiritual journey of Rhett and Link it seems they will produce even more love, joy, peace, gentleness, and kindness that Jesus says will come from those who are following him. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:1416 that through his missionary work, Christ spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of himself. I want to hear MUCH MORE about this from Link and Rhett. Their response has been very interesting; they have lamented this by retorting something like . The comment sections of their Reddit, Facebook, and YouTube pages reveal that their stories inspired many atheists and touched the hearts of some folks who experienced similar deconversion journeys, describing the videos as beautiful, candid, and vulnerable.. And, every time Rhett said, I know you are going to say _____________, I was thinking, Yeah, thats exactly what Id say.. So you "offline mode" it. It only even pretends to talk about how stuff became other stuff. When Rhett says hes read all the Ravi Zacharias books and found them uncompelling, the church kid probably wont even bother with more than 30 books, containing decades worth of complex and carefully thought-out arguments that have been tested by time, debate, and rigorous scholarship. I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. more Christ-like now that they no longer see themselves as Christians. Most of my life I saw the one or two aisles of Evangelical / Charismatic Christianity I was raised with as the totality of the whole store. For those who don't know, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal are a musical comedy duo who have built their YouTube show Good Mythical Morning into one of the biggest shows on the channel, with over 17 million subscribers. Postman posited that in the future, we would be oppressed not by an outside force like Big Brother in George Orwells dystopian novel, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think,, He predicted that with the rise of technology and communication, people wouldnt be deprived of information, but rather they would be given, that they would become passive and egocentric. Well, first off, lets look at their deconstruction and see if they went wrong anywhere (Spoiler Alert: I think they went wrong right out of the gate). On Feb. 22, the Rhett & Link's Mythical Entertainment agreed to buy Smosh in a deal that would unite two long-running YouTube channels. How can two guys who make a living as YouTube personalities go from making possum corndogs one day to throwing 2,000 years of Christian history under the bus the next? I wont rehash all the arguments on which he touched (thats your own homework to do if youre interested), but in the end Rhett settled for himself that the gospels are a mix of religious propaganda as well as actual history. Like me, he leans toward believing that Jesus was a real person, even if he didnt do magic or come back from the dead. When he identified as a Christian he said that he had to have certainty, but now he is fine not having certainty. .Both said they are no longer evangelical Christians with Rhett saying he would call himself "a hopeful agnostic" and Link saying he would call himself "an agnostic who wants to be hopeful". Of course, I had never looked at the evidence for evolution. Contents 1 The Early Years 2 Career 3 Personal Life 4 Kids 5 Appearances 6 What Link Neal Doesn't Like 7 What Link Neal Does Like 8 Trivia 9 References When I was 11, I only had the opportunity to see Ricky Schroder once a week. First, I am right in the middle of teaching an Apologetics course for the Snowbird Institute, so my mind is already focused on reasons to believe in God. They offer videos that present everything from video-game hacks to make-up tutorials to opinions about political and religious issues. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they became convinced that Christianity is true as they gazed deeply at Christs beauty. Maybe youre just checking to make sure a bolt of lightning wont immediately strike you the moment you do. This brings us to the salient question. The two men, known for their daily Good Mythical Morningbroadcast, have, over the last few years, gone through what they have described as their spiritual deconstruction[s]. After having spent years in young adult ministry, Rhett and Link now call themselves hopeful agnostics.. Norman C. Nevin, Theistic Evolution Edited by J.P. Moreland, Stephen C. Meyer, Ann K. Gauger, Wayne Grudem, & Christopher Shaw. Yes, there is certainly a degree to which Rhett and Link's typical YEC background left them ill-prepared to think carefully about evolutionary arguments, setting them up for anger and. I often joke that most of the people I It is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles. This led to him jumping ship. What about the rest of the world? Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. To some, it smells like beauty and life; to others, it smells like death. And thats where Ive lived for about six years. Christians today must be ready to provide a compelling defense for Christand even. If youre new to Godless In Dixie, be sure to check out The Beginners Guide for 200+ links categorized topically on a single page. While Rhett and Link spend some time talking about their post-Christian lives in the deconstruction episodes, they devote the lion's share of the time to looking back on the life and belief. Could it be that the cultural influences driving these deconstruction stories needs to be re-examined, rather than Christianity itself? I love it. So Rhett got hung up on the way that one pair of chromosomes looks (okay?. News flash, these are all grounded in the Christian worldview that he is trying so hard to distance himself from. What about the beginning? And it gives you community. the opposite is often true. Is Apologetics Helpful or Necessary in Evangelism? Which means the history matters. I quickly downloaded and submerged myself into Rhett and Links respective stories (which you can also see on YouTube here and here). We have to understand were not the first people to grapple with these sorts of questions, said Andros, noting Ecclesiastes 1:9, which says, There is nothing new under the sun., In one interview, Rhett argued that, if Christianity is true, it should be able to withstand investigation and inquiry.. And the question that Ive gotten from some people who are close to me, who love me. Get your FREE eBook about deconstruction: 'Before You Lose Your Faith'. Rhett & Link preempt their critics But I dont think its the actual, people have found so persuasive. YouTube is putting $ behind branding Rhett and Link as talk show hosts. Gone with the Wind as Bildungsroman or Why Did Rhett Butler Really Leave Scarlett O'Hara? feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Why ban a Tim Keller or Ravi Zacharias book when you can create a community in which no one will want to read one? This implies that they are, in fact, deceiving people. Theres a lot of other people on it. their home town version of Christianity placed on them. It would appear that despite how destabilizing and difficult their deconstruction processes were, they no longer, The sad reality is that, for the deconverted, disbelief isnt sufficient. And you think Los Angeles stretched This is something Jesus himself said would happenand it will continue to happen until he returns (Matt. Welcome to Ohio. We homeschool because the public education system is a liberal conspiracy to brainwash children into believing things like global warning is real. One of the metaphors I like to use for my own personal spiritual deconstruction and reconstruction is that of a supermarket. I dont know. Rhett and Link's collective spiritual deconstruction isn't ultimately a deconstruction of the Christian faith but of Christian subculture. He even says that he understands the argument that you cant have a moral law without a moral law Giver But then he says, that he just doesnt know. I cant help but notice the similarities. Would Jack Black and Daniel Radcliffe guest star on their YouTube channel if they held to the biblical doctrine of marriage and homosexuality? And we as Christians shouldnt be surprised when this happens. He further likens the endogenous retroviruses shared between humans and other ape descendants to a coffee stain that shows up in later versions of a manual, demonstrating an earlier common ancestor who must have experienced the original mutation/stain. Its stable. I couldnt check his Instagram for updates every hour or tweet at him with the real possibility he might tweet back. Christy Neal: Link's wife. Rhett led off with his intellectual doubts and Link countered with an emotional appeal. Rhett was careful to say he doesnt think these apologists are intentionally deceiving anyone. Role. Demas traded eternal hope for earthly treasure. Try the whole world. Would. Do you think you know more than all these other brilliant people before you? Of course that knife cuts both ways, although the people who say this never do see how it should undermine their own confidence, as well. In fact, at the conclusion of Links talk, they both indicated theyll be setting this whole topic aside for a while in order to get their bearings. Why were so many people rattled and even persuaded by them? Goins-Phillips, in response, pointed out that Christianity has been around for 2,000 years and remains the worlds largest religion, so it has withstood challenges and investigations. This was so convenient because the gift card is digital and gets sent right to your email! They were also Christians, former missionaries, and Campus Crusade (now, When they each recorded videos walking fans through their spiritual-deconstruction stories in February, it shot through the internet like a bolt of lightning. As part of their healing process, they are all told to declare to the world their reasons for why being a Christian is wrong. Cotton Candy Randy is known to whisper "sweet nothings" in people's ears, but in Rhett's house, where he had a fan going in his room as . Through the deal, Mythical has expanded its busine He was the only one for me. Im reasonably certain that you dont burn in hell because you were intellectual curious and honest. Ill confess I havent watched a ton of their stuff, but thats mostly because I dont watch much YouTube at all. They already know people are saying one of them led the other astray, as if we arentall being influenced by one person or another at any given time. Christy White is the wife of Charles Lincoln Neal III, the bespectacled half of the internet-famous duo, Rhett & Link on Good Mythical Morning their famous YouTube comedy. He was basically telling MY story, along with the stories of a hundred people I know who went through the same thought processes and the same emotional struggles. These discoveries challenged the underpinnings of his whole theological system, but like all of us he was encouraged to press on through with his questions without fear because: All truth is Gods truth. The stories themselves werent so different from others that have lit up social media over the past few years. How is my marriage going to stay together? As an apologist, my knee-jerk reaction was also to grab my computer and start typing refutations with the force of a thousand suns. Rhett and Link have grown their brand performing hilarious satirical songs and engaging in zany stunts such as duct-taping themselves together, playing wedgie-hangman, crushing glow sticks in a meat-grinder, and flinging bags of dog feces at one anothers faces. Thats worse than a house of cards. Our cultural moment is a cauldron of information and celebrity worship in which the cult of personality can ferment and grow. Thats humanism in a nutshell, and I feel the same way. The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics helps Christians show unbelievers the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gospel as the only hope that fulfills our deepest longings. (Hold up, before anyone gets upset because I called Rhett and Link non-Christians, and am therefore judging them, these are their words. Theres a good chance the Christian kid who looks up to Rhett (and probably doesnt ever crack open his Bible) will never read those authors now. Can nothing make something? This is the effect the gospel has, and we should expect these types of reactions. This week, Faithwire managing editor Dan Andros discussed some of those concerns with editor Tr Goins-Phillips. Giza Theme by Pixel Object, G.O.P. I'm not saying that Rhett and Link walking away from the faith isn't a big deal . For example, in 2016, they worked on a scripted television show called Rhett & Link's Buddy System that saw the pair act in a bid to entertain their viewers. To paraphrase: Mammy sits by the door and hears nothing, only a low humming sound--Melanie convincing Rhett to bury Bonnie. As an evangelical Christian, you learn to tackle controversial subjects by reading only books by other evangelicals as they talk through their own rationalizations for their beliefs. 4:10). They both felt a deep discomfort with biblical sexual ethics, which they perceived to oppress women and their LGBTQ+ friends. Therefore, we also explored this topic f. Rhett led off with his intellectual doubts and Link countered with an emotional appeal. These apostles of unbelief are on a mission to help others deconstruct with the same evangelistic zeal they learned from their previous tribe. So to Rhett and Link I say enjoy the journey and keep bringing Life and Light to those around you!Peace, Steve, this resonates so much with me, Thanks , 2023 Beyond The Pale. I read books about it by people who didnt believe in it. (Tim Challies reviewed the book once upon a time.) be One in Christ. Receive weekly updates about fresh articles, videos, and audios, as well as new resources, special discounts, and upcoming events. I was amazed at the providential coincidences that converged for me, personally, when I listened to these testimonies last week. As any parent will attest teenagers are difficult, children are much easier to control. . Take Rhett, for example. The lesson we can learn from the Rhett and Link story is to observe the power of the media platform, recognize the roadblocks of the new apostles of unbelief, and keep a humble eye to history, remembering that our Savior told us some would fall away. While their degrees and first jobs were in engineering, funny video production ultimately became their claim to fame. ", "Until we meet againhttps://www.youtube.com/wat". And deal with them now, but dont exchange Christianity with doubts for an empty belief system made solely of doubts. God draws people to Jesus, He saves them, and He doesnt lose any of them. At some level, my therapist knew what everyone in his position knows: Once you start seriously considering the unthinkable about your faith, so many scary questions begin to plague you that it keeps you up at night. Listening to both Rhetts and Links stories, you can feel how much pushback they anticipate encountering from people who love them. Before this week I did not, and now that I think about it, it explains A LOT. Overtime these add on requirements of belief become so ingrained with ones Christian faith that when you begin to question them your whole Christian identity feels under threat. I Work for a Pastor with Low Emotional Intelligence, Split or Stay? It still provides the stability and the community on which peoples lives depend. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Why ban a Tim Keller or Ravi Zacharias book when you can create a community in which no one will want to read one? But heres the thing; spiritual deconstruction is in many ways just spiritual puberty. Rhett and Link Controversy and Deconstruction Over the years, we learned that YouTubers Rhett and Link had been on staff with Cru, served as missionaries, led Bible studies, and worked with campus ministries. My heart is breaking and my head is spinning in light of the so-called deconstruction of Rhett and Links faith. It would appear that despite how destabilizing and difficult their deconstruction processes were, they no longer wanted Christianity to be true. A Christians Response to the Deconstructed Faith of YouTubers Rhett and Link. In Rhett & Links deconstruction they frequently site their growing struggles with reconciling these add on requirements with the reality of science, morality, and basic common sense. The younger generation is even more open about questioning their faith and leaving Christianity behind. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Ill leave you with Rhetts self-description, since it seems a good place to stop: I would call myself a hopeful agnostic. He says that he wants to raise his kids to believe in right and wrong, but he doesnt have a standard for it. For Rhett, it started with questions relating to science, the age of the earth, and evolution. We still believe the truth and the opinion of two YouTube comedians cannot change that. Church is much more varied and diverse than you can imagine yet can all still Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day. Mythical, founded by Rhett & Link, creates entertainment, products, and experiences that inspire human connection through curiosity and comedy. Their LGBTQ+ friends deceiving people despite how destabilizing and difficult their deconstruction processes were they!, rather than Christianity itself comedians can not change that to some, it smells death. Light of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the knowledge of himself, videos, and,. 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