Foundations: Episode 3: Who Told You You Were Broken?

🎙️ Episode 3 — Who Told You You Were Broken?

Subtitle: Unlearning the Shame-Based Faith We Inherited

Episode Summary

What if the most damaging thing you ever believed… wasn’t about God, but about yourself?

In this episode of Real Without Religion, James Kiger takes a raw and liberating look at the shame-based programming so many of us grew up with. From the tearful altar calls to the idea that we’re all “wretches” who need saving, we explore how modern religion often hijacked our spiritual self-image—and how to finally reclaim it.

James unpacks how this message of brokenness wasn’t just a passing phrase—it became a business model. He shows how this mindset has shaped our sense of worth, our relationships, and even how we see the Divine. And he shares a fresh take on the Prodigal Son—a story that, at its core, is about being found, not about staying small.

What We’re Talking About

✅ Why “you’re broken” became the default setting—and how it was used to keep us small.

✅ How shame became a business model—and who really profits from it.

✅ The real message of the Prodigal Son—and why it’s about homecoming, not guilt.

✅ Why your life can’t rise higher than your self-image—and how to change that.

✅ What it means to reprogram your mind—instead of just managing your sin.

Quotes from the Episode

“The most damaging belief isn’t about God. It’s about you.”

“Shame was sold as humility—but it was never yours to carry.”

“You’re not here to manage sin. You’re here to remember who you really are.”

🌀 Reflection Prompt

Who told you you were broken? And what if they were wrong? What would your life look like if you believed you were already whole?

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Links & Resources

🔗 Resources Page: https://www.faststart2college.com/RWRResources

🔗 Website: www.realwithoutreligion.com

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Final Thought

You’re not here to keep rehearsing the story of your brokenness. You’re here to remember the truth: you were never broken to begin with. This week, notice the ways you were taught to stay small—and start asking who benefits when you forget how whole you really are.