Episode 205: Cale Strong | When Love Felt Like Judgment: My Painful Journey Leaving the LDS Church

Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else is listening, welcome back to the show. CONTENT WARNING - The opinions of the host and our guests have not been sanitized or scientifically tested so please consume at your own risk. What happens when someone raised to believe they have all the answers discovers they're no longer sure of the questions? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation, Cale Strong, shares the story behind one of the most difficult decisions of his life, walking away from the LDS Church only days after entering the Missionary Training Center. While many know his story through his father, Jeff Strong's book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them, this episode gives Cale the opportunity to tell his own story in his own words. Rather than attacking faith or defending disbelief, Cale explores the emotional, relational, and cultural realities that often accompany faith transitions. He reflects on feeling unheard, the unintended harm that can come from trying to "fix" people, and the difference between loving someone as they are versus seeing them as a project. Together, Brian and Cale discuss family relationships, missionary culture, agency, judgment, belonging, and what genuine Christlike compassion can or should look like, even when people reach very different conclusions. Whether you're firmly rooted in your faith, wrestling with difficult questions, or trying to better understand someone you love, this conversation offers an invitation to replace assumptions with curiosity and fear with empathy. CONTACT CALE Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cale_strong_music/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cale.strong Email - cale.strong@gmail.com JEFF STRONG - TORN BOOK Website - https://www.tornbyjeffstrong.com/ #ParrishTheThoughtPodcast #FaithJourney #FaithTransition #HumanConnection #ChooseCuriosity #LeadWithLove  #LDS #MeaningfulConversations #TornBook #JeffStrong #CaleStrong #LoveThyNeighbor