Episode 57: The Downfall of the Mars Hill Church

Mars Hill was a Seattle-based church led by Mark Driscoll- a beloved, endearing, powerful presence in the evangelical Christian community. He built Mars Hill into one of the fastest-growing churches in the nation, with close to 15,000 attendees and an additional 260,000 viewers tuning in online every week. But behind the perfect persona, was a twisted reality waiting to be uncovered. What was revealed in its final days was a trail of abuse, fraud, intimidation, sexism, and a fall from grace that would make it one of the most spectacular collapses in Christianity today.

Listen to Episode 57 of The Great Fail to hear the full story. Special thanks to Adweek and Acast and Professor Jeremy Cohen for contributing to this episode.

Mars Hill Sources

'The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill': The abuses of a superstar pastor and megachurch ruins left behind

Lawsuit: Controversial Pastor Ran Mars Hill Megachurch Like a Crime Syndicate

WHO KILLED MARS HILL CHURCH? THERE’S ONE SUSPECT EVANGELICALS SIMPLY AREN’T PREPARED TO INTERROGATE

How a Megachurch Melts Down

Wikipedia: Mars Hill Church

Megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll was an evangelical rock star. Here's how he fell from grace.

Wikipedia: Mark Driscoll

Special Guest: Jeremy Cohen, Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, McMaster University

Jeremy Cohen is an anthropologist of religion and an Assistant Professor at McMaster University in the Department of Religious Studies, where he teaches courses on topics ranging from cults and conspiracy theories to death and dying, and the occult. His research examines new religious movements seeking radical longevity and immortality, and the intersections of science, technology, and religion.

Jeremy has written for the Globe and Mail, The Conversation, and the Hamilton Spectator, and has been featured in the NY Post, Coast to Coast AM Radio, and Inverse Magazine. He is also the co-founder and co-editor of the death and dying resource, TalkDeath.com.

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