PODLY WOMEN: Is Witchcraft Really Dangerous?

Is everything Christians call “occult” actually dangerous? For generations, Adventists have been warned against practices associated with witchcraft, spiritualism, and the supernatural. Tarot cards, astrology, séances, crystals, yoga, meditation, and even Halloween costumes have all raised concerns about inviting dark spiritual forces into our lives. But where do these warnings come from? And are they always justified? In this special Halloween episode, Trudy Morgan-Cole takes over as host for a conversation with Natalie Bruzon and Sofia Lindgren about Christianity's relationship with practices traditionally labeled pagan, occult, or New Age. Drawing on their different experiences growing up Adventist, the Podly Women revisit childhood Halloween traditions, the influence of the Satanic Panic, and the complicated line between religious conviction and fear of the unfamiliar. From Sofia's affection for astrology and crystals to Natalie's more cautious approach to the supernatural, the panelists explore why people turn to alternative spiritual practices, whether these practices can coexist with Christian faith, and what it means to respect beliefs we don't necessarily share. Are Christians sometimes too quick to label unfamiliar spiritual traditions as evil? How do we distinguish genuine spiritual concerns from cultural prejudice? And could curiosity, humility, and empathy offer a better response than fear? Resources: Read Trudy’s article “Which Craft? Non-Patriarchal Spiritual Practices for the Modern Woman (And Man)” in SPECTRUM. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at [email protected].

Episode 9 explores apocalyptic theology as an unveiling of what is happening beneath the surface of history and asks how Adventists can read Daniel, Revelation, and other apocalyptic writings in Scripture with moral seriousness beyond calculating end-time dates.

When does staying informed become watching someone else’s suffering for entertainment? A news story leads us to a court video, then to reaction posts, comment sections, and strangers’ theories about what really happened. Reality television invites us into people’s relationships and crises. But what happens when our curiosity becomes a sense of entitlement to someone else’s entire story? In this conversation, the Podly Women examine their own viewing habits through the allegations against Heather Thompson Day and Seth Day, Taylor Frankie Paul’s story on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and the broader appeal of true crime and online gossip. They consider how social media keeps painful moments circulating, turns viewers into amateur investigators, and exposes children who never agreed to become content. Host Natalie Bruzon joins Sofia Lindgren, Trudy Morgan-Cole, and Ella Quijada for a conversation about journalism’s responsibility to inform without needlessly exposing victims, the difference between accountability and spectacle, and what our consumption does to our empathy. Can we confront abuse and institutional failure while respecting the people whose stories we’re telling? And does having access to something mean we need to watch—or share—it? Content note: This episode discusses child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Resources: Read SPECTRUM’s reporting: Police Affidavits Allege Heather and Seth Day Complicit in Physical Abuse of Their Daughter Court Documents Detail Child Sexual Assault Allegations Against Seth Day Books mentioned in this episode: Know My Name by Chanel Miller Hollywood, Ending by John Green Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at [email protected].

Beyond The Remnant Episode 8 we discuss the Sanctuary Doctrine, focusing on chapters 12 and 13 of Sigve Tonstad's book, Beyond The Remnant.

What parts of a faith stay with you after you leave? In Sally McMillan’s novel My Name Is Allen White, a young man raised in a prominent Adventist family has questions about science that take him beyond the church. His choices strain his relationship with his father, but ultimately, leaving behind certain beliefs does not erase the values and habits that shaped him. Allen’s story is fiction, inspired in part by Sally’s late brother. It also echoes parts of her own journey. Sally left Adventism roughly twenty years ago, then returned to its history, language, and tensions while writing the book. In this PodlyWomen conversation, host Natalie talks with Sally about the family experiences behind the novel, Adventism’s unease with books and ideas that challenge the denomination’s worldview, and how she navigated life after leaving the denomination. What can you carry forward from a religious upbringing, and how do you find community and spiritual meaning when your relationship with that upbringing changes? Resources: Learn more about Sally’s work at sallyjmcmillan.com. Sally’s book is available on BookShop and Amazon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at [email protected]. About Sally McMillan: Sally J. McMillan is the author of My Name Is Allen White, a novel inspired in part by her late brother and her Adventist upbringing. A former communication professor and university administrator, she now writes fiction, essays, poetry, and journalism. She lives in Seattle.

Beyond The Remnant Episode 7 traces the dynamic development of Sabbath theology in Adventist history and meditates on the Sabbath as God’s commitment to the world before it comes with a commandment.

When does one bad decision become an institutional failure? In August, Good Good Golf released an advertisement showing male co-founder Garrett Clark shoving a female golfer-content creator, Alexis Miestowsk, to the ground over a golf club. The video was removed after widespread criticism, but it had already been conceived, filmed, edited, approved, and published. How did so many people fail—or feel unable—to object? Similar questions arise within churches, where spiritual authority, denominational and institutional loyalty, and concern for a ministry’s reputation can make it difficult for women to report harassment or abuse, and even harder for them to be believed. The investigations surrounding retired Adventist pastor John Bridges and the story told in Netflix’s Death of a Pastor’s Wife raise concerning questions about who gets protected when allegations involve pastors or other church leaders. The Podly Women, joined by their first male guest, discuss when individual misconduct points to a larger cultural problem; how institutions normalize, overlook, or conceal harm; and why policies alone cannot protect women when the surrounding culture discourages people from speaking. What would meaningful accountability look like? And what would change if protecting people were treated as central to the church’s mission? Resources: End It Now North America (Seventh-day Adventist initiative to prevent and respond to abuse) National Domestic Violence Hotline Raising Voices (Resources to end violence towards women) Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at [email protected]. About our panel: Natalie Bruzon is a journalist and editor whose writing explores religion, politics, and life inside—and just outside—Adventism. Trudy Morgan-Cole is a historical fiction author from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and a recently retired educator. Her novels include works set in Newfoundland and reimaginings of biblical stories.

Beyond The Remnant Episode 6 discusses how race, sex, and gender belong in that same conversation in Adventism and why truthful testimony on these topics is key to remnant identity.

Can an imagined story tell the truth? Suspicion of fiction has been part of the Adventist ethos since the denomination’s earliest years. Ellen White warned that fiction could inflame the imagination, distract readers from practical responsibilities, and weaken their interest in the Bible. Generations of Adventists were discouraged from reading novels. Some may even have stories of burning or discarding fictional books we already owned. But was Ellen White condemning all fiction, or the sensational, escapist literature of her time? And what might Adventism have lost by teaching people to distrust imagination? The Podly Women explore their own experiences with fiction in Adventist homes, schools, and churches; the difference between depicting immorality and endorsing it; and whether stories can deepen empathy, complicate our heroes, challenge our assumptions, and reveal truths that nonfiction cannot. Related listening: Romance Novels: Is It Porn? Mentioned in this episode: Watch the video essay Ella discussed Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at [email protected]. About our panel: Natalie Bruzon is a journalist and editor whose writing explores religion, politics, and life inside—and just outside—Adventism. Trudy Morgan-Cole is a historical fiction author from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and a recently retired educator. Her novels include works set in Newfoundland and reimagining of biblical stories. Ella Quijada is a SPECTRUM Campus Connect columnist studying psychology at Southern Adventist University, with a pre-medical emphasis and minors in Spanish, chemistry, and biology.

Episode 5 examines whether health is a theological concern, why the body is a sacrament, and who the health message really is for.