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