Episode 044: When A Christian Punk Rocker Leaves Christianity with Ojo Taylor Pt.1

Show Notes

Intro music: Ventura Tyler Bates

Featured Music: Via Delorosa and The Way of the Rose Undercover

Ojo Taylor’s website can be found here

Hi Pilgrim,

For the next couple podcasts I get to chat with Joe Taylor; but perhaps you know him better as  Ojo Taylor, keyboardist, bassist, and vocalist for the Christian punk band “Undercover”.  Joe didn’t join me so much to talk about his time in one of  Christian music’s most recognisable bands…although we do chat about that.  No, I mean this is Beyond the Pale after all which means Joe has a story to tell and a journey to share.

You see, Joe’s path has taken him outside the Christian faith but as you’ll hear, certainly not outside his faith in humanity.  And that’s where, like talks on previous episodes with my brother or David Young our journey’s intersect.

Joe “Ojo” Taylor

As he shares, Joe sometimes has to deal with Undercover fans who feel disappointed at his rejection of the faith that he, frankly, had helped build up in them; but his path from childhood catholicism to evangelical rock star back to catholicism and then finally outside the faith altogether has been a trajectory that has brought him a lot of relief, clarity, and purpose.

I know you’re going to enjoy journeying out with Joe Taylor

Peace,

Steve

Show Index:

10:15- Catholic Childhood
18:47: Undercover begins
28:47 More “Christian” as an atheist?
30:00 Christian “tribalism”
49:02: The encounter that propelled Ojo from Christianity

iTunes description: Ojo Taylor, bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist for the renown Christian punk band “Undercover” shares with Steve the journey he has travelled from being a voice within Christianity to the chance encounter that forced him to question, and ultimately abandon, his faith.  Along the way Steve suggests he has, perhaps, become more “Christ-like” in the process.

Check out this episode!