Breaking the chain between faith and fear.
I help thoughtful believers, former believers and unsure in-betweeners unlearn fear based religion, using history, reason and honest conversation so they can reclaim their minds.
I am Mark Daniel - a former pastor and independent researcher who spent over three decades inside the church system and now works as an honest witness to what I saw there.
No attacks. No manipulation. Just clear language, careful research and space for you to think for yourself.
A large portrait of me will appear here once we add final photography. The right side chain you see is your reminder that the work on this page is about loosening what once felt unbreakable.
A former pastor helping people think without fear.
I spent most of my adult life preaching, counselling and defending a faith system that I now examine with very different eyes. I do not hate Christians. I do not need anyone to deconvert. My work is about something simpler and braver - telling the truth about how fear was used, and giving people permission to think honestly again.
For thirty three years I served in pastoral ministry. I walked with families through funerals and weddings, late night crisis calls, private doubts and public worship. Inside that world I noticed patterns that never quite sat right - the way fear of hell and fear of disappointing God were used to keep people in line, even when their questions were reasonable and their pain was real.
Eventually I could not ignore those patterns. I began to study the history of Christian doctrine, the politics behind many of the stories we took for granted, and the ways colonisation and religion often travelled together. The more I saw, the harder it became to pretend nothing had changed. So I chose to step out of the pulpit and into a different kind of work.
Today I write, teach and speak as a religious deconstruction guide. My goal is not to replace one set of dogmas with another, but to help people untangle fear based beliefs, understand where those ideas came from, and build a life that is honest, grounded and kind - whether they still identify as Christian or not.
What I actually do with this story.
My work sits at the meeting point of lived experience, academic training and deep care for people who feel trapped between faith and honesty.
Books and long form writing
I write for people who have hard questions about God, the Bible and church culture, but who are tired of shallow answers and fear based threats.
- Research based yet accessible writing
- Caribbean and global perspectives
- Stories from inside the system
Teaching and conversations
I host and join honest conversations where it is safe to say the quiet part out loud about faith, doubt and the cost of pretending.
- Workshops and online sessions
- Question and answer spaces that welcome doubt
- Support for people in active deconstruction
Speaking and interviews
I speak to audiences who want more than a sensational story. I unpack how religious systems work, why they are so powerful, and how people can walk away without losing themselves.
- Keynotes and guest pulpit talks
- Podcasts and media interviews
- Private sessions for leaders in transition
Books that help you unlearn fear and reclaim your mind.
I write for people who are ready to see the machinery behind the faith they were given - not so they can burn it all down in anger, but so they can finally make honest choices.
When God Wore Chains
A deep look at how Christianity and colonisation shaped Black Caribbean minds, and what it costs us to call that history holy.
- History, theology and lived experience
- Written in clear, accessible language
- Publishing details coming soon
Future titles
I am developing further projects on deconstruction, honest faith conversations and how religious language shapes our choices.
- Join the list below to hear first
Stay informed
If you want to know when new work is ready, you can request launch updates and early sample chapters.
- Launch updates and sample content
- No spam, no pressure, no sales tricks
Free tools and guides for honest faith journeys.
Over time this space will hold downloads, reading lists and practical tools for people walking through deconstruction in their own time and way.
Downloadable guides
Practical PDFs to help you name what you believe, what you no longer believe, and why.
- Coming soon - free downloads
Reading and viewing list
Curated resources for people who want to go deeper without getting lost in academic language.
- Starter reading lists
- Talks and interviews
For clergy and leaders
Resources for pastors and leaders who are quietly processing their own doubts while still serving others.
- Private, judgment free material
- Language to help you think more clearly
Conversations that make faith honest again - without fear.
I speak in churches, community spaces, online gatherings and media settings where people are ready for mature, respectful, but very honest conversations about faith and power.
Keynote and talks
Invite me to speak at your event, church or conference.
- Deconstruction 101 for thoughtful believers
- How fear became a spiritual tool
- Leaving well when you can no longer stay
Panels and interviews
For podcasts, media and online spaces that care about nuance.
- Balanced, researched, lived perspective
- Respectful to people, honest about systems
Private conversations
Closed door sessions for leaders and thinkers who need a safe place to question the faith they still serve in public.
Writing that keeps the conversation moving.
This space will hold essays, stories and reflections for people who want to keep thinking long after the service is over.
Blog posts will appear here over time. For now, the best way to stay in touch is through speaking events and book updates.
Reach out to me or my team.
Whether you are a reader, a pastor, a media house or someone quietly working through your own questions, you are welcome to reach out.
General and speaking enquiries
Short form message
This simple form is here as a starting point. A more complete live chat and booking system will be added soon.
Terms of use
This site is for information and reflection only. Nothing here is legal, medical or psychological advice. You are responsible for how you use the ideas shared here and for the choices you make in your own life, community and faith journey.
Privacy
If you choose to contact me, your details will only be used to respond to your message or manage speaking and media arrangements. I do not sell or trade your information. Any future email updates will include a clear option to step away.
Disclaimer
The views expressed on this site come from my own study and experience. They do not represent any organisation, employer or religious body. My work is intended to support critical thinking and personal agency, not to pressure anyone into specific beliefs or actions.