Derek Lambert, host of the popular MythVision Podcast, has publicly distanced himself from what he has described as the “online atheist cult.” The decision, announced in a raw and emotional YouTube monologue titled “Why I am leaving the online Atheist cult” posted on his 37th birthday, follows over a year of escalating tension surrounding his continued friendship with controversial biblical scholar Dr. Robert M. Price.
Lambert’s statement has sparked conversation across the online atheist and skeptic communities, reigniting debates over cancel culture, ideological purity, academic freedom, and the boundaries of discourse within secular spaces. For those unfamiliar with the players involved, this controversy represents more than a personal falling out—it’s a microcosm of broader challenges facing the Atheist movement in the social media era.
Who Is Derek Lambert?
Derek Lambert is a former Christian turned Atheist, best known as the founder and host of the MythVision Podcast. With a YouTube channel boasting over 100,000 subscribers, Lambert has built a reputation for interviewing biblical scholars and critics of traditional Christianity, especially those involved in mythicism—the belief that Jesus of Nazareth may not have been a historical figure.
His podcast emerged from a deeply personal journey. Raised in a mixed Christian household—his father Catholic and mother Pentecostal—Lambert experienced a dramatic religious conversion in the sixth grade. Later in life, he faced and overcame a heroin addiction with support from his wife Ryan and various recovery communities. These trials shaped his evolving worldview and led him from Christian preterism to a rationalist critique of biblical literalism.
Through MythVision, Lambert created a platform for discussing historical Jesus studies, comparative mythology, and challenges to Christian orthodoxy. One of his earliest and most influential guests was Dr. Robert M. Price.
Who Is Dr. Robert M. Price?
Dr. Robert M. Price is a former Baptist minister and prominent biblical scholar. Holding two PhDs (one in systematic theology, the other in New Testament studies), Price is best known for his contributions to Jesus myth theory, critical textual analysis of the Bible, and his role as a public skeptic of orthodox Christian claims.
Price has published numerous books, including The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man: How Reliable is the Gospel Tradition? and The Christ-Myth Theory and Its Problems. He is also a former fellow of the Jesus Seminar, a group of New Testament scholars who, from the 1980s to the 1990s, sought to determine which sayings and deeds attributed to Jesus in the Gospels were authentic. However, Price’s political and social commentary—often expressed in older blog posts and podcasts—has sparked controversy, particularly among younger and more progressive Atheists.
The Origins of the Controversy
The controversy erupted in March 2022 when several online critics, including Chrissy Hansen (known online as “Heathen Queen”) began publicly accusing Dr. Price of racism, transphobia, and far-right sympathies. These accusations stemmed from blog entries where Price used terms like “thug” in reference to criminals, criticized transgender medical procedures for minors, and made what some saw as racially insensitive jokes (e.g., about the Washington Redskins being renamed “The Savages”).
Although the offensive posts were unrelated to Price’s academic work, Derek Lambert was quickly caught in the crossfire for continuing to host Price on MythVision. Critics demanded Lambert deplatform Price, with some going as far as threatening professional blacklisting.
Among those allegedly issuing ultimatums were Dr. Joshua Bowen and Megan Lewis, both scholars who had previously appeared on MythVision. According to Lambert, he was told that failure to cut ties with Price would result in their permanent disassociation. Behind the scenes, Lambert says he received warnings that other academics might be contacted to dissuade them from participating in his show.
Cognitive Dissonance and Social Pressure
During the video, Lambert describes the intense psychological toll of the situation. He says he experienced severe cognitive dissonance—having personally known Dr. Price for years as a kind, generous man, while watching others label him a bigot. He struggled to reconcile the version of Price he knew with the accusations being hurled by the community.
Under immense pressure, Lambert initially disavowed Price and distanced MythVision from him. However, he now characterizes that move as a betrayal of both a friend and his own principles. He likens the experience to the biblical story of Peter denying Jesus, calling it his “Peter moment.”
“Hell No, I’m Not Bending the Knee”
In one of the most dramatic sections of the controversy, Lambert describes a private conversation he had with Price regarding the use of the word “thug.” Derek had asked Price to apologize, arguing that the term came across as racially charged and lacking empathy.
Price refused, replying, “Hell no, I’m not bending the knee to the woke mob.”
For critics, this response reinforced perceptions that Price was unapologetically aligned with reactionary politics. For Lambert, it marked the beginning of the end of his ability to maintain neutrality between friends and the wider Atheist community.
The Fallout
Lambert’s decision to reintegrate Dr. Price into the MythVision platform triggered an even larger backlash. According to his account, critics not only resumed attacks on him personally but also began targeting his wife’s business. He describes this escalation as an example of how cancel culture often spirals beyond the original dispute, affecting families and livelihoods.
In his video, Lambert calls the online Atheist community that led the charge a “cult”—not in the religious sense, but in terms of ideological behavior. He accuses them of demanding moral purity, punishing dissent, and promoting fear-based conformity.
Criticism of Chrissy Hansen and Others
A large portion of Lambert’s monologue focuses on Chrissy Hansen, an ex-friend and collaborator who allegedly turned against him after helping write a script critical of mythicism. Lambert claims Hansen aligned herself with larger content creators, such as Ocean Keltoy, for clout. He characterizes her behavior as manipulative and self-serving.
He also critiques others in the movement for hypocritically applying standards—pointing out that while Dr. Price was ostracized, figures like Bart Ehrman (who holds similar positions in biblical scholarship) remain celebrated despite being of the same academic generation.
Personal Apology and Final Break
In a moment of emotional vulnerability, Lambert addresses Dr. Price directly in the video:
“Bob, if you’re watching this, I’m sorry for everything I ever did to harm you.”
He notes that the two have reconciled privately and that they are rebuilding their friendship. Lambert draws a parallel to Daryl Davis—the Black musician who famously befriended and de-radicalized members of the Ku Klux Klan—arguing that dialogue and patience are more effective than cancelation. Davis’ story is chronicled in Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America, a 2016 American documentary film directed and produced by Matthew Ornstein.
Lambert ends the video by affirming his commitment to open conversations, historical inquiry, and the rejection of ideological gatekeeping:
“I want to befriend everyone—even hateful people—to potentially help.”
Broader Implications for the Atheist Community
This controversy exposes a growing rift within the Atheist and skeptic communities between traditional academic free speech values and newer activist models that prioritize social justice and identity politics.
While many argue that platforming individuals with “harmful” views legitimizes bigotry, others worry that the current culture silences nuance, friendship, and complexity in favor of black-and-white moral judgments.
The case of Derek Lambert and Robert M. Price highlights this tension. It asks the Atheist community to reconsider what it means to support intellectual freedom, especially when it means standing by someone whose opinions are offensive or politically unfashionable.
Conclusion
As the dust settles, MythVision Podcast continues, now redefined by its founder’s clear-eyed stance against what he sees as tribalism and authoritarian groupthink within Atheism. Whether Lambert’s stand will inspire a wider reckoning within the movement remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: the online Atheist community, once bound by opposition to religious dogma, is now grappling with dogmas of its own.
