Tim, Noah, and Kieran discuss the highlights of the podcast in 2023 and its evolution in the new year. They also talk about Project Amplify's mission, Kieran's faith journey, and how he discovered the TNE community. Topics covered include inclusivity, combating Christian nationalism, struggles with faith and indigenous spirituality, and building relationships for reconciliation.
Beer camp provided valuable in-person conversations and relationships, giving a sense of hope for future meetups.
Episodes on decolonizing theology sparked further research and challenged ingrained perspectives.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict episodes highlighted the challenges of being a Christian peacemaker in a volatile situation.
Deep dives
Podcast Highlights
The highlight of the podcast this year was beer camp, which provided valuable in-person conversations and relationships. It gave a sense of hope and passion for future in-person meetups. Recent episodes addressing the decolonization of theology have been particularly valuable.
Guest Highlights
Guests such as Ali Henry, Jesse Curtis, and Gabriel Gordon stood out in their discussions on decolonizing theology. Their episodes sparked further research into the origins of certain ideas and challenged ingrained perspectives.
Emotional Impact
Episodes featuring Toussaint and Daniel discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict left a lasting emotional impact. They highlighted the challenges of being a Christian peacemaker in a highly volatile conflict.
Importance of Indigenous Voices
Recognizing the need for indigenous voices to be included, there is a desire to invite more indigenous guests in the future to share their perspectives on faith and spirituality.
Reclaiming Values and Working through Pain
The podcast episode discusses the importance of individuals who have experienced historical trauma reclaiming their values and working through their pain without perpetuating cycles of harm. It emphasizes the transformative power of listening deeply to the voices of those who have been directly impacted by conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting the perspectives of individuals like the representative of Women Wage Peace. The episode explores the concept of nonviolent resistance as a response to the violence and injustice experienced by communities, contrasting it with examples of violence in other contexts.
Building Relationships and Amplifying Voices
The episode delves into the significance of building relationships and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in order to bring about lasting change and understanding. It reflects on the need for white allies to not only show up in moments of crisis but to commit to long-term engagement and connection with Indigenous, Black, and other communities of color. The conversation also touches upon the importance of seeking perspectives outside of one's own community and actively listening to voices that challenge traditional beliefs and theology. The episode underscores the complexity of the work and the growth that is still needed in creating spaces for reconciliation, inclusivity, and understanding.
In this episode, Tim sits down with podcast producer Noah and TNE community member Kieran to discuss some of the highlights of the podcast in 2023, and how the show will continue to evolve in the new year. They also discus Project Amplify's mission to platform experts and scholars who are offering better paths forward and an alternative to the dehumanizing theological and political rhetoric filling our news feeds. Kieran also discusses his experience growing up in Catholic and Methodist circles, the shifts in his faith that led him to the work he does today, and how he discovered the TNE community.
