Theology in the Raw

Ed Uszynski and Preston Sprinkle debrief the 'Exiles in Babylon' conference, discussing GenZ evening, Israel-Palestine dialogue, deconstruction, women in the church, and more. They explore faith challenges, race, and fostering peace, emphasizing empathy, understanding, and healthy discourse

The podcast covers controversial topics like Christians and masturbation, differences between God in the Bible and Jesus, top 5 favorite books, advice for same-sex married couples, and the differences between academic complementarianism and practice in churches. It also explores the topics of prayer before meals, post mortem salvation, and honoring military personnel at sporting events.

Dr. David Fitch, an expert in evangelical theology, discusses the failures of the church when it's entangled with power. Topics include the church's role in societal issues, distinctions between government and Christian power, morality, abortion, Christian nationalism, and the importance of embodying Jesus' teachings within local communities.

Angela McArdle, Chair of the national Libertarian Party, discusses U.S. foreign policy, the deep state, war in Gaza, and Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Topics include libertarian politics, Federal Reserve, military-industrial complex, and the influence of APAC on U.S. foreign policy.

Dr. Nijay Gupta, a Professor of New Testament, discusses the unique practices of the early Christian community, contrasting them with Roman traditions. The episode explores the roots of home churches, transitioning to larger congregations, and nurturing intimacy in church gatherings through shared meals and mutual edification.

Jennifer Greenberg, a leading advocate against child abuse in the church, shares her raw story of abuse and healing. Topics include navigating faith after abuse, dealing with a manipulative father, understanding abuser's apologies, church's role in addressing abuse, and finding joy amidst hardship.

Brent Phillips from Cherish Uganda discusses transitioning from an orphanage to a holistic care center. Topics include problems of white westerners in African ministry, family-based orphan care benefits, and unintended consequences of short-term missions.

Dr. Caryn Reeder, a New Testament professor, reinterprets the Samaritan woman's story in John 4 post-#ChurchToo, exploring gender dynamics and abuse in the church. Topics include historical context of marriages, reframing the Samaritan woman as a survivor, power dynamics and abuse in gender relations, teaching children boundaries, and challenges of biblical education in the digital age.

Jason Woodruff, Founder of The Pour Over, discusses the detrimental effects of mainstream news on our minds and hearts, emphasizing the importance of consuming news in a spiritually healthy way without partisanship. He highlights the need to balance news consumption for effective engagement, citizenship, and spiritual well-being, while cautioning against partisan news outlets and media polarization.

Dr. Elizabeth Phillips discusses American Christian Zionism, John Howard Yoder, and Oliver O'Donovan in the context of political theology. The conversation explores conflicting viewpoints, the history and beliefs of Christian Zionism, personal journeys with theology, and the influences of theologians on political theology. Emphasis is placed on open-mindedness in research and understanding differing views on government and power dynamics.