You Have Permission

Dan is joined by Methodist minister and astrophysicist David Wilkinson, professor of theology at Durham University and member of the Royal Astronomical Society. They talk about the so-called “fine-tuning” of our universe, the “anthropic principle” / “goldilocks enigma,” and multiverse theory as a common non-theist rejoinder for theistic arguments for God’s existence based on this fine-tuning. Whether or not the multiverse can be “proven,” does it even work as a counterargument, or does it “kick the can down the road” in some way? This issue is one of the ones that pushes me toward theism and away from atheism and agnosticism, but even if it doesn’t do that for you, it seems very much worth thinking about.See photos of Dan's new son (and very little else) on Instagram: @dancokeTwitter: @dankochEdited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m joined by my dear friend Ben Bishop, who is both a fantastic interviewer in his own right and a former patron-only episode guest. I asked Ben to interview me on the topic of why I am (still) a Christian. No one ever asks me, “Why are you a Christian?” Or very rarely, anyway. But pretty regularly, in the context of conversations about deconstruction or Biblical inerrancy or something similar, people will ask, “Why are you *still* a Christian?” I thought it might be helpful to answer that and give one more data point for listeners as they figure out their own faith allegiances, theologies, etc. We talk about religious/Christian pluralism a good bit, as that is particularly interesting to Ben, and toward the end is when I give probably my most succinct answer to the question, drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord’s Prayer, and other basics I don’t think I could live without. Feel free to skip forward to 1:15:00 or so if you want to hear that concise answer before going into the weeds with us.Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan is joined by philosopher Myron Penner (Trinity Western University) and theologian Sarah Lane Ritchie (University of Edinburgh) to talk through all things Coronavirus and the Problem of Evil (mostly the “Natural Problem of Evil” but not exclusively). They discuss some interesting angles on this discussion, as well as numerous “solutions” on offer by Christian thinkers. Myron brings in some cognitive science and Sarah brings a focus on the lived experience of suffering. Soul-making, “life is a gift,” “it’s because of the Fall,” and more approaches are discussed. The conversation is long, but it moves briskly!Biologos article: https://biologos.org/post/coronavirus-and-the-problem-of-evil?fbclid=IwAR3WoLwVdX7uIdP3pOqFIOEOjuzDiOa2nn5QyVsKlxHeMzV2W6AqtAc00MENT Wright article: https://time.com/5808495/coronavirus-christianity/?fbclid=IwAR0bWp5te66J2b0xIx_zmLi4HZXIWDyWjm3WN1LVTQ9AoDgye5gkrE7wo94Tom Oord’s response to Wright: http://thomasjayoord.com/index.php/blog/archives/we-can-lament-and-explain?fbclid=IwAR0xlA8Cygv6q_H--JIU-qr67zE1S5iFbItcVVnMadAGzVzicKRKwd4BDKcWildman article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0aesf9qr3rq2vaq/Wildman_2007_Incongruous_Goodness.pdf?dl=0Clayton book: https://www.amazon.com/Predicament-Belief-Science-Philosophy-Faith/dp/019969527XFollow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This somewhat winding conversation with Dr. Tripp Fuller (Homebrewed Christianity Podcast) swirls around the concept of the Cosmic Christ, also known as the Universal Christ. Tripp and I attempt to answer four questions: Why attach the name Christ to Jesus in the first place? Why use the term "Cosmic" Christ? (What is that supposed to mean or signify?) How has the phrase "Cosmic" changed given evolution, the age of the universe, and modern science? Finally, how has the concept "Christ" changed as a result of what humanity has learned since the days of early Christianity? We also try out a few definitions of the term along the way.Ilia Delio on Homebrewed Christianity: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/entangled-god-my-heart-ilia-delio-cosmiccampfire/id276269040?i=1000421870802Ilia’s books: https://smile.amazon.com/Ilia-Delio/e/B001JS2T2E?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1584839597&sr=8-3Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I took a break from my every-other-week break with our newborn to have a conversation with one of the smartest people I know, Robbie Evans, a strategic director at a medical diagnostics company in Silicon Valley. He put together a Google Doc (linked below -- read first if you can) about some real and scary possibilities and likely projections for the US and COVID-19. This is not a time for (arbitrary) theological platitudes and claims about God and global diseases; rather, it is a time for a science-informed faith that helps us to best love our neighbors as ourselves. Consequently, most of this episode is spent on what we know from the best and most current data and projections. Stay safe, and stay home as much as you possibly can!Robbie’s full document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n-IaCZ7jSu_usI3f4gw5CZIQXcM4AGMdfEUtLZKfj4M/edit?fbclid=IwAR1V2mhT4gM_JwGEoeowr7uCQmIss3uYDCtCdzrVItqTEhP9Aps_WDiznHI#heading=h.3lszibyotnnyCDC COVID-19 All Categories: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlIf you’re sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.htmlBasic prevention/protection: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.htmlUPDATE RE: UK: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-herd-immunity-uk-boris-johnson/608065/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often think of our doubts as counting *against* our faith: if we have enough reasons to believe in the “faith” column, then that will be enough to discount all the problems in the “doubts” column. But what if true modern faith will always include doubts? What if the presence of certain kinds of doubt actually shows that we are doing things right? Dan interviews Philip Clayton (Claremont School of Theology) on this and related questions.The Predicament of Belief: https://smile.amazon.com/Predicament-Belief-Science-Philosophy-Faith/dp/0199677964/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=predicament+of+belief&qid=1583550080&sr=8-2Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

it isn't as nerdy as it sounds, but... I spoke with Reverend Doctor Catherine Kelsey about the beginnings of what today we would call liberal Christianity, through the work of the theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher. His way of thinking about the experience of faith has really been resonating with me lately, and Cathie wrote a great simple book about that topic. She is also quite pastoral, and I was surprised how healing and challenging our conversation ended up being.Will and Spirit: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Spirit-Contemplative-Gerald-May/dp/0062505823/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Thinking about Christ with Schleiermacher: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Christ-Schleiermacher-Catherine-Kelsey/dp/0664225942/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=thinking+about+christ+with+schleiermacher&qid=1582070228&s=books&sr=1-1Instagram: @dancokeTwitter: @dankochEdited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the baby has not arrived yet, I was able to put a little something together in between formal episodes! This originally aired as a patron-exclusive episode, and was received so well that I thought it might be worth sharing with everyone on an off-week like this. Fellow Seattle Jim becker and I discuss his own story, why he now considers himself an atheist, what kind of God it is exactly that he does not believe in, and how our own views overlap and diverge. It was a really great conversation, and I believe will be the first in a “I Don’t Believe In That God” series, split up between the patron-only feed and the main podcast feed. To become a patron, head to patreon.com/dankoch. If you can’t afford $5/mo, take advantage of our sliding scale by emailing me at youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comInstagram: @dancokeTwitter: @dankochJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan sits down with friend and philosopher Matthew Benton (Seattle Pacific University) to talk through five common questions that come up commonly with undergraduate students at his Christian university:- How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?- Why is there so much religious diversity if one religion is (most) true?- If there is a loving God, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?- Why isn't there stronger evidence for God's existence?- What are the right ways to interpret the Bible? (On which issues?)“Hell & the God of Justice:” https://www.dropbox.com/s/54aaammsvsn28hx/MMAdams1975.pdf?dl=0Matt’s faculty page: https://spu.edu/academics/college-of-arts-sciences/philosophy/faculty-staff/benton-matthewEdited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The final chapter of our 4-part series on the End Times and mental health concerns. Today, we hear three shorter stories that each circle around the issue of family, and how family relationships and differences intersect with the rest of what we’ve been hearing these past few weeks. If you're just joining us, it's recommended to start with Part 1, three weeks back.Children’s Bibles and reading list:Children of God Storybook Bible (Desmond Tutu): https://smile.amazon.com/Children-Storybook-Bible-Archbishop-Desmond/dp/0310719127/ref=sr_1_3?crid=214JAYK9LUTA6&keywords=children+of+god+storybook+bible&qid=1580609979&sprefix=children+of+god+sto%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-3Spark Story Bible: https://smile.amazon.com/Spark-Story-Bible-Thisted-Arthur/dp/0806670495/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=spark+story+bible&qid=1580610296&sr=8-2Jesus Showed Us (Brad Jersak): https://smile.amazon.com/Jesus-Showed-Us-Bradley-Jersak/dp/1927512069/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=jesus+showed+us&qid=1580610157&sr=8-1When God Made You: https://smile.amazon.com/When-Made-Matthew-Paul-Turner/dp/1601429185/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=matthew+paul+turner&qid=1580610101&sr=8-3When God made Light: https://smile.amazon.com/When-Made-Light-Matthew-Turner/dp/1601429207/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=matthew+paul+turner&qid=1580610101&sr=8-4Children, Can You Hear Me?: https://smile.amazon.com/Children-Can-You-Hear-Me/dp/1490405771/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=jesus+showed+us&qid=1580610157&sr=8-3Maybe God is Like That Too: https://smile.amazon.com/Maybe-God-Like-That-Too/dp/150642189X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=maybe+god+is+like+that+too&qid=1580610225&sr=8-3It’s Not the Stork!: https://smile.amazon.com/Its-Not-Stork-Families-Friends/dp/0763633313/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=it%27s+not+the+stork&qid=1580610023&sr=8-2Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices