Religion on the Mind

A lot of us have been pretty burned in Reformed Christian communities, which might go by names like Presbyterian, Bible Church, Baptist, and more, all of which stem in one way or another from the teachings of John Calvin. But not all Reformed thinkers read John Piper and R.C. Sproul, or believe that women shouldn’t become preachers, and SOME Reformed thinkers are even Universalists when it comes to salvation! Dan is joined by a very clear thinker who thinks that the Reformed tent needs to be widened: analytic theologian (and Reformed guy himself) Oliver Crisp (University of St. Andrews, Scotland). So let’s give Reformed theology a fair hearing, shall we?Today’s interview was made possible as part of the TheoPsych Project, hosted by Fuller Seminary’s office of Science, Theology, and Religion: Theopsych.comOlivers two books (Saving Calvinism and Deviant Calvinism): https://smile.amazon.com/Saving-Calvinism-Expanding-Reformed-Tradition/dp/0830851755/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=oliver+crisp&qid=1566088780&s=gateway&sr=8-2https://smile.amazon.com/Deviant-Calvinism-Broadening-Reformed-Theology/dp/1451486138/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=oliver+crisp&qid=1566088780&s=gateway&sr=8-10Edited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for bonus 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

Can silent meditation be prayer? Is prayer always in some sense bodily and physical, or is it only a spiritual thing? When did prayer first enter the story of humanity — millions of years ago, or only after verbal language? Did Neanderthals pray? Is it worth looking into the prayer practices of other religions, and if we do, what might we learn? These questions and more are explored with Dr. Carol Zaleski (Smith College), co-author of the incredible book “Prayer: A History.” Later, Dan answers a listener question: “What are the mental tricks or ways that you seek to understand or empathize with someone’s viewpoint you disagree with?” (1:32:00)Dan’s 4 mental tricks:Trick 1 -- system 1 or 2 belief? If 1, let it go, and just be kind; show them that people with your opposite belief can be loving; and remind yourself that they will probably only change their mind if they change their tribe. In this case, it’s better to ask general life questions than to drill down on the specific area of disagreement or original interest.Trick 2 -- if system 2, start asking more specific questions, learn their story as it relates to the issue.Trick 3 -- remind yourself that you are also a member of various tribes, so you can let your guard down as you listen to them.Trick 4 -- look for nuance; if you are finding it, you're on the right track; if there is none, you are probably stuck in mostly pointless tribal warfare.Carol’s book "Prayer: A History": William James, “The Varieties of Religious Experience”: Father Giles, “Prayer is the greatest freedom of all” (BBC): https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/prayer-is-the-greatest-freedom-of-all/p07b8dq5?playlist=what-is-freedomCS Lewis, “Transposition" sermon: https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/lewiscs-transposition/lewiscs-transposition-00-h.html#ch01transpositionScott Davison, “Petitionary Prayer: A Philosophical Investigation”: https://www.amazon.com/Petitionary-Prayer-Philosophical-Scott-Davison/dp/0198757743Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus 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

Did God really command the complete slaughter of everyone living in the Promised Land (men, women and children)? Would a loving God ever allow Israelite soldiers to take on additional wives as war widows (if they found them attractive and if they proved themselves to be sexually pleasing)? For 2,000 years, Christian thinkers and Biblical scholars have wrestled with difficult Old Testament passages that seem to show a violent and unloving God, one that seems to contrast sharply with other descriptions of God in the OT. Dr. Eric Seibert joins Dan to talk through this landscape of passages and problems, and to explain 14 distinct approaches that Christians have taken in dealing with them. Later, Dan answers a listener question: “What do you think of the whole #emptythepews movement?” (1:42:00)Eric’s book (The Violence of Scripture): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800698258/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1Nuclear Taboo article: https://news.stanford.edu/2017/08/08/americans-weigh-nuclear-war/Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for bonus 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

One of the most divisive questions in the modern church is whether or not biological sex plays a role in who should be allowed to preach (and there are other issues wrapped up in this one, like whether women should be primary bread-winners, etc). Egalitarians say, “No, let the women preach!” Complementarians say, “Yes, men only; that is how God set things up.” In this episode, we hear from Dan’s Godmother Barb Clark, who is an elder in an Egalitarian church, but has some nagging concerns about the whole thing. Then the bulk of the episode is spent with Rev. Bonnie Lewis, a pastor, teacher and Bible translator, who not only makes her argument for Egalitarianism, but also responds to many of the most common counter arguments from the Contemplentarian side. Finally, we get Barb’s reaction to Dan’s chat with Bonnie. This one is a doozy!BadChristian Podcast Dan/Bonnie episode (#438): http://www.badchristian.com/bc_podcast/bonnie-lewis-at-the-bcxcon/Bonnie’s “Timshel” translation: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1945582321/timshel-an-idiomatic-bible-translationEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus 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

Why is there a (perceived) conflict between science and religion, and has it always been that way? How does science actually get done, and is the scientific method and community set up in such a way as to come up with trustworthy claims? Are young Christians being set up to fail by well-meaning teachers who are skeptical of “mainstream” science? Dan is joined by Adrian Wyard of Counterblance.org to talk through all of this; before that, he hears from his friend Andy, an Evangelical pastor, about what he is and isn’t suspicious of in the world of science.Counterbalance.orgBiologos.orgEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus 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

Is it possible to be certain about anything in one’s Christian faith? Is it possible to be certain about anything at all, like math, science, or the love of a spouse? Why does it often seem moreseo like preachers and Christian authors are peddling certainty than they are encouraging genuine faith? (The same could also be said for the “New Atheists.”) What does genuine faith look like in a world full of baked-in uncertainty? Dan’s guest Mark Schaefer, author of “The Certainty of Uncertainty,” provides some excellent commentary on this society-wide issue.https://www.certaintyofuncertainty.com/Edited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for bonus 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 is joined for a long afternoon of somewhat experimental podcasting by Christopher Carter and Seth Schoen, who together have developed a very interesting group/individual practice (and they teach a class together about it), using meditative practices and psychology to talk about, think through, and FEEL their way through racial issues, questions, and personal histories. It is, in fact, as interesting and unique as it sounds! In the middle of the conversation, Dan offers to go through a short "session" with them, which produces some interesting results as well. We all have feelings about racial issues, whether we attend to them or not. Later on, the three of them have a somewhat difficult, honest, and ultimately clarifying conversation about critical race theory, and some concerns surrounding the way that race is talked about in American society.P.U.L.S.E.:Paying AttentionUnderstanding EmpathicallyLoving With ConnectionSensing the SacredEmbodying New LifeF.L.A.G.:FearsLongingsAching WoundsGifts StifledFrank Rogers - Practicing Compassion: https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Compassion-Frank-Rogers-Jr/dp/1935205250Christopher’s faculty page: https://www.sandiego.edu/cas/theology/faculty-and-staff/biography.php?profile_id=840Join the Patreon for bonus 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

While of course there are times when it makes sense to leave one’s religious institution, today Dan and sociologist of religion Dr. Tricia Bruce make the case for staying. What is lost when people leave their churches or denominations? When they leave the church altogether? How much do they unintentionally reduce their potential impact? How have a group of concerned Catholics worked from within the Church to combat sexual abuse? Later, Dan answers a listener question: “In your opinion, what are the requirements for being considered a Christian?” (1:20:00)https://triciabruce.com/“Orthodoxy” patron-only episode with Ben Bishop: https://www.patreon.com/posts/21074279Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus 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

Should Christians go to "regular" therapists, or is "Biblical Counseling" the only option available to a Christian? Do therapists encourage Christian couples to divorce unnecessarily? Is it shameful to see a therapist? This week, we hear from Howard, a therapy skeptic, and then from Jonathan, whose positive experience with therapy led him ultimately to a master's program to become a psychologist himself.YHP Racial Blindspot Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-acknowledge-evangelicalisms-racial-blindspot-14/id1448000113?i=1000433295257Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus 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

...and still love the Bible! Thomas Jay Oord joins Dan to discuss the issue of postmodernism and the Bible (through the lens of a fantastic article by Old Testament scholar Terence Fretheim, which Tom himself edited). How does a postmodern Christian's reading of the Bible differ from a modernist approach? What is modernism and postmodernism? Don't worry -- no ivory tower language here; everything is in regular laymen's terms, and Tom is one of the best at translating these complicated but important issues into regular speech.Later, Dan answers a patron/listener question: Did you receive flack from your evangelical friends and church family when you became decidedly gay affirming? What were the range of responses like? (1:42:00)Terence Fretheim article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0nwxu3pkplg30so/Fretheim%20for%20Open%20and%20Relational%20Reading%20Group.doc?dl=0*AUDIO VERSION* of Fretheim article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yqmprg69vdxd29z/Chapter%209%20-%20Terence%20Fretheim.mp3?dl=0http://thomasjayoord.com/http://openandrelationaltheology.com -- reading groupThe Myth of Certainty by Daniel Taylor: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Certainty-Reflective-Christian-Commitment/dp/0830822372Benefit of the Doubt by Greg Boyd: https://www.amazon.com/Benefit-Doubt-Breaking-Idol-Certainty/dp/0801014921/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=benefit+of+the+doubt&qid=1558999348&s=books&sr=1-1Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for bonus 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