Deep Talks with Paul Anleitner

In this week's Reconstruction Story, we'll hear from someone who grew up in fundamentalism, left to pursue New Age spiritualities and psychedelic exploration, and eventually became a holistic follower of the Way of Jesus. And yes, we have some extended conversation about psychedelic drugs because I know so many listeners who have questions on the subject. My guest today is Paul Risse. Paul is a husband, father, and a bit of modern Renaissance man. He's a business owner. He builds tiny homes. He's a carpenter, a trainer, a firefighter, and writes about his adventures in the world and what he's learned from them. You can follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/paulrisse I got connected to Paul Risse when he became a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community. If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast   To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159 Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner You can also give a one-time donation for this episode directly at: https://cash.app/$PaulAnleitner

There's been a significant movement of "exvangelicals" over this past decade. In their process of deconstruction, they come to a point where they no longer see the Christian story they've heard as viable. Deconstruction can often turn to devastation, but is reconstruction possible? In today's episode, we'll meet Rick Guttersohn, a leadership consultant & licensed master social worker who grew up with me in our small, Charismatic church & school community. Rick went through a significant process of deconstruction that led him to become suicidal, but thankfully that wasn't the end of his journey. You can find out more about Rick's work by visiting: www.rickguttersohn.com If you're a parent with young children, make sure to check the awesome videos Rick put's out for helping kids and parents talk about difficult emotions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnUwCIozuZ4 If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast  To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159 Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner You can also give a donation for this episode directly at: https://cash.app/$PaulAnleitner

Maybe as you are stuck at home during this quarantine, you find yourself binging a lot more Netflix than you normally would.  Whether you are aware of it or not, you are actually binging theology.   In today's episode we'll explore why "cultural texts" like movies, tv,  and even memes are all works of theology, and I'll give you some tips using Kevin Vanhoozer's Everyday Theology as a guide for how you can discern theological messages. If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast  To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159 Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner You can also give a donation for this episode directly at: https://cash.app/$PaulAnleitner

Today I recorded a short video to hopefully offer some "difficult encouragement" in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic. This is the audio version of that encouragement, but if you want to watch the video too you can do so at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKsLbsqtj1I&feature=youtu.be   If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast   To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159   Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner

As a global pandemic rapidly affects the way we do normal life, I have been thinking quite a bit about the 20th-century philosophical masterpiece by existentialist philosopher and author, Albert Camus. Long after our own plague subsides, there will be lingering questions for millions about God, meaning, & how one ought to live in this world that Camus' novel can help us explore.  We'll discuss some of the basics of existentialist philosophy, and I'll take you through a short synopsis of the book even if you haven't read it. There is a haunting aspect to some of the parallels in this fictional story with our own real experiences in the world right now. These parallels only serve to help us give language to the deep, existential questions that emerge in unprecedented times like these. We'll explore the symbolism behind how the books central characters respond to the plague, their quarantine, and the ethical choices in front of them. If God is dead, then can there even be heroes and villains, sinners and saints in a story? Can we create our own values and meaning without God? Is Christ secretly embedded in this "godless" story from Camus? Is Christ present in our own calamities in people and places we've overlooked?   If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast   To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159   Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner

Christians make unique claims not only about Jesus being the Son of God, the Savior of the World, fully God and fully human, etc but they also hold to the unique belief that Jesus is the supreme example for how we are to live in the world. If this is true, why are there such diverse opinions among Christians about how we are to live in the world? In America alone, you bump into MAGA/Trump-loving Christians and Woke Progressive Christians with preferred pronouns. How can this be? At least one factor that contributes to this, is an easy Bible-reading mistake that gives people an imaginary Jesus instead of the Jesus of the Gospels. It's a simple mistake I made for years too, but I think there's a better way.   If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast   To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159   Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner

In today's episode, we'll do a deep dive exploration into one of the more troubling books of the Bible - Ecclesiastes. Is everything meaningless?    We'll explore both Biblical scholarship and insights from psychology to help us unpack how this book can help us in our own crisis of meaning.   Thanks to Deep Talks Patreon Member, Nathan for this week's excellent question. If you want to support this podcast and become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community, go to this link: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast   To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159   Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner

One of our Deep Talks Patreon members, Sam, asked a great question about 1 Corinthians 3 and whether the Apostle Paul believed in purgatory. Is Paul teaching "salvation by works" here? To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159   TODAY'S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:  Deep Talks Patreon Community https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community to help support this podcast and receive bonus content, Q & A opportunities, and more! Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner  

My guest in today's episode is Justin Brierley. Justin is the longtime host of Unbelievable?, an award-winning show in the U.K. where skeptics, atheists, historians, scientists, theologians, and philosophers exchange meaningful conversations about God, Christianity, philosophy, and the big questions of life. Along with Unbelievable?,  Justin also hosts Ask N.T. Wright Anything.   In our conversation together, I talk with Justin about how he began this program and what he's learned in nearly 15 years of hosting the show. Justin discusses a shift he has seen in the last decade with a movement away from the New Atheism of Richard Dawkins into a new curiosity about Christianity and religion sparked by curious agnostics like Jordan Peterson and Tom Holland.   For more information about Justin Brierley, Unbelievable?, his book or any of his upcoming events visit: https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable https://www.unbelievable.live/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714CP5M9/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 https://www.youtube.com/user/PremierUnbelievable   TODAY'S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:  Deep Talks Patreon Community https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community to help support this podcast and receive bonus content, Q & A opportunities, and more! To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159 Connect on with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner

In our last episode in this series, we explored how Molinism attempts to solve the problem of evil; but in today's episode, we will explore some of the objections to Molina's creative theodicy. How might Hitler and the Joker get us to reconsider whether this theodicy does what it sets out to do? Plus, how did the evil and suffering perpetrated by "Christians" in the 16th-18th century lead to the beginnings of secularism? What is natural theology? How did the scientific revolution lead to its popularization? How did natural theologians like Gottfried Leibniz attempt to address the problem of evil? What are the strengths and weaknesses of trying to do theodicy within the framework of natural theology?   TODAY'S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:  Deep Talks Patreon Community https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Become a member of the Deep Talks Patreon Community to help support this podcast and receive bonus content, Q & A opportunities, and more! To Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-talks-exploring-theology-and-meaning-making/id1401730159 Connect on with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner