Paul Risse is a former psychonaut turned follower of Jesus. He writes about his journey in a new book entitled The Psychedelic Christian. You can order his book here: https://tinyurl.com/3essfdcb You can listen to my first interview with Paul Risse where he shares a more extended version of his upbringing and personal story here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-58-reconstruction-stories-the-psychedelic/id1401730159?i=1000472744039    ___________   You can pre-order my new book (release September '22) Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil and Suffering at https://linktr.ee/paulanleitner If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums, and more. 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 this mini-episode, I wanted to discuss Daniel Dennett's theory of what we could call an "evolutionary tournament of the gods" & Jonathan Haidt's work in The Righteous Mind on the positive social value of religion. In the waning years of our Secular Age, "the Universe" has become a popular euphemism for a sort of mindless "god" that is metaphysically necessary but is indifferent and capricious. Does this Secular God defeat Christian conceptions of God and lead humanity to a utopia of pure rationalism like Dennett & the New Atheists believe, or is it already proving to be a failure that leaves social groups without moral direction or any reason to selflessly give of themselves for the sake of others? Does Jesus beat "The Universe" in an evolutionary tournament of the gods? Today's episode is available on video at: https://youtu.be/y7wGQsiTThg   ___________ You can pre-order my new book (release September '22) Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil and Suffering at https://linktr.ee/paulanleitner If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums, and more. 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

Author & journalist Bonnie Kristian (Master in Christian Thought, Bethel Seminary) believes that there is a knowledge crisis breaking our brains, polluting our politics, and corrupting Christian communities. What is different now about conspiracy culture, the media, and even church life that makes it feel like we don't know who or what to trust? Bonnie Kristian is the acting editor-in-chief at The Week. She also writes for Christianity Today and Reason Magazine and has been published in USA Today, CNN, Time, National Interest, The American Conservative, & more. Her new book Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community is available now for pre-order (October '22) at: http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/untrustworthy/411490   You can pre-order my new book (release September '22) Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil and Suffering at https://linktr.ee/paulanleitner   If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums, and more. 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

Because I've been so pre-occupied with writing my new book, I haven't been able to produced regular episodes this summer; but what I wanted to do is to make available to all of you a special bonus Q & A Episode that I normally would just share with supporters on Patreon. A member of our group, Mike, asked a great question about why we tend to focus so much on individualistic salvation and the "after-life" when it doesn't seem like Jesus gave much attention to it. Are we overly individualistic in how we read and frame the Gospel? What made the message of Jesus so compelling and controversial as "Good News" in the 1st century? Is it really about fixing our death anxiety? What does the New Testament even say about heaven? (P.S.- it's not what most Christians think)   You can pre-order my new book (release September 2022) Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil and Suffering at  https://linktr.ee/paulanleitner   If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums and more. 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

Stephen Roach is the founder of The Breath & the Clay Creative Arts Organization, host of Makers & Mystics podcast, author, and a multi-instrument professional musician. In today's episode, I talk with Stephen about the role music plays in the flow state, altered states of consciousness, and what Charismatics might call "encountering the Presence of God" in worship. We discuss examples of altered states of consciousness in the Bible, Christian theories of consciousness, psychedelics, evolution, and following the Way of Jesus in a Post Secular Age. Check out Stephen's "Makers & Mystics" podcast here: http://www.makersandmystics.com/   Find out more about The Breath and The Clay here: http://www.thebreathandtheclay.com/ If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums and more. 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

Today's podcast is also available on video at: https://youtu.be/O6O5ATk5nMc Ashley Lande is a former psychonaut, author, and artist. I talk with her about her journey from atheism into psychedelic exploration and why she says she's done with psychedelics. We talk about experiencing God, altered states of consciousness, encountering "spiritual entities" on psychedelic trips, and the dark side of many communities that organize around psychedelic experiences. You can learn more about Ashley at: https://www.ashleylande.com/ Read Ashley's article "These Luminous Counterfeits" in Ekstasis Magazine at: https://www.ekstasismagazine.com/blog/2021/10/6/psychedelics If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums and more. 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  

Today’s podcast is also available on video at: https://youtu.be/UU8XR6qgfu4   Two past guests on Deep Talks return to have a joint conversation about some of the deeper reasons for the decline of church attendance & Christian affiliation in America.  Glenn Packiam and Andrew Root have recently released books exploring some of the deeper philosophical forces at work in American culture that have contributed to the decline of church attendance, pastor burn-out, and the loss of vision and mission for many Christians particularly in Evangelical & Mainline Protestant contexts. What can we learn from this? Is there any reason for hope? Rev. Dr. Glenn Packiam (Doctor of Theology and Ministry, Durham University) is associate senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, and lead pastor of one of its eight congregations, New Life Downtown. A Senior Fellow at Barna Group, a visiting fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an adjunct professor at Denver Seminary, Glenn is the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Blessed Broken Given, and Worship and the World to Come. He is also an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America. For Glenn's new book "The Resilient Pastor: Leading Your Church in Rapidly Changing World": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B2NBH7R/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Andrew Root (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary)is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, USA. He writes and researches in areas of theology, ministry, culture and younger generations.  His most recent books are Churches and the Crisis of Decline (Baker, 2022), The Congregation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2021), The End of Youth Ministry? (Baker, 2020), The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need God (Baker, 2019), Faith Formation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2017), and Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science (Fortress Press, 2018). For Andy's new book "Churches and the Crisis of Decline : A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age": https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09B2L7JJB?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_3&storeType=ebooks If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums and more. 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

This is part 2 of the two part live lecture. Again, audio quality is very much "live" :) In this session, we'll explore some of the history behind Culture War Christianity and ask whether or not this response to the threat of cultural exile in America was ever theologically sound or effective. Special thanks to Everyday Church in Minneapolis for hosting these sessions. Part 1 is available here: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-eabu5-11f9e87 If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums and more. 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

This week's episode is part 1 of a live lecture I recently gave at Everyday Church in Minneapolis, MN. The purpose of this 2 part lecture is to give an introduction to some of the core principles of my particular framework for doing cultural theology and then to begin to do a bit of narrative and value comparison between the Guiding Stories of American macro-culture and the Kingdom of God. This is necessary groundwork for part 2 of the lecture which will focus in on assessing common evangelical understandings of the Guiding Story which contributed to the brand of Culture War Christianity that emerged in the 1980's. Special thanks to Everyday Church for inviting me in to share with their community. Apologies in advance for audio quality. This again was a live event and not a controlled podcast studio space, and audio reflects that live character. If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums and more. 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

Today's Episode is also available as a video at: https://youtu.be/f1tFOfMh2NU My friends from the Movies While They Sleep podcast join me to discuss where we may be able to find God and deep meaning embedded within some of the best films of the past couple years. Have movies replaced church as the primary place people go to in order to find guiding stories? Some of the films discussed include: The Green Knight Dune The Batman Sound of Metal Nightmare Alley A Hidden Life Check out Mitchell and Matthew's work on the Movies While They Sleep podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movies-while-they-sleep/id1553827672 If you find this podcast to be helpful and you want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? Members of the Deep Talks Patreon Community receive bonus Q & A Episodes, articles, charts, discussion forums and more. 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