Deep Talks | Cultural Theology with Paul Anleitner

Today’s episode is part 2 of my conversation with two Gen Z Youtubers who had read my new book and brought me on to their channels for a discussion about how the problem of evil and suffering uniquely affects their generation’s willingness to trust the Christian story. In today’s episode, we focus more on the challenge for Gen Z folks who are interested in the Christian story but struggle with the moral evils they see happening in Christian communities.   Special thanks to the two excellent interviewers, Jake Marlow and Theohopcracy: Check out their channels here: https://www.youtube.com/@jakemarlow4526 https://www.youtube.com/@Theohopracy   Buy my debut book Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering here: https://www.amazon.com/Dis-Ordered-Christian-Journey-Through-Suffering/dp/B0BBYBWWXR ___________ If you find this podcast helpful and want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? You're not only supporting this podcast, but you are also supporting my free Substack page and YouTube channel. We need 200 patrons to ensure that my work can continue in 2023. https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner    

In today’s episode, I sit down with a couple of Gen Z YouTubers who read my book Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering and wanted to discuss aspects of the problem of evil & suffering that feel relevant to their generation. It was a fascinating opportunity to talk about the shape of faith and the meaning crisis for Gen Z - a generation that, by their own admission, is surrounded by material abundance and yet feels a deep sense of existential dread and nihilism.   Check out Jake Marlow and Theohopcracy's channels here: https://www.youtube.com/@jakemarlow4526 https://www.youtube.com/@Theohopracy   Buy my debut book Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering here: https://www.amazon.com/Dis-Ordered-Christian-Journey-Through-Suffering/dp/B0BBYBWWXR ___________ If you find this podcast helpful and want to see it continue ad-free, would you consider becoming a supporter on Patreon? You're not only supporting this podcast, but you are also supporting my free Substack page and YouTube channel. We need 200 patrons to ensure that my work can continue in 2023. https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast Connect with Paul Anleitner on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/PaulAnleitner  

Patrick Miller is the co-author of Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant, and in today's episode we discuss some of the scientific and social factors that are contributing to the intense tribal polarization in America. How does the Culture War make Truth a casualty? How might Christians learn from our past mistakes and offer a better way forward? How can we navigate politically charged conversations with friends, family, and neighbors more effectively? You can pick up Patrick Miller and Keith Simon's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Over-Tribe-Pledging-Allegiance/dp/0830784780 Check out Truth Over Tribe's podcast and blog at: choosetruthovertribe.com You can purchase my debut book Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBYBWWXR ________ 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, forum discussions and access to regular Group Discussions on Zoom. Help us reach our first goal of 300 patrons in order to sustain weekly, ad-free theological and philosophical education to anyone with an internet connection! 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 Join our Discord community at: https://discord.gg/BzWetde3

The moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt proposed in his book The Righteous Mind that humans are "90% chimpanzee and 10% bee." According to Haidt, humans have a "hive switch" that, given the right circumstances, can be switched on and move us from self-centered concerns to a euphoric sense of being connected to some larger whole. Exploring Haidt's work and the proposal of Emile Durkheim that there's an evolutionary mechanism that psychological moves us from "the realm of the profane" to the "realm of the sacred," we'll take a look at whether or not our experiences of God in Christian worship are nothing more than this hive switch being turned on. Plus, I'll lay out a case of why studying the science of this should actually convict Christians all the more for the need to practice what the Apostle Paul called the "discerning of spirits."   You can purchase (and please consider reviewing) my debut book Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBYBWWXR ________ 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, forum discussions and more. STARTING THIS MONTH, WE'LL HAVE AN PATREON COMMUNITY GROUP ZOOM HANG-OUT to build relationships with others across the world and to do theology and meaning-making together. Help us reach our first goal of 300 patrons in order to sustain weekly, ad-free theological and philosophical education to anyone with an internet connection! 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 Join our Discord community at: https://discord.gg/BzWetde3  

Last week my debut book Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering was released, and I wanted to share a couple of excerpts from the book, including a personal story of one of my earliest recollections of a moment when I asked, "where are you, God?"   This question, and a host of other questions that we often uncover as we grapple with that one, can often lead those who have suffered to abandon their trust in the Christian story and push them to leave Christian community. But I do not think this has to be the result. It wasn't for me.   You can purchase (and please consider reviewing) Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBYBWWXR ______________ 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, forum discussions and more. STARTING THIS MONTH, WE'LL HAVE AN PATREON COMMUNITY GROUP ZOOM HANG-OUT to build relationships with others across the world and to do theology and meaning-making together. Help us reach our first goal of 300 patrons in order to sustain weekly, ad-free theological and philosophical education to anyone with an internet connection! 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

Hey everyone, this week it's the launch of my brand new book  Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering, and because of all the wonderful activity I'm immersed in with the launch of this book, I thought it might be nice to just go back into the archives and pull out an important conversation from the past with Dr. John Walton. You can purchase my new book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBYBWWXR     For those who see the Bible as inspired and authoritative, are we stuck having to choose between believing the Bible or our science textbooks? Here to talk about three difficult sections of Genesis that frequently emerge in science and faith discussions is Dr. John Walton. John Walton is an Old Testament scholar who specializes in Ancient Near Eastern culture. He’s a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, and has authored numerous commentaries and books. Most notably (for the purposes of today’s episode): NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Cultural-Backgrounds-Study-Bible/dp/0310431581/ref=nodl_ The Lost World of Genesis One https://www.amazon.com/Lost-World-Genesis-One-Cosmology/dp/0830837043/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24F38TL8J6WKL&dchild=1&keywords=lost+world+of+genesis+one&qid=1615766976&s=books&sprefix=Lost+world+of+gene%2Cstripbooks%2C184&sr=1-1   The Lost World of Adam & Eve https://www.amazon.com/Lost-World-Adam-Eve-Genesis/dp/0830824618/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/143-4558116-9547317?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0830824618&pd_rd_r=2f28dd49-d481-4f8a-8416-7e8bac0aa5df&pd_rd_w=mvDuR&pd_rd_wg=nx0O9&pf_rd_p=f325d01c-4658-4593-be83-3e12ca663f0e&pf_rd_r=SRRPYXZ3KH87T2Z25938&psc=1&refRID=SRRPYXZ3KH87T2Z25938 The Lost World of the Flood (with Tremper Longman III) https://www.amazon.com/Lost-World-Flood-Mythology-Theology/dp/083085200X/ref=pd_bxgy_img_3/143-4558116-9547317?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=083085200X&pd_rd_r=ab477638-60d5-4711-b8f7-ac02ba251f1c&pd_rd_w=6sotH&pd_rd_wg=DVxzX&pf_rd_p=f325d01c-4658-4593-be83-3e12ca663f0e&pf_rd_r=ZT91H5TQV6CFXE95EFYA&psc=1&refRID=ZT91H5TQV6CFXE95EFYA 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, forum discussions and more. STARTING THIS MONTH, WE'LL HAVE AN PATREON COMMUNITY GROUP ZOOM HANG-OUT to build relationships with others across the world and to do theology and meaning-making together. Help us reach our first goal of 300 patrons in order to sustain weekly, ad-free theological and philosophical education to anyone with an internet connection! 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  

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