The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

Did Jesus of Nazareth actually exist? Believe it or not, this is not the first time this question has been posed by theologians and biblical scholars.  Dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, scholars responding to biblical higher criticism sought to find the "real Jesus of history"--not the Jesus of the Gospels, whom they alleged had been covered up by layers of traditions. But today, mythicist and atheist David Fitzgerald questions whether Jesus even lived at all, or if he was indeed a construct of literary and theological notions. Author of Nailed: 10 Christian Myths that show Jesus Never Existed at All and Jesus: Mything in Action, David searches both the biblical and historical records to see if Jesus ever walked the earth. Join me for the first half of this challenging and thought-provoking discussion!  

Should Christians who believe in "young earth creation" be threatened by the notion of ancient civilizations that predate all major world religions? Only if their own worldview is so narrowly restricted with a literalist reading of the Bible. In the second half of my conversation with Andrew Gurevich of Portland, OR, we somehow tie together: apophatic theology, neurology, politics on the right and left, and paleolithic cave art. How is this possible? I'm not entirely sure myself, but somehow Andrew is able to tie all those seemingly diverse threads together and make it work.  

How does a person go from evangelical Christian, studying at Bible college and seminary, to becoming an angry atheist and now an expert in paleolithic cave art? Believe it or not, this trajectory describes the life of this week's guest: Andrew Gurevich of Portland, OR, USA. A leading mythologist and teacher of world religions, Andrew is fast becoming an expert on not just ancient cave art, but also explores the connections between humanity, religion, spirituality, politics, and tribalism. In this first half, Andrew talks about his upbringing and how it's all come full-circle somehow, in this process of becoming who he is.    

Part 2 of my conversation with "Seamus Clarke" (a pseudonym) continues our exploration of the deconstruction of his Christian faith.  What happens when you mix the childhood trauma of sexual abuse, a distant father with major issues of his own, evangelical dogma, "spiritual bypassing," and life in a red-state, Trump-supporting Bible belt? Let "Seamus" tell his story of a man who is in the process of questioning all these things and more. Adding all those issues up, and then layering a veneer of Christian respectability and platitudes that are supposed to deal with trauma...then what you end up with is a particularly American brand of evangelical Christianity that desperately needs to be deconstructed.

This week's episode of MindShift podcast features a discussion with "Seamus Clarke," who feels the need to use a pseudonym to protect both himself and his family. Why use a fake name? This is actually quite a common theme--people raised in the evangelical or fundamentalist church feel that they cannot "be themselves" and tell their friends and family members still steeped in the church that they've gone down the road of deconstruction and discovery. Seamus is in a similar position...but just because he uses a pseudonym doesn't stop us from having a deep and meaningful conversation about his childhood, experiences of trauma, and how the church badly failed him.      

Today's episode features a discussion with Richard Jacobson, author of Unchurching: Christianity Without Churchianity."  Have you left the church behind? Perhaps you have, but still seek a sense of community. But if you've abandoned the "institutional church," yet still consider yourself a Christian who yearns for an authentic experience of church, where do you turn? Listen in as Richard offers a biblical and theological deconstruction of the institutional church, and lays out his vision of what he believes the church should be all about.    

In the second half of my conversation with David Madison, we finish up talking about biblical inerrancy and move on to two tough problems facing Christianity: the problem of evil and the atonement. Theologians and scholars alike--both within Judaism and Christianity--have struggled to explain the problem of evil. Theodicy--a defense of a supposedly all-powerful, all-knowing and all-benevolent God--has long been a mainstay of both religions. David and I tackle this as well as discussing related issues with God requiring a human sacrifice so that human beings could go to heaven. Couldn't the God, who makes all the rules, just forgive everybody without requiring Jesus to die?  

If you are someone who identifies as a Christian, do you feel you have the freedom to question what you think you believe, and what you think you know? Can you prove the existence of God and Jesus with 100% certainty? Is the Bible indeed inspired, inerrant (without error), infallible and totally trustworthy in everything it affirms? If you are in the process of deconstructing your faith, or just want to challenge your belief system, then don't miss this thought-provoking conversation with David Madison, author of 10 Tough Problems in Christian Thought and Belief: A Minister Turned Atheist Shows Why You Should Ditch the Faith.  In this first half of 2 episodes, we discuss David's own faith journey from pastor to atheist, and challenge some of Christianity's sacred cows. Don't miss this conversation!

MindShift podcast is back for 2018! Since I never did a pilot episode when I started the podcast nearly a year ago, it's time to do one now! Originally called "The Preacher's Forum Podcast," a lot has changed over the last year. As I continue down the road on this journey of deconstruction, discovery and now reconstruction, will you join me in 2018? In this episode, I lay out 2 helpful models for those who have left the church behind. Where are you on the spectrum? Find yourself along the scale! Also, I explore a helpful analogy of a "kernel and husk" that will help you to think critically about Christianity--as a religion.  

In this final episode of MindShift for 2017, Ray Gilford and I finish our discussion we began last week on the subject of biblical inerrancy--the fundamentalist belief that "the Bible is 100% error-free"--inerrant. In Part 2, Ray opens up about his own personal journey away from church. The idea of biblical absolutism--the teaching that the Bible is all that is necessary for faith and practice--permeates many a conservative evangelical church today. This, in part, has led Ray away from the mainstream church, and on a journey of deconstructing his own faith and belief systems. Perhaps this describes your own personal journey away from mainstream churches. If so, then you won't want to miss Part 2! MindShift will return in January 2018 so stay tuned for some outstanding interviews and conversations on a wide variety of topics related to God, the church, and spirituality. Join me on the journey of deconstruction and discovery!