The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast

Part 2 of my wide-ranging and though-prvoking conversation with Karen Garst, "The Faithless Feminist," continues in this episode. For those undergoing a process of discovery and deconstruction of their inherited belief systems--particularly coming out of a fundamentalist or conservative religious framework--then this episode is a must-listen. That process is fraught with emotional threats: fear, anxiety, and separation from loved ones. But it can also foster learning and new directions for life, previously unimagined. Don't miss this one!

"Religion contributes to--or directly causes--gender inequity." Particularly in the case of women, this statement is certainly true--both historically, and even now in terms of religions. Women have been marginalized, oppressed, shunned, vilified, and more by a variety of religions, and not just limited to Christianity. In this episode, I engage in a wide-ranging interview with author, blogger, feminist and atheist Karen L. Garst, who wrote a fascinating work interviewing 22 women from a variety of Judeo-Christian religions who have left it all behind--and who are finding out what life can be like without religion.

What standard to you use to measure success? In our money- and achievement-driven Western world, where success is measured in very quantifiable ways by our current society, this becomes a very important issue. You could, for example, be considered a huge success if you're wealthy, have a large house, several (expensive) cars in the driveway, or have a high-powered job moving fast up the corporate ladder. On the other hand, you could be considered a total failure—that is, if you're being judged by certain current cultural standards. Shawn Manley and I revisit this point in more detail in the second half of our conversation, and relate the metrics for success into the realm of the church also. Don't miss this conversation!

How do you measure success? Depending upon the yardstick you use, the answer to that question can vary wildly. Pastors of churches, for example, can measure "success" by the number of members attending their church; how many are on church staff; or by the church's annual budget. Others measure success by how much money they earn, or where they're at on the corporate ladder--which rung are you on? "Success," however, is actually much more difficult to quantify than just by numbers alone. Measuring the metrics for success depends on which qualifiers you use to measure it. In the first half of our conversation, Shawn and I discuss his experiences of being a church planter in Southern California, how that experience ended, and talk about our shared stories of church leadership. What constitutes "success," and how do you define it? Find out in this episode!

What is the legacy of one, single sermon? Even though Jonathan Edwards, the famous American theologian, preacher, missionary and pastor, is well-known in academic circles for his volumes of work, most people know him only from one sermon he preached in 1741: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." But did toxic theology affect Edwards personally? It certainly had an impact both on his personal life, and this famous sermon also. That this one sermon still resonates down through the centuries is testimony to not only its rhetorical power, but the after-effect on so many things: political and religious discourse, Calvinist theology as it developed in America, evangelism, missions, and revivals. In this episode, I unpack the historical context of both the Puritans as well as Jonathan Edwards, the man. What led him to preach such a sermon, and what has been its legacy? Find out in this episode!

What's it like to grow up in a strict Christian, fundamentalist home? The effects of growing up being "sheltered from the evil world" can linger with people, long after they've grown up, left home, and are raising families of their own. Sometimes they never do get out, and are still within "the system." My sister Valerie Cunningham and I got together and recorded this episode sharing our stories of growing up, and surviving, a fundamentalist Christian upbringing. Valerie also shares her heartbreaking story of becoming pregnant at just 17, giving up her child for adoption, and dealing with the fallout of the many decisions that were made for her at the time. If any of these issues relates to you, or describe your own journey, then you are not going to want to miss this podcast episode!

Did Jesus ever do, or say, anything wrong? This is the major question posed by Dr Hector Avalos in his book, The Bad Jesus: The Ethics of New Testament Ethics, and this forms the basis of the discussion in Part 2 of this episode. Perhaps the real question is this: can such a question even be raised without offending large swathes of Christians worldwide? If Jesus was supra-human (both human and divine), as most Christians hold, then he lived a sinless life--and should be viewed as the paragon of virtue and as a substantive base for ethical behavior. If, however, he was human, then surely he must have had flaws--as do we all. Can you question this? Don't miss this episode, as Dr Avalos and I explore these questions and more.

Are you prepared to deconstruct your faith, beliefs and presuppositions? If so, then you won't want to miss this episode, as I talk with Dr Hector Avalos, professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University. Dr Avalos is a "New Atheist"--one who isn't trying to disprove the existence of God, but rather seeks to warn people about the dangers inherent within religion--and religionism. In this first episode, Dr Avalos discusses what it means to be a New Atheist, biblical literacy and society at large, and other topics that will challenge some of the things you think you believe and know about God and the Bible.

What kind of an impact can a single sermon have on the lives of people? Not much, or a great deal? Historically, in 1095 AD Pope Urban II preached a sermon in Clermont, France, that launched the bloodshed of the Crusades to the Holy Land. Not only were hideous atrocities committed, the legacy of that sermon resonates down through the centuries. Even today, Christians, Jews and Muslims alike are still living in the shadow of the actions caused by--one sermon. In the second half of "Preaching with a Bias," Gary and I examine in more detail the sociological impact of sermons on the lives of ordinary churchgoers, and how the use--or abuse--of Scripture can lead to a lot of toxic theology that does incredible damage in the lives of people. We'll also take a look at the legacy of fundamentalist preaching and interpretation of the Bible, and how certain theological and interpretative commitments work themselves out in the real world.

What effect does listening to years of sermons have on a person's psyche, behavior, and mental health? In this episode of the newly-named "MindShift" podcast (formerly "The Preacher's Forum podcast"), Gary Hayes and I tackle the subject of preaching, and its effects on people. If you're a preacher, then you will benefit from this episode! Question your biases, presuppositions and hermeneutical commitments. If you are a listener of sermons in churches, then you will also benefit from this episode! Deconstruct your beliefs in God, the Bible, and what you hear regularly from the pulpit.