Homebrewed Christianity

Brian McLaren is joining me on four Sunday evenings for some live QnA. This is our third QnA! You can join the online class, future sessions, submit questions, and access the video guide to the book by heading over here. PS… there is a three short video guide to the book you can use with a group ? This week we are joined by Chandrika Phea, author of Lord, I don’t want to Die a Christian.  Chandrika D. Phea, an ordained reverend, is an outdoor enthusiast, a triathlete, a Wellness Coordinator by profession, and a partner with W. Brand Publishing for the release of her debut book, “Lord, I Don’t Want to Die a Christian.” In 2005, she graduated from Beacon University with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Biblical Studies and then went on to complete a two-year teaching and missions assignment in China that ultimately revolutionized her life. For fun, Chandrika initiates local events (e.g. Bikes and Breakfast, Melanin Miles & More), providing her community’s Black women with trustworthy outdoor experiences. Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity†– just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of  The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and works closely with the Wild Goose Festival, the Fair Food Program, Vote Common Good, and Progressive Christianity. His recent projects include an illustrated children’s book (for all ages) called Cory and the Seventh Story and The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey, and Faith After Doubt. His newest book is Do I Stay Christian? and we are going to read it together. Previous Episodes with Brian Saying Yes to Christianity Questioning Christianity Do I Stay Christian? God – Pray – Driscoll Faith Beyond Fear in an Age of Terror 20 Years of Religious Decline A New Kind of Road Trip Parenting for the Common Good We need a new story! Avoiding spiritual and planetary collapse Brian McLaren & Pando Populus Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grace Ji-Sun Kim is back on the podcast to help me tackle some listener questions. We had a lot of fun as a theological tag team, and if you want to hang out with us, you can come to Theology Beer Camp! When registering for the event, drop the code MADANG for $50 off. Check out my visit to Grace’s podcast –Here’s the audio & here’s Madang on YouTube? Grace Ji-Sun Kim is Professor of Theology at Earlham School of Religion. She received her M.Div. from Knox College and her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. She is the author or editor of 19 books most recently, Keeping Hope Alive; Intersectional Theology co-written with Susan Shaw and Embracing the Other. Kim is a Series Editor for Palgrave Macmillan Series, “Asian Christianity in the Diasporaâ€. Eerdmans included her in their list of Five Great Women Scholars, and the Englewood Review of Books named her in their list of Ten Important Women Theologians You Should Be Reading Previous Episodes with Grace a Theology of Visibility  What is Intersectional Theology? The Prophetic Life of the Spirit Embracing the Other and Reading the Bible Keeping Hope Alive Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diana Bass is back on the podcast for a session of our ongoing series “Ruining Dinner.†We talk about religion and politics with a bunch of zest. Normally these conversations are for our community members, but we decided to share this one far and wide to invite you to come hang with us at Theology Beer Camp. Join us and a bunch of other “God Pods†at Theology Beer Camp this October 13-15. You can get $50 bucks off by using our code RUININGDINNER. More than coming to Camp, I wanted to lure you to join Diana’s Cottage community. If you join up she will give you a super secret discount for a $100 off camp! Head over here to become a supporting member of the cottage, and she will hook you up. Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community.   Previous Episodes with Diana & Tripp Bad Blood, Civil War, and other Soothing Topics Shall the Fundies (Keep) Winning?, Abortion, and Black Holes Theology and Spirituality in a Time of Rupture White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus 20 Years of Religious Decline Jesus After Religion and Beyond Fear Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Evangelical Decline, the Supreme Court, and the Horizon of Possibility Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants Religion, Politics, & the Elephant in the Room Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian McLaren is joining me on four Sunday evenings for some live QnA. This is our second QnA! You can join the online class, future sessions, submit questions, and access the video guide to the book by heading over here. PS… there is a three short video guide to the book you can use with a group Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity†– just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of  The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and works closely with the Wild Goose Festival, the Fair Food Program, Vote Common Good, and Progressive Christianity. His recent projects include an illustrated children’s book (for all ages) called Cory and the Seventh Story and The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey, and Faith After Doubt. His newest book is Do I Stay Christian? and we are going to read it together. Previous Episodes with Brian Saying Yes to Christianity Do I Stay Christian? God – Pray – Driscoll Faith Beyond Fear in an Age of Terror 20 Years of Religious Decline A New Kind of Road Trip Parenting for the Common Good We need a new story! Avoiding spiritual and planetary collapse Brian McLaren & Pando Populus Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joerg Rieger has a brand new book and Catherine Keller joins the podcast for the celebration! You will want to check out Joerg’s new book Theology in the Capitalocene. In the episode I asked questions that bring themes from the book into conversation with Keller’s own work. While I may be bias, I am confident a theology nerd is going really get into this one! Catherine Keller is George T. Cobb Professor of Constructive Theology in The Graduate Division of Religion of Drew University. If you are new to Catherine Keller and Process Theology this is the book to start with – On the Mystery: Discerning Divinity In Process. Joerg Rieger is Distinguished Professor of Theology and the Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies. He is also the founding director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. For more than two decades, he has worked to bring together theology and the struggles for justice and liberation that mark our age. His work addresses the relation of theology and public life, reflecting on the misuse of power in religion, politics, and economics. His main interest is in developments and movements that bring about change and in the positive contributions of religion and theology. His constructive work in theology draws on a wide range of historical and contemporary traditions, with a concern for manifestations of the divine in the pressures of everyday life. Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back by popular request is Dr. Ryan Burge! When he was last here, we discussed some myths about Religion and Politics.  Today he returns to the podcast and brings 5 graphs of religion data and we proceed to explore them and generate hot takes about them. To see the graphs themselves, you can watch the video below or go check them out on his super graph heavy twitter. Here’s how wild public opinion is — Among people who want a total ban on abortion (which is about 20% of the population): 67% of them would support a proposal to make college debt free! 77% favor paid maternity leave! pic.twitter.com/zGJe1iGCgy — Ryan Burge ? (@ryanburge) August 26, 2022 How much does religion impact fertility? A lot. About 75% of 40-year-old Mormons have kids. It’s 40% of atheists or agnostics. A majority of atheist/agnostics never have children. pic.twitter.com/imliUawHx5 — Ryan Burge ? (@ryanburge) August 24, 2022 Politically liberal Christians engage in less religious activity than politically conservative ones. This is percent praying weekly. Among just Protestants and Catholics. ~82% of Conservatives pray weekly or more. It’s ~70% of Liberals. pic.twitter.com/wrkmRLIiUd — Ryan Burge ? (@ryanburge) August 22, 2022 Here’s how I know. In 2021, the GSS asked people to self ID as atheist or agnostic. Guess what? 35% who say that they don’t believe in God don’t ID as atheist. And for those who express an agnostic belief only 37% identify as agnostic! Belief ? belonging! pic.twitter.com/hyFsW7gIOa — Ryan Burge ? (@ryanburge) August 8, 2022 Young women are more likely to be nones than young men in 2021. That wasn’t the case in 2008. In 2008, men born in 1980 were just as likely to be nones as those born in 1990. Now, men born in 2000 are a bit *less* likely to be nones than those born in 1990. https://t.co/3NOMqZH4cx pic.twitter.com/rMMOvqH0ZU — Ryan Burge ? (@ryanburge) July 22, 2022 Ryan P. Burge is an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. Author of numerous journal articles, he is the co-founder of and a frequent contributor to Religion in Public, a forum for scholars of religion and politics to make their work accessible to a general audience. Burge is a pastor in the American Baptist Church. Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian McLaren is joining me on four Sunday evenings for some live QnA. This is the first week! You can join the online class, future sessions, submit questions, and access the video guide to the book by heading over here. Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity†– just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of  The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and works closely with the Wild Goose Festival, the Fair Food Program, Vote Common Good, and Progressive Christianity. His recent projects include an illustrated children’s book (for all ages) called Cory and the Seventh Story and The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey, and Faith After Doubt. His newest book is Do I Stay Christian? and we are going to read it together. Previous Episodes with Brian Do I Stay Christian? God – Pray – Driscoll Faith Beyond Fear in an Age of Terror 20 Years of Religious Decline A New Kind of Road Trip Parenting for the Common Good We need a new story! Avoiding spiritual and planetary collapse Brian McLaren & Pando Populus Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Aaron Simmons is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Furman University. He returns to the podcast for some seriously nerdy fun. We tackled a number of questions from Homebrewed Community members. Our questions include… Polly — How do I stop feeling angry and sick when I think about the god I believed in for 35 years? Bryan (min 32)— Do I have a soul? Growing up in southern Baptist church I was convinced that my soul was the truest thing about me, but now I wonder if what God really wants of involves my physical body on this physical world we are situated in. Tyler (min 101)— What is the use of the church if everything it was founded on is myth? I just can’t see any reason to pick up my Bible or to congregate if there’s no absolute truth to the writings. Nothing matters. Nothing is real. Life feels completely purposeless. Becky (min 116) — How do people interpret the Bible in so many different ways that are so far apart? Nathan (min 125) — What is the purpose of concepts like “good, true, beautiful, justice†if they are always changing and never agreed upon? How are they more than a person or culture’s preferences in bold? His previous visits to the podcast include…”Off-Road Religion & Pandemic Philosophizing,” â€Smells Like Teenage Phenomenology†& “Whose Christianity, Which Postmodernism?†Youtube Channel, “Philosophy for Where We Find Ourselvesâ€: TedX Speaker: “The Failure of Success†Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rings of Power is not out and about in the world! After seeing the first two episodes, I have been able to exhale, knowing the show isn’t going to be the nightmare many of us Tolkien Heads feared. It was surprisingly good. In this live-streamed episode, Nick Polk and I were joined by singer, poet, and connoisseur of fantasies, Kevin Max. Kevin is a four-time Grammy-winning vocalist, whose work began in DC Talk and has since explored a host of different genres from spoken-word, electronica, and rock. On his previous visit to the podcast, we discussed his most recent rock band – the Sad Astronauts. Great album! Don’t forget to check out his current Kickstarter. Each supporter gets a digital download of his collection of fantasy songs, including The Greatest Adventure from the Hobbit. Want to access the most zest lectures from the Tolkien Heads class? Head over here and join up.   Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when three of my best friends come on the podcast to answer your questions? This. My friends and friends of the pod, Sarah, Myron, and Dan are here for the nerdy fun. Recently, I have been reading collecting listener questions and then asking myself, ‘what nerdy friend should answer this first?’ In this episode we tackle three questions, each selected so a specific guest could answer the question first. It did not disappoint. If you want to hang with me, Dan from You Have Permission pod, Sarah and Myron, then come on out the Theology Beer Camp. Drop Dan’s code YHP in for $50 off your ticket. Dr. Myron Penner is a professor of philosophy at Trinity Western University and director of the Anabaptist-Mennonite Centre for Faith and Learning. On top of being a stellar scholar, he is a dear friend and the coolest Mennonite Canadian philosopher on planet earth ? Here’s Myron’s previous visit to the podcast – Navigating Philosophy & Religion Dr. Sarah Lane Ritchie received her B.A. in Philosophy & Religion from Spring Arbor University, an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an M.Sc. in Science & Religion from the University of Edinburgh. She obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh in Science & Religion with a thesis on divine action and the human mind, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of St. Andrews. She has published a book with Cambridge University Press and numerous articles in academic journals, and continues research in the field of science and religion. Sarah’s Previous Podcast Visits a Minimally Viable God Concept Staff Lounge Shenanigans Can Scientists study gods, souls, and rituals? an Integrated Physicality and the Sacred Trilogies, Atonement Power Rankings, & Sex Work at Happy Hour Everyone You Ever Loved Will Die, so Merry Christmas! Kombucha, Meditation, Tarot, and Stink Bombs Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices