Homebrewed Christianity

Rev. Ryan Eller, master storyteller and executive director at Define American is on to talk about politics, religion, and immigration. Define American is a non-profit working for immigrant rights. They have a lot of local chapters all over the country, organize on college campuses against alt-right groups, and have a film festival that highlights how we all intersect with one another. Ryan talks about his experience as a baptist in Appalachia, how he ended up working for political campaigns, and finally ended up with Define American. He gives advice for those who want to figure out how to take action around an issue or passion, talks about the difference between letting your faith direct your political action and letting your political beliefs shape your faith, the radical Baptist heritage, the hypocrisy of conservative Christians, the fatalism of Appalachia and how growing up there has informed his faith, and why rural white poverty is not a real concern in the political landscape. Tripp and Ryan also talk about what forced migration looks like today, how it is changing and will change America, and some of the lies that are being told about immigrants in America. Plus, Tripp and Ryan throw some shade and exegete a Jerry Falwell Jr. tweet, and 3 myths the church believes that prevent action from being taken. Watch Ryan on the Tucker Carlson show here and answer three questions sent in from Homebrewed listeners here. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Rose, mega nerd and Lutheran minister at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Chapel Hill stopped by the Homebrewed Studio to talk about theology, culture, and geekdom. Plus, the whole second half of the interview is an in-depth look at the latest Star Wars films (spoiler alert). Will talks a little bit about a grant his church has to help model healthy conversations about religion and science, his first love in the geek world, the connections between being a minister and geek culture, why he started the "God Loves Geeks" bookclub and the questions driving it, officiating a cosplay wedding, and larping... Why are we better at exegeting comic books and movies than scripture? Why can't we approach scripture the same way we approach comics? Plus, how he is helping people practice good conversations around graphic novels, comics, and movies, and carrying that over to scripture, the reason we are so drawn to stories, and the importance of shared narratives. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Root, Associate Professor and Carrie Olson Baalson Chair of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, is back on the podcast to talk about his new book, Faith Formation in a Secular Age. This is the first of three books engaging Charles Taylor's work.; church's obsession with Youthfulness Andrew and Tripp talk about their mutual love for Charles Taylor, Andrew's work expanding it into a new way of understanding God's presence, ministry, and divine action, the origins of youth ministry in America, and the church's obsession with youthfulness. Andrew also explains the origins of the book, how Taylor's work offers a great way to interpret what young people are going through, explains what Taylor means by the Age of Authenticity, and the politics of recognition. Plus, they discuss Bonhoeffer and the youth movement, the church's desire for recognition by today's youth, secularism and the reduction of faith, the burden of belief, divine action, mystical experiences and church membership, and Andrew gives a little taste of what the second book in the series will be about... Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy and Christian Piatt from Homebrewed CultureCast join Tripp to extend a warm invitation to join the Surviving the Bible for Lent community. For a lot of us these texts have been used as weapons, experienced as burdens, so let's acknowledge that together and discover what it looks like to survive the bible today. If you're interested in thinking about scripture in a new and different way, this is the group for you. Amy, Christian and Tripp will answer your questions about the bible (or how to survive reading the Bible) every Monday through Friday throughout Lent. Once a week, all three will do a live video talking about the lectionary texts for that week. Plus, you'll also have access to a community of people where you can connect with others who have similar ideas and questions. One of the unique aspects of this group is that the responses and questions are happening in real time, not something pre-packaged and devoid of context. The video reflections and live streams will not just be answering your questions about reading the Bible, but will be addressing and engaging what's going on in world politically, culturally, religiously, etc. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guess what? I made a movie. The Road to Edmond It's a buddy road trip comedy that explores questions around faith, sexuality, Jesus, and other dinner topics. I can't wait for you to see the trailer and this Spring/Summer the film itself. In this episode the film's producer, David Trotter, asks me questions, provokes stories, and gets me ranting a couple times. Since Indie films are just that - indie - I hope you consider being a part of the film's hype team (of sorts). I am excited for all the conversations the film will spark and hope you all can help us get the word out. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the podcast is Amy Brown Hughes, assistant professor of theology at Gordon College, and co-author withLynn Cohick, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, of the book Christian Women in the Patristic World. Amy wanted to understand what influence the women of this period had on the development of Christianity, and, more importantly, how can women in the church own that tradition. why don't we know more about these stories? how the role and power of women shift in relation to the church's relation to empire? what are the biggest misconceptions about this period in the church and the academy? how do the martyr narratives continue to shape discipleship when we're out of that context? Plus, theology as responsible remembrance, negotiating the history of the church in today's context, dealing with the uncomfortable parts of the past while still receiving the tradition responsibly, and Gregory of Nyssa of the submission of Christ and 1 Corinthians 15:20-28. You can get a copy of Athanasius' On the Incarnation here. Make sure to follow Amy on twitter @amybrownhughes Thanks to all of the new Homebrewed members that have signed up to donate monthly to help support the podcast and be a part of the community. You can help support the podcast by going to homebrewedcommunity.com and join today! Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Leonard, author of the Homebrewed Guide To Church History, is back on the podcast - this time LIVE at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Tripp and Bill talk about his love of history, the concept of history, the politics of who gets to define what history is and what the church is in a postmodern context, growing up a baptist in the 60's, and white supremacy in church history. Hear Bill talk about the tension between wanting to be a part of an ethnically diverse congregation while at the same time not wanting to dilute the voices of minority or marginalized groups, confederate monuments in downtown Raleigh and the "lost cause" mythology, and the death rattle of protestant privilege. Thanks to all of the new Homebrewed members that have signed up to donate monthly to help support the podcast and be a part of the community. You can help support the podcast by going to homebrewedcommunity.com and join today! Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To kick off the first Homebrewed interview of the new year, Tripp is talking with John Swinton about time, disability, and all things nerdy. John is the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen and founder of the Centre for the Study of Spirituality, Health and Disability. Learn a little bit about how John become vocationally a scholar of religion and interested in religion and disability studies, how his work as a chaplain lead to his work as a practical theologian, and how issues surrounding the lives of people with disability shaped his research interests. John gives a very helpful and simple definition of practical theology, talks about the rituals and practices in the life of the church and their impact on the lives of people with disabilities, disability and the shift from charity to discipleship, and the way our conception of time shapes our ideas of friendships and relationship from his newest book, Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship. what does it mean for someone with advanced dementia to have forgotten, perhaps, who Jesus is, and yet still be a disciple with a vocation in the church? is inclusion really the solution for people with disabilities within the church? how does disability change our perception of what it means to be human? Plus, Tripp and John talk about a theology of time, Saint Augustine's discussion of time in Confessions, our obsession with time and how it has shaped our ideas of vocation in the modern world, memory and embodied spiritual practices, the need for honesty and lament and how all of this changes our understanding of Jesus' healing narratives, and the spiritual dimension of health and how ideas of health in the bible are different from what Western medicine considers health. John mentions this paper in the conversation, and you can find a great syndicate discussion about John's book with his replies here. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to Advent and chill. Tripp heads to Christ the King Lutheran Church in Cary, North Carolina and is joined by Will Rose and Daniel Pugh to talk about the theological significance of cosplay and comic books, the virgin birth and incarnation, and of course, making Advent great again. They tackle some questions from the Make Advent Great Again pop-up community, such as: What is advent anyway? What are we supposed to do with the virgin birth stuff? Is Advent apocalyptic? Plus, they discuss the inherent tension we feel in Advent, how to actively hope, the importance of the prophets this time of year, the unexpected ways God enters the world, the ways the gospel narratives subvert imperial narratives through the virgin birth story, how to redeem words that creep out progressive Christians, and how the new Star Wars movie and Advent are connected. So calm down, chill, and make your Advent great again. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rev. Sarah Heath, host of the Sonderlust The Podcast, the Bishop of Tapestry at the inaugural #theologybeercamp, and pastor at First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa visit visited North Carolina and sat down with Tripp to talk about her conflicted upbringing (being both a Canadian and from Mississippi), her podcast - Sonderlust - the origins of it, the challenges of dating as a minister, the difficulties of having relationships as an adult, and how to have a life outside of your career. After some fun Sarah and Tripp get deep and talk about the questions that energize her faith, watching her mom go through radiation while in seminary, what happens when the one thing you hang your identity on falls away, and her book, What's Your Story. Plus, can Tripp and Sarah remember what TULIP stands for? Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was Saint Nick white? Did Saint Nick really slap Arius at the Council of Nicea? Whose side would Saint Nick take in the war on Christmas? This is an all Saint Nick barrel-aged episode with Adam English. Learn about the historical St. Nick, the person behind the myths and legends and the confusion surrounding him, how he challenged systems of oppression, a brief history of Catholic social teachings, and how St. Nick provides the best model for the Christmas season. Adam talks about the types of practical questions the christological heart of St. Nick poses to the church in the Christmas season, the ways we edit not just the historical person of St. Nick, but also the incarnation and birth narratives of Jesus to make them more palatable for our contemporary society, and he asks: do we need to get rid of Christmas to save it? or do we just give in and remove any vestige of Christ from Christmas? Plus, Tripp and Adam talk about how to negotiate (especially for parents) the history and myth of St. Nick while also preserving the mystery. If you're interested in reading more (and some excellent stocking stuffers) check out these books by Adam: The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus, and Christmas: Theological Anticipations Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rev. Dr. Christopher Rodkey, the sermonizer of radical theology, is back to talk about Advent, radical theology, and church planting. Make sure to check out the Coloring Advent coloring book with Jesse and Natalie Turri (also Coloring Lent). Christopher talks with Tripp about why they made an Advent coloring book, what led to its development, and what the process of creating a theological coloring book was like. Download Sample Coloring Pages Here Christopher also talks about how a radical theologian approaches Advent, the centrality of incarnation and kenosis, and how they are in contrast to the more commercialized approach to Advent. Tripp and Christopher also talk about: the political aspects of Advent, what is it that we are lamenting when we talk about the secularization of Christmas? did the Grinch become Christian? preaching Advent The conversation also touches on Christopher's experiment with church planting within a church, rethinking adult VBS, and using biblical hermeneutics as a way of approaching the world. He gets really practical, gives a ton of great advice for seminarians, pastors, and all people who care about the future of the church. Plus you'll get to hear about his passion project, The Radical theology Handbook. You can keep up with Christopher on Facebook or at stpaulsdallastown.org Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for a super nerdy, no holds barred podcast with Philip Clayton, Ingraham Professor of Theology at the Claremont School of Theology. This is the first time that Philip has been on since Tripp finished his PhD (Philip was his adviser), and now that the power dynamic has shifted, they can tell each other what they really think. You'll get to hear a little unfiltered conversation about Tripp's dissertation, the historical, existential, and metaphysical registers of Christ and God, the things about Tripp's dissertation that surprised himself, our cultural phobia surrounding saying the word God, Pannenberg's existential approach to Christianity, and what verse in the bible Philip knew couldn't be true. Plus: Tillich, language, and symbols the presence (or lack) of a tradition to draw upon and the intersection of Whiteheadian aesthetics, embodiment, and ethics. Can a process theologian be an Evangelical with a high christology? Does God win in the end? Do you need to have a complete eschatology to have a persuasive Christianity? Is it possible take both historical criticism and special revelation seriously? Is God personal and does God have a personality? All of these topics are fair game in this Q&A session. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back by popular demand, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza sits down to talk with Tripp about Thanksgiving, the theology of nostalgia, and the politics of wholeness. They discuss: the postwar origins of Thanksgiving how do we reconcile the Christian rhetoric of gratitude and the founding of our country on the genocide of indigenous peoples appropriate (and inappropriate) holiday costumes for children what did the first thanksgiving look like? do we really know that story? the bad theology of nostalgia and the bad politics of wholeness how to develop practices of togetherness Plus, Robyn and Tripp talk about a cool new #goactivisttheology project you won't want to miss. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Galli, author of Karl Barth: An Introductory Biography for Evangelicals, and editor-in-chief for Christianity Today, is on the podcast to talk about Karl Barth, Evangelicalism in America, and homebrewing. You'll hear him discuss how he became editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, the role of Christianity Today in American religion, and the cultural, political, and religious levels of meaning for the term "Evangelical." Mark tells a story about his encounter with Barth in a coffee shop in Santa Cruz, and the origins of the book. Plus the themes and ideas in Barth's work that are controversial for Evangelicals, and what Barth most has to offer Evangelicals. This conversation goes way beyond the topics of the book and include: Barth's respect and friendship with theologians with whom he deeply disagreed the polarization of American politics and religion Barth's reinterpretation of the reformed tradition and his view on the doctrine of election Rob Bell and the task of preaching the increased Evangelical support of Trump the superiority of democratic socialism for bible believing Christians whether we can (and should) separate the theology from the theologian, that is, their personal behavior and what they peach, and boundary markers for Evangelicals And don't miss some nerdy homebrewing conversation at the end. You can learn more about Mark's work by visiting: christianitytoday.com/gallireport Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Theologian and activist Timothy Murphy is on the podcast to talk about his new book, Counter-Imperial Churching for a Planetary Gospel. It's part of the (Process) Theology Nerd Book Giveaway sponsored by Process Century Press and the Center for Process Studies In this episode you'll hear about Timothy's interest not just in process, but in social justice and politics, the central questions driving this book, why we should not avoid conflict in the church, the challenges of addressing social justice issues with mainline Protestants, and about his work with Progressive Christians Uniting and how it influenced the direction of his work. Plus, how the cosmology he develops in the book ends up connected to ecclesiology what is a planetary gospel? practicing differentiated solidarity and the spiritual practice of kenosis how not to be an ally some of the practices faith communities can engage in that address issues of privilege Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is about Pussy Hat Christianity vs. #MAGA Hat Christianity Donna Bowman, author of the Homebrewed Christianity Guide to Being Human, is a rare theologian in that she does qualitative research (translation: she talks to real humans). Donna and Tripp sit down and talk about getting out of the office and library to talk with real people, what made her decide to dedicate her life to educating, that question that hit at the existential register and demanded a better answer than the one she was given, and on reading the puzzle that is the bible Plus, Donna shares some of the cross cultural metaphysical assumptions she's discovered in her research and how they differ from those in the academy, the pussy hats made and worn for the women's marches after Trump's inauguration, the intersection of the symbolic and material, Adorno and "Hillary hate," and using TV and media a place of theological research. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Morrell (co-author of The Divine Dance with Richard Rohr) and John Pavlovitz (author of A Bigger Table) sat down with Tripp to talk about making Advent great (again). Why do they want to make Advent great again? What's happened to make Advent not great? Learn a little bit about the organizers behind #MAGA (not that MAGA), what inspired them to make Advent great again, and what you can expect. Plus, they reflect on the 2016 election a year later, where they find hope, the fate of the progressive church, and personal challenges around the holidays. Make Advent Great Again is a pop-up community for holiday resistance and renewal. We’ve heard a lot from our friends this season - Jesus-followers and spiritual free-agents, activists and artists, ministers and moms - that you just can’t this Christmas: shopping for gifts, making plans to see family, lighting the Advent candles, awaiting the birth of the Christ-child anew. It all feels so remote.Many of us are struggling. What on earth does ‘Emmanuel’ mean when the world’s going mad? We’ll give you daily reflections that plant potent seeds of hope to counter the weeds of that Grinch-ly other #MAGA. We’re offering a weekly check-in video that you can tune into live (or whenever you want) where we’ll cover: Mother Mary and Us: Recovering a Radical Christmas of Renewal & Resistance How to Go Home for the Holidays without Losing Your Soul Grounding in the Ultimate Gift: The Advent of Us We’re providing a private, safer-space discussion group where we can be totally honest about our struggles and breakthroughs. A ‘home base’ to truly Make Advent Great Again, one day at a time The cost? Contribute whatever you can to help make this possible for everyone. The suggested donation is $20, but no one is turned down for lack of funds. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is it that makes us more likely to buy books about contemplation than to go to a silent retreat? Today's guest, Daniel Coleman, author of Presence and Process: A Path Towards Transformation, is talking with Tripp about meditation, contemplation, and spiritual practice in a pluralistic world. Given the spiritual trends in America - with the decline of those identifying as religious, and the rise of the mindfulness movement - how do we navigate the waters of spiritual practice? Daniel talks about how he began to grow dissatisfied with the traditional church experience and longed for a way to live a life of transformation, he experiences with Quaker spirituality - the silent, expectant, waiting worship in a group, which led to an interest in personal contemplative practice, and the differences between his charismatic experiences of God and his contemplative experiences. Plus, apophatic mysticism, concepts versus felt experience, the role of contemplation in the history of the church, the challenge of introducing Buddhism and Buddhist practice to a Western audience, the difference between salvation and enlightenment, the role that Process thought plays in connecting the contemplative traditions of the East and West, and tips for sticking with a new practice. You can learn more about Daniel's work at http://www.danielpcoleman.com/ Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things are gonna get feisty and something may even bubble up in your soul. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza is on the podcast today talking activist theology. Not only is Robyn a PhD in constructive philosophical theology and ethics, a queer activist, a public theologian - Robyn is the activist theologian. #GoActivistTheology In this episode Robyn and Tripp ask how can we, in both the church and activist communities, be one and not the same at the same time? how are norms are driving our values and the logic of dominance? is there a way to build a bridge between white, liberal progressives and radical revolutionaries? Robyn talks about being in Charlottesville and Berkeley, white fragility, intersectionality, and their upcoming book on activist theology. Plus, Tripp and Robyn talk about the beer scene in the US, the politics of radical difference and IPAs, and the potential for beer to become another arm of empire! Robyn suggests checking out Antonia Gramsci and the Question of Religion: Ideology, Ethics, and Hegemony and Resistance Guide: How to Sustain the Movement to Win. You can learn more about Robyn and their work at irobyn.com and on twitter. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the only protest where you get to drink in a church 500 years later. That's right, this is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and to celebrate, we're live from Cary, North Carolina at Christ the King Lutheran Church with Pastors Daniel Pugh and Wolfgang Herz-Lane. They talk about why, 500 years later, they decide to continue the protest and be on team Luther, the significance of the real presence in the Eucharist, how to deal with negative attention for being active in social and racial justice, and the timelessness of the gospel. Then, Glen Jonas and Adam English, professors of church history and theology at Campbell University (they were also Tripp's professors in undergrad) are up to get nerdy and play some theological games. Tripp first pretends that he's a 19 year old in an intro to Christianity course, then he gives both Dr. Jonas and Dr. English 5 propositions in the nerdiest language he can muster, forcing one to defend and the other to argue against (dedicated listeners will recognize this as au contraire mon frère), and finally Dr. Jonas and Dr. English give us they questions they think we should be losing sleep over: why should I read Luther when he was an anti-Semite? what's the big deal with all this sinner and grace stuff? was the printing press really responsible for the success of the Reformation? did the Reformation set in motion secularization? what is the future of Protestant Christianity? would Luther think Tripp is too much like Erasmus? Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we are talking about the new film, I'll Push You, a documentary about two friends - Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray - as they travel across El Camino de Santiago. While on its face, this is a story about a spiritual pilgrimage, it is also a story about so much more: friendship, community, pain, and joy. Up first, Tripp talks with Ryan Parker about how he found out about the film, why this documentary is very different from most, and the shortcomings of most faith-based films. Tripp shares his favorite moments, how he'd use the movie for a high school youth retreat, and why he likens it to the Lord of the Rings. Plus, the threat of social media and online spaces replacing in-person gatherings, what gift the church can offer in light of that, the temptations we face in a faith community, and the importance of friendship in the gospel. Then, Nathan interviews Justin, Patrick, and director Terry Parish. Click here to watch the trailer, and check out if there will be a screening of the film (on November 2nd) in a theater near you. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steven Knapp, (recently) former president of George Washington University, long time friend and collaborator with Philip Clayton, scholar of literature, Romanticism, and literary theory is on the podcast. While Steven has been a part of many podcast related events, this is his first solo interview. In it, he'll share about his intellectual and spiritual journey, his cross-disciplinary career in the academy and church, how the political tumult in the late 60s and early 70s, long nights reading German philosophers, and an Advent sermon on Bonhoeffer reignited his faith. He describes his conversion experience, which occurred while reading Kierkegaard, and how an interest in Pannenberg brought together Steven and Phil and sparked their future work on the relationship between rational inquiry, science, and the Christian tradition, ultimately leading to The Predicament of Belief Steven and Tripp also discuss how literary criticism and the postmodern movements of deconstruction have positively and negatively shaped the discourse surrounding theological reflection and higher education, the specialization of academia, the crisis in the humanities and in the church and how the dissolution of the canon is connected to that, how and why students are more religiously engaged today. Free speech and safe space issues, the mischaracterization of millennials, the challenges of financing higher education, and Steven's advice for those thinking about pursuing higher education are all part of this nerdy episode. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

British philosopher, theologian, priest, scholar, fellow of the British Academy, former professor at Oxford, Keith Ward is back on the podcast talking about his new book, The Christian Idea of God. Hear how Keith ended up writing theology, why he thinks philosophy of religion and theology end up being the same thing, and what exactly theology is anyway. This is a very comprehensive interview. Tripp and Keith cover just about every Christian doctrine you can think of. You'll also hear Keith discuss the reasons we have problems talking about God today, why he argues for personal idealism and what exactly that means, the problem of consciousness, issues around value, morality, and where they come from, the relationship of God and the world, how God is present and acting in the cosmos, and much, much more. Plus, Tripp talks about his top 5 Keith Ward books (Christ and the Cosmos; Rethinking Christianity; God and the Philosophers; The Case for Religion; Why There is Almost Certainly a God). Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a doozy. This live podcast is from the ReKnew conference in St. Paul, where #teamprocess (represented by Tripp) and #teamopentheism (represented by Greg Boyd) throwdown in a winner-take-all theological rumble. Over 300 people packed into an Irish pub to experience the theology nerd battle. Rachel Held Evans and Tony Jones were the moderators to make sure things didn't get too out of hand. This Oxford style (ish) debate will satisfy all of your nerdy cravings. PLUS, don't miss a preach-off between Tripp and Greg at the end. Get your copy of Greg's newest book, Cross Vision, here. It's perfect for a small group! Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the bible-thumping episode of Homebrewed. You'll get to hear all the back story for the Bibliotheca kickstarter, plus we'll talk about the aesthetic engagement of the printed word, typography, the changing and transformative engagement with scripture - especially if you grew up being told it was the rule book, the book with all the answers - to reading it as literature. Adam Lewis Greene joined Tripp and Nathanael to talk about the desire do something like Bibliotheca, aesthetics, the challenges of running a kickstarter as successful as this one, how you can tell a high quality book, translation decisions, and some of the controversy surrounding the project. Tripp fully endorses the Bibliotheca translation, and highly recommends it for doing lectio divina. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#OlaRules Ola Sigurdson, professor of systematic theology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden is on the podcast to talk about the English translation of his book Heavenly Bodies: Incarnation, the Gaze, and Embodiment in Christian Theology. Ola engages the Christian tradition's conversation around incarnation, contemporary philosophy, ontology, and politics of the body, and gives creative readings and intersectional engagements with all sorts of disciplines. In the book, he tries to work out what it means to experience yourself as an embodied agent. It's creative, inspiring, thought-provoking, and challenging. In the interview you'll learn a little bit about Ola and his interest in Christian theology, how Nietzsche inspired the book, what it would mean to understand the incarnation from an experiential perspective, and how the early church's theological conversations about the incarnation change when read through phenomenological categories. Ola introduces the gaze, a way to understand the senses incarnationally and relationally, the role of liturgy in cultivating the gaze, and how our understanding of ethics is shaped by incarnation. You'll also want to check out another book by Ola, Theology and Marxism in Eagleton and Žižek: A Conspiracy of Hope Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is dedicated to friends everywhere. Ryan Andrew Newson, author of Radical Friendship: The Politics of Communal Discernment, and actual friend to Tripp, is on to talk about friendship, Donald Trump, Southern religion, and more. Somewhere in the middle they end up just having a conversation, like real friends do. Learn about where the idea for the book came from, what radical friendship is, how the response to political shifts in the 16th century mirror our contemporary situation, how the assumptions about neoliberal politics are problematic for any attempt at neighborliness and friendship, and whether or not democracy and capitalism actually go together. Check out what Tripp and Nathan have been up to the past several weeks at theroadtoedmond.com. You may even get to hear about Tripp's encounter with Contessa... Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I can't believe this is the 1000th podcast episode from Homebrewed Christianity! I just get pumped thinking about all the nerdy fun that we've had over the hours of audiological goodness. This special episode was recorded live at the Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina. The Wild Goose Festival is a special experience for me each year and often serves as a 'family reunion' of sorts for the podcast. Over the course of the episode you will hear from Christian Piatt, Kristen Howerton, Micky ScottBey Jones, Robyn Henderson Espinoza, and Julian Deshazier (AKA JKwest). It is the combination of two different shows from the WGF MainStage. Enjoy Get ready for another 1000 episodes. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ted Vial is on the podcast to talk about his new book, Modern Religion, Modern Race. Ted is Professor of Theology and Modern Western Religious Thought at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver. Iliff is one of the sponsors for #theologybeercamp in Denver this August 18th-19th (get your tickets here). In his book, Ted talks about why everything that is going on today is based on 19th century German philosophy. What is the difference between religious studies and theology? What is modern religion? How should we understand and engage non-Western religions? Why Schleiermacher was so influential and how his work shows up today How the 19th century shaped our identity in the modern world, including race The role of theological anthropology Your faith is not based on right beliefs, but is based on being part of the Christian community: "your religious experience is formed by the community of which you are a member." Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for a theology nerd fiesta with Greg Boyd. Greg is the co-founder of Woodland Hills Church, where he currently serves as senior pastor, and the founder of Re|Knew. Greg is on talking about his new, two-volume book, The Crucifixion of the Warrior God. Over two volumes, Gregory A. Boyd argues that we must take seriously the full range of Scripture as inspired, including its violent depictions of God. At the same time, he affirms the absolute centrality of the crucified and risen Christ as the supreme revelation of God. In this episode, Tripp and Greg talk about: how to understand the "violent God" of the Old Testament the revelation of God and the role the cross plays in it the role the warrior God passages played in the Roman empire the cosmic conflict narrative, where the cross is the final battle between God and cosmic powers plus, how we fit the demonic into our worldview today. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was a real treat. Ronald Stone, from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, is on the podcast to talk about Christian identity and the renewal of Christian realism. Ronald studied with Niebuhr at Union Theological Seminary and was interested in politics and religion, social ethics, and social action from early on. Tripp and Ronald talk about: what it means to be a Christian realist today the roots of realism, its critics, and its revival. the religion and politics of the election American exceptionalism, and the economy Plus, make sure you stick around to the end of the interview to hear Ronald's stories about his experience with Niebuhr and Tillich. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for all the freedom, liberty, and patriotic stuff you can handle! Jason Micheli and Teer Hardy from the Crackers & Grape Juice Podcast. In this episode the Hauerwasian Mafia sent one of its Drill Sergeants, Jason, to talk about the predicament of faith, freedom, and the conflicting calls to allegiance that color the American landscape. We hope your Independence Day grilling time enjoys this conversation. Word up. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am excited to share this special conversation with Frederick L. Ware with you. Dr. Ware is author of African American Theology, which is a seriously excellent introduction and ready for your reading pleasure. He is the Associate Professor of Theology at Howard University Divinity School in Washington, DC and the author of Methodologies of Black Theology. In this episode we discuss a host of different topics and the unique methodology Dr. Ware is outlining for African American Theology including... how the concept of "freedom" serves as an overarching theme for theology a model of God in which power is balanced with love and God is the "way-maker" A story about his Professor Sallie McFague whom you can listen to here. Major shout out to Eboni Marshall Turman and her Christological text Toward a Womanist Ethic of Incarnation: Black Bodies, the Black Church, and the Council of Chalcedon the good life and the meaning of evil and suffering the challenge of remythologizing the demythologized text and plenty of other goodies Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a special episode of the Theology Nerd podcast. Today, the Good Doctor Daniel Kirk is talking to Jeffrey Pugh about his book, The Homebrewed Christianity Guide to the End Times: Theology After You've Been Left Behind. Hear about Jeffrey's personal history with apocalyptic movements, the secret to the end of the world, the system of thought behind the dispensationalist beliefs, inerrancy and hermeneutics, the difference between apocalypticism and eschatology, the difference between literal and non-literally readings and how we know when to use which. Plus, Daniel and Jeff talk about: what can apocalyptic literature teach us today? what role does Israel play in all of this? how do we tell life-giving narratives, rather than death-dealing ones? Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dennis MacDonald, New Testament professor at Claremont School of Theology, is on to talk about his book Mythologizing Jesus: From Jewish Teacher to Epic Hero. Get ready to talk about the New Testament and Greek literature, and maybe even preach it, too. Dennis talks about the use of Greek literature and myth by the early Church, the similarities and differences between the New Testament narratives and Greek literature, and why the early Church would have written stories about Jesus in this way. Plus, Tripp and Dennis talk about sourcing Mark and the other Synoptic Gospels, Mark's innovation and its affect on the life of the church, how it is more mythologizing than biography, and what Nietzsche might have to say about all of this. Also by Dennis, Christianizing Homer and The Gospels and Homer. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are live from North Carolina today! J. Aaron Simmons, Lauren Winner, and Ryan Newsome were all on stage for the live podcast from the Progressive Youth Ministry conference at Montreat in North Carolina. PYM just announced details for next year's conference, so make sure to check progressiveyouthministry.org for more. This episode includes the full interview with Aaron Simmons from this past March. If you want the full live podcast experience you'll have to come in person next year! Big thanks to the Center for Process Studies for sponsoring (and providing the beer). Tripp and co-host Tony Jones talked with Aaron about what exactly phenomenology is, what it's like being a phenomenological philosopher and Pentecostal, why phenomenology is different than the philosophical framework that came before it, Heidegger on subjectivity and self-hood, plus, Aaron gives a live phenomenological reduction demonstration. Throughout, Tripp explains how to teach phenomenology to teenagers in confirmation classes and why every youth minister should be a phenomenologist. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the podcast is Todd Outcalt, pastor and prolific writer, to talk about his books, The Other Jesus: Stories from World Religions and Common Ground: Lessons and Legends from the World’s Great Faiths. These books were written out of the experience of interfaith dialogue, learning about and wrestling with other religions, and how their views about Christianity and the person of Jesus shaped his experience. In this interview you'll hear Tripp and Todd discuss what it's like to be an author who publishes and writes regularly and a pastor who preaches weekly, the creative tasks of writing sermons for a congregation and writing for a general audience, and what not to do in interfaith dialogue. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The good Doctor Daniel Kirk is on a road trip across the country with Clan Kirk, but no need to fear your Lectiocast is still here! It is an honor to fill in for Daniel and talk some lectionary goodness. We will see how long it takes before Daniel quits his trip and gets me off the show, but for now I am excited. During the podcast I discuss the four lectionary texts for the week and the questions I imagine inspiring my sermonizing...if I was still working in a pulpit. For each of the texts I pulled out some questions that could drive a sermon. Here's a few of them. Matthew 28:16-20 * Where is Galilee today? * Does our worship hold space for doubt? * What kind of disciples are we making? * Where is God with us now? * What is the church's relationship to the kin-dom? Psalm 8 * How does the world become creation? * What are the habits and boundaries that structure space for creativity? * God-spotting. * Eco-stewardship Genesis 1:1-2:4a * Go Keller * Don't conquer chaos, it's where the spirit-filled living happens. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Lament is the antidote of denial." - Walter Brueggemann This episode Tripp and Nathan talk to Erin Schendzielos about new project her and the Shelter50 Publishing Collective are working on with Walter Brueggemann - Antidote: Interruptions of Lament and of New Originary Stirrings. This project was inspired by the Adult VBS Walter did at the Hatchery last summer (you can enter to win the audio from all 5 sessions plus over $200 worth of Brueggemann books here) and by his book Reality, Grief, Hope: Three Urgent Prophetic Tasks. The ides is to honor him and all of his amazing work by having theologians, poets, musicians, artists, academics, lay people, etc., respond to a chapter either through prose, poem, song, art, etc., and compile the responses in a book. Erin and Shelter50 did a similar project with an essay by John Caputo called It Spooks: Living in Response to an Unheard Call. This is part of the "on the porch" series: an extended and vulnerable dialogue among friends sharing zesty craft beverages. It is one way of living out the very theory Brueggemann talked about that inspired Erin in the first place - out loud grief work done together as the antidote to the denial of reality. You'll get to hear a little bit more about Erin, her story, what inspired her to pursue theology and begin a project like Shelter50. Shelter50 is the name of a former space where innovation, imagination, & interrogation merged. It was a physical place of hospitality which invited people to explore the ways we manifest in the world and to investigate the ways our beliefs function in our lives. It was a space which hosted a wide variety of experiences aimed at bringing people together in meaningful & transformative ways. Shelter50 Publishing Collective (PC) was birthed out of (and named from) this former space. Shelter50 PC then, carries forward this (currently more conceptual) space which seeks to be colonized by none, and simultaneously is open to diverse expressions and imaginative undertakings from within and without Christianity. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The one and only Walter Brueggemann is on the podcast again, this time talking with Tripp and Barry Taylor about his latest book, Money and Possessions. In scripture, Brueggemann says, there is a contest between commodity and covenant. Advocacy for covenantal economics and resistance to an extractive, predatory economics occurs throughout scripture. In the interview he: introduces his framework for understanding questions about money and possessions in the New as well as Old Testament discusses how this framework relates to our current economic situation in the US both on the individual and collective level addresses American exceptionalism and our current political climate explains the 10 commandments as resistance to the totalizing narrative of Pharaoh uses the exodus and the four key characters (Joseph, Moses, Pharaoh, and God) to help us understand all of this Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we all taking different paths up the same mountain? or are their many mountains? is there one ultimate reality or many? Andrew Schwartz, director of the Center for Process Studies - a research center of Claremont School of Theology, in affiliation with Claremont Graduate University. CPS seeks to promote the common good by means of the relational approach found in process thought. Andrew will be teaching one of the courses at the Process Summer Institute this June on deep religious pluralism. The Process Theology Summer Institute is a 4-day (June 5-8, 2017) intensive course designed to introduce basic issues in the theory and application of process theology. You can participate in person or online! Tripp and Andrew talk about growing up Nazarene and discovering process thought, the nature of religious commitment for the individual, going through crises of faith, the shape of an active and engaged faith, religious pluralism within and without Christianity, and, of course, process philosophy and theology. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Garrett, English professor at Baylor University, is a professional writer who teaches creative writing, film, literature, and theology classes at Baylor University. As a fiction writer, he has published forty short stories and critically-acclaimed novels. He is perhaps best known, however, as a critic and theologian exploring the intersections of literature, culture, religion, and politics. Greg is on to talk with Tripp about his book Living with the Living Dead: The Wisdom of the Zombie Apocalypse, and his spiritual memoir Crossing Myself: A Story of Spiritual Rebirth. Tripp and Greg talk about the Walking Dead (spoiler alert), the history of zombie literature and movies and their existential signification, what makes for a compelling story, the Christian response to a dangerous world, what it means to be fully alive, and how the zombie apocalypse intersects with reality. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast is coming to you live from the Hive in Cincinnati with our friends at the Common Pilgrim. Tripp talks to friend of the podcast (and author of the forthcoming Homebrewed Guide to Salvation) Adam Clark, and Alice Connor about her new book Fierce: Women of the Bible and Their Stories of Violence, Mercy, Bravery, Wisdom, Sex, and Salvation. Plus, Tripp talks to Troy about the Hive, a new project in and around the Cincinnati area that cultivates mindfulness which manifests as creativity and intentional social engagement. They do this through retreats, events, classes, and one-on-one direction. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning: theological nerdiness ahead. Buckle your theological safety belts, William Greenway, professor of philosophical theology at Austin Theological Seminary, is on the podcast talking about his books The Challenge of Evil: Grace and the Problem of Suffering and A Reasonable Belief: Why God and Faith Make Sense. William starts with how he understands our current, contemporary secular condition as a journey from Aristotle to Descartes, and then Descartes to Heidegger and Levinas. It is problematic when we see the sphere of reality, as science described by science, as not just accurate, but exhaustive. Instead, we need to account for those experiences that permeate our existence but cannot be explained away. Tripp and Bill cover a lot of ground in this episode, including discussions on: the spiritual challenge of meaningless what it means to love your enemy how Nietzsche is wrong about reality Trump, ethics, and Syrian children original sin, the fall, and privilege Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, associate professor of Theological Field Education and New Testament at Chicago Theological Seminary, is on the podcast to talk about her new book, When Momma Speaks: The Bible and Motherhood from a Womanist Perspective. If you're saying to yourself "what's a womanist interpretation of scripture?" then this book and podcast are for you. The book explores biblical stories of motherhood through a womanist theological lens and connects it to stories and experiences of motherhood today. If you need a last minute Mother's Day gift, this is it. Whether you are a mom, a pastor, a student, or a scholar, this book has something for everyone. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monica A. Coleman is back on the podcast talking spiritual terrorism, spiritual liberation, and how process theology can help liberate us from those things that create fear in us and make us feel further from God. Monica and Tripp discuss why our inherited assumptions about God's omnipotence can lead to spiritual terrorism and how we can deal with the ugliness in the church today. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tripp was in Santa Barbara where the Way Collective sponsored the Believing Skepticast at the phenomenal Third Window Brewing Co. Tripp and Tim talk about what is happening with religion in the 21st century and navigating the tricky waters of faith and doubt. Whereas in the past, atheists and believers from separate camps would debate in the public sphere, today we often see hints of both schools of thought within the same person! Plus, as religion (especially Christianity) is changing all over the place, we need more conversations like this that help us stay tuned-in and promote more compassion! Sometimes it’s easiest to give in to the division we see all over the place, but conversations about faith and doubt can help us see a different way to be together: one of unity in a fragmented world! That’s why a new movement is beginning in Santa Barbara to develop a community for those wanting to have fresh and transformative conversations about deep living for the common good. This movement is called the Way Collective, and emphasizes practices and values that create more adventure, wholeness, beauty, and sustainability for all. The Way Collective will be hosting friend of the podcast Peter Rollins for a night of pints and parables on Friday, May 26th. If you're in the Santa Barbara area and want to be confronted with probing parables revealing what lies beneath the surface, you won't want to miss this! In this intimate event, Pete will be offering some of his favorite parables along with some reflections and conversation. You can get tickets here. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you think you're autonomous? Brent Waters, UCC minister, theological ethicist, and author of the book Just Capitalism: A Christian Ethic of Economic Globalization is on the podcast talking economics, globalization, and Christian ethics. This book might just annoy more people on the left and the right than any other book in a long time. Not to mention, it's really persuasive. Brent and Tripp tackle a ton of topics, including why exchange is necessary, but not sufficient, easy answers about globalization and the economy that are too popular to be adequate, globalization and missiology, the preferential option for the poor, immigration, and the environment. Plus, Brent tells conservatives and progressives what he thinks they need to confront. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffrey Pugh and Eric Hall have taken over the Theology Nerd podcast this week! Jeff and Eric, authors of the Homebrewed Guide to the End Times and God (respectively), sat down early on Holy Saturday to talk about their books, how a young Assemblies of God Eric got an endowed chair at a Catholic school, and what it was like to be an original Jesus Freak with Jeff in the 60s and 70s. They also get super nerdy and talk about: what is truth? and how do you get to the truth of God? how do you interpret Christ's return and make sense of it in today's world? what do Taoism and Meister Eckhart have in common? Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices