Religion on the Mind

When Dr. Greg Cootsona (California State University, Chico) heard a recent episode that touched on the questions of Hell and Universal Salvation, he emailed me almost immediately and mentioned that something was lacking in our treatment of that topic: other religions and perspectives of the span of geography and time. This is especially relevant because doctrines about the afterlife tend to make a lot of claims about people outside the membership of Christianity. Naturally, I invited him back on the show to talk at length about this topic, and indeed we did talk *at length* because it is such a fascinating topic. Other than complimenting me too often (we edited out as many as we could), Greg is a perfect podcast guest!Faith + Letters Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-and-letters/id1525445129Greg’s Blog: http://cootsona.blogspot.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bradley Wright is a Protestant professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut where he studies American Christianity, spirituality, and well-being. Sofia Corozza is a Catholic phd student at Cambridge studying child neurodevelopment. Also, she is Brad’s goddaughter, which makes for a lovely interplay between the two of them. So why care about habits and virtue? Aren’t these old fashioned notions? Well, habits are very closely linked to positive change of all sorts, and if there is one thing missing at least in our *public* life these days, virtue might top that list. Prayer seems to interact with both of these concepts regularly, and I am always asking: what is the science behind each of these? What do we know and with how much confidence?Sofia’s Blog: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/synapsesofthesoul/Bradley’s Site: http://bradleywrightphd.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you spend any significant time reading or listening to scholars of religion, looking at polling of religious groups, or anything like that, then you have probably heard the term Spiritual But Not Religious thrown out there. This will usually come with a sentence or two of description, something like, people who do not identify with any particular religion, or people who are neither religious nor atheist. But I wanted to go further and better understand this group, not least because many of this show’s listeners find themselves in this category. Another fact often included when the Spiritual but not Religious are mentioned is that they are the fastest growing religious group in America; yet another reason to take a longer peek under the hood.I’m joined by returning guest Terry Shoemaker, who is a researcher and professor of religious studies at Arizona State University. About a year ago he was on the show talking about what he calls culture war Christianity, and there’s a link to that episode in the show notes today if you didn't catch it.In addition to discussing the SBNR, we also talk about the possible future effects of both the pandemic and evangelical support for Trump on American religion.Terry’s episode from last year: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-escape-culture-war-christianity-16/id1448000113?i=1000434412065The Myth of Disenchantment - https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Disenchantment-Magic-Modernity-Sciences-ebook/dp/B0727LKR8CLosing Our Religion - https://www.amazon.com/Losing-Our-Religion-Unaffiliated-Children-ebook/dp/B010VIKQ0E/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=losing+our+religion&qid=1600044922&s=books&sr=1-1The End of White Christian America - https://www.amazon.com/End-White-Christian-America/dp/[email protected] by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Short interviews with three pastors in different traditions (Foursquare, Episcopal, and Presbyterian-PCA) about their process of referring congregants to therapists in their area. This is a topic that it seems to me could use some more attention, not least because pastors are in a *perfect* position to help Christians of all stripes get the mental health help that they need when they need it, and most of us will need this kind of help at some point in our lives (whether or not we take that step). We talk about referral practices, finding trustworthy therapists, finding therapists who understand where Christian clients are coming from, pitfalls and possibilities within the church around mental health, a little about some of these pastors’ own therapeutic experiences, and more.Dr. Doug Bursch / Fairly Spiritual: https://www.fairlyspiritual.org/Kira Austin-Young: https://twitter.com/kmaustinyoungJon Haralson / Grace Church Seattle: https://graceseattle.org/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest (and dear friend) philosopher Myron A. Penner joins me to talk about demons. His position is as follows:1. Not ruling out their existence2. Quite skeptical what we could really know about them3. Somewhat opposed morally, given how they function in human/religious affairsWe also talk about the phenomena of increased “possession” in non-Western countries, culture-bound mental health syndromes, the role of expectation in experience, some (I think) helpful concepts from psychologist Richard Beck, and more.Reviving Old Scratch: https://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Old-Scratch-Doubters-Disenchanted/dp/150640135XThe Slavery of Death: https://www.amazon.com/Slavery-Death-Richard-Beck/dp/1620327775Culture-Bound Syndromes: https://sacwellness.com/culture-bound-syndromes/Myron: https://www.twu.ca/profile/myron-pennerFollow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a wonderful and wide-ranging conversation with the author of one of my favorite books I’ve read in a long time. We talk about Amy Peterson’s missionary story and the Christian soil in which she was raised before turning our gaze to the topic of short-term missions more broadly.Dangerous Territory: https://smile.amazon.com/Dangerous-Territory-Misguided-Quest-World-ebook/dp/B01MRCB54Y/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=amy+peterson+books&qid=1598121703&sr=8-4Where Goodness Still Grows: https://smile.amazon.com/Where-Goodness-Still-Grows-Reclaiming/dp/0785225668/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=amy+peterson+books&qid=1598121703&sr=8-1Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

End Times Popularity: Part 2 (#78) Part 2 of a series that addresses the question “Why was End Times/Left Behind/Rapture theology *so popular* by the time we grew up in the 90s and 2000s?” Please start with Part 1, last week’s episode.My main argument:1. The people whose evangelizing kicked off the Jesus Movement were primarily fundamentalists and they were themselves already very focused on biblical prophecy2. In the early 70s, there was enough global chaos and uncertainty, along with one very important “fulfilled prophecy” that made it seem plausible that the world might indeed be coming to a close3. By the time Left Behind came around in the 90s, that same Jesus Movement generation held the primary places of power and influence in Evangelical circlesCovered in this episode:- The Jesus Movement generation were the ones with cultural power in the Evangelical world by the time Left Behind came out- A straightforward and literal reading of the Bible is always popular, especially in America, and it plays into a few common American characteristics- Where are they now? All four interviewees relay their current beliefs about the End Times- Sally answers some of the questions the original interview subjects answered in the End Times Anxiety series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, I released a 4-part series called End Times Anxiety, chronicling mental health and related challenges of younger folks who had been adversely affected by Left Behind and similar visions of the Rapture and end of the world within conservative Protestant theology and culture. Throughout working on that project, I found myself continually asking myself and others, “Why did they buy it in the first place? How did this thinking become *so popular*?” These two episodes are my attempt at answering that question, pulling from my own review of the available academic research as well as four interviews I conducted with Baby Boomers who had been a part of the Jesus Movement in the 1970s. My main argument is as follows:1. The people whose evangelizing kicked off the Jesus Movement were primarily fundamentalists and they were themselves already very focused on biblical prophecy2. In the early 70s, there was enough global chaos and uncertainty, along with one very important “fulfilled prophecy” that made it seem plausible that the world might indeed be coming to a close3. By the time Left Behind came around in the 90s, that same Jesus Movement generation held the primary places of power and influence in Evangelical circlesThis is not an exhaustive explanation, but it has helped me come up with a basic framework that helps me make sense of my 90s Left Behind-soaked experience. Hopefully it might be helpful for you as well!Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of you heard the news about Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche International and one of my own lifetime spiritual heroes, when it came to light in February that he had sexually abused multiple women under his care as their spiritual director. This was not like Harvey Weinstein -- Vanier was a world-renowned spiritual leader and thinker; he was on his way to sainthood. Jennifer Kelly (former director of L’Arche Seattle, local assistant to Vanier) and my friend Chris Hoke (Underground Ministries) help me unpack this complicated situation.L’Arche International findings article: https://www.larche.org/news/-/asset_publisher/mQsRZspJMdBy/content/inquiry-statement-test?_101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.larche.org%2Fnews%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_col_count%3D1Principles of Discernment - http://blog.adw.org/2018/01/six-principles-discernment/Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative - http://www.jrji.org/index.htmlUnderground Ministries - https://undergroundministries.org/Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Steingard, singer of Contemporary Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, made quite a splash in some Christian circles a couple months back when he announced that he was no longer a Christian and did not believe in God. I was able to talk at least with Jon about his own process, as well as where the two of us actually agree, and where we ultimately differ on God’s existence and attributes. We got into inerrancy, certainty, open theism and the problem of evil and suffering, along with plenty more.BadChristian Interview with John: http://www.badchristian.com/bc_podcast/hawk-nelsons-no-longer-believes-in-god/Karen Armstrong’s A History of God: https://smile.amazon.com/History-God-000-Year-Judaism-Christianity/dp/0345384563/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+history+of+god&qid=1595800422&sr=8-1Steingard Creative: http://www.steingardcreative.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we have a pretty wide-ranging conversation with Yahoo News reporter Jon Ward. Eventually, we get around to my initial goal of talking about conspiracy theories and Evangelical subculture, but along the way we also talk about:- vaccines and anti-vax movement- confederate monuments- voter suppression- free speech- partisan media- public discourse- political psychology- his charismatic Protestant upbringing- and more! Jon is one of my favorite journalists working today. His podcast The Long Game has focused on the role of institutions in our public life, and recently he has focused more on conspiracy theories and free speech.The Long Game Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game/id1248994688Jon’s Yahoo! profile: https://www.yahoo.com/author/jon-ward/D.L. Mayfield’s article: https://religionnews.com/2020/06/05/why-american-evangelicals-are-so-tempted-by-the-easy-assurance-of-conspiracy-theories/Atlantic QAnon piece: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2020/05/qanon-q-pro-trump-conspiracy/611722/Autism piece: https://slate.com/culture/2016/01/in-a-different-key-a-history-of-autism-by-john-donvan-and-caren-zucker-reviewed.htmlDepolarize! “Is the 81% Statistic Reliable?” episode with Jon Ward: http://depolarize.blubrry.net/2018/04/02/is-that-81-statistic-reliable-a-closer-look-at-evangelicals/Psychology in Seattle Conspiracy Theories episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-psychology-of-conspiracy-theories/id767626637?i=1000475748063Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hear four stories of white Christians coming to see the reality of systemic racial injustice in American society: a Republican corporate attorney and member of the Federalist Society, a pastor’s kid whose sisters work with refugees (one of whom married an African man), a nurse confronting disparities in medical care, and a mother thinking through her own history and wanting to give her daughter something better.To acknowledge the problem of systemic racial injustice is not the same as to endorse some particular lens through which to view it (like Critical Race Theory) nor some particular policy over another (like reparations, affirmative action, or implicit bias training). This episode is about the process of coming to an awareness of these injustices.Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m joined by titan of modern theology Mirosalv Volf to talk about human flourishing and its relationship with theology and psychology. Which field gives us direction, and which fills out the mechanisms for how to get there? This was a fantastic conversation.For the Life of the World Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-the-life-of-the-world-yale-center-for-faith-culture/id1505076294Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the big questions that high schoolers and young adults are asking in their faith communities? I asked Josh Patterson, co-host of the (Re)Thinking Faith Podcast, about his own experience as a youth and young adult pastor at the uniquely multi-cultural and theologically centrist Seneca Creek Community Church in Gaithersburg, MD. LGBTQ issues, Hell, Science, Scriptural questions, the problem of evil and more are discussed. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out "Evil, Hell, & Evidence for God at a Christian College (#54)” as well.- Rethinking Faith Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-faith/id1438696524- https://theyouthcartel.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I interview Jim and Breanna Randall, missionaries (if you want to call them that) in Myanmar. We talk about the various pitfalls that are present in modern day missions work (bad actors, psychologists breaking their oaths to do no harm, donor fragility, American/White Exceptionalism, and more), as well as some more hopeful potential ways forward.CORRECTION: I said Jamie Lee Finch was the “Worst Missionary,” but that is actually Jamie WrightBreanna’s Francis Chan piece: https://faithfullymagazine.com/myanmar-francis-chan-ministry/Desmond Tutu Children’s Bible: https://smile.amazon.com/Children-Storybook-Bible-Archbishop-Desmond/dp/0310719127/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=desmond+tutu+bible&qid=1592798668&s=books&sr=1-1Unsettling Truths: https://smile.amazon.com/Unsettling-Truths-Dehumanizing-Doctrine-Discovery/dp/0830845259/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=unsettling+truths&qid=1592798645&s=books&sr=1-2Dangerous Territory: https://smile.amazon.com/Dangerous-Territory-Misguided-Quest-World/dp/1627075976/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dangerous+territory&qid=1592798554&sr=8-1Assimilate or Go Home: https://smile.amazon.com/Assimilate-Go-Home-Missionary-Rediscovering/dp/0062388800/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=assimilate+or+go+home&qid=1592798542&sr=8-1Decolonizing Wealth: https://www.decolonizingwealth.com/Breanna‘s twitter: @randallbreannaBreanna’s Instagram: @br_randallKaitlin Curtice: https://kaitlincurtice.com/Christina Cleveland: http://www.christenacleveland.com/No White Saviors: https://nowhitesaviors.org/Support the Randalls: https://burmachronicle.com/blog/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One thing that I am really encouraged by amidst all the protest and civil unrest is how many white people seem to have genuinely woken up to the presence of systemic racism in American society. But what comes AFTER that moment, specifically from a faith perspective? In terms of theology, prayer, church, and seeing ourselves as part of God’s story more broadly, what might be some next steps, ripple effects, etc? I’m joined by Jason Davison and Sarah Lane Ritchie to think and talk through this question.Jason Davison “The Father’s Plea”: http://www.rainieravenuechurch.org/sermons/the-fathers-plea/Jason Davison “Once For All” (sermon starts around 40 minutes in): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kdf43NcPi4Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black Americans and other people of color are understandably exhausted right now, so what better time to pull something out of the vault that speaks to our current moment? In 2017, on my old Depolarize! Podcast, I interviewed 5 Christians of color about their experience growing up non-white in America, as well as a number of issues related to Evangelicalism and politics. I’m happy to say that the idea that a largely white audience should spend time simply listening to stories like this *feels* more widely accepted today than it did in 2017. Nonetheless, there is always more listening to be done, and these are some powerful stories.https://8cantwait.org/http://theandcampaign.comhttps://thewitnessbcc.com/Pass the Mic Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-mic/id1435500798Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This was recorded before I knew the proper pronunciation of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jonathan Haidt's names*Back in 2017, my history buff good friend Ryan Downs and I recorded a short reaction to watching the James Baldwin documentary I Am Not Your Negro. It is a timely if incomplete discussion given recent events. I recommend watching the film first -- it is available for free on Prime Video if you have that subscription, and rentable else -- then listening to our brief discussion.https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Not-Your-Negro/dp/B01MR52U7T Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan is joined by author and podcaster Matthias Roberts to talk about his new book Beyond Shame and the topic of sexual shame more broadly. His own story sheds interesting light on this topic because, as a gay person, Matthias found himself feeling sexual shame over heterosexual images and potential activities that he did not find sexually alluring at all. If sexual shame can be produced without actual sexual desire as an ingredient, what does that tell us about it? Also, Dan reveals more about his own sexuality and sex life than he planned to because that is just how warm and engaging Matthias is!Beyond Shame: https://smile.amazon.com/Beyond-Shame-Creating-Healthy-Terms/dp/1506455662/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=beyond+shame&qid=1590953881&sr=8-1Queerology Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queerology-a-podcast-on-belief-and-being/id1241721675Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do younger Americans (18-30 year olds) think about science, faith, and the relationship between them? Which issues “count” as “science/faith” issues? You might be surprised at some of the answers to these questions. This episode is for listeners who have enjoyed getting a “peak behind the curtain” of this massive culture change/wave that we seem to be caught up in right now. Dr. Greg Cootsona is a religion researcher out of Chico State in California and is involved in a big research program about this topic.Greg’s HuffPo piece: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/four-surprising-things-em_b_8453820Negotiating Science and Religion in America: https://smile.amazon.com/Negotiating-Science-Religion-America-Present-ebook/dp/B082BHC8Z5/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=greg+cootsona&qid=1590348732&sr=8-3Mere Science and Christian Faith: https://smile.amazon.com/Mere-Science-Christian-Faith-Bridging-ebook/dp/B07CP42VBD/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=greg+cootsona&qid=1590348732&sr=8-1Science for the Church - https://scienceforthechurch.org/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, I speak with two sociologists of religion, Joseph Leman and Stephen Cranney, about the Hell Anxiety Scale that they developed, as well as the academic study of the overlap of psychology and religion more broadly, what other research around this topic has revealed, how they pursue this work as people of faith themselves, and whether it’s possible to be confident BOTH that there is a Hell AND that you yourself are heading there.Hell Anxiety Paper: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3liw0xh7gb1zu1i/Hell%20Anxiety%20Scale.pdf?dl=0Joseph Leman’s site: https://www.baylor.edu/BIC/index.php?id=961526Stephen Cranney’s site: https://stephencranney.github.io/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I talk a lot about religious pluralism on this podcast, and therefore really appreciated this opportunity to talk with the Rev. Dr. Charles Kimball about his book Truth Over Fear and his lifetime of interreligious work. We cover Islamaphobia, fear-mongering, Sharia Law, religious liberty, and more.Truth Over Fear: https://smile.amazon.com/Truth-Over-Fear-Combating-About/dp/066426462X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=truth+over+fear&qid=1588557139&sr=8-1Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest Jessica Knippel is a PhD student in Women & Religion at Claremont Graduate School, and has been researching the Exvangelical / Post-Evangelical world. I was curious to talk with her about what she and other colleagues have learned about this massive exodus of mostly young people out of the American Evangelical movement, as well as figuring out where I myself and where this podcast stands among that contingent.Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Jessi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessiknippelCentral Ave Church: https://centralavenuechurch.org/Church Clarity: https://www.churchclarity.org/Lonnie Frisbee documentary *RECOMMENDED*: https://smile.amazon.com/Frisbee-Life-Death-Hippie-Preacher/dp/B00L40IW1Y/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=frisbee+documentary&qid=1587941809&sr=8-1Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan is joined by Methodist minister and astrophysicist David Wilkinson, professor of theology at Durham University and member of the Royal Astronomical Society. They talk about the so-called “fine-tuning” of our universe, the “anthropic principle” / “goldilocks enigma,” and multiverse theory as a common non-theist rejoinder for theistic arguments for God’s existence based on this fine-tuning. Whether or not the multiverse can be “proven,” does it even work as a counterargument, or does it “kick the can down the road” in some way? This issue is one of the ones that pushes me toward theism and away from atheism and agnosticism, but even if it doesn’t do that for you, it seems very much worth thinking about.See photos of Dan's new son (and very little else) on Instagram: @dancokeTwitter: @dankochEdited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected]: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m joined by my dear friend Ben Bishop, who is both a fantastic interviewer in his own right and a former patron-only episode guest. I asked Ben to interview me on the topic of why I am (still) a Christian. No one ever asks me, “Why are you a Christian?” Or very rarely, anyway. But pretty regularly, in the context of conversations about deconstruction or Biblical inerrancy or something similar, people will ask, “Why are you *still* a Christian?” I thought it might be helpful to answer that and give one more data point for listeners as they figure out their own faith allegiances, theologies, etc. We talk about religious/Christian pluralism a good bit, as that is particularly interesting to Ben, and toward the end is when I give probably my most succinct answer to the question, drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord’s Prayer, and other basics I don’t think I could live without. Feel free to skip forward to 1:15:00 or so if you want to hear that concise answer before going into the weeds with us.Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected] -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan is joined by philosopher Myron Penner (Trinity Western University) and theologian Sarah Lane Ritchie (University of Edinburgh) to talk through all things Coronavirus and the Problem of Evil (mostly the “Natural Problem of Evil” but not exclusively). They discuss some interesting angles on this discussion, as well as numerous “solutions” on offer by Christian thinkers. Myron brings in some cognitive science and Sarah brings a focus on the lived experience of suffering. Soul-making, “life is a gift,” “it’s because of the Fall,” and more approaches are discussed. The conversation is long, but it moves briskly!Biologos article: https://biologos.org/post/coronavirus-and-the-problem-of-evil?fbclid=IwAR3WoLwVdX7uIdP3pOqFIOEOjuzDiOa2nn5QyVsKlxHeMzV2W6AqtAc00MENT Wright article: https://time.com/5808495/coronavirus-christianity/?fbclid=IwAR0bWp5te66J2b0xIx_zmLi4HZXIWDyWjm3WN1LVTQ9AoDgye5gkrE7wo94Tom Oord’s response to Wright: http://thomasjayoord.com/index.php/blog/archives/we-can-lament-and-explain?fbclid=IwAR0xlA8Cygv6q_H--JIU-qr67zE1S5iFbItcVVnMadAGzVzicKRKwd4BDKcWildman article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0aesf9qr3rq2vaq/Wildman_2007_Incongruous_Goodness.pdf?dl=0Clayton book: https://www.amazon.com/Predicament-Belief-Science-Philosophy-Faith/dp/019969527XFollow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This somewhat winding conversation with Dr. Tripp Fuller (Homebrewed Christianity Podcast) swirls around the concept of the Cosmic Christ, also known as the Universal Christ. Tripp and I attempt to answer four questions: Why attach the name Christ to Jesus in the first place? Why use the term "Cosmic" Christ? (What is that supposed to mean or signify?) How has the phrase "Cosmic" changed given evolution, the age of the universe, and modern science? Finally, how has the concept "Christ" changed as a result of what humanity has learned since the days of early Christianity? We also try out a few definitions of the term along the way.Ilia Delio on Homebrewed Christianity: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/entangled-god-my-heart-ilia-delio-cosmiccampfire/id276269040?i=1000421870802Ilia’s books: https://smile.amazon.com/Ilia-Delio/e/B001JS2T2E?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1584839597&sr=8-3Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I took a break from my every-other-week break with our newborn to have a conversation with one of the smartest people I know, Robbie Evans, a strategic director at a medical diagnostics company in Silicon Valley. He put together a Google Doc (linked below -- read first if you can) about some real and scary possibilities and likely projections for the US and COVID-19. This is not a time for (arbitrary) theological platitudes and claims about God and global diseases; rather, it is a time for a science-informed faith that helps us to best love our neighbors as ourselves. Consequently, most of this episode is spent on what we know from the best and most current data and projections. Stay safe, and stay home as much as you possibly can!Robbie’s full document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n-IaCZ7jSu_usI3f4gw5CZIQXcM4AGMdfEUtLZKfj4M/edit?fbclid=IwAR1V2mhT4gM_JwGEoeowr7uCQmIss3uYDCtCdzrVItqTEhP9Aps_WDiznHI#heading=h.3lszibyotnnyCDC COVID-19 All Categories: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlIf you’re sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.htmlBasic prevention/protection: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.htmlUPDATE RE: UK: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-herd-immunity-uk-boris-johnson/608065/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often think of our doubts as counting *against* our faith: if we have enough reasons to believe in the “faith” column, then that will be enough to discount all the problems in the “doubts” column. But what if true modern faith will always include doubts? What if the presence of certain kinds of doubt actually shows that we are doing things right? Dan interviews Philip Clayton (Claremont School of Theology) on this and related questions.The Predicament of Belief: https://smile.amazon.com/Predicament-Belief-Science-Philosophy-Faith/dp/0199677964/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=predicament+of+belief&qid=1583550080&sr=8-2Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: [email protected] Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

it isn't as nerdy as it sounds, but... I spoke with Reverend Doctor Catherine Kelsey about the beginnings of what today we would call liberal Christianity, through the work of the theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher. His way of thinking about the experience of faith has really been resonating with me lately, and Cathie wrote a great simple book about that topic. She is also quite pastoral, and I was surprised how healing and challenging our conversation ended up being.Will and Spirit: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Spirit-Contemplative-Gerald-May/dp/0062505823/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Thinking about Christ with Schleiermacher: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Christ-Schleiermacher-Catherine-Kelsey/dp/0664225942/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=thinking+about+christ+with+schleiermacher&qid=1582070228&s=books&sr=1-1Instagram: @dancokeTwitter: @dankochEdited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the baby has not arrived yet, I was able to put a little something together in between formal episodes! This originally aired as a patron-exclusive episode, and was received so well that I thought it might be worth sharing with everyone on an off-week like this. Fellow Seattle Jim becker and I discuss his own story, why he now considers himself an atheist, what kind of God it is exactly that he does not believe in, and how our own views overlap and diverge. It was a really great conversation, and I believe will be the first in a “I Don’t Believe In That God” series, split up between the patron-only feed and the main podcast feed. To become a patron, head to patreon.com/dankoch. If you can’t afford $5/mo, take advantage of our sliding scale by emailing me at [email protected]: @dancokeTwitter: @dankochJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan sits down with friend and philosopher Matthew Benton (Seattle Pacific University) to talk through five common questions that come up commonly with undergraduate students at his Christian university:- How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?- Why is there so much religious diversity if one religion is (most) true?- If there is a loving God, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?- Why isn't there stronger evidence for God's existence?- What are the right ways to interpret the Bible? (On which issues?)“Hell & the God of Justice:” https://www.dropbox.com/s/54aaammsvsn28hx/MMAdams1975.pdf?dl=0Matt’s faculty page: https://spu.edu/academics/college-of-arts-sciences/philosophy/faculty-staff/benton-matthewEdited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The final chapter of our 4-part series on the End Times and mental health concerns. Today, we hear three shorter stories that each circle around the issue of family, and how family relationships and differences intersect with the rest of what we’ve been hearing these past few weeks. If you're just joining us, it's recommended to start with Part 1, three weeks back.Children’s Bibles and reading list:Children of God Storybook Bible (Desmond Tutu): https://smile.amazon.com/Children-Storybook-Bible-Archbishop-Desmond/dp/0310719127/ref=sr_1_3?crid=214JAYK9LUTA6&keywords=children+of+god+storybook+bible&qid=1580609979&sprefix=children+of+god+sto%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-3Spark Story Bible: https://smile.amazon.com/Spark-Story-Bible-Thisted-Arthur/dp/0806670495/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=spark+story+bible&qid=1580610296&sr=8-2Jesus Showed Us (Brad Jersak): https://smile.amazon.com/Jesus-Showed-Us-Bradley-Jersak/dp/1927512069/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=jesus+showed+us&qid=1580610157&sr=8-1When God Made You: https://smile.amazon.com/When-Made-Matthew-Paul-Turner/dp/1601429185/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=matthew+paul+turner&qid=1580610101&sr=8-3When God made Light: https://smile.amazon.com/When-Made-Light-Matthew-Turner/dp/1601429207/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=matthew+paul+turner&qid=1580610101&sr=8-4Children, Can You Hear Me?: https://smile.amazon.com/Children-Can-You-Hear-Me/dp/1490405771/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=jesus+showed+us&qid=1580610157&sr=8-3Maybe God is Like That Too: https://smile.amazon.com/Maybe-God-Like-That-Too/dp/150642189X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=maybe+god+is+like+that+too&qid=1580610225&sr=8-3It’s Not the Stork!: https://smile.amazon.com/Its-Not-Stork-Families-Friends/dp/0763633313/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=it%27s+not+the+stork&qid=1580610023&sr=8-2Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being personally wrecked by the series finale of The Good Place, I needed to process this with some friends. Those friends are D.L. (Danielle) Mayfield and her husband Krispin. This is the result of that processing. Spoiler talk continues until the 23:00 mark, so head there if you don't want the ending of the series spoiled. We talk about death, the afterlife, finitude, attachment, healing, neuroplasticity, stories that are good for people who suffer and are marginalized, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 3 of 4 (it is very much recommended to start with Part 1!) of a series on the so-called End Times and mental health issues. Today, we hear from 15 of the 20 interviews I conducted in August of 2019: more about mental health symptoms and seeking help, whether or not they still consider themselves Christian, advice they have for people with similar struggles, and much more. Come back for Part 4 next week.Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of 4 (it is very much recommended to start with Part 1!) of a series on the so-called End Times and mental health issues. Today, we hear two longer stories: Samantha, who followed a self-proclaimed prophetess in 2015 and began prepping for the apocalypse, and Steve, who hoped that Jesus’s imminent return would keep him from having to come of age as a gay man. Come back from parts 3 & 4 over the next two weeks.Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What better way to celebrate 50 episodes of YHP than to kick off a 4-part series on so-called “End Times” teaching/theology and mental health? As part of early research toward my doctoral dissertation in psychology, I conducted 20 interviews in August of 2019, collecting personal stories about how popular Christian notions of the End Times, like the Rapture, Tribulation, and the Left Behind series, affected people’s faith, theology, life trajectories, and overall mental health. This is Part 1 of 4, and it focuses on the basics, including what most Evangelicals understood would happen in the End Times, some of the ways that fear, anxiety and depression were tied up with it for many people, the connection between the end times, Hell, and salvation, a sense of a robbed childhood, mental health predispositions, family conflicts, and more. Come back for parts 2-4 in the coming weeks.Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: a working definition of “Process Theology and “Robust Christian Pluralism." Dr. Wm. Andrew Schwartz (Claremont School of Theology) walks us through four possible answers to the question of whether all monotheistic Abrahamic believers are actually worshipping the same God, including arguments for and against and various consequences of each view.- The book: https://smile.amazon.com/Christians-Muslims-Jews-Worship-Same/dp/0310538033/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=four+views+christians+muslims+same+god&qid=1578264136&sr=8-1- Andrew’s site - wmandrewschwartz.comEdited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the holiday break, I'm choosing two lesser-downloaded or well-timed episodes for re-airing. Many of us are still, or have just been, spending time with family members who are fundamentalists, or lean that way, and that can be really hard sometimes. Original show notes:“Fundamentalist” has become a theological swear word. But how does it work psychologically? Why hasn’t it “gone away”? How do religious fundamentalists make sense of their world and find meaning in their lives? And what might this tell us about non-religious fundamentalists? Psychologist Peter Hill joins Dan to talk through the model he and his co-authors developed in their book The Psychology of Religious Fundamentalism (link below). Visual Aids:Fundamentalist - Intratextual Structure: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5io539nbf6oteve/Fundamentalism%20-%20Intratextuality.jpg?dl=0Non-fundamentalist - Intertextual Structure: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u87g2auitlro9wm/Non-Fundamentalist%20-%20Intertextuality.jpg?dl=0Pete’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Religious-Fundamentalism-Ralph-Hood/dp/1593851502Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the holiday break, I'm choosing two lesser-downloaded episodes for re-airing. This conversation with Philip Clayton about Panentheism (and a few other things) was fantastic, but I think maybe the thick theological terminology might have turned some would-be listeners away. Also, Phil is coming back on the podcast in the coming month or two to talk about doubt, and this is a nice precursor to that upcoming conversations.Original post:Our guest today is Dr. Philip Clayton (Claremont School of Theology), giving us his personal faith story from a secular household, through conservative Evangelicalism, and ultimately into Quakerism. We also talk about Panentheism, for which he is a major Christian advocate. Most of the nerdy stuff occurs after the ad break, starting around 54:00, so feel free to skip that stuff if you are less into the true nerdery."how i found GOD in everyone and everywhere" (great essay collection including Phil's story): https://smile.amazon.com/How-Found-God-Everyone-Everywhere/dp/193968188X/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=how+i+found+god+in+everywhere&qid=1552328138&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnullhttp://philipclayton.net/Join the Patreon for bonus episodes every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comEmail Dan: [email protected] by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan discusses the all-time most famous passage in western philosophy, Plato’s Cave Analogy, with Catholic philosopher Patrick McDonald (Seattle Pacific University). The Cave is a gift that keeps on giving (holiday-appropriate!), through various stages of growth, deconstruction, reconstruction, and on and on. Dan and Patrick discuss implications for Christians thinking through hard questions, and a lot more.Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As it turns out, both conservatives AND liberals, depending who you talk to. But is it a valid field of research, and what do we learn about human nature from evolutionary psychology? Dan also talks with Dr. Justin Barrett (Fuller Seminary) about so-called “cultural evolution,” where the evolution of humanity moves at a much more rapid pace, and through the dissemination of information, values, stories, etc, rather than through genetic mutation and selection. And of course, they discuss what implications all of this might have for theology and Christian practice.Fuller Seminary’s Theology & Psychology Initiative: theopsych.comEdited by Laura Kondourajian Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan is joined by philosopher John Haught (Georgetown University), who argues that many people think we should look to the past, the deep past, for ultimate answers. This includes certain scientists who want to look to the Big Bang for ultimate explanations, or religious teachers focusing on God’s perfect design in the Garden of Eden, before everything got messed up. Others might tend to look to the so-called Eternal Present for God, or for ultimate meaning and answers. Through prayer, we may feel like we can tap directly into a timeless God, letting go of our worldly concerns, and, of course, there is some truth to this. Many philosophers have also preached something similar, that true contemplation of the One, or of capital “T” Truth, can take us out of our mortal, perishing bodies into the realm of the sublime. But Haught wants to point our attention to a third option: the future. What if the truest meaning of the grand story that we are living in right now, which includes a big bang, billions of years of lifeless space, followed by the forming of carbon, then of unicellular life, and biological progression all the way to sentient and self-conscious beings like humans -- what if the meaning of THAT story is not clear to us yet because that story is not over yet? Perhaps we do have some guideposts given to us by God along the way, but rather than looking back, we should be looking AHEAD.Tag Dan and a podcast host who you think should have Dan on as a guest:Dan’s Twitter: @DanKochDan’s FB: https://www.facebook.com/[email protected] John Haught Reader: https://www.amazon.com/John-Haught-Reader-Essential-Writings/dp/1532661029The New Cosmic Story: https://www.amazon.com/New-Cosmic-Story-Awakening-Universe/dp/030021703X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=john+haught&qid=1574117845&s=books&sr=1-1Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Human beings are primarily intrinsically sinful and evil.”“God’s truth can only be found in the Biblical text.”“The body and its desires are inherently wicked.”“Emotions are not to be honored and listened to; only God’s truth should be valued.”Mark Karris (author, therapist, professor at Point Loma Nazarene University) lists these among a group of claims that he believes are a part of “Toxic Christianity.” Mark and Dan talk through a number of these (false) claims, ask why it is that they get in the way of our relationship to God and our neighbors, and consider alternate options.Mark’s Original Post - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10162264853155694&set=pb.740175693.-2207520000.1571761815.&type=3&theaterMark’s website: http://markgregorykarris.com/Mark’s Amazon author page: https://smile.amazon.com/Mark-Gregory-Karris/e/B01MZZLNV5?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1573700786&sr=8-1Deconversion Article Mark mentioned: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2v12uksryiwvscz/Breaking%20up%20with%20Jesus-%20a%20phenomenological%20exploration%20of%20the%20experience%20of%20deconversion%20from%20an%20Evangelical%20Christian%20faith%20to%20Atheism.pdf?dl=0Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can Christians believe that people are only “physical”? Must we have “souls” in order to be saved, to have relationships with God, to be God’s image-bearers in the world? My two guests today are biologist Kenneth R. Miller (Brown University) and philosopher Rebekah Rice (Seattle Pacific University), and they argue that there are good reasons to accept some kind of Christian Naturalism or Christian Physicalism, and that in fact one can do so and remain within the orthodx Christian tradition.The Human Instinct: https://smile.amazon.com/Human-Instinct-Evolved-Reason-Consciousness/dp/1476790264/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=kenneth+miller&qid=1573441718&sr=8-2Finding Darwin’s God: https://smile.amazon.com/Finding-Darwins-God-Scientists-Evolution/dp/0061233501/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=kenneth+miller&qid=1573441718&sr=8-1Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the episode that some of you have been waiting 40-some episodes for. Many of you know that I identify as a universalist, meaning that I believe that everyone will be saved in the end, whatever we mean by the word “saved.” There are a lot of reasons that people believe in Hell, and there are a lot of reasons that people don’t. Many of those reasons, maybe even MOST of the reasons, I would argue have nothing to do with actual arguments or theological reasoning, or even a close reading of the Biblical text. Most reasons, I think, are psychological. Why people ACTUALLY believe in Hell, at a more psychological level, is a very interesting question, but not one that we are spending much time on today. This episode is about the arguments themselves. The most central question is: Does Hell make sense, given the God of Christianity? The next one is - how do we make sense of various sayings of Jesus that seem to teach a painful judgement? My guest today is Brad Jersak. Brad is a Canadian theologian, author, and pastor, and his book “Her Gates Will Never Be Shut” is widely considered one of the best treatments of this question. Our first 15 min or so are spent getting our bearings with the current landscape on this topic, including some term explaining, and introducing David Bentley Hart’s new book as a centerpiece of both our conversation, and the wider theological conversation. If you want to go straight to the arguments themselves, you could skip ahead to about 18:00.Hellbound? -- https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B00D1NE8L0/ref=atv_dl_rdrThe Evangelical Universalist: https://www.amazon.com/Evangelical-Universalist-Second-Gregory-MacDonald/dp/1620322390/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=evangelical+universalist&qid=1572843722&sr=8-1Her Gates Shall Never Be Shut: https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A09982251H1HAKCB4QUV8&url=%2FHer-Gates-Will-Never-Shut-ebook%2Fdp%2FB00IGGZRJY%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa%3Fkeywords%3Dbrad%2Bjersak%26qid%3D1572843756%26sr%3D8-1-spons%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1572843755&id=5413906602847107&widgetName=sp_atfIn: https://www.amazon.com/Incarnation-Inclusion-Abba-Lamb/dp/1082461733/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=brad+jersak&qid=1572843756&sr=8-2A More Christlike God: https://www.amazon.com/More-Christlike-God-Beautiful-Gospel/dp/1889973165/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=brad+jersak&qid=1572843756&sr=8-3Athanasius, On the Incarnation: http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/theology/incarnation_st_athanasius.pdfRazing Hell: https://smile.amazon.com/Razing-Hell-Rethinking-Everything-Judgment/dp/0664236545/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sharon+baker+hell&qid=1572843854&sr=8-1Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in time for Halloween (not on purpose actually!)... What exactly is the "supernatural"? When God does something in the natural world, is that the same thing as saying that God broke the laws of physics? Theologian Thomas Jay oord helps Dan explore these questions, and whether or not it makes more sense to think of the “natural” and “supernatural” as essentially no different from one another. Or in Tom’s words, “For every event that happens in the world, there are both divine and creaturely causes.” They consider some possible ramifications of this move, including the resurrection of Jesus, miracles, the inspiration of Scripture, the life to come, and more.Tom’s website, including links to his books: http://thomasjayoord.com/Citizens - “Fear” (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/0abL7FZysjxpaxEPURpBsl Edited by Laura Kondourajian Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Philosopher Myron Penner (Trinity Western University) helps Dan think through some interesting but complicated and challenging findings from cognitive science (the study of the mind, not the study of the brain -- that's called neuroscience) and what they mean for our understanding of religions beliefs, behaviors and experiences. By explaining religious belief from a cognitive perspective, how does cognitive science of religion not *explain away* religion altogether? Does cognitive science of religion present evidence for God, for atheism, or neither?- “When God Talks Back” - https://smile.amazon.com/When-God-Talks-Back-Understanding/dp/0307277275/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia?keywords=when+god+talks+back&pd_rd_i=0307277275&pd_rd_r=eda4ec56-9673-42b7-bdb8-d6faeaa93daa&pd_rd_w=jfc0X&pd_rd_wg=PM7eF&pf_rd_p=a5491838-6a74-484e-8787-eb44c8f3b7ff&pf_rd_r=GA0N6HXQHCG8MZNJ3RE6&psc=1&qid=1571604451- Citizens - “Fear” (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/0abL7FZysjxpaxEPURpBsl - theopsych.com - Fuller Seminary initiativeEdited by Laura Kondourajian Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we parent our kids after faith deconstruction? What if only one half of a couple is going through faith changes? Can people of different faith traditions have healthy marriages? How do I relate to my family, who haven’t had the same faith changes that I have, and who now think I’m going to Hell? Is this what “unequally yoked” is actually supposed to mean? This is a long, meaty episode, where we get into as many questions like these as possible (asked almost entirely by listeners of the show) with Dr. Doug Shirley, a psychotherapist who teaches at the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and specializes in questions like these in his own private practice.dougshirleyresearch.comHoly Longing: https://smile.amazon.com/Holy-Longing-Search-Christian-Spirituality-ebook/dp/B004DEPESM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=holy+longing&qid=1570899882&sr=8-1Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: https://smile.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0553447718/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9XGS9DL4PJFO&keywords=seven+principles+for+making+marriage+work&qid=1570899898&sprefix=seven+principles%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1Finite and Infinite Games: https://smile.amazon.com/Finite-Infinite-Games-James-Carse/dp/1476731713/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N9D2WRINZTQJ&keywords=finite+and+infinite+games+by+james+carse&qid=1570899926&sprefix=finite+and%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-1The Sin of Certainty: https://smile.amazon.com/Sin-Certainty-Desires-Correct-Beliefs/dp/0062272098/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SZU6J7FT9FDZ&keywords=sin+of+certainty&qid=1570899914&sprefix=sin+of+cer%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1Edited by Josh Gilbert ([email protected])Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is everyone suddenly talking about psychedelic drugs again? What do we know about them, and what is their relationship to more “ordinary” religious experiences? Is taking a psychedelic as part of a worship service any different than dimming the lights and swaying together to worship music? What can we learn about human brains and religious experience in general from the research on psychedelics? Today we hear from theologian Sarah Lane Ritchie, who both works on these questions from a theological perspective and also has been a participant in a controlled psilocybin trial in the UK. And yes, she tells us about her trip! Later in our chat, she shares her personal struggles with experiencing God as “personal” in the way that so many of her friends and colleagues are able to do (myself included). This was an incredible conversation.Sarah is Lecturer in Theology and Science at the University of Edinburgh. She has a PhD in Science and Religion from the University of Edinburgh, where her doctoral work focused on the question of divine action in the human mind. A Michigander by birth, Sarah also holds a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Spring Arbor University, an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an MSc in Science and Religion from the University of Edinburgh. Her published work focuses on questions arising from the intersection of theology, philosophy, and the various brain-related sciences. Sarah’s Book: https://smile.amazon.com/Divine-Action-Current-Issues-Theology/dp/1108476511/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=sarah+lane+ritchie&qid=1570383111&sr=8-2Sarah has a chapter in this much cheaper collection as well: https://smile.amazon.com/Philosophy-Science-Religion-Everyone-Pritchard/dp/1138234214/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sarah+lane+ritchie&qid=1570383111&sr=8-1Edited by Laura Kondourajian Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices