Homebrewed Christianity Podcast

Greg Jarrell is a friend and hero of mine. It was a real honor to not only have him on the podcast, but help host a little party to celebrate the release of his new book A Riff of Love. Greg is a founder of QC Family Tree, a community of hospitality in Charlotte, NC, where he shares life with his wife, Helms, their two kids, and a host of other neighbors who have become kin. In our conversation we talk about his story and just how a southern baptist church boy ended up on a search for community, justice, and belonging. It was a blast and I am sure you will enjoy it.  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

It's time for the great reversal!! Brain McLaren takes the roll of the interviewer and turns to me for the A's to the Q's. It was a blast. Personally I am extremely honored that Brian not only watched (and enjoyed) my film, The Road to Edmond, but that he took the time to plan a fun conversation about it. You will learn a bit about the movie production, writing, acting and such, but also hear us wrestle with the topics the film itself tackles. Hopefully the conversation inspires you to go watch the film this month (Feb 2019), while it is available for your streaming pleasure at jesuslovesourmovie.com. Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is an Auburn Senior Fellow and a leader in the Convergence Network, through which he is developing an innovative training/mentoring program for pastors,

I love Tom Oord. It is rare someone as intelligent as Tom is simultaneously committed to the life of the church, sensitive to people's lived experience, and advancing the intellectual quest in multiple areas. In this episode I talk with Tom about his newest book, God Can't: how to believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and other Evils. During this conversation we both share a number of personal stories. Some of them may be a bit intense if you are listening with kids or the expectation of just nerdiness. For more academic conversations with Tom check out the previous episodes below. Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is an award-winning author, and he has written or edited more than twenty books. A twelve-time Faculty Award winning professor, Oord teaches at institutions around the globe. A gifted speaker, Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freed

This most zesty episode was part of the Cosmic Campfire reading group. I joined Science Mike, Mike Morrell, and a couple thousand nerds as we read through a new collection of spiritual memoirs - How I Found God in Everyone and Everywhere. Keith Ward was one of the contributors and he jumped on video chat to talk with Mike and I for the group. It was an energetic and fun conversation that covered a number of topics from science, physics, materialism, idealism, the Cosmic Christ, spiritual experiences, religious pluralism, divine action, and more. Ohhh and you hear how this Oxford Philosopher went from being an atheist to an idealist and then converted to Christianity in India. Keith Ward is a British philosopher, theologian, priest and scholar. He is a fellow of the British Academy and a priest of the Church of England. He was a canon of Christ Church, Oxford until 2003. Comparative theologyand the relationship between science and religion are two of his main topics of interest. He was Regius Professor of Di

I am super excited to share this conversation with my dear friend and brilliant scholar Tom Oord. In this episode we discuss a couple different topics from an Open and Relational perspective in the hope it lures you to join our Open and Relational Theology reading group!! That's right. Tom and I are gonna facilitate an exploration of ORT and we would love for you to join the fun. Did you know Tom just released a new book? It's called "God Can't: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils." It is the single best introduction to the open and relational perspective on evil for the non-specialist. I have already recommended it to a bunch of people, so if you are asking questions about God's power, presence, and relationship to suffering - read this book. Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is an award-winning author, and he has written or edited more than twenty books. A twelve-time Faculty Award winning professor, Oord teaches

My friend and fellow podcast nerd, Dan Koch, is back on the podcast.  Dan is here so I can tell you all about his brand new podcast - YOU HAVE PERMISSION. You Have Permission (hosted by Dan Koch -- Depolarize! Podcast, Reconstruct) is a podcast for anyone asking those deep and timeless questions that humans can't seem to stop asking.  So many of us have been given bad answers to these good questions, often by people with pure intentions. What this podcasts claims is that you have permission to take both Christianity and the modern world very seriously.  The series launched January 14th with 4 full length episodes on Christian Inclusivism, Theistic Evolution, Extraterrestrial Theology, and Predestination. Dan is also the co-host the Depolarize! and Reconstruct podcasts, plays guitar in Sherwood, and lives in Seattle.We have a large amount of fun talking to each other. Personally I love saying things I know he will disagree with, in just a snarky enough way, to get him going. As you will hear that happens. P

I absolutely love Rabbi Artson. His previous visit to the podcast has remained one of the most powerful and popular episodes, where he talks about his Jewish understanding of Process theology. This fresh episode is from our Cosmic Campfire reading group. It was so zesty that I thought I would share it as a means to lure you to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the COSMIC CAMPFIRE event this February 1-2. Rabbi Artson is the author of Renewing the Process of Creation and God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology and they are straight up awesome. If you are looking for introductory level texts about Process theology then you really need to check them out. Most importantly there are ZERO reasons not to subscribe to his podcast. LITERALLY ZERO REASONS. Bradley Shavit “Brad” Artson is an American rabbi, author, speaker, and the occupant of the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean’s Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Californ

My guest in this episode is the director and ecological activist behind the new film Behold the Earth - David Conover. It's a music-filled documentary with some of the most beautiful footage the screen can manage. I was moved by the emptive power of the film's imagery and music and I was inspired by the stories of ecological activism emerging in religious communities.   About the Film: Behold the Earth is a music-rich documentary film that explores America’s divorce from the outdoors through conversations with legendary scientists E.O. Wilson, Cal DeWitt, and Theo Colborn, as well as a new generation of creation-care activists within America’s Christian communities. Katharine Hayhoe, Ben Lowe, and Corina Newsome are close observers of nature bearing witness to creation, asking tough questions about church engagement with environmental issues. About the Director: Film Director and Conservationist David Conover boldly began this highly original film 12 years ago, as an inquiry into America’s divorce from the

What a fun podcast episode! Brian McLaren, Micky ScottBey Jones, and Daneen Akers all joined for a conversation about parenting for the common good. Many of us know the faith we do not want to pass on to our children, but what does being a faithful parent look like after our childhood faith is gone? That's the topic for this session...plus we answer some questions you sent in. Brian McLaren wrote a new children's book with Gareth Higgins. It is called Cory and the Seventh Story and should be required reading for parents and grand parents with the children in their life. Don’t worry adults, they didn’t forget about you. They also wrote a version for you that explores the same themes. That’s right, you can also get The Seventh Story: Us, Them, and the End of Violence.   Micky ScottBey Jones - the Justice Doula - accompanies people as they birth more love, justice and shalom into our world. As a womanist, faith rooted, contemplative activist, healer, and nonviolence practitioner, Micky supports students, cl

Elgin, my oldest son, just turned 11 and he has managed to talk himself into a podcast appearance. Personally I had a blast. It may be a completely new parenting tactic - get your 11 year old Son to record a podcast and they will talk to you about something other than Fortnite for 30 minutes!! Elgin is a pretty big fan of the National Geographic show MARS and we are currently rocking the second season. It is about an international team of scientists who go on a mission to colonize the red planet. The cool thing about the show is they go back and forth with a not-too-far-ahead future narrative of the first Mars team and cut-ins with info from contemporary scientists or current research connected to the mission. This leads to Elgin asking all sorts of fun questions...some of which we attempt to discuss in the episode. If you haven't seen Mars and have a science or Sci-Fi nerd in the house check it out. For those that are going to watch with a very inquisitive offspring, just DVR it so you can pause and discu

Two of my favorite humans on planet earth are named Gareth and Brian. They aren't my favorites because they are brilliant, creative, wise, or even lots of fun. Gareth and Brain are genuinely kind and passionately invested in the well-being of our planet. That is why I am super pumped that they have written a CHILDREN'S BOOK that is absolutely wonderful. It is called Cory and the Seventh Story and should be required reading  for parents and grand parents with the children in their life. Don't worry adults, they didn't forget about you. They also wrote a version for you that explores the same themes. That's right, you can also get The Seventh Story: Us, Them, and the End of Violence.  You can also check out my first film and the only one I know of in the "progressive Christian buddy road-trip comedy you could get in trouble for showing at church, but if you watch the entire thing you might cry and not think it is just inappropriate humor" category. It is called The Road to Edmond and this holiday season you

On this episode I am joined by Michael Frost and we talk about his newest book Keep Christianity Weird: Embracing the Discipline of Being Different.  Michael is an internationally recognized missiologist and one of the leading voices in the missional church movement. On top of that he's is the Vice Principal of Morling College and the founding Director of the Tinsley Institute, a mission study centre located at Morling College in Sydney, Australia.   You can check out his website, follow him on twitter, and even on Facebook. 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

Selfies are ubiquitous. They can be silly or serious, casual or curated. Within moments, smart phone users can capture their image and post it across multiple social media platforms to a global audience. But do we truly understand the power of image in our image-saturated age? How can we seek God and care for each other in digital spaces? Well this week on the podcast we will tackle these questions with my friend, scholar, and guru of the cinema Craig Detweiler. Since the last time he was on the podcast he became President of The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Craig Detweiler is a U.S. author, filmmaker, theologian, and cultural commentator who is the third president of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology in Seattle, Washington. Toward the end of the podcast I mention my recent film The Road to Edmond and now you can watch it online. So do it. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m

Get ready for a mind expanding and assumption challenging episode with the one and only Rupert Sheldrake. When a guest comes to the podcast on recommendation from John Cobb you have to get pumped. Prior to the interview I read two of Sheldrakes books that I would definitely recommend to you. In this wide-ranging conversation we end discussing the dogmatism of scientific materialists, the nature of consciousness, parapsychology, pets, psychedelics, ritual, pilgrimage, neo-darwinism, the changing shape of religion, epigenetic, creativity in evolution, Bergson, Whitehead, and why Rupert loves the doctrine of the Trinity. Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance. At Cambridge University he worked in developmental biology as a Fellow of Clare College. He was Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and From 2005 to 2010 was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project, Cambridge. Rupert Sheldrake wa

Ilia Delio, OSF, is the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University, a wide read author, popular speaker, and down right passionate communicator at the intersection of religion, science, and our evolving universe. I had a complete blast talking to her and we covered a bunch of different facets of her work including her journey from molecular biology to the monastery to the academic study of theology. We also tackle: the role of mystery in theology Artificial Intelligence Cyborgs cosmic evolution reconciling God with the scientific world the ecological crisis At the end of the interview Ilia suggested two places to begin reading her work, The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love and Hunger for Wholeness, A: Soul, Space, and Transcendence. When asked what three books she would recommend to dig deeper into the topics we tackled in our conversation she said... Deeper Than Darwin: The Prospect For Religion In The Age Of Evolution and God Aft

Do Progressive Christians Want to Make Disciples? We got a call from Deacon Luke Allison and he has a topic that makes the progressive Christian wiggle - discipleship. Jesus called them and told us to do it, but has that time passed? What does disciple-making look like in our pluralistic world? How does the relationship of Jesus to his disciples in the New Testament impact our contemporary vision? Can the call to make disciples ultimately be divorced from the imperial legacy of the church? I am sure you are thinking of more questions this one topic brings up. Well once I heard the question I knew we needed to talk about it. Here's my contribution to the conversation. Let me know what you think and any other questions that pop up.   You can be cool like Luke and submit your question via the SpeakPipe RIGHT 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

This is a very live and rowdy collection of Baptist Professors of Religion. In the first segment I am joined by my high school friend and Theology Professor Ryan Newson & gifted homebrewer and Claremont buddy Seth Clark. We talk about Baptist identity in and out of the South. Then Ryan introduces his friend, colleague at Campbell University, and scholar of the New Testament, Alicia Myers. Our conversation is way too awesome. If you don't enjoy it you aren't listening. We talk about... Where did babies come from (in the Bible)? How Aristotle understood bodily fluids. Biblical interpretation in 2nd Temple Period Judaism How Angels had sex just for fun. How the character of Mary the Mother of Jesus is understood in the early church. The changing nature of family and church in the New Testament The experience of women in the life and leadership of the church. Breastfeeding during a worship service The consequences of our hyper-sexualized culture How can we change the place of bodies in spiritual form

Larry Norman is the Father of Christian Rock, integral to the Jesus People movement, an American Kierkegaard with a guitar, and the perfect figure to wrestle with the tangled shape of evangelicalism. Plus Larry Norman remains one of the most influential figures in my own faith journey. First, I encountered him through my Dad's records, discovering a unique prophetic voice set against the country and church's neglect of the poor, lust for war, and desire for more. Then I came to know Larry talking to him after his shows. I saw him 17 times before he passed. He learned my name, remembered my story, encouraged my intellectual quest, gave me song writing tips, and let me sing a verse of The Rock that Doesn't Roll with his band at a show in Florence, South Carolina (that was on my bucket list). PS I deleted 1200 words of love about Larry... the point being, what's the chance I would actually LOVE a book about him? It is rare that I love a book, the topic, and the guest this much! Not only that, this book isn't e

Prepare yourself for some seriously zesty podcasting with my friends Diana Bass and Brian McLaren at the Wild Goose Festival. During the episode we will attempt to answer a number of different questions and topics listeners like yourself sent in. It is always a treat to get to talk to Diana and Brian and this time was no exception. Find out who Diana and Brian respond to a bunch of different questions like... Who are your heroes of the faith? How can we cultivate gratitude in the craziness of today? Can you be sane and use Facebook? How should the church see our current political crisis? Is democracy worth saving? Can the planet handle another 500 years of Christian leadership? What's a post-NationState-Capitalist-Techno-Society do for spirituality? This Episode is sponsored by... Lutheran World Relief Famers Market Coffee is providing good coffee that makes a difference. You should try it. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Le

The number of people with doubts, questions, and experiences that send them out from the religious tradition of their birth is growing. For many religion is left behind completely, opting for an untraditioned spirituality, and others find the idea of God, Ultimate Reality, or any other substitute for the transcendent as intellectually incompatible with our scientific age. In Philip Clayton and Andrew Davis' new book you get to hear a collection of personal narratives from some of the most brilliant contemporary thinkers about their return to God. In How I Found God in Everyone and Everywhere you will see a variety of starting points, twists, turns, and conundrums, but a broad network of conclusions that testify to an emerging picture of a deeper spiritual realit In this conversation I get to talk to my dear friend and mentor, Philip Clayton, and one of his lucky current students and scholar, Andrew Davis. We tackle a host of topics from mysticism, panentheism, the viability of theism, the relationship betwee