Pub Theology LIVE

[Trigger warning] We discuss the recent deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade and the issue of suicide. What are good ways to be present for friends who may be at risk? We discuss the challenge of depression and how the church has often mishandled folks who are dealing with depression or are contemplating suicide.

We discuss the Supreme Court ruling from this week that went in favor of a Colorado baker who was sanctioned for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. We discuss reactions to this decision, what kind of cake Jesus would bake (and for who), and whether this opens the door to more forms of discrimination.

We discuss whether everyone is truly "entitled to their opinion"—and what that even means. And what is the difference between a fact and an opinion? Are "facts" less reliable today than they used to be? We discuss it all, plus favorite lunch items from childhood. Tune in!

We share some of the best and worst marriage advice we've ever heard. We also discuss, in light of the royal wedding, how a term like "traditional marriage" may not mean what many folks think it means. And Rabbi Eli Freedman joins the conversation!

In light of the preponderance of white people calling the police on African Americans and other people of color, we discuss safety, danger, racism and implicit bias. It's time to talk, white people.

Is love always the right thing to do? Is it ever appropriate to not act in love? What defines whether an act is loving? Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell: “Just for today… I choose to come from love." What does it look like for you to 'come from love'? We discuss!

James Cone noted that "Any theology that is indifferent to the theme of liberation is not Christian theology." Is he correct? We discuss that, plus whether we'd rather know or be in the dark about the time and place we will die.

Is there a story in the Bible that fascinated you as a child? What biblical story would you hesitate to tell a child? We discuss the power of stories to inspire, plus fate vs freewill—are we merely God's puppets? Or are we masters of our own destiny? Tune in as we discuss!

As Earth Day approaches, we discuss our favorite places in nature, how biblical texts have supported the pillaging of the Earth, whether separating matter and spirit has been problematic, and how care and connection of the Earth might be a part of one's spiritual calling.

In light of the 50th anniversary of the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we discuss his notion that "We've got to stay together and maintain unity." What did he mean by unity? What disruptors to unity exist today? What place should unity have in the goals of a society? We discuss this and more!

Is Easter more difficult for pastors than it was for Jesus? We discuss! And other Easter aftermath: Sunrise services, Easter candy, the resurrection, Jesus Christ Superstar, and more! Plus Bryan is drinking beer again. Especially after Monday night.

What makes you want to say, "I call BS"? What are you fed up with? What is your sense of what is happening right now with the March for Our Lives movement? And what in the world was happening during Holy Week? We discuss it all, plus we debut our new segment: Pass or Pour! Tune in. It's Episode 86 of Pub Theology Live!

Do you prefer to offer help or be helped? To save, or to be saved? How does this fit into your vocation? We also touch on the first jobs we ever held—Shannon was a kid wrangler, Ogun delivered bread for a family bakery, and Bryan bagged groceries. We discuss how all this helping and saving relates to God, and more! Tune in!

When someone says, "It's just common sense!"—is it? How does common sense differ from intuition? Is common sense completely subjective? Can it lead us astray? We discuss! Plus, do we really lose an hour with daylight savings time? Bryan seems to think so.

How much of our behavior and personality is inherited (nature)? How much is learned (nurture)? How much effect do parents have on their children? And is it time to retire the doctrine of Original Sin? We discuss it all! Tune in to this engaging and maybe even insightful episode of Pub Theology Live!

We discuss the life and legacy of Billy Graham, and explore both the contributions and potential conflicts he engendered. Plus, how many sticks does it take to make the playground safe?

Seminarian, preacher and podcaster Tamika Jancewicz joins Shannon and Bryan to talk theology, podcasting, Black Panther, and whether the children will be the ones to lead us to a more sane society. A fun and engaging conversation! Tune in, it's Episode 81 of Pub Theology Live!

What happens when Ash Wednesday collides with Valentine's Day? It's a battle of dust versus chocolate, ash versus roses, and mortality versus romantic love. Bryan and Shannon are joined by their spouses Christy and Derrick and we talk love, relationships, Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday. Tune in for a fun and engaging episode!

Does it matter who we pray to, as long as we're praying? A Brazilian grandmother prayed to a figurine of Elrond of Lord of the Rings for years thinking it was Saint Anthony. Does the direction of our prayers matter, or is just praying enough? What about those who don't pray or don't believe in God? Should churches cultivate a message that makes sense without God? Plus, what was the best Super Bowl...

Can technology save us? On this week's episode we discuss the general impact of technology on religion and faith: meditation apps, religion websites, tweeting in church, spiritual online meetups, Youtube preachers, etc. What have you found that augments your own faith or spiritual practice? What challenges does technology present in connecting with the divine? We discuss!

Do you have a high tolerance for mistakes? How do you respond to mistakes? Do we give a wider latitude to pastors and presidents for making mistakes? Plus, does what happens in Cuba stays in Cuba? Bryan, Shannon and Ogun discuss in this week's engaging episode of Pub Theology Live!

How do you respond in a crisis? Is this a result of your personality or something you have learned? Can you change this? Where is God in a crisis? Shannon and Ogun diagnose Bryan's need to blame and try to pin an enneagram number on him. Tune in! It's Episode 76. [end music: Lee Rosevere, "Credit Roll."]

When a church says, "All Are Welcome" do you believe it? What does being a 'welcoming church' really mean? Bryan, Shannon and Ogun discuss on Shannon's first official episode as new co-host! Plus, favorite chores and New Year's intentions. Tune in, it's Episode 75!

What is Christmas all about? Can there be joy in the season without the religious meaning? Was Jesus born as the exception or the example? Should we take the birth narratives literally? We're joined by Chris French and Tina Simmons to discuss. You don't want to miss our holiday episode of Pub Theology Live!

We answer your questions! Bryan and Ogun deliberate on some interesting topics: Jesus on gay marriage, baking cakes as free speech, whether it's OK to have sex before marriage, healing spiritual wounds, heaven and hell, and more! Tune in for a really interesting conversation on a range of topics!