Religion on the Mind

Caitlin Olsen (marriage and family therapist) joins me today to discuss her research on betrayal trauma in religious contexts. Caitlin says, "the concept of betrayal trauma is really helpful for people understanding systemic betrayal." We also cover benevolent sexism (or soft patriarchy), Mormonism, and focusing on betrayal trauma in a therapeutic environment. Caitlin's Website: https://caitlinols...

Listeners of this show will know I'm not shy about my Enneargream skepticism. Well, today I'm joined by Jay Medenwaldt (Master in Psychological Sciences - Baylor University) who has done some actual legwork on the topic, compiling studies that have tested the reliability and validity of the Enneagram. Jay expounds on this research and walks us through some "not so popular" critiques of The Enneagr...

Today I have the unique pleasure of continuing our “Christian Music” series with Peter Hilliard. Peter is a classical and opera composer with a robust background in church music. He says, “When you make art and music, you are exercising your humanity.” We overview several classical pieces from composures like Bach and Brahms, examining how they wrestled with things like faith, meaninglessness, and...

Dr. Joshua Knabb (author, researcher & clinician) joins me to talk widely about one's orientation and conception of God. With personal and clinical examples, Josh punctuates the conversation with topics like attachment, acceptance, and abstract psychology, as they relate to spiritual wellbeing. We also cover things like the ineffable nature of God, Buddhism (mindfulness and suffering), and Apophat...

One of my best friends' dads, Joe Bishop (pastor & therapist), is joining me today to discuss deconstruction for the boomer generation. Joe says, "There's a real lack of resources for people going through faith deconstruction in their 50s or older." We cover things like the ramifications of losing lifelong religious practice, awakening to agency later in life, and reckoning with one's complicity i...

Today I'm re-joined by author Ryan Burge to discuss his new book "20 Myths About Religion and Politics in America." Ryan talks about how 'Born again' has become its own brand, ethos & style of thinking and how Evangelicalism is still the dominant form of Christianity in America. We also talk about cynicism, institutional trust, the role plausibility structures have played in American Evangelicalis...

Today I'm joined by Dr. Jesse Fox (Stenson University) to discuss his “spiritual bypass” research in the growing field of religion and its relationship to health. Jesse says spiritual bypassing includes "[Spiritually] taking something out of context and misapplying it." We also touch on mindfulness, spiritual narcissism, and including/transcending. Jesse’s Faculty Page: https://www.stetson.edu/oth...

Today I'm rejoined by listener (and personal) favorite Heather Patton Griffin (Episode #123) to apply her conceptual framework to the recent abuse report issued by Guidepost Solutions about The Southern Baptist Convention. “Emotionalism," "Maturity Badges," and "Easy Knowledge" are concepts we cover that have often enabled abuse in church settings. We apply these and other concepts to the SBC scan...

Rejoining me today is my friend Oliver Crisp, principal of St. Mary's college and the head of the school of divinity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Oliver helps us wade through theologically dense waters, comparing terms like original guilt and original sin. We also look at specific theologians' views like Augustine, Calvin, etc., and address the implications of these beliefs in tod...

Today I'm joined by Dr. Wade Mullen, researcher and author of Something's Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse--and Freeing Yourself from Its Power. Our conversation focuses specifically on "Impression Management," a sociology subfield that analyzes how organizations use different mechanisms to influence their public perceptions to cover up abuse scandals. We get into Mullens's differen...

Today I'm joined by pastor Tyler Burns (Pass the Mic Podcast & President at The Witness: A Black Christian Collective). Tyler offers insight into the process of black deconstruction as experienced more communally. He also sees doubt as an inherent component of faith for black Christians in America. We cover embodiment, white nationalism, and faith expressed cerebrally vs. experientially. Pass the...

Today I’m joined by Kenneth I. Pargament (Professor at Bowling Green State University) and Julie J. Exline (Professor at Case Western Reserve University), two prominent researchers in psychology of religion, to talk about their research on “spiritual struggles.” Where does this research overlap with the “deconstruction” movement? With spiritual abuse and religious trauma? Are spiritual struggles p...

Today I'm joined by author and writer Fred Bahnson to discuss some of his work on Christian Contemplative Practice. Fred says, "Political life has replaced inner life as the arbiter of all things." We get into Thomas Merton, emotional recognition, oneness, and the political implications of contemplative practice amidst ecological crises. Fred’s Articles:“Keeping the World in Being”: https://emerge...

Today, I'm joined by Raymond Gregory (Calvary Chapel Church in East Anaheim) for another episode in our "Worries About Progressive Christianity" series. We cover theological topics like hell, salvation, and what he considers to be the "central vein of the Gospel". We also cover polarization, bias-motivated reasoning, and the hyper politicization of American Protestantism. Raymond's website: raymon...

Today we're joined by Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone to continue our conversation around three recent scandals in the Evangelical World. Having worked at Christianity Today, Katelyn and Roxy offer context for some of these issues' cultural and spiritual fabrics. We also cover accountability structures, misuse of power, and impact versus intent. Saved by the City - CT Response Episode: https://pod...

Today we respond to three recent scandals in the Evangelical world. This episode is a modified version of our patron-exclusive Generation Gap Culture Hour (GGCH) episodes with Tony Jones. Also joining us is former guest Josh Patterson (Rethinking Faith Podcast), who provides context, having worked with Bruxy as part of the Jesus Collective. Tony also provides context for Bray’s story as well as th...

Today, Dr. Elizabeth Hall, Professor of Psychology (Biola University), joins me to talk about doubt, intellectual humility, and uncertainty tolerance. While offering pushback on the term 'Deconstruction,' Liz frames doubt as "an opportunity for growth, development, and greater intimacy with God." We also cover finitude, lament, plausibility structures, and "spiritual struggles."Liz’s Faculty Page:...

Today Tony Jones and I interview Mike Cosper, the host of "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill" podcast, diving into the detailed aspects of the widely successful show. We cover its underlying themes while also challenging some of Cosper's choices and methodology. We also touch on broader topics like narcissism in church leadership, journalistic responsibilities, and attempting to redeem evangelicalism...

Today Becky Castle Miller joins me to discuss the emotionality of Jesus and how emotions are understood in Evangelicalism. Becky has a master's in New Testament (Northern Seminary), and her books include "Following King Jesus," co-authored by Scot McKnight. We start with some of Becky's background before highlighting anti-emotionalism within Evangelicalism. We also touch on Jesus's humanity, spiri...

This is a clip from the first of 4 patron-exclusive episodes with Ariel of Trans Regret Snoopy Presents the Bible. To hear the full episode, as well as the upcoming 3 episodes, become a patron!patreon.com/DanKochAriel's previous episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-have-permission/id1448000113?i=1000516790529 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more abo...

Today my guest, Dr. Elaine Heath, joins me to discuss her five principles of 'What the Church of the Future Needs to Contain". Dr. Heath was the first woman dean of Duke Divinity School and is an author, speaker, pastor, and consultant. Along with her five principles, we cover the value of wisdom traditions, socio-political identity, and more. Elaine says, "Christianity is losing its swagger" and...

Today I am joined by Dr. Marcia Webb, Professor at Seattle Pacific University and author of “Toward a Theology of Psychological Disorder.” Well suited for the show, Dr. Webb’s work focuses on the intersection of theology and mental health and how we make sense of those two together. Along with discussing her book, we cover some of Christianity’s various explanations for mental illness, demonic pos...

I’m joined today by Dr. David P. Gushee (University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) to discuss the emerging scholarship coming from within Evangelicalism. We focus our conversation on a series of books that challenge the classic Bebbington Quadrilateral’s self-definition of evangelicalism, including Jesus and John Wayne, the Color of Compromise, David’s own book After Evangelic...

Today I’m joined by Kyle Roberts (United Seminary) to talk about his book “A Complicated Pregnancy: Whether Mary Was a Virgin and Why it Matters”. We talk about Kyle’s research around virginal conception, including various views about it and their implications throughout Christian history. We hit on biology and DNA, differing depictions in each gospel, original sin, and the incarnation. Kyle's Boo...

Today I’m joined by Matt Carter and Krispin Mayfield to talk about the culture and psycology of Christian heavy music. Our conversation dissects the lyrics and theologies portrayed in an evangelical underground scene of the late 90s and 00s. We touch on topics of collective effervescence, attachment styles and lyrical themes motivated by purity culture. Krispin’s Website: https://www.krispinmayfie...