Cocktail Theology

Elane and Benton sip on a fruit-forward plum cocktail as they tackle a provocative question: Why does the church care so much about my personal life? From purity culture and drinking to who we sleep with and who we hang out with, the hosts unpack why church-averse folks push back against institutions being up in their business. Moving beyond the fear of judgment and shame, they contrast judgy inst...

Benton and Elane explore the growing trend of unbundled faith. Moving beyond rigid denominational perimeters, they discuss what happens when people gather spiritual ideas, worldviews, and practices from diverse traditions—from Southern Baptist and Episcopalian roots to Buddhist meditation and yoga. Using metaphors ranging from global cooking to buffets and bundles of sticks, they contrast the hist...

Benton and Elane explore a fascinating question: in our digital world, do we still have relics? Moving beyond simple sentimental heirlooms, Elane defines what makes an object a true relic—from saintly bones and the Shroud of Turin to Indiana Jones and a guitarist's worn Stratocaster—and asks whether physical items can still hold spiritual power or ancestral mojo. Tune in to discover why our diffic...

Elane and Benton sip on a tequila and pomegranate cocktail while exploring the art of being a work in progress. Sparked by Benton's habit as a songwriter of keeping unfinished songs hidden until they are complete, the hosts contrast product versus process—asking why so many people feel compelled to present a finished, perfected version of themselves. They unpack the core theological shift between...

Benton and Elane sip on a rum cocktail while exploring the beautiful, sometimes terrifying, spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude. Moving past simple physical quietness, they unpack the constant low underlying hum of 21st-century devices and digital distractions that clutter our brains and drown out our deeper instincts. Elane opens up about her past battle with intense anxiety when forced...

Benton and Elane sip on a Negroni riff as they candidly share how their respective upbringings, career transitions, and major life disruptions have shaped their relationships with money. Moving past the dry logistics of budgets and retirement planning, they delve into the psychological and spiritual grip of finance, arguing that fear—whether of losing what we have or never having enough—is what tr...

Elane and Benton shake up a sweet-and-bitter gin cocktail called "The Junk Drawer" while unpacking a comforting truth: your theology doesn't have to be a perfectly curated museum case. Together, they explore how a lifetime of faith, doubt, and reconstruction leaves most of us with a spiritual "junk drawer" filled with mismatched beliefs, outgrown ideas, and unexpected tools we might need to reach...

Elane and Benton sip on a summery, slightly unbalanced riff on a gin tiki drink while tackling a profound question: does our modern society value wisdom? Moving past our culture's obsession with youth and the loud, dopamine-fueled clickbait of the public sphere, they unpack the crucial differences between mere life experience and true, ethically centered wisdom. From the biblical image of wisdom a...

Benton and Elane sip on a complex, unnamed bourbon-and-chocolate dessert cocktail while unpacking a mind-bending thesis: generative AI is the perfect metaphor for our current political landscape. They explore how both consumer AI and political figures like Donald Trump build trust by reading our fears, amplifying our language, and locking us into narrow, unchallenging echo chambers. Hear Elane's p...

Elane and Benton explore the disappearing concept of the "third place"—community hubs that are neither home nor work where people actually know your name—have been replaced by a culture of drive-thrus, smartphones, and a constant need to maximize our time. They unpack the historical and cultural shifts that have pushed us toward isolation, from front-facing garages to the invention of air conditio...

Benton and Elane sip on a cozy cocktail while exploring the deep emotional connections we have with comfort food. Swapping stories about childhood dinners, church potlucks, and specific cravings, they unpack how certain meals act as a time machine to our past and dive into the psychological difference between compulsively eating to fill an empty space and enjoying food for joyful nostalgia. Listen...

Elane and Benton tackle a pressing modern question: what does trusting AI do to our faith? They unpack how AI lacks the crucial "skin in the game" of human experience, how it creates an unchallenging echo chamber by flattering our existing beliefs, and how it occasionally even hallucinates lies. They discuss why true spiritual mentorship requires shared human mistakes, and how the greatest persona...

Benton and Elane discuss an ongoing cultural and spiritual shift: moving away from the idea that we are all inherently broken and in need of constant healing. Tracing the concept of brokenness back to original sin, they discuss how we can shift our focus from victimhood toward actionable spiritual practices and trade the endless search for healing for the proactive pursuit of wholeness and living...

Elane and Benton sip on a summer-ready Pineapple Daiquiri while tackling a difficult question: what does it mean to be patriotic in an era of rising Christian nationalism? They explore how the core tenets of Christianity—loving God and loving your neighbor—must challenge the exclusionary views of modern nationalism, and why choosing the way of Jesus means fighting for the dignity of everyone. Cock...

Benton and Elane tackle a difficult biblical dilemma: what does it really mean to be "wise as serpents" and "gentle as doves" in the modern world? Sparked by the frustrations of California's primary elections and the everyday ethics of corporate boycotts, they explore how people of faith can balance strategic thinking with vulnerable integrity. Cocktail: Eeyore's Requiem Theme song: "Moving On (Fe...

Elane and Benton sip on a comforting, bourbon-based nightcap called "The Welcome and Good Night" as they explore the true meaning of hospitality. Sparked by Pride Month and the actual biblical reasons behind the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, they discuss how true hospitality is about much more than fancy food or having a perfect home—it is the spiritual discipline of making people feel safe enough t...

Benton and Elane pick up where they left off in the last episode as Elane introduces a mystical perspective on how we connect to God, the universe, and each other, which sparks an intense and honest debate. They tackle the complex difference between simply trying to be a "good person" and acting as a spiritual "thin place" that requires a 100% connection to the divine. Ultimately, they challenge t...

Benton and Elane dive into a provocative discussion about the ultimate endgame of religious faith. They explore whether the primary goal of religion is to avoid eternal punishment and appease a capricious God, or if it is simply a framework for becoming a decent human being. From the eternal prosperity gospel of seeking heaven to the relief of suffering found in Buddhist ideals, they analyze the d...

Benton and Elane sip on a surprising Guava Daiquiri while considering what we mean when we use the phrase "acts of God". Tornadoes and typhoons? Desert blooms and natural beauty? Or something else? God's actions often look much different than we expect....so how do we know when God's at work in the world....? Cocktail: Guava Daiquiri Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton S...

Benton and Elane explore the difference between hair-trigger outrage and well-ordered anger. They unpack the harmful religious conditioning that taught many to suppress their anger and offer practical advice on how to combat political exhaustion by channeling frustration into a single, constructive cause to effect real change. All while sipping a mezcal-based cocktail. Cocktail: La Ultima Palabra...

As a society, it seems we are constantly on the verge of outrage. Benton and Elane talk about how a loss of everyday civility and humor keeps us all on guard instead of being open to proactively stepping into conversations. They offer some practical advice on how to lower the temperature and see the humanity in everyone while sipping an imperfect cocktail. Cocktail: Smoked Cherry Margarita Theme s...

NEW EPISODE! Benton and Elane have a conversation sparked by Benton's brand-new song, "Take the Throne," which leads them to unpack traditional Christian imagery about kingship, power, and the maturity it takes to surrender control. It's a thoughtful discussion on the ongoing process of deconstruction, the dangers of making yourself the final arbiter of your own kingdom, and learning how to hold o...

NEW EPISODE! Elane and Benton respond to a listener's letter expressing her trouble with worshipping God. She poses the question, "Does God need our constant fawning?" Which leads to the question, "Is God a narcissist?" A lively conversation about what worship is (and isn't), what makes someone a narcissist, and why lime and artichoke work so well together in a cocktail.   Cocktail: The Lime & The...

NEW EPISODE! Benton and Elane open Season 7 with a conversation about Jesus' Resurrection. Why didn't everyone recognize Jesus after he left the tomb? How could he walk through walls? How important is the Resurrection to what happened on the Cross? All these questions and more, plus a tasty rum cocktail. Cocktail: The Lazarus Soul Note: When they recorded this episode, Benton and Elane thought thi...

Elane and Benton reflect on what Christmas means to them this year while enjoying a classic holiday cocktail. Cocktail: Tom & Jerry Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.