Holy Smokes: Cigars and Spirituality

Yes, you heard that correctly: this will be our last AUDIO ONLY release for the foreseeable future. We are at our max capacity for output at the moment, so we will discontinue releasing audio-only episodes until we're in a position to expand our production team. Suscribe to the TFC Virtual YouTube channel for new releases here: https://www.youtube.com/@tfc.virtual Subscribe to the TFCVirtual Patre...

In this segment, we examine how fundamentalist Christianity can produce theological narcissism—a belief system rooted in superiority, control, and moral absolutism. Using a viral confrontation between a Christian protester and Buddhist monks walking for peace, we unpack how warped theology distorts love, empathy, and accountability. This is a necessary conversation about faith, mental health, and...

In this episode, we ask the uncomfortable question many people are already thinking: are Christians actually OK? From online outrage and moral panic to certainty, control, and public faith performances, this conversation explores what's happening to Christianity in real time — and why so many people are walking away from the church. Subscribe to the TFCVirtual Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com...

In this 2025 Year in Review, the crew reflects on the spiritual, emotional, and theological shifts that reshaped our faith over the past year. From deconstruction and grief to clarity, growth, and deeper questions about God, certainty, and identity, this episode explores what it means to evolve spiritually in real time. If you're navigating faith changes or rethinking what you believe, this conver...

In this episode, we unpack the theology of idolatry and how certainty, patriarchy, and supremacy culture shape the way many Christians talk about God. From gendered God-language to rage-driven faith, this conversation exposes how defending beliefs often replaces genuine worship. If you're navigating deconstruction, reconstruction, or questioning Christian certainty, this episode will hit home. Sub...

In this bonus episode, we break down Yolanda Adams' now-viral statement that "God is bigger than gender" — and why church folks absolutely lost their minds over it. Kristian is joined by Myron The Mystic, Nikki The Anchor, and Auntie Mazda Miles for this convo. We explore how patriarchy, biblical interpretation, and supremacy culture shape the way people imagine God and why the idea of a non-male...

Join Holy Smokes as we sit down with the legendary Yolanda Adams for an unfiltered conversation about the theology of gospel music , harmful church doctrines, love, identity, and what God really expects from us. We dive into the tension between sound and theology, how sin has been misdefined, and why the people we hate reveal more about us than God. If you've ever wrestled with faith, tradition, o...

This bonus episode takes a deep dive into Travis Greene's controversial sermon denouncing Black Greek organizations and explores how his message connects to a broader rise of Christian nationalism within the Black church. The crew unpacks spiritual bypassing, emotional manipulation, and how prosperity theology has been weaponized against Black institutions. Tune in for a sharp, unfiltered look at...

For generations, the church has told believers, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." But what if Jesus never called us to perfection — only to wholeness? In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes to unpack how toxic theology, respectability, and race have shaped our obsession with perfection — and how we can finally get free. This episode of Holy Smoke...

Let's talk about the call for Black Christians to place their Christianity over the Blackness. Let us know what you think in the comments. And Subscribe for more! Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tfcvirtual Join the Wait List for Kristian's upcoming e-book, "How to Deconstruct,"...

One thing we can't deny is Fundamentalist Christianity's need to control every aspect of your life. The shows or movies you watch. The kind of music you're allowed to listen to. The clothing you're allowed to wear. The people you're allowed to hang out with. The places you're allowed to go. The person you court and marry. And so on, and so on, and so on… This list fits perfectly into the what's kn...

Many of us grew up in churches where our love for God was determined by how much of yourself you sacrificed for the sake of eternal salvation. You attended every service and every event. You served on as many ministry teams as you could, stretching yourself thin. You even invited your friends and coworkers thinking, "if I could just get them to my church" they'd see the value of living for Jesus....

Growing up, the book of Revelation and the feeling of fear went hand on hand. It was the book of the Bible used to convince us to follow Christ. Books and movies have been made in efforts to bring Revelation to life. Well, not this time around. For the recording of "Deconstructing Revelation", we had Dr. Angela Parker as a special guest. We have a profound amount of respect for Dr. Parker in these...

What if we told you fornication is not what we have been traditionally taught? What if we told you there are more responsible ways to do sexual ethics? What if we told you to release the shame and guilt of safe and consensual unmarried sex? As Dr. Delman Coates will share later, "Sex is not a problem to be solved. It is an appetite to be managed." Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com...

If you struggle with your identity as a Christian because of what it has come to represent, this episode is for you. Kristian and the crew are joined by D. Danyelle Thomas, the Unfit Christian, to discuss the relationship between spirituality and humanism. The meaning of Humanism varies depending on who you ask. For the sake of this conversation, humanism is a worldview that suggests humanity is e...

In recent years, Christian Nationalist have bee casting a negative light on the concept of empathy. They characterize it as a gateway to approve "sin." In this episode Kristian and the crew unpack how dangerous this teaching is. Watch this episode and subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/Athcr-Z-lwE Subscribe to Patreon Here:  https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual Purchase full-len...

Last Sunday, Fundamentalist Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell (PAM) told Black people they need to stop blaming White cops for the killing of Black kids. He used Romans 13 in the Bible as the justification for his stance in the midst of a Christian Nationalist Regime that is abducting people off the street, erasing Black history, destabilizing the economy, etc... In this special edition of Holy Smoke...

In this episode, Kristian and the crew discuss how so much of Fundamentalist Christianity props up the image of white Jesus. This is the symbolism European nations have leveraged to violently colonize most of the known world. Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://patreon.com/tfcvirtual Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podcast here: https://patreon.com/tfcvirtual Register for DAI Fest...

In this episode, Kristian and the crew discuss what it's like to be single in the Black Church regardless of your gender or sexual orientation. We'll uncover in this conversation that those factors make a difference. We're joined by two of our community members, BJ Jackson and Paul Best. Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://patreon.com/tfcvirtual Purchase full-length, uncensored episodes of the podc...

This episode will give you a look inside the mind of a Christian Nationalist. Kristian and the crew are joined by viral comedic content creator and author of "Star Spangled Jesus", April Ajoy. April was raised in the Christian Nationalist world. Now she has committed her work to dismantling the tradition that raised her for the good of humanity. Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/t...

In this Therapy N' Theology episode of the podcast, the preacher and the preacher's wife discuss the implications of respectability politics on Black people in general and Black Christians in particular. Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual Get merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.holysmokesmovement.com/batr-b...

Kristian is joined by Auntie Mazda Miles, Pastor Tim Careathers and Myron the Mystic to unpack the Christian obsession with suffering. Hopefully you don't feel so obligated to suffer after watching this. Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual Get merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.holysmokesmovement.com/batr-b...

Kristian and the crew are joined by Ciarra Jones to discuss the struggle of losing certainty as you deconstruct your faith. Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual Get merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.holysmokesmovement.com/batr-book-order Order The Sin of Certainty by Pete Enns here: https://www.goodreads.co...

  Kristian and the crew run down the list of the top moments of 2024 with a collection of Reaching For the Stars segments. The segment featuring Christian Influencer, Tim Ross, is where we discuss the notion that Black People are Racist...   Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual    Get merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store    Order Breaking All The Rules her...

Exploring the concept of soul ties, this episode critically examines their theological origins, cultural implications, and real-life impact. Subscribe to Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/tfcvirtual   Get merch here: https://thefaithcommunity.org/merch-store   Order Breaking All The Rules here: https://www.holysmokesmovement.com/batr-book-order   Watch the Video Podcast here: https://youtu.be/...