Irenicast - A Progressive Christian Podcast

All five co-hosts grab some tea, full of compassion for one another, to talk about awakening compassion. The conversation begins with definitions and connections to spirituality. Since everyone thinks compassion is a good thing, co-hosts wonder how we become more compassionate. By awakening? By watering a seed inside of ourselves? Through training?  The conversation turns to a Christianity informe...

Casey and Bonnie have a heart to heart on the topic of abortion. They begin by sharing their experiences with abortion, planned parenthood, anti-choice protestors and sexuality education. Casey shares his mom's story. Bonnie shares her own. Co-hosts take an incredulous look back in time at the attitudes about abortion they inherited from their formative evangelical and fundamentalist Christian com...

At the terrific suggestion of a listener, the Irenicast crew takes up the Atonement Doctrine for round 2 in Atonement Theology Revisited. The episode begins with each co-host picking up from where we left off in Episode #59 - Why Did Jesus Die? The conversation does not last long before the question of Sin enters the room. Then co-hosts explore how Jesus' death on the cross fits into the theologic...

In this interview Casey draws out wisdom carried by his friend Tenneson Woolf. Tenneson is a consultant, facilitator, workshop leader, coach, teacher, and writer. Keeping an eye on our collective global pandemic experience, Casey and Tenneson talk religion, human spirituality, and questions of who we are and who we want to be. They acknowledge profound challenges stirred up by the novel coronaviru...

In this episode, Jeff, Bonnie and Rajeev take on the topic of parenting. They begin with their definitions of parenting before moving into the struggles of parenting. Co-hosts notice how parenting children often triggers a return to the parent's own process of growing up. They reflect on the grief involved in the transitions from one stage of the child's development to another. Co-hosts consider t...

Rajeev and the Rev. Dr. Miguel De La Torre converse about belonging, sexism, racism, pluralism, immigration, internal integrations and synthesis, violence, hope and hopelessness, the climate of Trump's America and more in this packed episode that is right on time! Rajeev and Miguel close out the conversation with Over/Under that leads to more gems of insight and personal story.  Conversation with...

This is the audio from our Continuing the Conversation on White Supremacy in Progressive Christianity on Facebook and YouTube Live.  Jeff and Rajeev take thoughts and questions from listeners about episode #171.  Catch these conversations the Monday's after each regular episode at 5pm PST. RELEVANT LINKS From Our Continuing the Conversation on White Supremacy in Progressive Christianity Multiracia...

The conversation begins with co-hosts' varying views on white supremacy in progressive Christianity. From there the talk turns to progressive Christian purity codes, boundary training and other forms of white-centeredness. Co-hosts take an honest look at the average progressive white Christian's struggle with following POC leaders though they say they want to. There is discussion on the evangelica...

This is the audio from our Continuing the Conversation on White Supremacy in Evangelicalism on Facebook and YouTube live on Monday, July 13, 2020 at 5pm PST.  For this conversation Bonnie and Casey are on assignment and Rajeev, Jeff and Allen field listeners' questions and thoughts.  You can watch the video by going to our Facebook page or YouTube channel. RELEVANT LINKS From Our Continuing the Co...

Co-hosts begin this raw and real conversation about white supremacy in Evangelicalism by reflecting on their experiences of white supremacy in their formative churches. Memories arise from Awana, mission trips, seminary and other church settings. Co-hosts recall witnessing the pervasive project to marginalize people of color across all aspects of their formative church life. The white co-hosts mar...

In our continuing the conversation on Quanita Roberson's episode the full cast reflects on the firehose of wisdom in episode #169.  The Irenicast team specifically centers their conversation on collective grief and the value in calling on our ancestors.  If you'd like to see the video replay of this conversation you can do that on Facebook and YouTube. MORE ON QUANITA ROBERSON Quanita Roberson is...

Casey and Bonnie sat down with spiritual teacher, speaker, author, life coach, storyteller and shaman Quanita Roberson to talk about the strange and fertile time of this present moment.  If you have felt moments of despair in these tumultuous times, listen to hear Quanita's wisdom. As herself, she offers embodied hope. MORE ON QUANITA ROBERSON Quanita Roberson is a facilitator dedicated to address...

This week we are continuing the conversation on Changing Truth and officially wrapping up our 4 part truth series.  This is the audio from our live conversation with listeners on Facebook and YouTube.  Thank you to everyone who participated.  We had some great comments and questions.  Check us out on Facebook and YouTube the Monday after each regular episode at 5pm PST. ANTI-RACIST RESOURCE LIST T...

Our truth series is wrapped up this week with a deeply personal conversation on changing truth.  Everyone on this show, and the vast majority of our listeners, have experienced a truth change.  Many times we refer to that process as deconstruction.  A term that reflects a reality we all share, but that falls short of communicating the depth and heartache involved in the process of changing truth....

Once again we are Continuing the Conversation on Who Tells the Truth, episode 167.  For this edition Bonnie, Jeff, Rajeev, and showing up a little late to the party, Allen, expand their thoughts on who tells the truth.  A couple of the topics explored are research methods and tradition.  Listen here or watch this conversation on Facebook or YouTube .  FACEBOOK LIVE EVENTS During quarantime, we are...

Talk of truth continues with an exploration of trusted sources of truth. Co-hosts wonder what makes us think something is true. Since the printing press and ensuing Reformation, have we been programmed to think the truth can only be told through the printed word? Co-hosts share their stories of questioning the fundamental truths handed to them by the authorities in their former lives. The conversa...

For our continuing conversation on moral truth (Episode #166) Allen, Bonnie, Jeff and Rajeev discuss the most recent episode with listeners live on Facebook and Youtube.  Some additional thoughts on moral truth are offered.  Specifically the dynamic between individual and systemic morality.  Thanks to everyone who participated in this continuing conversation.  Join us on May 25th at 5pm PST for ou...

Because you can't cover Truth in just one episode, all five co-hosts come back for round two on Moral Truth. Jeff begins the conversation with the annoying question of God and the Bible as the ultimate authority on morality. All of the co-hosts weigh in with excitement. After getting that question out of the way, the repartee between co-hosts weaves together thoughts on evolving moral truth, absol...

In our very first in the Continuing the Conversation series we follow up on episode #165, What is Truth? - Spilling the Capital Tea .  Continuing the Conversation will be a limited run of Live events on Facebook and YouTube to expand on the previous episode and provide a platform to hear from you, our listeners. Join us on the Monday's after each episode posts at 5pm PST on Facebook or YouTube or...

What is truth? The co-hosts take on the little topic of truth. Capital "T" truth? Lowercase "t" truth? You decide. Given that none of us expected 2020 to bring a pandemic lockdown, it makes sense that Irenicast would quarantime to boldly enter a crisis of truth and reality. What can we claim to know as true? The conversation begins with an attempt at defining the nature of truth. Co-hosts discuss...

In this episode co-hosts juxtapose isolation and connection in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It begins with each co-host describing their own COVID coma as they shelter-in-place. Collectively the descriptions expose both connection and diversity in what has become a globally shared experience. The conversation turns toward learning and meaning-making. Co-hosts imagine the ways our shared l...

A feminist approach to the bible may on the surface seem like a narrow lense in which to view scripture.  However, as you'll hear in this episode, it is more accurate to say that the interpretations that we've been given since the beginning of biblical scholarship are far more limiting.  Especially if we believe the bible is to have a prominent place in modern Christianity. The conversation in thi...

Linda Midgett and Dr. Larycia Hawkins join the show this episode to discuss embodied solidarity via their new documentary film, Same God .  Dr. Hawkins's Christian practice of embodied solidarity. In the documentary film Same God directed by Linda Midgett viewers follow the story of Wheaton College tenured professor Dr. Hawkins who wore a hijab in solidarity with Muslim women following the 2015 ma...

In this episode Casey dives right into talking redemption with Jay Bakker. Jamie Charles "Jay" Bakker is an American pastor, author and speaker. He is the son of televangelists Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner. During his young adult years Bakker became disillusioned with mainstream Christianity, becoming particularly critical of Christian fundamentalism and the Christian right. He has pas...

This week Jeff has a conversation with The Next Question co-hosts Chi Chi Okwu and Jenny Booth Potter.  The Next Question is a revolutionary web series where racial justice happens face-to-face. It dares to ask hard questions, listen, and then ask the next question. Chi Chi and Jenny, along with Austin Channing Brown, sit with intellectuals and artists, activists and historians, journalists and au...