Mid-faith Crisis

This week's topics include the ethics of slug control, the 1700th anniversary the council of Nicea, whether transformation is always difficult and what it would be like if we met our internal critic at a party. Also, how do we approach difficult events when it really seems like God is to blame? Oh, and Nick has a theory that stories are like cauliflowers. Or something like that. Support the podcas...

Nick gives his belated thoughts on Easter and reflects on how it's not about the doctrine but about the story: we are invited to live in the story of Easter and to allow it to give pattern to our lives. We talk about some classic story shapes, and how the Easter story is embodied in baptism and in the eucharist. Finally we reflect on what meal would tell our story: chicken Madras, or cheese and wi...

It’s the Easter Special! Well, half an Easter Special maybe. Nick has the flu so in this shortened episode, it's Pastor Joe to the rescue, reflecting on how the Easter story of suffering, bewilderment and joy is a challenge to us to live all of life. Maybe, like the disciples on the Emmaus road, 'we had hopes'; but maybe, also like them, we can look back and recognise that Jesus was with us all al...

As we head into Holy Week, we discuss what it's like to celebrate Easter in mid-faith crisis. We explore how Easter is about our identity as Christians and how, by examining the practices of the early church, we might be able to develop a shape for our own rituals. Also we touch on why the Mid-faith Crisis is like owning an old car, and we say hello to Grandpa Joe! Support the podcast Contact the...

We're back! Joe has returned from Mexico and Nick has returned from an unfortunate act of wire-cutting. We catch up on how things are going with our themes, discuss how life (and theology) keeps adding complexity, and think about how we respond to fear when, inevitably, it arrives. Also we talk a little more about the need to embrace uncertainty, and the importance of telling yourself some good st...

With Joe away in Mexico we have an interview with Bekah Legg. She talks about the work of Restored with the victims of domestic abuse, and shares a little of her own story of loss and grief. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: Restored DR Congo conflict: Mobile phones, coltan and the fighting - BBC...

It's our annual themes episode! We talk about our themes for the year, and reflect on how last year's themes worked out. And Joe has received an encouraging birthday card. Church notice: we're taking a brief break, so the next podcast will be in two week's time. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode:...

We discuss how culture shapes art, and especially, how the culture of the time affects the Bible. How do the cultural norms and assumptions affect the text? Can we give power to the powerless within the story? And what about our own cultural lenses? We touch on creating our own sacred texts and ask the crucial question: can we still watch Carry On Films? Also Nick has had a dream. A very worrying...

Or not. Because in this episode we delve into some follow-up to last episode's interview with Danielle Strickland. How can we address some of the deep, ingrained attitudes which affect all of us? What does this mean for ideas of femininity and masculinity? And how do we respond to loss of power and prestige without lashing out? Also the boys have had a business meeting in a place called Upham. No,...

This week, Joe interviews author and speaker Danielle Strickland, about patriarchy – the male-centring and male-ordering of the world. They discuss the challenges of calling it out, the heretical concept of the male-ness of God, and the way in which patriarchal thinking and theology affects the world and the church. Most importantly, they talk about some practical things we can all do to make a di...

More on metaphors. We talk more about the idea of Jesus as 'Lord', and discuss how changes in culture, society or even technology might change our understanding of long-standing human metaphors. Also we talk about ritual and sacraments and how so many of them are simply heightened versions of everyday human activities. Meanwhile, Nick's preaching has some unexpectedly dramatic consequences and Joe...

Happy Candlemas to one and all. In this episode we talk a lot about baptism: what is it, where did it come from and does it still matter? And did Nick really write a book on it without realising? Also we have more on the neurodiverse approaches to church, we touch on different ways of understanding justice, and we think about whether laying down your life for others means denying who you truly are...

Lots of interesting feedback this week, including more reflections on worship songs, our calling to attend to our own 'small' world, the difficulties of Bible translation (and food translation come to that) and why, for the Goths, Jesus was head of the household. Also we talk about neurodiversity and churches. How can we attend to different ways of thinking and different learning styles? Must one...

Joe has forgotten how to count and Nick is bewildered by a worship song. We discuss whether the metaphors we use are helpful, how God is always 'in translation' and what we can do to avoid reinforcing unhelpful patriarchal systems. Also, we touch again on the subject of judgment, and think about relationship, restoration and reading the Bible more in sorrow than in fury. Support the podcast Contac...

We return to the Bible this week, to the thorny topic of how we deal with difficult Bible verses, particularly verses about eternal punishment and divine vengeance. As our correspondent puts it, it's like Biblical whack-a-mole: you hammer one passage down, only to see new ones pop up. So we talk about the inadequacy of systematic theology, the need to recognise contradiction and mystery and how ev...

Happy new year (although, as we all know, the official Mid-faith Crisis New Year isn't until March). Anyway we're back, and in this episode we mark a special anniversary - 45 years since Nick became a Christian. So, what's changed? How did we understand 'conversion' back then and how do we understand it now? And how do we see our purpose today, all those years later? Support the podcast Contact th...

Happy Christmas! In this festive episode we share – and then judge – our Christmas micro-sermons. Also we think about the practices that will nourish us this Christmas and reflect on how the darkness and worry of the nativity stories does not diminish the life and hope. Remember everyone – you're still alive, and that's a wonderful thing! Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email...

After a brief debate about which of us is the more miserable, we discuss whether social media can help us engage with our shadow, detaching from the news without feeling guilty, and how hate actually tethers us to the object of our hatred. Also, as we enter Advent, where do we look for the hope? And what can we do to add to the hope and love that is really all around us? Support the podcast Contac...

In this episode, we talk about the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and, more specifically, about the systems of thinking which lead almost inevitably to coercion and abuse. How can we challenge systems like this? Is there any hope? And is God relying on us to be the answers to prayer? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nic...

Joe talks to award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant, the 'shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen' from North Carolina. As well as sharing their story of growing up in the evangelical church, they talk about the need to trust peoples' experiences and how, so often, we have a view of God who 'doesn’t love very well'. Along the way, Flamy talks about mystical enco...

We talk about prayer and laughter, about creativity, and about the everyday acts of hope that help us transcend the news. Also we discuss judging a theology by the fruit it bears. Meanwhile Nick talks about his retreat and there is a lot about cheese. Business as usual, then. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in...

In times of disappointment, darkness and fear, how should we respond? What difference can we make? We talk about joy as a revolutionary act, and how we can refuse to join in the game. Also, we discuss reclaiming labels such as 'Christian', and we have powerful stories about the power of prayer, mystical coincidences and, of course, parking spaces. Brought to you by Saint Joe of the Cheese and St N...

We have an interview with singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph. He talks about his career, the craft of song-writing, his campaigning worked the importance of just turning up. And we end, of course, with a song. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: Martyn Joseph Martyn Joseph - Chapel Porth Beach Let You...

Is God really in charge of the universe? Do prophecies actually happen? We have some fascinating feedback about hearing from God and how he is calling us to collaboration and co-creation. Meanwhile, Nick quotes Ezekiel and Joe goes all mystical about Robins. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: Dear...

In this episode we explore one of the central questions of theology: is it right to pray for a parking space? If we believe in an interventionist God, then what kind of intervening does he do? Does Joe really have the spiritual gift of parking? Also, we touch on sadness as holy ground, grieving for past versions of ourselves, and how to respond when people present prophecies and words of knowledge...