Mid-faith Crisis

Joe talks with Shaun Lambert about mindfulness, wonder, and the need to 're-perceive' God. As well as actually leading us in a contemplative exercise, Shaun talks about strengthening our 'attention' muscles, encountering God in the present and becoming a more responsive but less reactive presence. All this and Diadochos of Photiki too! Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email mac...

We talk about the virtuous circle of comfort: how what we receive we can share with others. Also whether the real purpose of the Holy Spirit is to help us to pay proper attention to our lives and to learn the right lessons. What if God is not arranging the events of our lives, so much as asking us to pay attention to them? Meanwhile, Nick has a correction to make, and Joe receives some good news a...

Nick has had a bad week. We talk about approaches to resilience, the meanings we attach to events, our tendency to project bad stories, what perspectives might help us through really rubbish moments and how sometimes your favourite Bible verse doesn’t help that much. Meanwhile Joe introduces the 'numes' – a new scale to measure numinous moments and places. And we hear from a listener who is going...

Three. Hundred. Episodes. Who'd have thought it? We think about some of the key things we have learned, and are still learning through doing this podcast. We reflect on such topics as what we think about God, how we read the Bible and the amazing capacity of theology to annoy you in entirely unexpected ways. And in the end, it turns out Jesus is still very important. Thank you for all your support...

Joe interviews John Philip Newell about his new book The Great Search. What are the things we are really yearning for? Who are the prophets to whom we should pay attention? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: John Philip Newell Etty Hillesum Simone Weil Martin Buber Edwin Muir Julian of Norwich Car...

Yes! The brothers have reconciled and the podcast band is back together. So, in this week's show we talk about redeeming the word 'religion', what it is that we can give to the church, whether Jesus was a bit smitey (again) and in the words of one contributor, the 'ready brek feeling of the warmth that Jesus can bring with that desire to be a better human being'. Also, we touch on the dangers of s...

This week's episode is all about money. Why are we so embarrassed by it? Why do we fear dealing with it? Is ethical investing worth it? And do we really have to tithe? Thanks to Sian MacInnes FPFS for her great input on today's show. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: eccr.org.uk (now the Just Mon...

We talk about the benefits of belonging, and not belonging, to a church. Are there perspectives and opportunities that we can get from a church that we can't get elsewhere? When is it right to leave? And, most importantly, is there anyone is not able to sit? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog

Yes, we're talking again about the Bible, this time discussing how the Bible was compiled and what Paul meant by the line 'All the writings are God-breathed'. Also, we have a truly wonderful final email, and loads of feedback on whether our listeners are friends, companions, pilgrims, fellow community members, paying punters or family members. We don't know, but we're very grateful for all of you!...

A mixed bag this week. We talk about Christian outrage over the Olympics, about the need to belong (without being defined by our belonging) and how Joe actually found himself singing worship songs. Also we consider whether our listeners are really our friends, or, as Nick so tenderly puts it, 'potential threats'. Whatever the case, thank you for being… something or other. Support the podcast Conta...

In this episode we dive deep into the idea of the wrathful God. Can we understand it in a different way? And what do we do with all the bits in the Old Testament where the almighty gets all smitey? Are the accounts of the tribal, violent, Old Testament God real? Or are they stories? And if they are, how do we read them? Meanwhile, Nick has been spending time with hundreds of dead people, and Joe t...

We're back! And after a long break there is a lot of catching up to do. Has Nick really stopped watching the news? Is there actually such a thing as a Purple Hairstreak Butterfly? Is the Mid-faith Crisis Podcast the Kendal Mint cake of spirituality? And what happened when Joe took Nick to the theatre? Also - our friend Andy is carrying out some research looking at how podcasting is becoming a sign...

Joe interviews friend and fellow celebrant Claire Bradford about her experiences walking the Camino. They discuss the importance of doing things when you can, the Joy of Missing Out and and how the pilgrimage, far from being about solitary detachment, led to an amazing sense of community and connection. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Pa...

Joe talks to friend of the podcast Dave Tomlinson about his book 'OMG, A Bad Christian's Prayer Book'. Dave also chats about prayer, and about the need for us to be committed to hope or, as he terms it, 'defiant imagination'. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mid-faith Crisis Facebook Page Nick's Blog Mentioned in this episode: Dave Tomlinson on Facebook Dave Tomli...

We discuss the concept of the sabbath, mainly because Nick has heard an interesting sermon on the topic. What if we see sabbath as the start of the week and not the end? How does it help us escape the world of 'things'? And is it obligatory to have a bath? Also, we touch on whether you can have 'Stage 4' churches, talk a bit about demons and exorcism, and ponder whether mysticism, far from being a...

We carry on our discussion about churches and church leadership. Do churches need visible locations? How do we preserve their communal identity without creating barriers that keep others out? And, crucially, when Jesus said 'where two are three are gathered' does that include rabbits? Also, we reflect more on bad behaviour in the church – but in this case on how many clergy are on the receiving en...

In keeping with his theme, Joe has been nature churching. We discuss his experiences so far, what makes something 'church', the importance of your spiritual trellis and whether some churches turn the tricycle of faith into a unicycle. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Nick's Blog - episode notes Mentioned in this episode: Renovaré Podcast: Joe Davis and Nick Page —...

We have a think about Pentecost. What was it all about? Was it really the birthday of the church? Is it an eschatological thing? Actually, what even is an eschatological thing? Nick, has a three-point sermon, and naturally, each point begins with the same letter. Also an interview with Lisa-Jayne Lewis, our very own Eurovision correspondent. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your ema...

Following his year of wisdomness, Nick wrote an article on wisdom. We discuss whether the church downplays wisdom in favour of revelation, the steps we can take to intentionally gain more wisdomness and the need, as Nick puts it, to 'Squeeze the tube of your mistakes for the toothpaste of wisdom'. Apple apologises after iPad advert backlash | BBC News A.J. Jacobs, The Year of Living Biblically Eur...

In a feedback-fuelled episode, we chat about heresy, gratitude, and the circuit board of love. Is heresy just speculation that is not the official speculation? Do we have to score 100% on our exams to get into heaven? Also, we think about whether sin is better viewed as separation and Nick gets rather agitated about how we read the Bible. Again. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your...

Brian McLaren talks about his new book, 'Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart'. He and Joe discuss how denial is exhausting, why our enemies are not people, but systems and how we all need to exercise our power to show up. 'Once you discover the God of love you fire all your other gods'. Also, remember, humans are a mess, but the birds are awesome. Support the podcast Cont...

This week we discuss the relationship between human skills and endeavour and the work of God. Or as Nick put it, 'Why does God get all the praise when I did all the work?' Does the fact that we live in a God-filled universe mean that the Divine should get all the credit? Or, by dismissing humanity's input are we actually devaluing the fact we are made in the image of God? And if that sounds too de...

There's a lot about depth this week. We talk about dusting off the Bible and reading more deeply, and how the mid-faith crisis can be accompanied by different emotions, including the desire to go deeper. Oh, and Nick has been down a well. As if that wasn't deep enough we discuss our target demographic, Joe's bulging portfolio and the way in which so much of the church has taken Jesus' teaching on...

We thought it was time to revisit the stages of faith – which is really what this podcast is all about. Joe takes us through his understanding of the six stages, but as well as exploring the crisis itself, we also look at the signs which tell us that we might be emerging into a newer, deeper faith. Also, Joe has a theme and Nick might still be recovering. Support the podcast Contact the podcast th...

It’s our new year themes episode. Joe’s had a bad week so is behind with his homework. Nick has broken his Lenten fast from anger in a spectacularly ill-judged way. And we have thoughts about beetroot. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Staying Defiantly – The Conversation Barbie Ostara and the Hare: Not Ancient, but Not As Modern As Some...