Mid-faith Crisis

More about how we approach our difficulties reading the Bible and the need to learn to live with uncertainty and mystery. Then we talk about what we can learn from our children during the mid-faith crisis and how their naïveté is a thing to be cherished. Also, Nick and Joe argue about the new Bond film and we discuss whether to talk about 'special cuddles'. Support the podcast Contact the podcast...

Is there any point going to church if it’s just going to add to our cognitive dissonance? We explore the idea of putting a bit of space into the relationship and the need to ensure that, if we walk away, we are walking towards something helpful. We also discuss how we can trust scripture, when certain bits are interpreted so differently, and why it is sometimes easier to be honest with strangers t...

We were both a bit tired in this one. But before our batteries gave out entirely, we talked about how the wrong ways of reading the Bible can sometimes be the right ways, how it’s really important to ask why you decided to follow Jesus in the first place, and, just as importantly, what you and he are going to do together today. Oh and we look back on the first ever Mid-Faith Crisis Church Weekend....

Author Matt Hyam talks about how justice lies at the very heart of the gospel – and how Jesus' message is an invitation to experience the life of the age to come. Lots of thought-provoking, and even eye-opening stuff. (Sorry about the sound quality with this one, but believe us, it's worth a listen.) Also, more on VIP worship experiences and next year's MFC Lee Abbey week is open for booking! Supp...

It's a rather odd episode this week covering a bewildering range of topics, including Christian hairstyles, the Euthyphro dilemma, pluralistic ignorance, the unusual Christian fairytale of the Emperor's old clothes and whether hibernation should be an option. Finally we have a discussion about whether salvation is much more an attitude than an event. And most importantly, a bit of verbal smiting a...

Yes! It’s the fifth anniversary of Japan’s 12th most-listened to Christian podcast. A big 'thank you' to everyone who supports us. This week we talk about loads of stuff, including reframing our viewpoint, accepting problems and difficulties, the unhelpful idea that the salvation button is on, and how physical actions can help us. Also, Nick has been ill, but in a good way. Support the podcast Con...

We talk about whether the stages of faith echo the stages of life. Is it possible to have your faith stage and your life stage out of sync? Does age bring wisdom and freedom? Also, some more on Genesis – do we place too much importance on this book? How do we read it responsibly? Finally we talk about how we use what power we have for good. Not to mention why the podcast is like a banana and how a...

It’s our Genesis episode. Or the beginning of our Genesis episodes, perhaps. We talk about why Genesis has such influence and power, reading it as a story, the freedom of creation and how we might read it afresh today. Also, do we become like the gods we worship? Nick can’t find the verse but is pretty sure it’s in the Bible. (It is. See below.) And Joe has been having trouble with his pollinators...

All the 'P's this week as we talk about pensions, prayer, paradox, people, priests, providence, patience and perspective. We talk about how 'mystery' helps us rediscover practices we have previously rejected. And we discuss the stories we tell ourselves and the concept of learned helplessness. Also Nick has been to more old churches (some with very peculiar carvings) and we discover that we are al...

If we don't believe in an interventionist God then why are we still driven to pray about world events? Why, despite the questions and the difficulties of prayer, do we still find ourselves on our knees in the face of what's happening in the world? Plus there is feedback on seeing good and evil within human beings, and whether the best prayer is 'thy will be done'. Also, Joe thinks that Nick might...

Joe and Nick have been visiting lots of old churches, making one of us very happy. We discuss our different ideas of sacred spaces. Then tacklesome moving and challenging feedback – thank you for trusting us with your stories! Oh and there's a truly angelic musical moment at the end. Medieval graffiti in churches St Botolphs Church Coombes Church Christ in the trenches

An episode in which Nick explains his aversion to the idea of Celtic spirituality. Following on from last week's interview, we talk about whether new theologies have to appeal to ancient roots. Also we discuss ‘deep knowing’ and how we put it into action, and there is helpful feedback from listeners on coping with the endless deluge of bad news.  Support the Podcast Chicken Tikka Masala Ian Bradle...

We are joined by John Philip Newell, who talks about his new book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul. In a wide-ranging interview, John Philip talks about the sacredness of the earth and of every human being, the concept of original sin, and giving expression to what the soul already knows.  John Philip Newel- Earth and Soul

And we're back. Interesting questions in the feedback this week. Is there is a one-size-fits-all salvation? Are we good citizens of the Kingdom of God or are we yobs? Is church just a good behaviour club for the anxious middle classes? And how can we live in a genuinely authentic way? Also, Nick has had a transcendent experience on Lindisfarne, Joe is anxious about the background noise and both of...

Among this week’s topics, we discuss renaming the Old Testament, speaking in tongues, and whether Joe is a druid. Also there is more feedback from the interview with Dave Tomlinson including ideas about original goodness as well as original sin, and the relationship of faith to salvation. Easy stuff, then. Support the Podcast Time, Jimmy McGovern Episode 50: The Scandal of The Cross Episode 51: Th...

Joe is back from holiday and has encountered a very angry version of the Lord’s Prayer. As well as the usual fascinating feedback, we talk about the interview with Dave Tomlinson, about the relationship between mid-faith crisis and rational enquiry, the gravitational pull towards uniformity and about what salvation might mean in practice. Normal levels of uselessness were achieved. We’ll be back i...

This week we have an interview with Dave Tomlinson. Dave talks about Christian humanism, our ‘common origin in goodness’, the importance of holding your nerve, the absolute importance of rational enquiry and the empathy of apes. So, lots of stuff, then. We’ll be back in two weeks. Support the Podcast YouTube: The Holy Shed Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Alfred Delp: Committed to Christ

Nick’s been listening to God and God, appropriately enough, has been telling him to listen. So this week, helped by some great feedback on the power of deep listening, we talk more about spiritual direction, about the conviction that God is active and present in every area of our lives and how we can help others hear from God. Also, Joe takes us through his quite boring pre-holiday ritual and we i...

This week’s feedback leads us to think about whether church is like a running club, how to use our stories and memories as soul places, and how mid-faithers should read the Bible. We talk about reading big chunks quickly, and small chunks slowly. But can we inhabit the text? And what happens if instead of wrestling with the text, we decide to dance with it. Meanwhile, Joe has suffered from a gas s...

Joe has been traumatised by the dentist. Nick has had spiritual speech therapy. But apart from that we continue our discussion of soul places. What is it that makes something a soul place rather than just a ‘place’? Are there spiritual practices we need to renew? How do we rediscover the ancient paths that lead to rest for our souls? And has anyone got a 10,000 year plan? Jenni Talks Podcast: Fait...

Nick is back and he’s been in lots of old churches. Joe is facing a highly invasive camera. We talk about whether God is all powerful and why churches need to be places where our souls find rest. Warning: contains inappropriately puerile humour. Like most weeks, frankly. Support the Podcast Wenhaston Doom Westhall Church William C. Placher, Narratives of a Vulnerable God

This week we start with an email on prophecy from someone who may or may not be related to one of the hosts. Should you suggest that a ‘word’ from the Lord may not actually be accurate? We talk more about the terms we use for God, and discuss whether we should emphasise 'kingdom' more than 'church'. Also, is there such a word as ‘masculising’? Is rebuking the best kind of prophecy? And thank the L...

We have feedback from the Brian McLaren interview, which leads into a discussion about whether we should all go to more than one church. Do we need one, small community for our discipleship and a range of other places for our worship? Also we talk about karate churches, authoritarian leaders, theological conspiracy theories and whether quite a lot of us are suffering from ‘languishing’. Meanwhile,...

In the second part, author Brian McLaren explores how doubt is a friend of faith, and how the Bible itself reflects the four stages of faith. Also, lots of great stuff about dealing with criticism and the challenges and difficulties of being teachers and leaders. And can we make Christianity more like karate? Brian McLaren, Faith After Doubt A Prayer for Enemies

The first of a two-part interview with author Brian McLaren talking about his new book, Faith After Doubt. Joe talks to Brian about four stages of faith: simplicity, complexity, perplexity and harmony and how these affect churches, leadership and even our reading of the Bible. Also Joe's hearing is questioned and we announce our very own Mid-faith Crisis Church Weekend! The Mid-Faith Crisis Church...