Pub Theology LIVE

This week we discuss celebrating Halloween as an adult, what humans can learn from dogs in the realm of love and joy, and whether God loves us each uniquely. We also solve the Middle East peace crisis with two simple things: Dogs and butter! Tune in! It's the latest rendition of Pub Theology Live.

Shannon and Bryan are joined by special guests Derrick Weston and Anna Woofenden! We discuss their new book: The Just Kitchen: Invitations to Sustainability, Cooking, Connection, and Celebration. Show highlights: seeing the kitchen as a sacred space, discovering that small acts can make a real difference, sharing our favorite dishes to make, and oh yeah, that time Derrick poured boiling water on h...

We discuss useless inventions, prayer and the possibility of AI becoming truly conscious. What does it mean to say that the Spirit helps us pray in a language "beyond words"? Does artificial intelligence truly understand language, or is it just reading symbols and responding quickly through lightning fast computations in a way that appears to be understanding? If AI does become conscious, will it...

We are back! Shannon, Ogun and Bryan discuss confidence, and why it seems so easy to lack it, and how one might gain it. We also discuss Yom Kippur and the power of communal religious practice, as well as the rise of religious rituals at Burning Man. Plus, our favorite breakfast cereals. Brace yourself!

Recorded LIVE at the Wild Goose Festival! Ogun and Shannon are joined by Rev. Anna Golladay to discuss the human experience of belonging and community and why the church struggles with both. They also discuss how packing for a trip may reflect on one’s emotional baggage and inner life, and much more! You don’t want to miss this special episode recorded onsite with a live audience in North Carolina...

In the age of mega-churches and wow worship services, is ordinary church still OK? If you had to choose for your child to have a long, but dull life or a short, but hugely impactful life, which would you choose? What do transportation and travel have to do with spirituality? And finally, if one has the Bible, does that minimize the need for other sources of learning and wisdom? Tune in! It’s our l...

What happened on that first Pentecost? Was the Holy Spirit truly available in a new way, or was it more like a shift in perception? Shannon and Bryan discuss this important date on the Christian calendar, plus principles of Hinduism and why humans prefer sounds that come from their left. Tune in!

We discuss times we’ve been stuck or gone off the map. In this context, we discuss the Ascension of Jesus and the call for his followers to go “to the ends of the earth.” Before modern maps, where did they assume this meant? We also discuss whether belief in God is a prerequisite (or hindrance!) to moral behavior.

Is humanity progressing or moving backward? One writer contends that ‘human progress, the myth of the modern age, is increasingly in doubt.’ Ogun counters that, stating that he believes in humanity, despite what’s often seen on the news. We also discuss May as National Masturbation Month, and how to seek a more sex-positive dialogue, especially in religious circles. And the most importantly: do yo...

This week Shannon and Ogun mock Bryan’s sport of disc golf as ‘not a real sport.’ We also discuss parents acting badly at kids sporting events, the solitude of being human and how love intersects with that, plus - what gives you goosebumps? We discuss!

Shannon is back! She joins Ogun and Bryan to discuss what they would put on a billboard if someone gave them one for free, along with that one song from Switchfoot. We also chat about atheist street pirates who are keeping us safe from religious propaganda, and whether aging can or should be reversed. Tune in!

On this week's episode, Bryan and Ogun discuss the Golden Rule and whether it is the highest relational ethic that exists. Hint: it's not. Tune in to discuss how to treat others better than golden, how to have good conversations, and what weird things houseguests have done.

This week we discuss how churches can be more welcoming to folks who only attend on days like Easter, provisions in professional soccer to allow Muslim players to break their fast mid-game, and the chaos happening in Tennessee. Tune in!

This episode we explore the NT scholarship that suggests Mary Magdalene may have been written out of a chapter in the Bible. We also heatedly discuss whether the technological evolution of humanity will render faith superfluous and mystery obsolete, all while Ogun updates us on his fasting for Ramadan, Bryan explains why there are chickens in his office and Shannon blesses the caffeine in her mug....

This week Shannon, Ogun and Bryan play two truths and a lie. Can they stump each other? They also discuss transcendent moments and where and how those seem to happen, plus personal spiritual practices and turning the other cheek. Bring your own beverage and tune in for some good conversation over a pint!

Ogun finds a rare beverage in Morocco while Bryan explodes another past-due beer. Shannon joins us to discuss: Is the Pope willing (and able) to bring real change to the Catholic church on issues like same-sex marriage and clergy celibacy? Why has the idea of being ‘woke’ become such a political lightning rod? Does evil truly exist in the world, apart from the actions of people? And we discuss Aar...

This week Ogun joins us from Casablanca, Morocco, Bryan’s beer explodes on him, and Shannon pops open an old standby. Amid all of that, we discuss favorite kinds of books, how the church can have standards without ugly gatekeeping, and whether Christianity is headed toward a new Reformation, or if the end is near.

The gang is back! We discuss the reality that every person we meet is likely going through something difficult, we ask why anyone should care about the Asbury Revival, what is behind the racism of the Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams, and how there are still so many churches opposed to women preachers. Oh, plus Bryan shares his recent experience being on the jury for a murder trial. Tune in!

Does beer ever go bad? Bryan tries to find out while the gang discusses spy balloons, having relationships across difference, objective truth, and whether God is always watching. We also discuss the text of terror that the Presbyterian Church USA used for an ordination exam for incoming clergy. Tune in!

We discuss the ongoing crisis of police violence in light of the death of Tyre Nichols, and what needs to change. We also discuss whether God loves each of us uniquely—as if there were only one of us. Also, what does it mean to have faith, and is it true, as CS Lewis claims, that better things always lie ahead? Also, why are some Gen Z'ers ditching their smart phones for an old-style flip phone? T...

Is artificial intelligence advancing too rapidly? Students are now using Chat GPT to create unique essays for school and robots are also creating original art. Derrick Weston joins us this week, and he claims robots are advancing too slowly, and need to get their act together. What do you think? We also discuss the sovereignty of God and what it means to become new in Christ. Tune in!

This week we celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by exploring some of his thoughts and ideas. King insists that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed. Yet why is it that so often folks who are in the privileged majority are saying their freedoms are under assault? We discuss that, and so much more!

Was Damar Hamlin’s recovery due to the power of prayer? Why does it take a tragedy to bring people together? Do you believe that witches or oracle readers can predict the future? And why do translations matter when it comes to reading the Bible? We cover all of this and more in our first episode of the year. Tune in!

This week Bryan tries to Christmasplain Ogun on the true meaning of Christmas. And with Shannon back, we play Christmas Carol Trivia! Tune in to find out who wins. We also discuss whether folk saints will help Argentina win the World Cup. Don’t miss it! It’s our Christmas Episode Spectacular.

While Shannon grabs an urgent phone call, Bryan and Ogun discuss the difference between "perks of the job" and misuse of one's position, exploring a recent incident in Florida as our test-case. We also explore the nature of prayer and whether there is a connection between attention and prayer. There's also talk of Christmas Carol trivia...