Religion on the Mind

**This is a deluxe rebroadcast of the "To Be Gay Affirming" episode** In this “deluxe edition” of our original episode #10 (“To Be Gay Affirming”), Samantha Perez joins Dan for a special introduction on affirming churches, what progress is being made in Christian communities around LGBTQ issues, and changes in ethical plausibility structures — that is, what ethical approaches seem reasonable given...

In this last episode reviewing Shiny Happy People, Dan and Mark talk about their overall impressions of the series as well as the heavy-hitting episode topics. They discuss the surprising research on content/trigger warnings, the series’s insinuation that Josh Duggar’s sexual repression led to his eventual acting out, the Joshua Generation Project, and overall assumptions regarding the motives of...

Even Jesus had anxiety in his life, so why are we so set on avoiding it? Theologian, author, and host of the Good Faith podcast Curtis Chang joins Dan to discuss his new book, The Anxiety Opportunity, and how we can navigate the (sometimes frightening) inevitability of loss and change. Instead of seeing anxiety as a problem to be solved by “praying” or “prescribing” it away, Curtis shows us how ou...

In episode three of the Shiny Happy People series, the story turns from the general teachings of the Institute for Basic Life Principles to more specific instances of power and abuse, such as unpaid labor from the Duggar children and Bill Gothard's grooming of sexual assault victims. Dan and Mark offer their own PSAs on cults, “brainwashing,” and the difficulty of accurately assuming individual mo...

Dan’s "infinity hangover", climate change, and the difference between psychiatrists and therapists: these are just some of the topics Kristen and Dan dig into in this Q&A ep! What options for those looking for new spiritual homes? How did Dan meet Tony? Would Dan remain a Christian even if religion didn’t end up being a net positive for wellbeing? Step into the realm of experimental inquiry as we...

Episode 2 of Shiny Happy People depicts Gothard's obedience teaching and child discipline, including spanking and the “break their will” approach. Paired with a deep fear of God’s punishment, Dan and Mark discuss how violent approaches like spanking confuse children and can even cross the line into spiritual abuse. Part 2 (Patreon feed–subscribe to access) dives deeper into the “umbrellas of autho...

The link between science and Christianity is frequently misunderstood, or understood as being "in conflict." This doesn’t have to be! Greg Cootsona, returning guest and author of Science and Religions in America: A New Look (Rutledge, 2023), nuances our understanding of how Christianity and other religions interact with scientific developments, both in the present day and throughout history. Where...

Welcome to Part 1 of this highly-requested series of response episodes to the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People. For these response episodes, Dan is joined by former Bill Gothard-ite Mark Scandrette. Much like the Duggar family of TLC reality series fame (“16 and Counting”), Mark was raised in the homeschool culture described in the SHP series and began his family life under Gothard’s teachings...

It’s natural to try to protect ourselves from perceived threats. Historically, this instinct has helped us survive and navigate risk. But sometimes, creating the feeling of safety, specifically in the midst of faith changes, can come at the cost of ignoring valuable parts of ourselves. Using the model of Internal Family Systems, author and therapist Molly LaCroix helps us learn to look at all part...

Joining me today is author, professor (Toronto School of Theology), and theologian Natalie Wigg-Stevenson to discuss her book "Transgressive Devotion.” Natalie asks, "What theological claims are we making, and how are they contributing to how we keep producing theological knowledge?" Her free online “devotional” is made up of three modules, each of which we discuss: going from abandonment toward p...

We continue our occasional "intellectual humility" series, and this one went DEEP. Joining me were Sarey Martin Concepción and Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren (Hope College), who says that humility “is about being the right size in a situation” and “starts with psychological security." We touch on cognitive limitations and what the research says about intellectual humility and spiritual leaders.  Daryl's F...

Joining us for another WAPC episode is author, songwriter, and dynamic Instagram presence Andy Squyres (that’s the best term I can think of!). Andy says, "We live in an age where nothing can be said without it being contested," and "I see many people not finding the answers within deconstruction that deconstructionism promises." We talk about worries around pop-culture mental health work, a someti...

Returning for a 3rd time is author and therapist Dr. Mark Karris to discuss his book "The Diabolical Trinity: Healing From a Wrathful God, Tormenting Hell, and a Sinful Self." Mark's work fleshes out the damaging effects of certain doctrines of hell and his research offers several approaches to healing from theologically-tinged mental health issues. We discuss different therapeutic modalities that...

Joining me today is Dale C. Allison Jr., Professor of New Testament (Princeton Theological Seminary), to discuss his book "Encountering Mystery: Religious Experience in a Secular Age." We cover materialism, empiricism, and the prevalence of mystical, spiritual, and/or “unitive” experiences. Dale says that “people's experiences are stranger and weirder, more mystical and terrible than we usually th...

Today we're talking all about ritual with psychologist Laird Edman, who researches the cognitive science of religion, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence at Northwestern College. “People have all kinds of physiological experiences when they engage in rituals,” he says. “It taps into our endorphins" and "helps calm and de-stress people." We cover imagistic versus doctrinal ritual, orthopr...

In today's long overdue conversation, I talk with author Chris Green (Professor of Public Theology at Southeastern University - Lakeland, FL). Chris explains being raised in Pentecostalism (the focus of our conversation), discussing the radical embodied aspects of its spiritualized expression of faith. Chris says, "We can't stop making myths and stories about ourselves and assigning meaning."  Dr....

This episode is the final panel from our live event in Seattle featuring "The Big Five" (Sarah Lane Ritchie, Sarey Concepción, Tripp Fuller, Myron Penner, and Dan Koch). ___________________________________________ Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/ Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/ Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail...

Re-joining me today is author, therapist, and researcher Krispin Mayfield to discuss his book "Attached to God: A Practical Guide to Deeper Spiritual Experience." “Attachment science” applied to our relationship to God is a topic of emerging interest for me personally. We talk through attachment trauma, the latest research findings, and how our nervous systems adapt depending on attachment style....

This is a dual-feed episode, also being released on my music-focused podcast Pretty Good Vibrations. Ever wondered how White Evangelical Protestants got the way they are? The music that generation created played an outsized role in the formation of their subculture, one that would come to dominate a large chunk of American sociopolitics in the coming 6 decades. And you know what? Some of it rules....

This is a dual-feed episode, also being released on my music-focused podcast Pretty Good Vibrations. Part 2 drops tomorrow! Ever wondered how White Evangelical Protestants got the way they are? The music that generation created played an outsized role in the formation of their subculture, one that would come to dominate a large chunk of American sociopolitics in the coming 6 decades. And you know...

Sarah Lane Ritchie joins me in Seattle Live to kick off the YHP mini-con with a conversation about the current state of research into “spiritual technologies” like psychedelic drugs. Sarah also shares new heart-wrenching details about the role of toxic theology in her mother’s final months. ___________________________________________ Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/ Or Twitter: twitter...

I'm joined today by journalist and author Jon Ward (previous YHP & Depolarize guest) to discuss his book "Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation." We cover using language as a weapon, epistemic modesty, and falling under the spell of a charismatic leader. Jon did not grow up "amid corrupt charlatans who use the name of God to amass riches. The leaders in [his] world we...

Today Sarey Concepción and I are joined by Joshua N. Hook, author and Psychologist (University of North Texas in Denton), to discuss his work in "intellectual humility." Josh says, "A lot of times, we are really certain and sure what we believe is right, and that's not always in our best interests." We discuss careful thinking, ideological conformity towards in-group/out-group, valuing relationshi...

Kristen Tideman and Josh Gilbert join Dan to debrief the recent in-person YHP Mini-conference in Seattle. Northwind Seminary: www.northwindseminary.org/center-for-open-relational-theology ___________________________________________ Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/ Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/ Edited by Josh Gilbert (josh...

*Re-broadcast* - I Don't Believe in that God: Joey Holman (Man on Man) (#118)  Another installment of one of my favorite types of episodes, where I chat with people who don't identify as Christian. Oftentimes, I also don't believe in the God that they don't believe in. Joey Holman (ex-Cool Hand Luke) is one half of the Polyvinyl Records duo Man on Man, alongside his boyfriend Roddy Bottum (Faith N...