Religion on the Mind

In this week's episode, I sit down with Katelyn Dixon and Sarah Almodovar, co-hosts of the Still Christian podcast, for another installment in my Still Christian series. We explore our diverse religious backgrounds and experiences questioning faith, from Katie's "dark night of the soul" to Sarah's period of rebellion in New York City. We also discussed the idea of "undeniable" spiritual experience...

John and Linn Haralson discuss their journey from complementarianism to egalitarianism regarding women in ministry. As long-time members of their church community, I've witnessed their progression firsthand, making this behind-the-scenes look particularly interesting. We explore the complexities of changing deeply held beliefs within a marriage and church leadership context. Lynn shares how events...

In this episode, I welcomed back Dr. Pam Ebstyne King to discuss her framework of six facets for spiritual health. We focused on "transcendence and spirituality," where Pam expanded on Dr. Lisa Miller's definition to include not just experiencing something beyond oneself, but also responding to it. This resonated deeply with me, prompting thoughts on evolving my two-item model of spirituality and...

In the second episode of our series of conversations with comedians about religion and spirituality, comedian Maggie Lally joined me to share her genuinely unique religious experiences and how they inform her comedy and worldview.  From a sheltered Catholic upbringing by a former Jesuit priest to becoming a “teen witch” in adolescence, Maggie was raised with a sense of spiritual openness that she...

In this follow-up to our discussion on the Apostle's Creed, Thomas Jay Oord and I delve into the Nicene Creed, examining its history, language, and theology through a progressive Christian lens. We grapple with complex concepts like the Trinity, the nature of Christ, and the Holy Spirit, questioning traditional interpretations and exploring how our diverse backgrounds shape our understanding of th...

In this first part of our discussion, Thomas Jay Oord and I take a deep dive into the Apostle’s Creed, exploring its origins, language, and theology through a progressive Christian lens. We examine foundational beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, questioning traditional interpretations and considering how our experiences and backgrounds influence our understanding of these core t...

In this inaugural episode of the new "God Songs AKA Songs in the Key of G-O-D" series, Dan Koch and fellow musician (and returning guest) Tyson Motsenbocker explore spiritually significant songs that aren't overtly religious. Dan shares his encounter with Jim James of My Morning Jacket and delves into James' song "Believe (Nobody Knows)," examining how it expresses belief amidst uncertainty. The c...

In this episode, I sit down with previous-guest-turned-colleague Joy Vetterlein to explore the intricate relationship between disgust psychology, Christian faith, and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals. We discuss how evolutionary disgust mechanisms influence reactions to sexuality, and the challenge of balancing intuitive responses with consciously held values. The conversation delves into pers...

Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, sat down with me to explore the current state of American Christianity, focusing on the challenges of maintaining relationships across ideological divides in an age of deep political cynicism and polarization. He shared insights on navigating family dynamics in a polarized era, emphasizing the importance of preserving relationships even when ag...

This month’s Generation Gap Culture Hour focuses on recent political events (perhaps against our better judgement!). We also touch on generational differences in political engagement and dynamics within the Democratic Party. The conversation ends with a discussion about Joe Biden's decision to step down, how we are thinking about him/this decision, and potential implications for the election.  ___...

Author and researcher Ryan Burge joins me to discuss religious trends in America. Ryan's research reveals a surprising plateau in the growth of religious "nones" over the past five years, even through the COVID-19 period. We explored his upcoming book on the "big church sort," discussing the polarization of American religion into conservative churches and liberal non-religious groups, while modera...

Returning guest and psychologist of religion Daryl Van Tongeren (Hope College) and I discuss his new book "Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion,” a book that is also quite helpful for those remaining in faith communities after changing beliefs/deconstructing, etc. We explore the concept of "religious residue": how religion continues to impact the way we think, feel, and act even after leav...

Matt and Max from Milkless are back! We pick up our conversation on belief and the meaning of life that we started in episode #271. After exploring the potential downsides of belief without proof (i.e. conspiracy theories) and the psychology behind how and why we believe, we chatted about the meaning of life. We grappled with the nature of meaning itself, expressing both panentheistic views of God...

I’m kicking off a new series exploring the intersection of comedy, religion, and spirituality! My first guest is Ryan Erwin, a gay ex-Mormon missionary turned clean comic. We talk about his idyllic Mormon childhood in Utah, his departure from Mormonism and exploration of other faiths, his introduction to comedy, and how he has ultimately found spiritual fulfillment in nature and everyday activitie...

When we have spiritual experiences with things like worship music, is that the Holy Spirit moving? Or, as Tim Whitaker (The New Evangelicals) claimed in a viral Instagram meme, is it “just the drums”? Can it be both? Tim and Sarah Lane Ritchie return to discuss these ideas, Tim’s experiences as a worship drummer, “spiritual technologies” like worship music, the potential harm of conflating these e...

Tyson Motsenbocker returns to help Dan answer if he is being followed by a handful of AI-generated bot Instagram accounts. Could they be Russians? Why is Avis so interested in her son Jason and “knitting small bees”? Are we in an “uncanny valley” yet with AI content?  Tyson on Instagram Where the Waves Turn Back Book Tyson's Website ___________________________________________ Get Tickets for Theol...

This week I’m joined by co-hosts of the excellent fatherhood-focused Milkless Podcast, Max Valverde and Matt Naylor for another listener-favorite “I Don’t Believe in That God” episode. Max leans towards atheism, finding a personal God unlikely, while Matt feels a pull towards spirituality but questions specific religious claims. This is actually an episode swap -- so today there is both a new Milk...

Finally, a long chat with indie Christian musician John Mark McMillan! John Mark started out firmly in the mainstream Christian world but has been gradually exploring more complex and nuanced expressions of faith (and doubt!) through his art.  We discussed his early life on a Christian commune, what it's like to be a recording artist wrestling with deep questions of faith and doubt, and whether a...

How many times has someone told you that you have to watch The Chosen, the smash hit TV series depicting the life of Jesus? My buddy Jeff Martin and I break down season 1, episode 2 & 3, reacting to all manner of interesting details from my own liberal Christian therapist perspective and Jeff’s more moderate Evangelical lens. We get into: Shabbat and Shabbat dinner Conversion experiences and their...

Sarah McCammon, NPR journalist and author of "The Exvangelicals," shares her journey out of evangelical Christianity, including her pivotal relationship with her non-religious gay grandfather. We explore how journalism provided Sarah with a space to question and how my work in therapy also demands openness to evidence. We covered the impact of the Trump era on evangelicalism and the earlier Emerge...

After kicking things off with our usual game of "Bar, Bank, Church or Dispensary?” and “Ways we are becoming our dads” segments, I introduced a new segment focused on funny Hard Times headlines. Tony recalled his recent time in Rome and reflected on the passing of theologian Jurgen Moltmann. This led into a conversation about Israel and the war in Gaza, and all three of us gave our thoughts on the...

Today’s episode is a thoughtful conversation with my friend Josh Patterson of the (Re)Thinking Faith Podcast about his evolving relationship with Christianity. No longer a pastor, he sometimes struggles to articulate theological concepts that once came easily. Practices that used to nourish his soul now give him pause, and he wonders if his reduced engagement with Christian community and spiritual...

In this mid-week episode (full version is available on Patreon!) I am joined by Jenny Hamilton, a licensed therapist and senior lecturer at the University of Lincoln in the UK, talking about her peer-reviewed movie therapy method. We discussed how films can provide a unique form of escapism while also helping foster empathy by allowing viewers to experience the world through someone else's perspec...

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Halstead about his new book “The End of the World as You Know It” which focuses on End Times prophecies and apocalyptic literature. We touched on everything from the psychological drives behind our fascination with the future to the importance of maintaining a questioning mindset in matters of faith. We kicked things off by acknowledging the traum...

** Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5U0kztmTnxk In response to a listener suggestion, as well as having enjoyed Bonnie Kristian's recent newsletter on the topic, I looked into the recent Harrison Butker commencement address controversy. I had a few thoughts! I talk briefly about the situation, how I largely think of it in terms of protected religious speech, more progressive options...