Religion on the Mind

Today, I'm joined by Raymond Gregory (Calvary Chapel Church in East Anaheim) for another episode in our "Worries About Progressive Christianity" series. We cover theological topics like hell, salvation, and what he considers to be the "central vein of the Gospel". We also cover polarization, bias-motivated reasoning, and the hyper politicization of American Protestantism. Raymond's website: raymon...

Today we're joined by Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone to continue our conversation around three recent scandals in the Evangelical World. Having worked at Christianity Today, Katelyn and Roxy offer context for some of these issues' cultural and spiritual fabrics. We also cover accountability structures, misuse of power, and impact versus intent. Saved by the City - CT Response Episode: https://pod...

Today we respond to three recent scandals in the Evangelical world. This episode is a modified version of our patron-exclusive Generation Gap Culture Hour (GGCH) episodes with Tony Jones. Also joining us is former guest Josh Patterson (Rethinking Faith Podcast), who provides context, having worked with Bruxy as part of the Jesus Collective. Tony also provides context for Bray’s story as well as th...

Today, Dr. Elizabeth Hall, Professor of Psychology (Biola University), joins me to talk about doubt, intellectual humility, and uncertainty tolerance. While offering pushback on the term 'Deconstruction,' Liz frames doubt as "an opportunity for growth, development, and greater intimacy with God." We also cover finitude, lament, plausibility structures, and "spiritual struggles."Liz’s Faculty Page:...

Today Tony Jones and I interview Mike Cosper, the host of "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill" podcast, diving into the detailed aspects of the widely successful show. We cover its underlying themes while also challenging some of Cosper's choices and methodology. We also touch on broader topics like narcissism in church leadership, journalistic responsibilities, and attempting to redeem evangelicalism...

Today Becky Castle Miller joins me to discuss the emotionality of Jesus and how emotions are understood in Evangelicalism. Becky has a master's in New Testament (Northern Seminary), and her books include "Following King Jesus," co-authored by Scot McKnight. We start with some of Becky's background before highlighting anti-emotionalism within Evangelicalism. We also touch on Jesus's humanity, spiri...

This is a clip from the first of 4 patron-exclusive episodes with Ariel of Trans Regret Snoopy Presents the Bible. To hear the full episode, as well as the upcoming 3 episodes, become a patron!patreon.com/DanKochAriel's previous episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-have-permission/id1448000113?i=1000516790529 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more abo...

Today my guest, Dr. Elaine Heath, joins me to discuss her five principles of 'What the Church of the Future Needs to Contain". Dr. Heath was the first woman dean of Duke Divinity School and is an author, speaker, pastor, and consultant. Along with her five principles, we cover the value of wisdom traditions, socio-political identity, and more. Elaine says, "Christianity is losing its swagger" and...

Today I am joined by Dr. Marcia Webb, Professor at Seattle Pacific University and author of “Toward a Theology of Psychological Disorder.” Well suited for the show, Dr. Webb’s work focuses on the intersection of theology and mental health and how we make sense of those two together. Along with discussing her book, we cover some of Christianity’s various explanations for mental illness, demonic pos...

I’m joined today by Dr. David P. Gushee (University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University) to discuss the emerging scholarship coming from within Evangelicalism. We focus our conversation on a series of books that challenge the classic Bebbington Quadrilateral’s self-definition of evangelicalism, including Jesus and John Wayne, the Color of Compromise, David’s own book After Evangelic...

Today I’m joined by Kyle Roberts (United Seminary) to talk about his book “A Complicated Pregnancy: Whether Mary Was a Virgin and Why it Matters”. We talk about Kyle’s research around virginal conception, including various views about it and their implications throughout Christian history. We hit on biology and DNA, differing depictions in each gospel, original sin, and the incarnation. Kyle's Boo...

Today I’m joined by Matt Carter and Krispin Mayfield to talk about the culture and psycology of Christian heavy music. Our conversation dissects the lyrics and theologies portrayed in an evangelical underground scene of the late 90s and 00s. We touch on topics of collective effervescence, attachment styles and lyrical themes motivated by purity culture. Krispin’s Website: https://www.krispinmayfie...

This week I speak with Christianity Today's news editor Daniel Silliman about his new book “Reading Evangelicals”. This book deep dives into five top-selling evangelical novels. We had a fascinating conversation discussing the cultural influence of Christian Fiction and each of these books' implications in broader American culture. We also touch on things like parallel institutions, the Amish tour...

This week I speak with professor and research psychologist Dr. Lindsey Root Luna. Along with teaching at Hope College, she conducts her own research on anger and forgiveness. This is an interesting and fun conversation touching on neurotransmitters, the interaction of brain sections, white evangelicalism, and some of my spiritual abuse work. We also talk practically about anger through a therapeut...

Today my guest J. Aaron Simmons joins me to discuss Danish philosopher and theologian, Soren Kierkegaard. Dr. Simmons is an author, Professor of Philosophy at Furman University, and the current president of the Soren Kierkegaard Society (USA). Aaron says “Faith is risk with a direction” and summarizes Kierkegaard with a current application: “You’re human, don’t forget that, and God sees that as a...

In the second installment of the series “Worries About Progressive Christianity”, I speak with author and professor O. Alan Noble. Both insightful and humorous, we hit the topics of suffering & theodicy, church life, and grace as the essence of human existence. Alan's Author Page: https://www.oalannoble.com/Alan's Twitter: @TheAlanNobleDan's new music project Havana Swim Club on Spotify: open.spot...

This week, I spoke with author Callid Keefe-Perry on the concept of Theopoetics. Along with his book “Way to Water: A Theopoetics Primer”, we discuss the issue of justice, following Jesus and living out Keefe-Perry’s Quaker practice. Callid speaks about how being grounded in creativity is intrinsic to humanity—we are all “crafters” and “makers” of life. As he advocates for a less dogmatic approach...

In our first installment of the “Healthy Egos” repeating segment (a knowing nod to the fact that both Tony Jones and I have at least a little narcissism running through us), Tony and I are joined by Sarah Lane Ritchie. We discuss the recent saga of Joshua Harris, newly deconverted author of “I Kissed Dating Goodbye.” His situation naturally brings to mind questions about celebrity, both within and...

Dr. Brad Strawn (Fuller) joins me today for essentially a two-parter. First, we talk about the integration of psychology and theology broadly, including Brad’s own story of coming to that work in particular. After the break, we talk about how a Christian might also be an existentialist in some ways, a field of thought commonly associated with atheism or agnosticism. Finally, Sarey Concepcion, Comm...

I'm joined by absolute neuroscience all-star William Newsome (Stanford, NIH BRAIN Project) to discuss the ways in which our will is both free and constrained. What counts as free will? Are the Sam Harris types right that we have no free will? (Nope.) How do "top-down" and "bottom-up" forces affect our will? When is it the "most free"?Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Or Twitter:...

This week, you're getting a sneak peek into the kind of exclusive episodes that patrons of this show received twice per month. Multiple-time guest Tony Jones joins me to break down and respond to the first 2 episodes of the incredible Christianity Today-produced podcast "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill." If possible, listen to those episodes before listening to us respond (but you don't have to). T...

I spoke with the multi-talented Dr. Pamela King (Fuller Seminary, Thrive Center for Human Development). She is a researcher in developmental psychology whose passion is human thriving. We talk about thriving, as well as how virtue connects to thriving. Before that, she sets the stage with a discussion of religion and its role in both virtue development and thriving. For Pam, a virtue is a "psychol...

I'm joined by one of my favorite Christian recording artists, Jon Guerra. His latest album "Keeper of Days" is phenomenal, and there is so much depth lurking just behind its carefully-constructed songs. Thankfully, a nice dose of that depth comes out in this fantastic conversation! We talk growing up the child of immigrants, Christian Nationalism, the Sermon on the Mount, the CCM machine, border p...

Actor and filmmaker Luke Barnett joins me for another installment of "I Don't Believe in That God." These are conversations with people who do not identify as Christian, but they are not debates. Rather, they are attempts to understand my guest's story and perspective, with plenty of hopefully interesting rabbit trails along the way. https://twitter.com/LukeBarnettFaith Ba$ed on Prime Video: https...

I'm joined by Bridget Eileen Rivera, a sociologist completing her Ph. D. at the City University of New York Graduate Center. A homeschool graduate and alum of Patrick Henry College, Rivera has become a leading voice on gay celibacy in the the church. She has worked with a number of faith-based organizations, including Revoice, Christians for Social Action, and Preston Sprinkle’s Center for Faith,...