Sacred Tension

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I talk to the guys from the Grindhouse Theology blog about faith and horror. We discuss how decent people can appreciate horror, what horror reveals about ourselves, how horror connects to Christianity, and much more. Love my work and want to support it? Please consider writing a kind review of my show on iTunes or wherever you listen. Thanks for listening.  This...

Do gay people cause straight men to commit adultery? Is cannabalism rampent in Hollywood? Do drag queens have their way with your children? In this episode, Stephen and guest cohost Danielle explore the terrifying world of right wing conspiracies, and why they should alarm us. All articles and audio clips featured used with the permission of People For the American Way.  This is a public episode....

In this episode of Sacred Tension, my friend Danielle and I answer questions about coming out, why we stay in church, our favorite movies, the birth of Christ and, most of all, what to do when people we love disagree with us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredtension.substack.com/subscribe

In this final installment of the Nashville Statement series, Matt and I deliriously wrap up our discussion. We go on some pretty serious tangents, including: why I hate the phrase "speaking the truth in love," the crazy things customers say to me at work, and how we've learned to live with doubt.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

Matt Langston and I continue our reading of the Nashville Statement. In the process we discuss the harms perpetrated against gay people by the church, the disconnect Christians have with the LGBT community, and Matt shares his story of how he was kicked out of a Christian college for refusing to sign a document very similar to the Nashville Statement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to dis...

Matt Langston (of Eleventyseven fame) and I continue our read-through of the Nashville Statement. We discuss gender, transgenderism, gay celibacy, and the dangers of gender complementarianism. I also got a bit drunk. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredtension.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Sacred Tension, Eleventyseven frontman Matt Langston reads the anti-gay Nashville Statement to me to get a blow by blow response from a real-life gay person. In the process we discuss a wide range of topics including sex, the Bible, and growing up gay in the south. Link to the Nashville Statement . This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or...

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I talk to former Salvation Army officer Timothy McPherson about his journey from conservative minister to being excommunicated from his church for coming out as bisexual and progressive.  Artwork is by Justin Caleb Bryant Music by The Jellyrox This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sac...

In this episode of the Sacred Tension podcast, my good friend Justin and I have a long, raw, late-night conversation about our tumultuous religious upbringing in fundamentalist pentecostal and charismatic homes, our spiritual experiences, and the deconstruction of our faiths. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacre...

A mini-episode in which I ramble, perhaps incoherently, about my thoughts on racism in the United States and on the Charlottesville protests. The protests were a wake up call for me, helping me understand how ignorant I am of racial issues and how complicit I've been in perpetuating racist systems. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu...

In this episode I have a conversation with author David Dark about how to navigate the murky and triggering topic of religion. Many of us have religious baggage of some kind, and David Dark provides some thought provoking insights into engaging the subject of religion in a new way. David Dark's website David Dark on Twitter Music for the show is provided by The Jellyrox Artwork by Justin Caleb Bry...

In this episode I have a conversation with Chris Shelton, who was a member of Scientology for nearly three decades. We talk about his experience of horrific abuse in the Sea Org, how he eventually escaped, and how easy it is for human beings to fall prey to cults and crazy beliefs. Chris's Show: The Sensibly Speaking Podcast My appearance on Sensibly Speaking . Music for the podcast is provided by...

Welcome to Sacred Tension: a podcast about entering the spiritual discipline of asking questions.  I was born gay and Christian, and struggling with that dichotomy my entire life has led me to understand that most of us are in similar interstitial spaces: between religion and science, faith and skepticism, conservative and liberal, gay and straight.  This podcast is an invitation to explore those...