Sacred Tension

In this episode I talk to film-maker Christopher Maloney about his latest documentary, In God We Trump, which explores the confounding relationship between Trump and the evangelical world. Evangelicals — one of the largest voting blocks in the United States — are wedded to Trump, and are largely responsible for getting him into office. Despite their supposed commitment to sexual morality, family v...

This holiday season has been crazy, so I am reposting this fascinating conversation with cult expert Joseph Laycock about New Religious Movements. We will be back on schedule with new shows next week. 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

Earlier this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change dropped a horrifying ultimatum on the world: we have a mere 12 years to to mobilize a World War II level effort to change the effects of climate change to avoid a cataclysmic future. Like many people, I try to be a conscientious and informed citizen. I try to stay abreast of all that is happening in the world, and I try to effect cha...

I'm joined by former priest David Yocis to discuss the Catholic sex abuse scandal and the recent Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report.  Find the Grand Jury Report here:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/report-on-pennsylvania-church-sex-abuse/2319/   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredtension.substac...

In this episode of Sacred Tension I sit down with socialist professor and author Rob Larson to give some basic definitions for oft-misrepresented terms, primarily Marxism and Socialism. We also discuss the existential threat of capitalism as it relates to climate change, why figures like Jordan Peterson are so popular, and much more.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with ot...

(Repost) I talk to YouTuber Say Goodnight Kevin about why Christian movies are so horrible. 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

Logic, science, and reason are coming for your children. 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

Danielle and I conclude our conversation on social justice and the gospel. 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

Danielle and I sit down to discuss the recent statement on social justice and the gospel from various evangelical leaders. In the process, we talk about priviledge, race, science, and much more.  For more resources on this subject:  Minoirty Korner Podcast The New Jim Crow   White Rage ContraPoints   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I talk to Exvangelical Podcast host Blake Chastain about recovering from evangelicalism, the importance of ritual, the harms of purity culture, and much more.  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

David Hayward, AKA the Naked Pastor, is a retired minister who now helps guide people through the challenges of theological deconstruction. He leads the Lasting Supper online community, and is the cartoonist behind the Naked Pastor comics.  In this conversation we discuss his journey out of traditional Christianity, his deconstruction, and the road to healthy spirituality. Love my show and want to...

Timothy and I conclude our 4-part response to the Revoice conference with our reaction to Wesley Hill's talk. We discuss shame, homosexuality, the supposed immutability of God's law, and why God's law is wrong anyway. 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

Timothy and I continue our response to the Revoice conference. In this episode, we respond to a testimony by Becca, who says that, while she is still attracted to women, she has found freedom in Christ, and that the gay "lifestyle" will ultimate disappoint. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredtension.substack.c...

Timothy and I continue our response to the Revoice conference, and in this episode we respond to talks by Nate Collins and Ray Low on the topic of homosexuality and lament. We explore where we agree and disagree, and while we affirm the grief expressed in these talks over the mistreatment of LGBT people, we worry about the consequences of the theology Revoice espouses. Love my work and want to sup...

In this episode of Sacred Tension, Timothy Wilds and I sit down to discuss the recent Revoice Conference.  Revoice is a conference for LGBT people who affirm the traditional ethic on homosexuality. Timothy and I unpack the first keynote address, parsing out what we think is positive and negative.  Love this show and want to support it? Go it www.patreon.com/stephenbradfordlong  and for five dollar...

Donald and I continue our mad tour of delusional, abusive, and paranoid pastors. 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

I'm joined by Pentecostal minister Donald Guffey to go throughg a rundown of misbehaving pastors. In the process we discuss the nature of their corruption, whether they actually believe what they preach, and why the Evangelical church is drawn to charlatans. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredtension.substack....

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I talk to pastor, author, and artist Steve Daugherty. We talk about honesty within faith, living in the spectrum between belief and agnosticism, his journey out of fundamentalism, and much more.  Find Steve Daugherty's work here:  http://www.stevedaugherty.net Check out Eleventylife here: http://eleventylife.libsyn.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to d...

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I talk to Jay Bakker, pastor of Revolution Church, an LGBT ally, and son of the notorious televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. We discuss what it was like growing up in the Bakker family, why he came out in support of LGBT people, his agnostic christianity, his struggles with alcoholism and depression, and much more. Enjoy this show? Please go support my wor...

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I sit down with quaker, actor, activist and Biblical scholar Peterson Toscano to discuss his time in the ex-gay movement. Peterson discusses what he went through in the Love in Action program, and his long, hard road of recovery. You can find Peterson’s work at https://petersontoscano.com . Please go support his work and follow him on social media. Love my work a...

In this episode of Sacred Tension, I'm joined by podcaster Caleb Rowe for a demonstration of the life-changing power of Tarot. Through the reading we cover many topics, including: millenial anxiety, deconstructing Christian faith, the struggles of being an LGBT minority, developing our own rites and systems, and much more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscrib...

Can you be religious and an atheist? Can you disbelieve in spirits while also defending your religious freedom? We live in a culture that has hard boundaries between these territories, and they are enforced by all sides, atheists and religious alike. The assumption that religion = theism is deeply imbedded in our culture, but it might be blocking progress to a more rational, reasonable, and humane...

In this Episode of Sacred Tension, Danielle and I chat about what would make us lose faith in Christianity, what still scars us from our evangelical pasts, our favorite Catholic saints, why we eventually came to affirm gay relationships, and much more. Love this episode and want to support it? Please take a few seconds to give this podcast 5 stars on itunes. Patreon: patreon.com/stephenbradfordlon...

Matt and I wrap up our conversation with Timothy by discussing, among many other things, Theosis: the spiritual concept that ultimately led Timothy out of the closet. Theosis is the belief that God is working to unite all things to Himself, and what this taught Timothy about his own sexual orientation is profound.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...

Matt and I continue our conversation with Timothy, unpacking his journey of coming out. Timothy discusses the gradual theological transformation that led to his liberation and fundamental shift of worldview.   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