The Belief It Or Not Podcast

In this episode we discuss the Holiness Movement of the 19th century, fun stuff. We discuss living without sin or entire sanctification or christian perfection or the second blessing or the baptism of the holy spirit. We discuss the history stemming back to John Wesley and eventually Phoebe Palmer, Charles Finney, R.C. Horner, William Boardman, and Hannah Whitall Smith. We discuss the denomination...

In this retrospective episode Damien and Trevor look back at their one year of doing this little podcast. Trevor reads a story sent to him by his friends mom that made him question everything and then it's basically a clip show. Enjoy. As always we are not experts, we just google this stuff. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references check out https://beliefi...

In this episode we talk Jack Chick and his famous offensive little comic books, Chick Tracts. From This Was Your Life, a story of someone dying then seeing their life on the big screen and then being tossed in hell, to Tiny Shoes, a story of a kid wanting tiny shoes but his dad being too drunk to get them, to Death Cookie, a story of catholic communion wafers being demonic, we cover it all. We als...

In this week's episode we go back to school. We're talking Campus Crusade for Christ or as it's called now Cru or Power to Change ministries or Agape or whatever it's called. We discuss its beginnings with Bill Bright, Explo 72, the four spiritual laws, the Jesus Film Project and much more. As always we are not experts, we just google this stuff. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For mo...

Does God exist? In this episode we discuss all the reasons to believe in God. We talk about the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, and all the other "logical" arguments. Are they circular arguments? I'll let you be the judge (but yes). We also discuss Pascal's wager, the Case for Christ, and of course God's big brother Dougie. As always we are not experts, we just google this stuff....

In this episode we discuss all things Seventh-Day Adventist. We talk about the great disappointment, Ellen G. White, going to church on Saturday, not eating ham, and why corn flakes is their fault. Oh and Ben Carson thought Joseph made the pyramids for grain. As always we are not experts, we just google this stuff. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references c...

This episode is all about scandal. We discuss the classics like Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, and Ted Haggard, as well as some more recent scandals surrounding Andy Savage, Bill Hybels, and Mark Driscoll. It's a rough one full of awful dudes in power. We also talk to Marie D'Elephant from The Everyone's Agnostic podcast about her podcast and a scandal she witnessed first hand. Listen to them at http...

Ellen Page recently called out Chris Pratt for attending a church that is infamously anti LGBTQ. So what church is it and does she have a point? This episode is all about Hillsong. We talk Brian Houston, Carl Lentz, Chad Veach, and of course Justin Bieber. We talk history, money, scandal, and music. As always we are not experts, we just google this stuff. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doeppi...

In this episode we talk about Bill W. and Dr. Bob and the 12 steps they created to help you give up the drink. We discuss the origins, the Oxford group, how religious it is, how effective it is, and the pros and cons of the program. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitornot.wordpress.com/ Also follow us on twitter @beliefitorn...

In this episode we discuss all things boycotted in the name of the lord. These are companies guilty of the horrific crimes of making sure that their employees have health benefits no matter what gender their partner is, giving jobs to people who had to flee across the world in order to not die, or allow people to go number two in the bathroom they are most comfortable in. Oh the humanity! They als...

We also discuss "The Community" and the death of Bethany Deaton. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitornot.wordpress.com/ Also follow us on twitter @beliefitornot, instagram @beliefitornotpodcast, or facebook https://www.facebook.com/beliefitornot/ Or email beliefitornotpodcast@gmail.com

On this bonus episode we discuss some major stories surrounding religion in the last 12 months. We discuss a relic doing national tour, the death of Billy Graham, Ariana Grande being groped by a bishop, a missionary with a death wish, and many more. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitornot.wordpress.com/ Also follow us on twi...

Ho, Ho, Ho, it's Christmas which means only one thing: WAR! We talk about early Christians saying no to Christmas, then yes, then later Christians saying no again. We then meet an unlikely hero in the form of an author who saves the day. Before long a car maker thinks the jewish people are out to get the holiday, a grumpy TV man is yelling and a coffee chain ruins it once and for all with a red cu...

This episode is all about Christian Science. We discuss Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health, Christian Science Reading Rooms, Practitioners, and letting kids die instead of seeing a doctor. It's fun times. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitornot.wordpress.com/ Also follow us on twitter @beliefitornot, instagram @beliefitorno...

In this episode we enter the fascinating world of heaven tourism. That's right, people who have died, gone to heaven, and came back to write a New York Times Best Seller about it. It's crazy, it's sad, and it's booming business. We discuss Heaven is for Real, 90 Minutes in Heaven, To Heaven and Back, The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven, and much more. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For...

On this episode we talk about sex, and what the church is doing to make sure it doesn't happen. We're talking purity balls, accountability partners, youth group sex talks, fake women's health clinics, and abstinence only education. We tell stories people sent in and discuss the damages that can occur by telling someone they are like a used piece of gum. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping...

On this spooky Halloween episode we discuss talking to the dead. That's right it's all about spiritualism. We discuss The Fox Sisters, Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini. We also talk about the tricks of the trade and how you too can have a seance. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitornot.wordpress.com/ Also follow us on...

In this episode we get hip with the emerging church. We're talking Rob Bell, Doug Pagitt, Rachel Held-Evans, Brian McLaren, Nadia Bolz-Webber, and Tony Jones. We talk about their beliefs, their practices, and some accusations of abuse. It gets deep and it gets tense. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitornot.wordpress.com/ Als...

In this episode we discuss the charismatic cult leader who ended up leading a over 900 of his followers to their deaths. We discuss his early days, his civil rights activism, his rainbow family, how he moved from a single church in Indiana to multiple congregations in California, and eventually setting Jonestown in Guyana where the tragedy occured. For more info and and our references check out ht...

In this bonus episode we watched the movie The Children Act and report back to you what we thought. We discuss how the movie portrays religion, morality, and ethics. We also discuss Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci's outstanding performances. We also go on a few tangents about mission trips, fear of needles, and of course draculas. For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitorno...

In this episode we discuss the beginning of everything. We discuss teaching the controversy, the God of Gaps, Intelligent Design, whether or not geneology in one book is the best way to determine the age of the earth, and of course The Scopes Monkey Trial. We try to figure out what makes people fear scientific advancement, and what motivates people to try to insert their religious opinion into the...

In this episode we discuss Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California, or as it's more commonly known "Christian Hogwarts. It's a Christian post secondary institute that teaches you how to do miracles and prophecy. It's a fun one. We talk about Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, healing, grave sucking, walking through walls, and how to annoy differently abled people in a small town....

In this episode we discuss the origins of the baptist church, their theology, and we discuss the many variations on this idea. We discuss The Triennial Convention, Southern Baptists, Independent Baptists, and how they became the church on your corner. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping. For more info and and our references check out https://beliefitornot.wordpress.com/ Also follow us on...

In this episode we watched the Oscar winning documentary, Marjoe. Marjoe is a film about a faith healer who decides he wants to show the world how it all works. He goes from church to church selling miracles, handkerchiefs, and telling us how he does it. We discuss Peter Poppoff, Derren Brown, and Benny Hinn. We also discuss some of the tricks of the trade (and we do mean tricks). Hosted by Trevor...

In this episode we go back to Los Angeles in 1906 to the Azusa Street Revival. We try to separate fact from fiction as we talk about the origin story of the Pentecostal movement. We discuss William J. Seymour, Charles Parham, the baptism of the holy spirit, speaking in tongues, miracles, and of course revival in the land. Hosted by Trevor Poelman and Damien Doepping. For more info and and our refe...