The Unlearning Podcast

In this last episode on a 4 part series on Healthy Christian Sexual Ethics, Ashley unpacks Margaret Farley's last four norms. Farley's norms for a just sexual ethic are: 1. Do no unjust harm. 2. Free consent. 3. Mutuality. 4. Equality (of power). 5. Commitment. 6. Fruitfulness. 7. Social Justice. Ashley also walks listeners through bell hooks' definition of love. If Farley's no...

On today's episode, we take a short break from Margaret Farley's 7 norms of "just sex" to talk about the gray matters around our Christian faith and sexual intimacy. When is it the right time to have sex? Should sex be saved until marriage? What does the bible say about casual sex and hook ups? How does that fit into Farley’s 7 norms for just sex? In this episode, Ashley refers...

There has been a lot of criticism of the evangelical purity culture and not a lot of discussion on a possible alternative. Using the writings of catholic feminist theologian Margaret Farley's book "Just Love" and black feminist bell hooks' book "All About Love," this four part series will help Christians develop a sexual ethics that is both healthy and life-giving. In...

There has been a lot of criticism of the evangelical purity culture and not a lot of discussion on a possible alternative. Using the writings of catholic feminist theologian Margaret Farley's book "Just Love" and black feminist bell hooks' book "All About Love," this four part series will help Christians develop a sexual ethics that is both healthy and life-giving. In...

On today's episode of the Unlearning Podcast, Ashley interviews her friend Andrew Janey, a poet, preacher, actor and LGBT Christian leader in the Los Angeles area. Andrew shares his coming out story, his unlearning journey, the importance of grace in church conflict and what he looks for in a pastor and in a church. To learn more about Andrew, you can follow him on Instagram at @andrew_janey...

The experience of healing can be really elusive. What do we mean when we talk about healing? Is healing from trauma really possible? Is healing from religious trauma possible?   In today's episode, Ashley draws from the theological reflections of G. Lloyd Rediger to walk listeners through a healthy understanding of the gospel and how the gospel can be a means of healing. To connect with Ashle...

On today's episode, Ashley Lynn Hengst provides many ways for listeners to experience the "daily pause" - a daily time a of stillness with the Divine. In this episode, Ashley recommends the work of Dr. Joy Harden Bradford , Melodie Beattie's "The Language of Letting Go" and Ryan Holiday's "The Daily Stoic." For more information about Ashley's minis...

Merry Christmas! For anyone going through a difficult season this holiday, Ashley wants to encourage you to have faith in God, even when God is silent. Today's podcast episode is on trusting in God's love, even when God seems silent. This episode was adapted from a sermon Ashley gave at a Blue Christmas service on December 21, 2021. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram or Twitter at...

In today's episode, Ashley continues her two part series on the sovereignty of God. She encourages listeners to check out Rachel Hollis' book "Didn't See that Coming" and to download Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation album as resources for spiritual comfort in the midst of hard seasons. You can connect with  Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or check out her w...

In today's podcast, Ashley unpacks a healthy understanding of the sovereignty of God in suffering. At the end of the episode, Ashley plays a clip from Kirk Franklin's incredible album called "The Nu Nation Project." You can listen to the entire song "Hold Me Now" on any streaming platform. To connect with Ashley, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhe...

On today's episode, Ashley deconstructs the toxicity around martyrdom in evangelical theology and how pastors use martyrdom to manipulate people into staying in toxic relationships. At the end of the episode, Ashley recommended Melody Beattie's book "The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependency." Be sure to check out your own copy of the devotional and to join...

In today's episode, Ashley explains her love for one of her favorite pastors. John MacArthur is the lead pastor at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles. For more information on Ashley's ministry, you can head to her website at ashleylhengst.com. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst.

In today's episode, Ashley deconstructs our theology around the wrath of God and the idea of hell. Ashley mentions a quote by feminist author bell hooks found in her book "All About Love." You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst.

In this episode, Ashley guides listeners through rethinking and reimagining the Church. She also discusses church hurt and offers up ideas on what to look for when you are looking for a new church home. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst.

In this episode, Ashley deconstructs pastoral ministry and offers up things to look for if you are looking for a pastor. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst.

The story of Ruth and Naomi is the fourth episode of a four-part series on PRIDE. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst.

The story of Jonathan and David is the third episode of a four-part series on PRIDE. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst.

Thank you for listening to the second episode of our PRIDE series on "The Unlearning Podcast." The Christians whose ministries are mentioned in this episode are: Rev. Troy Perry of the Metropolitan Community Church . You can visit the original Founders MCC church in Los Angeles, CA. Bishop Yvette Flunder and her City of Refuge Church Bishop Karen Oliveto of the United Methodist Church An...

This week, Ashley begins a four-part series on LGBT PRIDE by deconstructing the purity culture. Check out the full ABC segment on purity balls from 2014 and the full interview of Margaret Attwood on her book "The Handmaid's Tale" from the View in 2019. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst.

This week, Ashley talks about Adam and the gender roles prescribed in "biblical" masculinity and femininity. She discusses the "The Danvers Statement" and "The Nashville Statement" drawn up by the evangelical organization, The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. After unpacking how pastors use rhetoric or a narrow view of Scripture to shame people into gender r...

This week, Ashley helps deconstruct "complementarianism" and how the story of Eve was used to subjugate women. Ashley talks about the Greek mythology of Persephone and references Beth More's speech at the 2019 Southern Baptist convention. To watch Beth Moore's full speech - click here. Connect with Ashley Lynn Hengst on Instagram and Twitter  @ashleylhengst.

On the fourth episode of "The Unlearning Podcast," Ashley walks us through the two creation stories found in Genesis 1 -2 and deconstructs what we have been told about evolution, climate change, and God's sovereignty. This is an episode you do not want to miss. Connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter.

In the third episode of "The Unlearning Podcast," Ashley explains the history of "Biblical Inerrancy" within the evangelical church and offers up the Wesleyan Quadrilateral as well as "The Fruit Test" as alternative ways of interpreting Scripture. Connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter.  

This week, Ashley walks through how to begin the unlearning journey. Connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter.

Welcome to the Unlearning Podcast where we pursue freedom and self-discovery by unlearning toxic evangelical theology. Tune in each week for another episode by Ashley Lynn Hengst.  Connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter.