Nora and Natalia met on the internet and quickly formed a mutual admiration society which grew into a friendship and many conversations about life and loss and faith and God. They knew there was a place in the current cultural and political climate for a kind of Christianity that was not “THAT kind…
Cafeteria Christian & Alter Guild
Listeners of Cafeteria Christian that love the show mention: emmy, doubts, religion, christianity, religious, christians, progressive, church, beliefs, box, faith, caring, sunday, bible, female, hate, thankful, felt, community, refreshing.
The Cafeteria Christian podcast is a refreshing and enlightening show that challenges the status quo of religion and dives deep into how faith shows up in real life. Hosted by two sharp and open-minded women, this podcast offers a current and dynamic conversation that sets it apart from traditional church basement podcasts. As a Minnesota listener, I was thrilled to hear that the hosts are from Minneapolis, adding a personal connection to the show.
One of the best aspects of The Cafeteria Christian podcast is its ability to tackle timely and thought-provoking topics in a way that challenges listeners' beliefs while encouraging them to do the work. The combination of two female pastors, a black man, and an awesome white lady provides diverse perspectives that push back on the traditional notions of religion. This diversity of voices creates an engaging and inclusive atmosphere for listeners.
Another great aspect of this podcast is its expert (and non-expert) hosted explainer for what Christianity actually is and isn't. In a world where Christianity is often misrepresented or misunderstood, this show does an excellent job of breaking down complicated concepts and providing reliable information about Christian thought.
A potential drawback of The Cafeteria Christian podcast may be that it primarily appeals to those who already have some familiarity with Christianity or are open to exploring it further. While the hosts do provide explanations, someone completely new to the topic may struggle to fully grasp some ideas discussed on the show. However, for those looking to deepen their understanding or challenge their beliefs within a progressive Christian framework, this podcast is an invaluable resource.
In conclusion, The Cafeteria Christian podcast offers an engaging and enlightening listening experience for anyone interested in exploring religion, particularly from a progressive Christian perspective. The hosts bring wisdom, humor, and authenticity to each episode, making complex topics accessible while also challenging listeners' preconceived notions. Whether you're curious about Christianity or seeking validation for your inclusive beliefs within faith, this podcast is highly recommended for its thought-provoking discussions and relatable content.
Emmy and Natalia are joined by friend of the pod friend of God Erik Nelson to nerd out on the saints and icons and why it matters to know their names and their stories. Not just as histories but for our own understanding of what it means that God is still speaking through saints today as well. Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Follow Erik on Instagram: @sverike
It's Pride month, and it feels even more important than ever to speak up and support our LGBTQ+ siblings. Emmy and Natalia process a moment that Emmy recently had during a Q&R (question and response), and how to respond when someone comes at you hard using the Bible as their defense. Links: President Bartlett's takedown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CPjWd4MUXs Support our show! www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
To kick off our Pride month discussions we're bringing back an oldie but a goodie: episode 23, Emmy's first appearance on the podcast way back in January 2019. Natalia, Nora McInerny, and Emmy talk “welcoming” vs “affirming,” reclaiming the word “queer,” and what to do with “Bam Bam Christians” who are just a little too into the “clobber verses” of the Bible. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachistian Venmo: @cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia continue the conversation about finding a church fit, what your search might lead you into, and why you might not want to church search at all. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachistian Venmo: @cafeteriachristian
We asked, and you all responded! This week Emmy and Natalia read and talk about the ways Cafeterians have church shopped and how it went. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia answer our most commonly asked listener question about churches and how to find a “good” church that also is safe, but also has good music, and also good preaching, and and and and and. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia welcome Beth Silvers of Pantsuit Politics to spend a little time talking about the intersections of faith and politics and why we haven't given up on either just yet. Links: Pantsuit Politics: https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/ Sarah Bessey Article: https://sarahbessey.substack.com/p/are-we-still-calling-ourselves-christians www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia talk about a few stories about Christianity that have been in the news this week, and why it matters to stay in this faith thing, even when it feels like it would be easier to just walk away. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Natalia drags Emmy into her rabbit hole of interest in the papacy and tries to convince her that it matters and that we should care - even if we're super not Catholic. http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy offers a short meditation on life after Easter Sunday. Content warning for discussion of a suicide attempt. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia talk about hope - and why it is so hard to hold onto right now, and what we are doing to hold onto hope when everything else is telling us to just let it go. Poem: Hope is Not a Thing with Feathers Emily, It Is a Sewer Rat - by Caitlin Seida www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia talk about how we show up during a week of complicated emotions and feelings, and one that often has a lot of church baggage attached to it. As we get closer to this particular week in the church, let's reflect on what really matters about each day, and why. http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia get into a deeply theological talk about God and faith and life right now and why scripture is still relevant and where God is right now. Notes: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian Book Club Form link: https://forms.gle/QobkVMPsvLQX44QP7
Emmy and Natalia welcome Jeff Chu to talk about his new book, Good Soil. Get Jeff's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729761/good-soil-by-jeff-chu/ See Jeff on his book tour: https://byjeffchu.com/tour www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Natalia welcomes back friend of the pod friend of God Angela Denker to talk about her new book “Disciples of White Jesus: the Radicalization of American Boyhood.” This is a relevant, timely, and important book for anyone connected to young men and boys. Links for Angela: Angela's Website: https://www.angeladenker.com/ Buy Angela's Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/disciples-of-white-jesus-the-radicalization-of-american-boyhood-angela-denker/21600261?ean=9798889830757&next=t See Angela at upcoming events: https://www.angeladenker.com/upcoming-events Angela's Substack: https://angeladenker.substack.com/ www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
OMG we can't believe we have to say this (Empathy is Christian) but it turns out some people are really pushing an anti-compassion anti-empathy rhetoric right now and Emmy and Natalia are here to clear the air. We check in about baby eagles and new cars to start, and the main topic begins around min 15. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Jackie and Shadow Webcam: https://www.youtube.com/live/B4-L2nfGcuE?si=nVwiY_CmKADYDv6Y Kate's Blessing for Empathy: https://katebowler.com/blessings/a-blessing-for-everyday-empathy-because-hey-sensitivity-isnt-a-bad-thing/
Emmy and Natalia talk about Lent and the rollercoaster of this whole season in the church: ups and downs and ups and downs and ups? It's a lot. When life is already a lot. How do we do this sad season when life feels pretty sad on its own? www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: Emmy's Article: https://sojo.net/articles/unintended-consequences-spiritual-discipline Kate's Lent Devotional: https://katebowler.com/seasonal_devotional/the-hardest-part/#individual
Emmy and Natalia take some time to talk about a newly controversial topic: The Bible. Hahahahaha obviously this isn't new, but we thought we'd start with a set of familiar verses to dig into for our return to reclaiming the Bible for good. Notes: Spencer LaJoy - Plowshare Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHQ9FoQC3BI www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Natalia welcomes back Ellie Roscher to talk about how we stay in our bodies despite the many ways the world is trying to get us to disengage, and how we can show up as regulated as possible each day, no matter what is happening. Links: www.ellieroscher.com www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia talk about the different large and small ways they are trying to survive and manage their mental, physical, and spiritual health during this new era. Links: Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer: https://www.wordwoman.com/a-daily-dose-of-poetry/ Natalia's Weekly Uplift: https://www.nataliaterfa.com/uplift www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia sit down with the amazing Erin Hicks Moon to talk about her new book: I”ve God Questions: The Spiritual Practice of Having It Out with God. Cafeterians, Erin is our people, and this book is for us. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Erin Hicks Moon details: Buy/preorder her book: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/i-ve-got-questions/419610 Follow Erin: ErinHMoon on all the things Also her podcast - Faith Adjacent: https://faithadjacent.com/ Her newsletter - The Swipe Up: https://erinhmoon.substack.com/
Emmy and Natalia welcome author Stephanie Duncan Smith for an utterly gorgeous conversation about life's cycles of loss and grief and joy. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian https://stephanieduncansmith.substack.com/ @stephduncansmith on instagram
Emmy and Natalia talk about the complicated feelings about this particular January 20th - when we celebrate MLKJr Day and also the presidential inauguration day and how it all cycles into our ability to believe, not believe, and act with love anyway. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian The Drum Major Instinct: https://bethlehemfarm.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/DrumMajorInstinct.pdf
Emmy and Natalia celebrate their 300th episode (!) and reflect on where they've been and where they're going next, and how where we are now really feels like a good time to go back to our roots. Links: Alter Guild, ep 12: Ritual Promise - https://go.ivoox.com/rf/35237112 www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia talk about Christmas and why it's so often filled with stress and shoulds instead of peace and joy. After this episode we'll be taking a break until January 13th, but in between now and then join us for two Instagram Lives (on top of the usual Sunday morning ones). December 21st, 8:30pm (central standard time) - to celebrate the solstice/longest night. January 6th, 11am (central standard time) - to draw star words for anyone who wants one (which you can participate in by filling out THIS FORM) Other links/notes from the episode: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Emmy's Church Map: https://insideoutfaith.org/twincitieschristmas/ Mary on the Mantle: https://beaheart.com/collections/maryonthemantel Chasing Empty Mangers song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t0nqEa54m0
Emmy and Natalia tackle a listener question about the different Christmas story narratives in the different Gospels, and why they are different and if it matters or not when they are. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia talk about Advent, and why it's not a “warm glow” season but actually a truth-telling season and kind of the perfect way to spend a few weeks right now - when everything feels like it's on fire and no one is ok. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia talk about Thanksgiving and the tentative and tender ways some of us are showing up at various tables, or the ways we are choosing to not show up at all. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia decide to open the Bible to the book of Judges to see what wisdom for today might be found in these not-so-modern stories. Links: www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Melissa Florer Bixler: https://substack.com/home/post/p-151371020
Emmy and Natalia try to gather their thoughts and their feelings around the election results and talk through what they are doing with all their thoughts and feelings at this time - without trying to explain what happened or pretending to have answers. Links: https://churchanew.org/brueggemann/beyond-a-fetal-position www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia read some poetry and Scripture and blessings to help us all through this chaotic and overwhelming and anxious time. Because we all need it, whenever we need it. Support the show and what we do here: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Resources from today's episode: “Blessing in the Chaos” from The Cure for Sorrow - by Jan Richardson First Nations Version: https://firstnationsversion.com/book/first-nations-version/ Romans 8: 31-39 Lamentations 3: 19-30, 49-57 Luke 6, Matthew 5 John 18:33-38 Book of Common Prayer Traditional Collect for the Nation Contemporary Collect for Social Justice excerpt from Madeleine L'Engle from Rhythm of Prayer - by Sarah Bessey “For the Nation” from Ordinary Blessings, by Meta Herrick Carlson “For Feeling It All”, from Blessings for the Lives We Actually Have, by Kate Bowler How to Love the World, by James Crews Hope, by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Emmy and Natalia tackle a listener question about the complicated topic of salvation. Who has it? Does everyone get it? Can we lose it? SO many questions… so buckle up! Support the show: http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
While Natalia is galavanting in Paris, Emmy brings on her longtime bestie Catherine to talk about vocation, parenting a leukemia patient during a pandemic, the lack of good contemporary music in ELCA churches, and how grace shows up in everyday life. Support the show: http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Natalia welcomes professor and author Jennifer Powell McNutt to talk about her new book and to talk (*GUSH*) about Mary Magdalene and why she is awesome. Links: Jennifer's book: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-mary-we-forgot/417641 Jennifer's Substack: https://jenniferpowellmcnutt.substack.com/ Holly Carey's book: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802879158/women-who-do/ Socials: @jpowellmcnutt on most of the things
Emmy and Natalia talk about what Christians are mad about now (spoiler: it's Halloween). What's the history, why is it not about the devil at all? And how does this kind of moral panic happen anyway? www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian You're Wrong About - Satanic Panic https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-satanic-panic/id1380008439?i=1000465289932 CC 243 - Witchy Season https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/243-the-witchy-season/id1422007489?i=1000630680657
Emmy and Natalia answer another very timely listener question about the pastoral call process and how it works and how you know it's right or not right. Support the show! http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Matthew's Book!: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497044/The-End-Is-the-Beginning
Emmy and Natalia continue their journey through the sacraments with the Rite of Confirmation. Is it a sacrament or a ritual? Why do we do it? Do we have to do it? Are we more or less holy depending on our confirmation status? So many good questions to dig into. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia answer a listener question about what it means that we're all loved the way we are and how our lives are supposed to be for a “purpose.” What purpose? Is that really true? Or is it just a holdover from some toxic early 2000s theology? www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia keep the sacramental conversation going with confession - what is it and do we need and why do we do it and does it even matter if it's not officially a sacrament for everyone? Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia do a little more sacramental conversation and then move into a current topic of political anointing. Does God anoint candidates? How do we talk to people who believe certain people are anointed for a particular political position and others are not? www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia continue the conversation from open tables and communion last week into talking about baptism this week. What's it for? Do we need it? What's the right way? We don't have all the answers, but we do have some opinions! http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia answer a listener question about communion - what it's for, who it's for, and why we do it. We also get introduce a new segment called “What are Christians mad about this week” and Emmy gives us another fun fact in Christian history. Links and Notes: Books talked about in this episode: “Eat This Bread” by Sara Miles, “Searching for Sunday” by Rachel Held Evans www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Emmy and Natalia are back after our long time apart and we do our best to catch up on the latest news and what we're up to and why Christians are mad about so many things right now. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Natalia finally takes Emmy (and all of us) to school about Mary Magdalene and why she is awesome. (AND why we should all love her as much as Natalia does.) Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: https://www.elizabethschrader.com/about-7 Lecture: https://youtu.be/_b3Y3cJ0Ic8 Book: Mary Magdalene Revealed by Meggan Watterson “All the Marys” Sermon by Diana Butler Bass: https://dianabutlerbass.com/wp-content/uploads/All-the-Marys-Sermon.pdf
Nora opens her Bible and tackles some verses given to her by Natalia, and then Natalia reacts to it. Digressions include Amos cookies, and noisy children. Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Find other shows on the network at http://alterguild.org
Emmy and Natalia welcome Kate Bowler to talk about life and faith and hard things and hope in the midst of uncertainty. We laugh, we cry, we solve all the things! Order Kate's new book today: No Cure for Being Human. Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Support us at our Patreon page. Visit our website or follow us on Instagram @cafeteriachristian Learn more about our network of podcasts, Alter Guild.
Pastor Emmy Kegler, friend of the pod, friend of God, introduces bam bam Christians and takes on the clobber verses that people use to wound and harm LGBTQ people. Find more about Emmy's work and pre-order her new book at www.emmykegler.com. Want to support Cafeteria Christian? Visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Follow us on Instagram or join our Facebook page @cafeteriachristian
Natalia welcomes episcopal priest and tiktok reverend Lizzie McManus-Dail to talk about second-wave deconstruction, internet theologians, and why joy is at the core of everything. Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Follow Lizzie: rev.lizzie on all the things Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin Texas: https://www.jubileeatx.org/ Lizzie's podcast: And Also With You - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/and-also-with-you/ Pre-order Lizzie's book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593850874?psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp
Natalia welcomes back Ellie Roscher to talk about body stories and why it matters for us to learn our own and not just why but also HOW. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Ellie's website: www.ellieroscher.com Ellie's online community: www.plumwellness.com Previous Episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/239-tiny-things-and-holy-ground/id1422007489?i=1000627457949 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/embodiment-as-a-spiritual-practice/id1422007489?i=1000603083063 Embodied Path Part 1 : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-embodied-path-w-ellie-roscher-pt-1/id1422007489?i=1000586974702 Part 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-embodied-path-with-ellie-roscher-part-2-embodied-church/id1422007489?i=1000590690026 Part 3: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-embodied-path-with-ellie-roscher-pt-3/id1422007489?i=1000594710923
Natalia shares a chapter from “A is for Alabaster” from Dr Anna Carter Florence, reflecting on a lesser known scripture story from a new perspective. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
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