Church in Space

In which the 3-Ds and a V debate whether we'll end up worshiping Artificial Intelligence. Drew says some people already do...and there's speculation that's what Ezekiel was doing on his prophetic field trip to the desert outside Babylon's 'burbs. Beyond worship, might AI attain actual godhood down the road? After all, we mere humans are getting pretty close to creating life in the lab; AI may well leapfrog us on that. But what would Humans 2.0 look like? And will the latest human model come with a warranty? To keep the human existential crisis going, in our game, we speculate which of today's AI systems is most likely to attain godhood. They may need a chip off the ol' quantum block to pull it off. ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Special Guest Vicar: Keith Monroe Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "The difference between us and a computer is that the computer is blindingly stupid, but it is capable of being stupid many, many million times a second." - Douglas Adams

In which the 3-Ds and a V have a very Star Wars-centric discussion about grey Jedi: folks who wield the Force but don't subscribe to the Jedi-Sith orthodoxy. Somehow, the Vicar and Pastor manage to make that a strong parallel with Martin Luther's doctrine that we're all both saints and sinners simultaneously. Then it's on to reviewing the formal codes of each: the Grey, the Jedi, and the Sith. After which Dan realizes he -- and most Americans -- are far more aligned with Sith values than anyone else's. Are the Sith actually libertarians? Is Dan secretly apprenticing with Darth (Rand) Paul? And we round things out with today's game: name your favorite interstellar plague! It's no sterile discussion. ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Special Guest Vicar: Keith Monroe Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "And the Sith shall set you free." - Dan

In which the 3-Ds welcome Vicar Keith into the fold to discuss the Whovians, Trekkies, Fireflyers, and Star Wars fans who make the rest of us miserable: the haters who drive away actors and pan new developments without even seeing the show. Of course, we can be lighthearted over our misery, so we rollick through our own fanboy zeal anyway, lauding Patrick Stewart, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christopher Plummer along the way. And we let our contrarian flags fly in the game, when we reveal our picks for great changes in sci fi series people panned at the time. Oh, and it turns out Vicar Keith is actually Zuul the Gatekeeper, appearing on podcasts to keep from being bored waiting a few eons for Vinz Clortho to show up again. ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Special Guest Vicar: Keith Monroe Producer, Editor, & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "You pick up some fans, and a handful of haters along the way." - Bruno Mars

In which the 3-Ds make it their business to analyze how business is portrayed in science fiction. It typically goes along two lines: the megacorp (like the Weyland-Yutani Corp in Alien) or a hodgepodge of independent traders (like Star Trek's Cyrano Jones). Along the way, we debate whether the Ferengi are actually capitalists; after all, they don't have any corporations -- they just worship money as individuals. So wouldn't that mean money is their religion, not their business? And in our game, we answer the question every Christian nerd has pondered since 1977: is Jesus a Trekkie or a Star Wars fan?  ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." — Stephen Leacock

In which the 3-Ds ponder what will happen when humans finally achieve first contact with aliens. Will religion become a moot point? After all, our major religions are all very human-centric. How else will we react? How will they react? But first, our hapless hosts learn the ugly truth about sheep...and wander into wondering how various religions' and denominations' faithful would play pro sports. For example, what if the San Diego Padres players were all priests? (They'd be holy different games!)   ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet." - Stephen Hawking

In which the 3-Ds finally realize that a podcast about science fiction and religion should talk about the Jedi in Star Wars. Is following the Force a religion? A cult? Or just magic tricksters? And how would that answer apply to the Sith? Is the Force a farce? From Shaolin monks to Medieval battle bishops, human history has plenty of priestly warriors. Listen in to determine if the 3-Ds have an answer. But don't get your hopes up.  ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "Your ability to speak does not make you intelligent." - Qui-Gon Jinn (probably after listening to his first Church in Space podcast)

In which the 3-Ds make their brains hurt pondering some of the unponderable ethical issues in popular science fiction. Star Trek, of course, did this almost weekly -- especially on Voyager with such memorable examples as the Tuvix conundrum, or the right to suicide for Quinn. (Trigger Warning: Quinn's example leads to an extended discussion on the secular and religious quandary on taking one's own life.) And in our age of emerging AI, Next Gen gives us the debate on whether Data (or any machine) can have the same rights as any human. Terminator, The Matrix, Star Wars: ethical issues abound, and the 3-Ds stumble through them all. Or at least all they could think of in 45 minutes! ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do." - Potter Stewart

In honor of college football championship week, the 3-Ds honor the untimely demise of the PAC 12 by talking about conference realignment.  Not the football kind, though; that would totally confuse Dan. Instead, it's all about realigning sci-fi franchises and religion: which Biblical characters could combine with aliens and modern humans to make even more exciting adventures among the stars? Could Jonah cope with space whales? Could fans ever accept Star Wars and Star Trek in the same universe…or would it be the NFC and AFC all over again? No safety here as we hit the end zone having passed on organizing our thoughts, so it's one fumble after another. ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "Mathematics is an interesting intellectual sport..." - Richard Hamming

In which hope springs Eternals as the 3-Ds discuss their reasons for optimism, in real life and in sci fi. It's a counter to today's popular doomsday attitude of "Everything is awful; we're all going to die." Even when it's overtly pessimistic and dystopian, sci fi still maintains an undercurrent of optimism. But Pastor Dave is hopeful humanity will be "Saved by science and Jesus." Then a game of sci fi "what if" ensues. For example, what if Hogwarts were real? Britain's SAS special ops teams would have raided the place and arrested everyone in there. Which really doesn't sound very optimistic after all. ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ “When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic genre. What it says at the end of the day is that there is a tomorrow, we do go on, we don't extinguish ourselves and leave the planet to the cockroaches.” - J. Michael Straczynski

In which the 3-Ds discuss the times science fiction gets the portrayal of religion wrong. From H.P. Lovecraft to Doctor Who, even the most legendary sci-fi sometimes stumbles when it comes to the faith journey. And what would an episode be without Dan doing a diatribe dissing poor world-building? It'd be about 15 minutes shorter, that's what. ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "I've come to view Jesus much the way I view Elvis. I love the guy but the fan clubs really freak me out. - John Fugelsang

In which 2-Ds try to convince 1-D that the Bible hints God is a dragon. While Pastor Dave admits no one knows God's true form, his skepticism over Drew and Dan's thesis is unwavering. Kind of like the unwavering stubbornness of a...dragon? ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "Speak politely to an enraged dragon." - J.R.R. Tolkien

In which the 3Ds are in a New York state of mind. They wax romantic about the end of humanity, and realize most sci-fi movies and fire-and-brimstone preachers have it wrong when they portray the Apocalypse. History has proven that most people will simply go about their business as usual. New York City proved it earlier this summer; as the thick haze of wildfires blanketed the Big Apple...nothing changed. New Yorkers put on masks and did their usual thing. How else do sci fi (and preachers) misjudge human resilience? Bend an ear and find out in this episode! Oh, lest we forget: the game for this episode is to describe a Star Trek episode in five words. Here's a rare one: "Lieutenant Leslie has speaking lines." ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "Don't wake me for the end of the world unless it has very good special effects." - Roger Zelazny

In which the 3Ds hold The New Cinematic Universe Draft. As DC continues struggling to create a viable movie franchise, and Marvel's formula grows tiresome, we dive into past sci fi to find fertile ground for new franchises. Amongst the many possibilities, Dave, Drew, & Dan discuss resurrecting Alien, Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Futurama, Kings, Lost in Space, and a seminal work from Robert Heinlein (most decidedly NOT Starship Troopers). How would you freshen up movie and TV screens? Let us know in the comments below! ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. ------------- Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "You're supposed to be a brilliant tactician. Be more brilliant." - Superman to Batman...or to James Gunn as he launches the new DCEU (Batman/Superman #29)

In which the 3-Ds come up with half-baked ideas for both science fiction and religion -- ideas which it's very clear neither Dave, Drew, nor Dan have thought through. In other words, you hear them in their natural state. Their ideas are all over the map: from a Star Trek series about the Earth-Romulan War (okay; that one's pretty decent) to a hard-hitting drama based on Church in Space (uhm...). Listen in and gloat. After all, your ideas are way better than these. It's easy to build your self-esteem when you compare yourself to the 3-Ds! ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "For who could hate or bear a grudge Against a luscious bit of fudge?" - Oompa-Loompas (via Roald Dahl)

Politicians and pundits paint Artificial Intelligence as an existential threat to humans. It's just a bunch of sophisticated code right now: programmed to seem intelligent, but what happens when the programmed fakeness becomes genuinely sentient? At what point should AI have rights?   The 3-Ds debate. Along the way, they discover the ethical flaw in the Star Wars franchise when it comes to droids; realize that the biggest existential threat to the Empire is R2D2; and reveal to the world the awesome might of the Force Tickle. ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "...he used those special parts to make his robot friends. Robot roll call: Cambot! Gypsy! Tom Servo! Croooooow!" - Joel Hodgson (MST3k Theme Song)

Pastor Dave has one question for the 3-Ds: are you certain? Each D must answer twice -- once asking if they're certain about something in the Bible, and once about something in science fiction. Unless the two overlap, like when the ending of Lost revealed that everyone on the island was actually in Purgatory the whole time. Like the final episode of Seinfeld, it was an ending so bad that Dave is still recovering from the trauma. What else are we certain (or not) about? Listen in to find out! We assure you: this episode does end well! ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." - Vincent Van Gogh

Fresh from the Red Planet, we are greeted by our first ever guests. Julia & Kate add their distinctiveness to our own as we are driven to answer the question: Could you survive Order 66? As usual, our drive wanders down several off-ramps, including multiple manifestations of space whales, and a fleeting flirting with the populace's passion for Pedro Pascal.   ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko Special Guest Stars: Julia Nelsen & Kate Venable ------------ "Fiction was invented the day Jonah arrived home and told his wife that he was three days late because he had been swallowed by a whale." Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Winter is coming. And so is the final episode of our game of A Quiet Year. So much is unresolved. How can our hardy band of Lutherans survive with the rutabaga crop devastated, and only a box of lowing Twinkies to eat? Is the only way to solve thefts on the Martian railroad to build more suspension bridges? And which Hollywood producer will green light the latest biblical epic from colonist Cecil B. DeMars? Oh, and we learn an actual science fact: bongos and bells will sound very different in the Martian atmosphere! Download this bugger, and enjoy the pulse-pounding finale of our saga of the first Lutherans on Mars.   ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "They say once you grow crops somewhere, you have officially 'colonized' it. So technically, I colonized Mars. In your face, Neil Armstrong!" ANDY WEIR

"We struck oxygen, boys!"   All seems well in the Lutheran colony in our third installment of A Quiet Year. Indeed, the game play goes well enough that our spacey Lutherans decide to build a brewery, and the Pope sends a Catholic contingent. Pastor Dave and Dan rejoice, but Drew has perfidy on his mind: there's a predator on the prowl, and the excommunicated engineer engineers an insidious return. Who will stop his senseless waste of resources on suspension bridge construction now? Gasp! All this and more awaits you in this episode of Church in Space!   ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "NASA's Mars Lander found traces of ice and salt on Mars. Right now, it's searching for tequila." - David Letterman

Murder. Mystery. Mayhem. And suspension bridges!   The tension and drama Lutherans face as they colonize Mars reaches a fever pitch in Part 2 as we play The Quiet Year. In this episode, the domed city of New Augustana must repel an invading army from the dome next door. Will the Methodists cooperate? Why is the corpse of Martin glowing, even as Frasier and Niles decide it will make a great lighting fixture? And just what role can rutabagas play in the colony's salvation?   Listen in as Pastor Dave, Drew, and Dan bumble...er, decisively strategize the fate of Lutherans on Mars!   ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "Am I the only one who secretly hopes that the Curiosity rover will be swallowed up by a giant alien worm living just below Mars's surface?"  - VICTORIA LAURIE  

We're back! Season 2 finally launches after a long hiatus: going underground to escape the Shadow Bishop, Drew and Dan performing with Figrin D'an on his intergalactic concert tour as a covert cover, and rescuing Pastor Dave from the Spa of Innumerable Unpleasures. (Drew and Dan will post recovered audio from their SighOps debriefs as the season goes on.) In this episode: live play! We begin Season 2 with actual play of The Quiet Year. In Season 1, Pastor Dave lamented the lack of sci fi about Lutherans in space. Now, in a bout of hard-set wish fulfillment, he teaches Drew and Dan how to play The Quiet Year, with this set-up: the ELCA's first colony ship has just landed on Mars. How can they eek out an existence in the harsh environment of Mars? Did NASA pack casserole dishes in the supply ship? And is there a good spot for a Holy Suspension Bridge? All this and more await you in this start to Season 2!   ------------- For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace. -------------   Credits: Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko ------------ "It's not going to do any good to land on Mars if we're stupid." Ray Bradbury    

After a long hiatus due to the rigors and chaos of our modern lives -- and not at all due to a massive theological conspiracy to silence those who question religious dogma within the framework of deeply informed speculative fiction, nor who believe The Rings of Power IS canon -- Church in Space will return in a few days. Listen to the announcement for more. If you dare!

In which Pastor Dave and Drew desperately try to make Dan an acolyte of baseball.  They try pointing out that it's a Calvinist game, that you can be really out of shape to play (even professionally), and that there's a whole lot of physics and math involved.  Will Dan be drawn in to this Cult of Sport?  Or is he simply too far down the path of Nerdom to ever succumb? On the way, Dan learns that American football may well be the wimpiest of all pro sports (but has the most money); OSU football fits the definition of a religion; and that getting cities to foot the bill for new stadia and arenas is an economic scam. He does like baseball's practice of the walk-in song, so Drew devises our weekly game on that! It's our riskiest, lowest sci fi show ever.  Do we strike out or knock this one out of the park? Remember to follow us on Twitter!  We're @ChurchNSpace .

In which the 3Ds ponder the presence of aliens influencing human development in ancient times.  Does the Bible document ETs amongst the prophets?  On the way, we learn that Pastor Dave would make the universe's absolute worst Starfleet officer, who even now would feel much more comfortable in the Dark Ages.  Meanwhile, Drew and Dan shudder at the possibility that the solution to the Fermi Pardox is simply that humans are the oldest and wisest life forms in the galaxy.  We close with a few thoughts about the impact made by the late Nichelle Nichols, both on screen and off. ------------------ Follow us on Twitter for a daily dose of...stuff.  We're @churchnspace .

In which the 3Ds debate the merits of hard versus soft science fiction -- and wonder which type each of the Gospel writers would be fan boys of.  Along the way, we learn that whoever wrote Matthew really didn't understand the point of poetry; the need for Bryce Dallas Howard and Leah Thompson to direct more sci fi (a lot more, please!); Alan Tudyk is the perfect anti-star; and Dan is disgusted at the utter and complete lack of science in Star Wars.  Dave and Drew are shockingly not surprised in the slightest.

In which Pastor Dave does for evildoers what Carl Linnaeus did for life: creates a classification system useful in wretched hives of scum and villainy everywhere.  The 3Ds promptly debate which villains -- one each from pop culture and the Bible -- fit into which categories.  Thanos and Paul fit in the same phylum; Khan and Cain; Loki and Pilate; Palpatine and Ramses; and so many more!  Along the way, Drew has visions of Bugs Bunny kicking in Hell's doors during the Harrowing.  Dan, meanwhile, concludes that complete world domination just isn't worth all the work.

In which the 3Ds contemplate the role of monastics in space.  From Dr. Who to Stargate, monk variants are almost ubiquitous in sci-fi -- usually resembling Catholic or Eastern Mystic traditions.  And they almost always gain special powers through their faith.  Of course, we talk Jedi, too; they're the low-hanging fruit, which doesn't stop us from figuring out that these Force-monks led to their own downfall.  The good news for geeks: doctrine maintains that Christians are resident aliens, wherever they live...a thought that makes us feel right at home!  

In which the 3-Ds contemplate Mad Max, and why the Southern Hemisphere's apocalyptic movies are so distinctly different from the Northern Hemisphere's apocalyptic movies.  Australians, in particular, seem to enjoy their post-apocalyptic lives!  Then it's on to Samuel L. Jackson's next role: the Punisher? Gandalf? Khan?  You be the judge.  It's the end of the world as we know it, distilled into a half-hour of smooth-sipping fun in the world's only barrel-aged podcast.

In which the 3-Ds return after an unplanned hiatus (due to unannounced "rolling blackouts," storms, and unseasonal high heat), we discuss the portrayal of climate change in science fiction.  Because reality.  On the way, we discover that Dan is the world's most dangerous lab partner...Drew is hip on hops as we plan the official church brewery...and Pastor Dave reveals he dreams of becoming Emperor Dave, benevolent ruler of the entire universe.  We suspect he'd become Darth Kamphuis. It took a while to get this show to you -- what with podcasting requiring electricity and all -- but it's well worth the wait!

In which the 3-Ds build on a question from our last episode: who are you, really?  It's all about identity this time around.  We must be having an identity crisis, because all three of us are unusually serious in this show.  "To thine own self be true," quoth Shakespeare...but who be thee?  Does your identity change depending on the situation, or are you always the same person at your core?  Does your personality change into your favorite character the more you play a particular game? What's the real identity of a superhero: the mask or the person behind it?  Does your job define you?  Is Lord of the Rings more realistic in its characters' identities than Game of Thrones?  Why do I ask so many questions in these show descriptions?

In which the 3-Ds discuss immortality in sci fi, and as it gets closer in real science, would we really want it?  After all, why be immortal if you don't like change...or have a sucky personality you're not willing to change?  And if immortality means transferring your personality and memories into a computer, is that really you?  What makes you...you?  It's pretty heady stuff; Dave posits that immortality actually prevents eternal life theologically, because you couldn't be resurrected and live in the New Jerusalem.  Drew determines he doesn't have a soul.  Dan's just determined to get this episode edited before it's too far past the deadline...

In which the 3-Ds contemplate what makes humans so special.  In so much sci fi (and religion), humanity is something very special or unusually dangerous.  What's behind this human hubris?  Lazy writing, an author's low self-esteem, or simple human bias?  And does this all mean that the Bible has it backwards: God didn't create man in His image, but we created God in our image?  If God is omnipresent, that would explain why image is everything...

In which the 3-Ds ponder whether the emperor and the Galactic Empire in Star Wars were actually the good guys; that naturally leads to a discussion of what makes really good evil in fiction...and whether a Force ghost is trapped between Heaven and Hell.  Dave laments the difficulty in writing a good short sermon, while Dan & Drew riff on Who (and The Doctor's granddaughter).  We wrap it all up revealing our favorite female sci-fi authors.  It's all fun and games until Dan loses the kyber crystals...

In which, for the first time, the 3-Ds never get to the planned topic; they started chatting about video games and never actually got around to starting the show.  In this randomly overheard conversation they ask (and Drew answers) why there are no full-on religious video games, discuss the changing definition of God, and debate the best style of that most divine of foods: pizza!  (Dave & Dan agree Columbus thin-crust is like cardboard with cheese on top...)  And we close by revealing our favorite Christmas movies.  Step aside, Red Ryder!

In which the 3-Ds ponder whether the Borg have the right idea, and if religion is really about assimilation.  We also learn of The Sermon on the Bridge while reflecting on William Shatner as a Lutheran pastor, hear Luther's opinion about free will, and come up with the concept of Quantum Sin.  And we decide which other sci fi forces could handily beat the Borg.  Cybermen, anyone?

In which the 3-Ds decide there's nothing quite so fun as a good disaster movie.  Like religion, hope is a major component to the success of a disaster movie.  Hope, and having a villain with a British accent -- that's critical.  Just as critical as making sure the end of the world begins in either London or Cardiff if it's a Doctor Who disaster...which gives Scotland the perfect tool for its independence (we reveal how deep inside this episode).  And we inadvertently stumble on the greatest disaster of them all: combining William Shatner and David Attenborough in one voice.  We're still shuddering over that one.

In which the 3-Ds find the Easter resurrection reminiscent of reanimated remains: zombies!  Is there a biblical basis for the undead?  We examine the many lives of Lazarus, humanity's Zombie Prime...and wonder if the Resurrection really means we'll all technically be zombies in paradise (hmmm...Zombies in Paradise sounds like a long-lost George Romero film...).  And don't think you won't have to work in paradise; somebody has to keep the infrastructure rolling, and it won't be the heavenly hosts! IF7Tc95JAlVAbGAZMin8

Can a machine have a soul?  The 3-Ds stay unusually focused (mostly) on whether true artificial intelligence can really exist -- and, if it does, whether it has a soul?  And if it doesn't, where do we draw the line with humans?  Just homo sapiens?  What about Neandertals -- do those of us with a lot of Neandertal DNA not have souls?  If we do, why not chimps...elephants...octopi?  For our game, we each reveal our scariest fictional AI.  Drew concludes none of that matters, because Pastor and Dan are just rebel scum.

In which the 3-Ds learn how the Federation's economy dovetails nicely with the Bible's (but the Ferengi...not so much), and we figure out where Jesus would boldly go in Star Trek's Federation.

In which the 3-Ds wonder why there are no Protestant galactic empires.  Islamic, Catholic, Judaic, Mormon, Buddhist, and more...sci fi has those in our interplanetary future.  So where are the Lutherans?  Maybe they just don't have the rich collective history cum character development other faiths have, so they're too boring for a rollicking space adventure.  We're pretty certain Tron: Legacy missed out on that character development, too (although it is pretty rollicking).

In which the 3-Ds look at luck tucked into science fiction -- and whether it's providence, predestiny, random chance...or just a convenient way for a writer to advance the plot.  That inevitably leads to the conclusion that from climate change to the pandemic, all bad things that happened since 2016 are the result of the Chicago Cubs winning the world series -- a statistical anomaly so great, it broke space-time.  And through a theological lens, God is constantly breaking the Prime Directive.

In which the 3-Ds go heavy on Star Wars debating whether the Force is a heresy the Council of Nicea would have banned, or is it part of the Truth and the Way?  On the way, we end up figuring out what constitutes an actual religion...and discover that, by any definition, Ohio State football is indeed a full-on religion.  Oh, and we all pretty much feel that movie theaters would be great -- without the other people being there!

In which we have no theme, as Pastor Dave posits his game questions throughout the entire episode.  To wit: Which Bible character would have the best Twitter account? What's Hollywood's worst casting in a Bible movie? Which Bible book would have been best told as it happened on TikTok or Vine? Why doesn't God pop by for a snack and chat anymore? Oh, and on the way, we also ponder who could possibly match Ricardo Montalban as Khan...because it sure wasn't Benedict Cumberbatch!  

In which we answer our first listener question.  Which excites the 3-Ds, because it means we actually have a listener!  The question:  what do we think about James Cameron's Avatar movie? It reminded our listener of her Native American culture and spirituality.  Drew and Dan also discuss reforms for the Lutheran Church involving beer, pretzels, and fig newtons.  And Pastor Dave deeply ponders whether the Wicked Witch of the West can be baptized, since water melts her.

In which Mandalorians pop up in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Pastor Dave spots theological coherence in Marvel's Netflix shows, and how The Lord of the Rings is WAY more realistic than Star Wars.  Oonta goota, Faramir?

In which the Three Ds ponder why Hollywood tends to demote gods on the silver screen, even though religion may be central to a hero's character in the source material; Thor's a genuine Norse god in the comics, for example, but the MCU portrays Asgardians as just another super-advanced alien species.  After examining the centrality of Catholicism for Daredevil, we somehow end the show by determining exactly how the Hutts became the dominant crime family in the Star Wars universe.  Wanta?

In which Drew revealing his disdain for movie trailers somehow leads to a vibrant discussion of the Apocalypse, then everyone concludes that Christians have been Mandalorians for thousands of years (but didn't realize it until now).

In which the 3-Ds introduce themselves, establish their nerd credentials -- then promptly demonstrate the difficulty of deep dives about Dune, as Pastor Dave desperately desires to discuss the book's (and movie's) reliance on religion, but Drew and Dan's dialogue dances and drifts everywhere but.  Dave is in for a very long season...