Faith Undone

In this episode we discuss the various epic narratives and the origin stories. We'll also take time to consider how to approach these stories when one becomes aware of the ancient practice of narrative borrowing. If you'd like to partner with us in providing more great content like this please consider giving a monthly donation […] The post Episode 165 | Borrowed Heroes appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we'll consider where the phrase advocating for the devil comes from and the roles we often played while living in religious communities. The post Episode 164 | Advocating for the Devil appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Many of us developed a habit early in life for searching for the loopholes in every rule we were given. We'd push the envelope just enough until guilt and shame caused us to take a step back. Today we'll consider the loophole and why and what this search was really all about. The post Episode 163 | Loopholes, Wham and Shabbat Elevators appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

For many of us Christian praise music is something we've outgrown, or maybe simply doesn't seem to fit. In this podcast I'll discuss some of the oddities of this music, why it may not fit anymore for so many of us and what alternatives we are finding to tap our feet to. The post Episode 162 | Wooing Jesus appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

I see a lot of social media posts lately placing Jesus on THIER political persuasion, promoting mandatory masks and vaccinations or the opposite with freedom to choose. Jesus to some wears a MAGA hat while others would argue vehemently that he would have a George Floyd chanting I can't breathe. So– WHO WOULD JESUS SIDE […] The post Episode 161 | Jesus Sides with Juan appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Don't let the title fool you– this is going to be a fun, in depth look at taking responsibility for our own actions and leaving behind worn out, guilt driven narratives. The post Episode 160 | My Asshole Son appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

After a long year of silence, a year of reflection and giant shifts I am back with some new positive perspective and eager to deconstruct and reconstruct faith with you again!. The post Episode 159 | Bringing Her Back to Life appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

This new year has already brought with it some interesting shifts– positive and negative. Loss of jobs, new pushes for sustainable energy, triple masking and anal swabbing — it’s looking to be an uncomfortable year. SO how should we engage with people during this time, especially those we drastically disagree with over issues ranging from […] The post Episode 158 | Managing 2021and Difficult People appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we’ll look at liberation theology, socialism, capitalism and whether or not Jesus sided with either. We’ll consider the words, teaching and actions of Jesus while making use of our grey matter to determine how our culture can find real relief. Please consider supporting the work we do by giving a donation at http://www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel to […] The post Episode 157 | Jesus the Socialist? appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Our culture right now is terrified of conflict, terrified of germs, terrified of anything that creates unwanted shifts. We will scream micro-aggressions at every laugh emoji, sanitize every surface of our home, and fight tooth and nail when someone questions our preconceived ideas. BUT, and big but–what if this very action is the very thing […] The post Episode 156 | Making Peace with Your Dirt appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

My friend’s the Riveras are some of the most creative, loving, generous friends I have. Not only have we shared family holidays, countless gatherings and family outings we’ve also walked together as families in the deconstruction process. Today I introduce you to two incredible people who will share their own journeys through reconstruction covering topics […] The post Episode 155 | Meet the Riveras! appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Some of us have felt deep anxiety, fear, sadness, excitement and cycled back all during this last month. Today I want to give a very ancient message of hope some new life, new perspective that may bring some hopeful news during such a divisive time in our nation’s history. The post Episode 154 | Arks, Hope and the Decisive Act appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I will share some new perspective on an old story about an angry son and a loving dad as well as a beautiful experience I had while leading a discussion in my classroom. What is your center? Are you worthy of being loved? How important is affirmation and how does the brain receive it? […] The post Episode 153 | Jack Frost, Eldest Sons, and My Center appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

We live in a time where everyone seems to be a victim, or at the very least claims it. From coffee lap spills to drive by squirt gun shootings (I’ll explain in detail on the cast) people in our culture today have developed a certain aptitude at playing the victim card every chance they can. […] The post Episode 152 | Victim Cards and Deadly Squirt Guns appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

There’s a new virtue signal trend on social media that is highly reminiscent of the religious guilt and shame many of us left when we began the difficult work of deconstruction. Today I’ll take time to discuss the “I am the problem” virtue signal and show the highly dangerous effects of these kinds of messages […] The post Episode 151 | You are NOT the Problem appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I had the opportunity to interview an old friend who’s journey is both heroic and chaotic and yet has found ways to find peace and community in the midst of it all. Matthew has been many things from an international speaker, church planter, writer, owner of a successful non-profit and life coach and will […] The post Episode 150 | That Time Matthew Gamble Opened Up Some Shoe Boxes appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we’ll discuss the art of deconstruction from two very different lenses. One lens we have observed as of late in the riots, looting, screams for abolition of various social and political systems while the other lens has a more thoughtful approach. Join me as we delve into the two and seek a better, fuller […] The post Episode 149 | Chisels or Hammers? appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I talk with Michele Snyder, the Redheaded Ragamuffin. She is the great (12 greats) granddaughter of Martin Luther, wife, mother, and theologically insightful person who will share her journey through deconstruction, reconstruction and learning to live in the human liminal spaces. If you’d like to help support this podcast please consider giving to www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel […] The post Episode 148 | The Redheaded Ragamuffin appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I want to take some time to consider the idea of hope, because honestly it’s been difficult to have these days. What does it mean to be hopeful? How does one experience hope if they’ve left various “hopeful” traditions? Join me as we delve into this idea as well as consider the Jesus message […] The post Episode 147 | We’re Going to Be Ok appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Our social and political climate in 2020 has become so charged and yet so surface focused that it’s almost near impossible to have real conversations without labels being given and large assumptions being made. Today we’ll discuss the Black Lives Matter push to remove images of white Jesus, whether Jesus was black and why it […] The post Episode 146 | Black Jesus appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we’ll discuss the chaos that is happening in our nation and how it affects us personally and communally. We’ll consider the biases we hold and look at the other perspectives as well. We’ll hover over the waters, dip our wings in and observe patterns that can lead to larger, fuller life. As always, please […] The post Episode 145 | Black Lives Matter and the Butterfly Effect appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I want to introduce you to professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, California Phil Zuckerman. Phil specializes in the sociology of secularity and authored “Living the Secular Life” and “What It Means to Be Moral.” Today we’ll delve into his story, his study of religion and anthropology, secualr parenting, […] The post Episode 144 | Living the Secular Life with Phil Zuckerman appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Ever hear someone tell you to follow “God’s will” and feel confused about what that really means? Is there really a literal map planned out for you? Today I’ll answer an email from a new friend in Georgia over the idea of pre-determined life paths. As always please consider supporting this podcast by going to […] The post Episode 143 | God’s Will, My Will, Kill Bill appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

I’ve been observing lately — a lot of things. One is that people are beginning to look to a certain book again. They are quoting it in conjunction with Bill Gates, mandatory vaccination cards, and unscientific biases. Is what’s happening right now already been predicted? Is the book of Revelation actually pointing out what will […] The post Episode 142 | Is This the End? appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I talk to my good friend, scholar, and fantastic human being Chris Anderson. We talk about his own journey into deconstruction, reconstruction, leaving faith and finding deep spirituality outside of traditional faith. If you found this podcast helpful please consider giving to www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel The post Episode 141 | Meet My Good Friend appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

I’ve observed an interesting trend lately with people who claim science — and it comes from both sides of the spectrum whether conservative or liberal. What I’ve observed lately is that SOME people’s departure from evangelical faith followed them closely out the door and into their new religion — science. Listen along as we delve […] The post Episode 140 | Religious Science appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we discuss the term cognitive dissonance, consider what it means to live during a liminal period, and what the tell tale signs are that you and I may be avoiding moving through the dissonance. AND, we’ll talk about peacocks peacocking!! As always please consider supporting this podcast through a monthly donation of your choosing […] The post Episode 139 | Peacocking Christianity appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we will finish with our series over the effectiveness of boarding schools. We’ll cover questions: 1. Would you send your child to a boarding school? 2. Are you still assocaited with your religous tribe? 3. And did it affect your connection with your parents? As always please consider giving to www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel to help continue […] The post Episode 138 | Good Enough for My Kids? Part 3 of Boarding Schools appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

The Easter Sunday practice is an interesting one with many thematically disunified ideas and narratives. In this podcast we’ll consider Easter as well as the deep ritual that Jesus and his followers practiced in the first century. As always, please consider giving to http://www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel if you found this material helpful and interesting. The post Episode 137 | Passing Over the Eggs appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

This is part two of a series of podcasts over the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of boarding academies. I’ve had hundreds of conversations with people over the past 20 years since my high school graduation and always find it interesting to hear how divided people are over boarding schools. In this podcast we’ll discuss question one: Did […] The post Episode 136 | Sexuality and Boarding Schools appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

This is part one of a series of podcasts over the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of boarding academies. I’ve had hundreds of conversations with people over the past 20 years since my high school graduation and always find it interesting to hear how divided people are over boarding schools. In this podcast we’ll discuss question one: Did […] The post Episode 135 | Growth or Stagnation in Boarding School appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we’ll discuss the theory of Survival of the Fittest and how it actually is a beautiful, hopeful theory in a time of deep fear and social distancing. I will flip the idea back to its oroginal context as well as connect to an old narrative about a sea being calmed in the middle of […] The post Episode 134 | Survival of the Fittest and Sailing COVID Seas appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

We are in an interesting moment in history again where mass hysteria, media fear mongering, and social distancing in the norm. People are fist fighting in lines at Costco over toilet paper while our elderly are panicking inside their homes quarantined. What I find interesting about all of this is not the conspiracies, the election […] The post Episode 133 | COVID- 19, Mass Hysteria and Pattern Interrupts appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Many of us left churches that had central figures, leaders whose writings were immortalized and often used to this day in conversations of truth. Today I respond to a question about the historical Seventh- day Adventist figure Ellen G White and whether I believe her writings are compelling or not. As always, please consider giving […] The post Episode 132 | Ellen Gangsta White appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

For many of us the conversation of sex was always a mysterious one surrounded by guilt, fear and shame. Premarital sex was considered a sin and connected to adultery and Bible verses were handed out by the droves in efforts to keep young people “pure”. But what if I told you most of what we […] The post Episode 131 | The Death of Purity Culture appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Ever hear someone say “All I need is Jesus” and wonder what they actually meant beyond the cliche? Where did this phrase come from and just how “Biblical” is it? Join me today as we delve into this worn out phrase and into the heart of what it means and doesn’t mean. And as always, […] The post Episode 130 | Jesus All and Other Cliches appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

What did Jesus mean when he said, “You are the salt and light of the world”? What if I told you salt and light had a very different meaning for the 1st century people than it does for 21st century Christians? Join me as we huamnize this beautiful and yet often misused passage together. If […] The post Episode 129 | Salty People appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Where did the idea come from that this world — Earth– is not our home? Today we’ll delve into the history behind this, consider its ramifications and then meet an astronaut with a new perspective! As always please consider giving to www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel if you found this podcast helpful and please WRITE A REVIEW! The post Episode 128 | Your Home on the Moon appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

What a way to begin 2020! Our nation has found itself once again in the middle of a potential escalation of violence in the middle east and the divisions have become increasingly more obvious. What I’ve also noticed is that there is one specific growing rhetoric that is masking itself as Christian and yet their […] The post Episode 127 | Trump Bombs and American Jesus appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I want to respond to a younger listener and their frustrations over worn out arguments from their tribe concerning issues like jewelry and modesty as well as give some practical advice when dealing with various systems and people. And as always, please consider giving to www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel if you’ve apprecaited the concent provided. The post Episode 126 | Evil Jewelry and Sacred Tattoos appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

There’s a discussion that happens every Christmas season that I find in online forums that seems to divide people. The discussion of course if whether the word virgin meant what’s it’s been translated in the 21st century birth narrative. This one word has two different connotations which could be very dangerous to some who hold […] The post Episode 125 | The V Word appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today we’ll delve into the birth story moving past literalism into a far deeper and closer understanding that the writers and audience had that offers a far richers application to our lives today. As always please consider giving to patreon.com/tonywuerfel if you found this podcast helpful. And please don’t hesitate to share these with others […] The post Episode 124 | Virgins, Camels and Unexpected Births appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Today I want to consider this past holiday season and the deeper meaning behind rituals and why we keep them. We’ll discuss Pilgrims and Indians, Black Friday, the gift of remembering and a story that brings the ritual back to life. As always please consider giving to www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel if you’ve appreciated these and other podcasts. […] The post Episode 123 | Worthless Rituals and Things that Make Us Puke appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

What do we do with all those odd Levitical laws in the Old Testament? What makes one rule more important or relevant than others? Why is it some people continue using these verses to make dogmatic assumptions and yet seem to be cherry picking with no real explanation? Join me today in a fun podcast […] The post Episode 122 | I Like Pig Butts And I Cannot Lie appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

There’s this really interesting, pivotal moment in the Gospels where Jesus goes up on a mountain and begins talking about a new way to understand the laws. For most of us in the 21st century we’ve had certain ways of interpreting this narrative but what if I told you the majority of interpretations, fine as […] The post Episode 121 | Blessed Are the Poor? appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Ever have moments when shame and guilt seem to storm their way into your day? You begin getting lost in the “what if’s” and “should haves”? When I think about these moments, these shame storms; I’ve begun to consider the Fig Tree. Join me today as we look at ways to deal with shame and […] The post Episode 120 | Shame Storms and Fruitless Trees appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

We live in a culture of dependence. Most of our society is contingent on people NEEDING things. What’s interesting though is when one begins to connect this dependence to the spiritual journey of freedom and life more abundantly. Can one truly live a life of freedom while being so deeply dependent on religious structure? Join […] The post Episode 119 | Graduating from Church appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Ever keep yourself awake thinking about past mistakes in which you wish you’d said or done things differently? Ever get stuck dwelling in the past? Today I want to consider what this action does and ways in which to step into the present borrowing from some sage voices from the past! As always, if you […] The post Episode 118 |Tools- If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Ever read this verse in John 14 with Jesus describing leaving to prepare a place and scratch your head at the meaning of the text? Is he really leaving to build actual space mansions? Why in space? Why not build them right here? And if that’s the case, that he is literally building mansions, why […] The post Episode 117 | Preparing a Place and Dining Room Tables appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

What is I told you that the message of the Bible is less about being certain and more about learning to live fully in the unknown? What if the act of wandering is valued more than being safely penned? The parable of the Shepherd and the 99 sheep is a deeply spiritual and also deeply […] The post Episode 116 | Sheep Need to Wander and Other Stinky Parables appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.

Sometimes we move into seasons of change, times where we re-invent ourselves. These seasons can be terrifying and yet can also offer some amazing new perspectives if we would only take long enough to let them sit and ask questions of them. As always please consider giving monthly to support this podcast at www.patreon.com/tonywuerfel The post Episode 115 | Sabbath and What I’ve Learned from The Move appeared first on Tony Wuerfel.