Like Trees Walking

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David Berge and Michael J Nelson take on the big questions of philosophy, theology, and culture in the 21st century from a Christian perspective with a touch (well maybe more than a touch) of humor. We talk about serious topics without taking ourselves seriously.

David Berge & Michael J Nelson


    • Jul 31, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 133 EPISODES

    4.9 from 261 ratings Listeners of Like Trees Walking that love the show mention: pastor dave, dave and mike, christian apologetics, rifftrax, mike nelson, mike and dave, 372, mike and david, nonbelievers, winsome, michael j, weird food, mst3k, deep thinking, intelligent and fun, trees, fan of mike, fan of michael, mystery science theater, pastor david.



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    Latest episodes from Like Trees Walking

    Episode 612 — TYTK

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 70:00


    Tim Keller founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC in 1989. Over the course of his quarter century as its pastor the church and Keller - unapologetically classical in its theology - rose to a place of influence in the midst of Manhattan. Dave reflects on his engagement with Keller and why he was so influential. In the second half the tables are turned from an learner episode where Mike quizzed Dave on Billy Joel's original "We Didn't Start the Fire" and now it is Mike being quizzed on Fall Out Boy's updated version. Warning, the song is terrible and this part of the show is far too long.

    Episode 611 — Rushmore

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 46:18


    Augustine? Anselm? Aquinas? Aquaman? Who is the GOAT? Who is in the top five theologians of all-time according to this highly objective and scientific ranking process? Also, the real story behind the lost live podcast is finally told.

    Episode 610 — Hair I See

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2023 42:06


    As the early church wrestled with questions regarding the relationship of God and Jesus and the subsequent implications for the relationship between God and humanity some answers were deemed heretical. We discuss the differences between heresy and orthodoxy. It's finally time to tell the story of what happened to the recording of the 372 Pages and LTW Live Podcast.

    Episode 609 — Bad Polls

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2023 32:31


    The polls are in and things are not looking up for Christianity in America. Why? Is this good? Bad? Where are we? Dave offers his theories and then Mike quizzes Dave on real or fanfic related to the Screwtape Letters.

    Episode 608 — Fine Tune(d/s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2022 28:51


    Ok, stuff sure looks like it was designed, but is it really? Richard Dawkins or Sir William Paley? Goldilocks universe or a simulation? Who knows? We do! Plus we share some of our favorite "tunes" that are just so fine.

    Episode 607 — Duff-Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 38:00


    The year was 2008 (or 2009?) Pastor Dave turned in a paper defending the compatibility of Christianity with the death penalty in certain limited circumstances contra his professor the esteemed Christian ethicist Nancy Duff. Dave explains why he was right and then he and Mike sharpen Dave's knives that were even duller than his arguments.

    Episode 606 — Big Data vs. Big Daddy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2022 33:16


    Who knows Mike better: Amazon or his step-mother? The answer isn't so simple and how does the vast amount of information we produce compare to the kind of knowledge that God has of us? And finally, what can a chat with an AI bot tell us about the meaning of life?

    Episode 605 — Ummmmmm

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2021 37:44


    Beloved astrophysicist and Twitter gadfly Neil Degrasse Tyson said that "the good thing about science is that it is true whether you believe it or not." This didn't sit well with America's sassiest meat product who clapped back "log off bro." The guys share their reflections on who got the better in what turned out to be a clash of intellectual titans. In the end Mike shares a great tip for trying out a new restaurant without breaking the bank (spoiler alert: it's not dine and dash)

    Episode 604 — A Podcast About A Podcast (With Podcast Recommendations)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 49:26


    "Who Killed Mars Hill?" — is the provocative title of Christianity Today's hugely successful podcast entitled The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Spoiler alert, we all did! Seriously, CT's audio autopsy of one Seattle megachurch brings together so much what has animated a certain flavor of American Protestantism over the last few decades. It occasioned some thoughts from Pastor Dave and Mike had literally never heard anything about this church and its controversial pastor. At the end they share a couple podcast recommendations.

    Episode 603 — 'Cause You Got Personality

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 42:36


    The year was 2006 when Pastor Dave first encountered the Enneagram of Personality. Over the years he's seen it increase in prominence and he's heard various origin stories, tracing it all the way back to the Desert Fathers of the early church. The guys assess these claims and its value. For a helpful article read this article entitled “Can We Do Better Than the Enneagram?” from Christianity Today.

    Episode 602 — I Didn't Make the Rules, So Why Should I Have to Play By Them?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 38:58


    We didn't choose to be born, nor from the Christian perspective did we choose to be born in sin. Yet, we are told that we need a Savior to deliver us and to place our trust in him. How is this fair? How does this make sense? Is an Aldi breakfast cookie a cracker? Listen to hear these answers and more.

    Episode 601 — Karen is Creepy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 34:11


    We all know her (or do we?). We all hate her (but should we?). Pastor Dave wants to talk about Karen. When does a joke about a certain "type" of person become a blanket cover for a certain kind of misogyny? Should that bother us? Should Dave eat whatever it is Mike is going to feed him? Find out on this episode of Like Trees Walking. (Also, was Kate from John & Kate Plus 8 the ür-Karen - even though she is a Kate?)

    Episode 524 — Bo, Burn Him

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 59:23


    In the early 2010s Bo Burnham released a song “From God's Perspective.” It is bad and takes us back to those heady days when the star of the New Atheists was starting to fade. This song helps us understand why. Also, lest we be accused of having a tin-ear toward comedy, we share our reactions to Rolling Stone's list of the Top 20 Stand Up Comedians of All Time.

    Episode 523 — See, Religion Thoughtfully (C.R.T.)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 39:30


    John McWhorter has been writing on the rise of the new antiracism at his Substack. He compares it to a religion but in the most facile ways possible that reveal more about his own impoverished understanding of faith and less about why this approach to race in America is wrong. Pastor Dave shares a recent epiphany he had regarding the newest Star Wars trilogy.

    Episode 522 — Bleeding Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 54:27


    You can purchase Thomas' book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. He currently works as a Senior Fellow for the Council on Criminal Justice.

    Episode 521 — Follow the SCIENCE!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 38:41


    After more than a year of our lives being upended by a global pandemic we've gotten used to a certain type of figure saying that they're just going to follow the science. While this is better than sticking one's head in the sand or ignoring medical science, it is also insufficient for the significant social and political interests that need to be weighed. Also, what does Mike think about punching down vs. punching up in comedy.

    Episode 520 — What Would Jesus Loot?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 39:46


    Following George Floyd's murder millions of people took to the streets to protest this injustice. Additionally there were those who used this as a pretext for rioting, stealing, and violent mayhem. When this behavior was decried, some pointing to Jesus himself as the sanctifier of riots. This issue hit very close to home (literally) for the guys. Also, Dave shares a story of when he observed a hockey riot breaking out.

    Episode 519 — Cat Math

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 36:19


    The guys discuss the limits of human knowledge and what exactly an "edgelord" is.

    Episode 518 — Godwin's Lawyers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 44:48


    Godwin's Law states: "as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1." Can we learn anything to expand our repertoire beyond these tired analogies. Read this article from Slate in 2011: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2011/10/hank-williams-jr-firing-who-was-the-rhetorical-worst-person-in-history-before-hitler.html

    Episode 517 — Getting Along

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2021 39:47


    "We are more divided than ever" goes the cliche, which like most cliches has some truth to it. When our houses, friendships, families and bowling leagues are divided how can be build bridges and be in relationship? Also, we need to talk about sweating.

    Episode 516 — The Youth of a Thousand Summers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 41:44


    2020-21 have stunk. Paul encourages Christians to think about good things. These are some of the things Mike and Dave are thinking about. Mike makes Dave eat seaweed paper.

    Episode 515 — Just Asking Questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 49:48


    Lizard people, jet fuel melting steel beams, crisis actors, JFK blown away what else do we have to say? Quite a bit actually.

    Episode 514 — I'm Not A Regular Pastor, I'm A Cool Pastor

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2020 47:04


    Pastor Dave read Ruth Graham's NYT piece following the end of Carl Lentz's tenure at Hillsong NYC and thought "there but for the grace of God go I." The guys talk about entitlement, alienation, and accountability in the church.

    Episode 513 — Antisocial

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2020 48:34


    Michael J Nelson isn't on social media at all. Pastor Dave uses his like an addict. Which is healthier? You decide!

    Episode 512 — Whither the Horsemen?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 50:44


    The year was 2006, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins were topping the bestseller lists denouncing religion. Pastafarianism was the fastest growing religion on Facebook. Fast forward almost 15 years and New Atheism is old. Where did it go? Who won? Do we even know what we're talking about.

    Episode 511 — Refund the Police

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2020 112:02


    Before getting his PhD from Harvard, Peter Moskos served as a cop in the Eastern District of Baltimore. Moskos has written extensively on issues related to policing, crime, prisons, and reform. You can find his work at copinthehood.com and buy his books Cop In the Hood and In Defense of Flogging on Amazon.com Here we talk about issues related to policing that have arisen since the killing of George Floyd and broader political and ideological challenges in this particular moment.

    Episode 510 — Arnade by Nature

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2020 60:13


    Chris Arnade was a quant on Wall Street before growing disillusioned with his "front row" life and started visited neighborhoods where people told him not to go. What he found there changed his way of understanding the world, including the role of faith in providing Americans of all stripes with a sense of dignity. It also challenged his confident, though not obnoxious, atheism. His collection of photos and reflections on what he saw and experienced in his travels and what it taught him about class, race, religion, and politics in America are found in his book Dignity, available wherever fine books are sold. https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Seeking-Respect-Back-America/dp/0525534733

    Episode 509 — I Can('t) Breathe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2020 32:54


    We wanted to record an episode about this, but felt like this captured all that we could say at this particular moment that was worth saying.

    Episode 508 — What's It Like To Have...The Thing??

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 53:33


    You can find Jason and his work at reclaimedleader.com

    Episode 507 — Sheltering in Literally One Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2020 52:31


    When Amy went into pre-term labor with her first child her doctor prescribed bed rest for 6 weeks. For those long weeks Amy had to stay in bed more than 23 hours a day. How did she survive? What helped? What didn't? Where was God? What can that teach us about making it through the pandemic?

    Episode 506 — Imagine That

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 45:31


    With the world cowering before COVID-19 Gal Gadot thought, "what can I do to help?" The answer she came up with to have a bunch of celebrities sing John Lennon's Imagine. Imagine has an undeserved place in the musical cannon as inspirational and unifying. The only way it can truly unite us is in our hatred of it and its absurd message.

    gal gadot john lennon's imagine
    Episode 505 — Canoeing The Mountains

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 46:57


    Tod Bolsinger is an expert on leadership and adaptive change in the church. In 2015 he published a book called Canoeing The Mountains that used the Lewis and Clark expedition as a metaphor for the changing realities of church leadership and Christian discipleship in a post-Christendom era. You can buy his book wherever fine books are sold or get free resources from Fuller about using the book with your church/organization by texting "canoeing" to 66866.

    Episode 504 — Love in the Time of COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 65:28


    The guys have a wide ranging discussion about the spread of COVID-19, social distancing, how Asian countries have responded, the church's responsibility in the midst of crises, the problem of evil, human agency, and the culpability of the CCP. Read some of Lyman's work on COVID-19: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/13/christianity-epidemics-2000-years-should-i-still-go-to-church-coronavirus/ https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/the-church-must-be-a-refuge-in-the-midst-of-fear https://docs.google.com/document/d/13bKFzl1PvObLlRXTx9pIPMOyBWiGkKhHdXu_iWXUqjM/preview

    Episode 503 — Did You Ever Know That You're My Hero?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2020 44:00


    Who is your hero? Do you have one? What makes a hero? The boys stop and mull this over before sharing the name and story of one of their own heroes, neither of which wears or wore a cape.

    Episode 502 — Unforgivable

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 39:53


    Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger murdered Botham Jean in his apartment in a terrible tragedy. At her sentencing Jean's brother offered forgiveness and the moment went viral which prompted a backlash against this act. Was it right for him forgive? What's the relationship between justice and forgiveness? Will Dave like what tinned-fish Mike serves him today? Listen to find out.

    Episode 501 — Mind the Gaps

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020 35:15


    Is there literally no reason to believe in God? Is it all just a "God of the gaps" scenario and basically an appeal to ignorance and a constant losing rearguard action. You can imagine Mike and Dave don't think so. Hear why in this episode.

    Episode 424 — Michael J Nelson Sees A Star War

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2020 36:38


    Mike did not like the movie. Dave kinda did, but also can't keep the plot straight.

    Episode 423 — Never Coming Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2019 44:11


    You can donate money to the Ace in the City Center of Belonging here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/281293802790920/987495071649295/ or here: https://www.aceinthecity.org/center-of-belonging/#donate-cob The article on Millennials leaving the church can be found here: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/millennials-are-leaving-religion-and-not-coming-back/ Data on religious switching can be found here: https://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/chapter-2-religious-switching-and-intermarriage/ On Young Adults leaving church and the reasons they do look here: https://lifewayresearch.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults/

    Episode 422 — Would you Baptize Baby Yoda?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2019 29:00


    We're looking to raise $1000 toward Ace in the City's Center of Belonging which will collaboratively cultivate a physical space that addresses the foundational life supports and services crucial toward healthy living, including:Full-Choice Food Shelf, Food for Life Classes, Youth Development/Drop-In Childcare, Housing Stability, Addiction Recovery, and Vocational Training. Please end your contribution in a 9 (for episode 9) so it counts toward out total. You can see the movie with us December 28th if you're in the Twin Cities and donate at least $500. Follow these thinks to give: https://www.facebook.com/donate/281293802790920/ or https://aceinthecity.org/center-of-belonging/

    Episode 420 — Good, Good Father

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2019 33:15


    Episode 421 — *Special Emergency Episode* JESUS IS KING

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2019 44:12


    October 25, 2019 Kanye West released "JESUS IS KING" and many take have ensued. Mike is blissfully ignorant of it all, while Dave some reflections on the record itself as well as how one should react when a global icon has his own "come to Jesus moment."

    Episode 419 — The Kids Are Alright?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2019 35:04


    Is it ethical to have children in the midst of the climate crisis? How can we bring kids into a world on fire? These are increasingly common questions and Dave and Mike reflect on a Christian attitude toward children. They conclude *spoiler alert* actually kids are good.

    Episode 418 — LTW & 372 Pages Live! Mingling with Christians

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2019 91:59


    For those following along at home here's the timing on the movie clips (free to stream on Netflix): Clip #1: IN 24:58//OUT 25:09 Clip #2: IN 25:59// OUT 26:45 Clip #3: IN 32:44//OUT 34:43 Clip #4 IN 38:05//OUT 39:21 Clip #5: IN 58:25//OUT 59:53 Clip #6 IN 1:33:56//OUT 1:34:05 Clip #7 IN 1:35:02//OUT 1:35:41

    Episode 417 — Tonight on a Very Special LTW...

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2019 38:07


    See 372 Pages & LTW live, September 18 at Sisyphus Brewing in Minneapolis. Click this link for tickets: https://dojour.us/e/12174-372-pages-well-never-get-back-like-trees-walking-live?fbclid=IwAR1RMy7qYDFqDHdZXbIwH8TyvZERwANuYrNs36kYuzpfOiAGYHwNlfq0jl0

    minneapolis sisyphus brewing
    Episode 416 — Build that Wall...Around Heaven?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 40:32


    The Book of Revelation talks about the walls that will surround the New Jerusalem. Does that mean the US should build a gigantic wall at our southern border? This raises questions about how we bring Scripture to bear in shaping our imaginations regarding public policy. How can we do better than simply playing "bible darts"?

    Episode 415 — Do Aliens Need Jesus Too?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 35:14


    Mike has mused for a long time on what it would mean for the Christian faith if there were aliens. Dave hasn't and is more of a ghost guy than an alien guy. Dave shares his own encounter with a famous person.

    Episode 414 — There's No Such Thing As Religion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2019 36:56


    Dave and Mike tackle the difficulty of defining religion and differentiating it from other things. Dave also shares a story of acting out a scene from Deuce Bigalow with one of the actors involved.

    Episode 413 — It's *NOT* a Wonderful Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2019 33:19


    David Benatar agrees with George Bailey as he stood on the bridge saying "I wish I had never been born." Benatar does George one-better and wishes that no sentient life had ever existed because existence is beyond terrible. You can read the article here: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-case-for-not-being-born Tinned fish gets eaten.

    Episode 412 — Follow the Money

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2019 43:15


    Candidate X (*cough* Mayor Pete) is very articulate in talking about the importance of his religious faith for their political vision for the country. Should you believe that person? Look at their tax returns! (Unless they're the President and won't release them.) Dave names and shames, and names and praises the candidates who are merely giving faith lip service, and those who are willing to put their money where their mouths are. Mike went back to his boyhood home and was very disturbed by his own version of believing that Sinbad was in a movie called "Shazaam."

    Episode 411 — Incoherent?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2019 32:51


    You can read the NYT's article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/opinion/-philosophy-god-omniscience.html

    Episode 410 — How Bizarre

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 51:04


    Serene Jones is the president of Union Theological Seminary. She also doesn't believe in a 'literal' resurrection and finds the virgin birth 'bizarre.' But love is stronger than life and death or something like that. Read the article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/20/opinion/sunday/christian-easter-serene-jones.html

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