Questions From The Pew - WOS

In this episode, we continue our conversation on reading Jonah better and ask: How do our questions affect our reading of Jonah? Do our questions clarify what's going on in the narrative or only muddy our understanding? How can we read Jonah in a way that moves beyond Sunday morning or Sunday school? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The biblical book of Jonah is one of the most well known in the Bible. It's found in nearly every children's Bible. Even those who do not read the Bible or hold to the Christian or Jewish faiths are acquainted with this narrative. With a man being swallowed by a fish only to be spat out again, it's little wonder why. But that's probably where the knowledge of the story ends for most people, especially for those who do not read the Bible or identify as adherents of the faiths that hold it as Scripture.If asked about the point of the story, there would probably only be few who could give an answer. And that's not surprising. After all, it's an ancient story and we are modern readers. The questions we ask about the text often don't allow the text to speak for itself. Where modern readers are concerned with how Jonah might have survived in the bellow of a fish, ancient readers likely would have asked why Jonah is portrayed the way he is. Perhaps we need to ask better questions.In this episode, we ask: How do our questions affect our reading of Jonah? Do our questions clarify what's going on in the narrative or only muddy our understanding? How can we read Jonah in a way that moves beyond Sunday morning or Sunday school? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode, we continue our conversation about medical technologies. Are advancements in medical technologies always a good thing? What complications go along with advancements in medical technologies? What new ethical questions are raised as a result of the advancement of medical technology? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Modern life has countless luxuries. Mundane things like written communication have drastically changed in the past hundred years. No longer do we have to wait weeks for letters to arrive. Email and text messaging have made the task nearly instantaneous. Our modes of transportation have moved from a reliance on horses, to steam, coal, and gas, and now electricity. All of these technologies affect the human experience in one way or another.One area of development that has had perhaps the most direct impact on humanity is that of medical technology. Technologies like vaccines, X-ray, mRNA technology, just to name a few, have forever changed the way humans live in the modern age. Not only do we better understand ourselves as humans, but we are also able to push the boundaries of what human existence means. But all this talk of advancement comes with a host of questions.In this episode, we ask: Are advancements in medical technologies always a good thing? What complications go along with advancements in medical technologies? What new ethical questions are raised as a result of the advancement of medical technology? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode, we continue our conversation and ask: What if we aren't alone and unique in the universe? Have these kinds of questions become less outlandish given what we know about the universe? How does this affect our reading of Scripture and our theology? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Extra-terrestrial life forms have fascinated generations of people. From cinema to literature, we have been fascinated with the question of whether or not human beings are alone and unique in the universe. As our understanding of the universe expands, so do our questions. And while these questions, and those who ask them, have lived on the periphery of “normal” society, the recent congressional hearings on government transparency related to UAPs (commonly referred to as UFOs) have moved those questions to the foreground.All of this has ramifications for how we understand the Bible and our theology. It forces us to consider whether we are not just the observers of the universe, but also the subjects of observation. As we continue to learn more about the universe and our place in it, reassessments will likely need to be made again and again. In those reassessments the ancient and modern inevitably intersect.In this episode, we ask: What if we aren't alone and unique in the universe? Have these kinds of questions become less outlandish given what we know about the universe? How does this affect our reading of Scripture and our theology? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode, we continue our conversation about artificial intelligence. Should AI be celebrated or feared? Or should we be indifferent to it? What ethical implications come with technological advances? What will the future look like in light of the rate at which technology is advancing? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

It is commonly said that technology grows at an exponential rate. Technology that would have been considered science fiction by one generation is an everyday reality a mere two generations later. The cell phone is a prime example of this. In a generation or two, it went from being a luxury owned by the affluent to an everyday item carried by most of the population, regardless of economic status. They went from bulky and cumbersome to sleek and compact. Nowadays, making phone calls is often the last feature people think of when buying a new cell phone. Cell phones can do nearly everything a computer can do, but from the palm of your hand. All of that in a matter of a few generations.Today's headlines are dominated by artificial intelligence like ChatGPT and deep fakes. In only a year or two, we've seen these technologies become more and more “advanced.” AI is able to do immensely more now than at their inception. Deep fakes continue to produce more and more realistic images of people. All of this has understandably begun to cause concern and alarm. If it's true that technology grows at an exponential rate, are we keeping up? And if so, how long will we be able to keep up?In this episode, we ask: Should artificial intelligence be celebrated or feared? Or should we be indifferent to it? What ethical implications come with technological advances? What will the future look like in light of the rate at which technology is advancing? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode we continue our conversation with Dr. Michael O. Emerson about what he sees as one way to understand how the American church has gotten to the place it is in today. He presents a diagnosis for understanding the current state of the American church's relationship with race and provides hopeful possibilities for the future. All that and more on this edition of the podcast. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this series we've been using the metaphor of an illness and its diagnosis to talk about the relationship between the church and the racial issues present in America. As the country has changed, so has the illness, growing worse at some points and getting better at others. Good observation can lead to a helpful diagnosis of a problem, whether in part or in its entirety.In this episode we're joined by Dr. Michael O. Emerson and talk about the diagnosis that he proposes based on his current research. He talks about his current research and how it helps us understand how the American church has gotten to the place it is in today. He presents a diagnosis for understanding the current state of the American church's relationship with race and provides hopeful possibilities for the future. All that and more on this edition of the podcast. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

On this episode, we continue our conversation with by Dr. Malcolm Foley, whose doctoral research focused on the various ways African Americans in the 19th to 20th century were forced to respond to the multiple forms racism took in American society.In our conversation, we ask: How can the response of African American Protestants in the past help us understand the American Church today? Can there be a balance between the harsh realities of the past and the idealization of history? How can we avoid despair in our pursuit of justice? How can today's church leaders carry on the work that started before them? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In the face of injustice, neutrality can sometimes seem like a sensible response. Capitulation makes one morally culpable while resistance can bring about consequences for those who challenge the status quo. And so, neutrality, however long it remains a seemingly viable option, is chosen as a means of avoiding the stain of immorality while avoiding the risk of endangering oneself. Those who are the recipients of injustice do not have the luxury of such a choice. For them, the only choices are to capitulate or to resist.In our discussion of the American Church and its response to racism, we cannot forget those who were directly affected by racism. Those who were the targets. African Americans in the 19th to 20th century were forced to respond in various ways to the multiple forms racism took in American society, and the ways in which they responded can help us understand how the American Church has gotten to the place it is in today. On this episode, we're joined by Dr. Malcolm Foley, whose doctoral research focused specifically on this topic. His expertise not only as a scholar, but also as a pastor, tackles this heavy topic from both an academic and practical standpoint.In our conversation, we ask: How can the response of African American Protestants in the past help us understand the American Church today? Can there be a balance between the harsh realities of the past and the idealization of history? How can we avoid despair in our pursuit of justice? How can today's church leaders carry on the work that started before them? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In the initial visit with a new doctor, a question that is frequently asked is about the patient's family history. The doctor asks, “Do you have any family history of X, Y, or Z?” Even if the patient can't remember every detail of the family's medical history, the doctor records them in the patient's file anyway. All of this is to help the doctor better understand the patient and his or her medical condition. The current treatment begins with a look back. This is a helpful metaphor to use for diagnosing the state of American Christianity.The American Church has had a long and often dark history when it comes to its involvement with issues of race. From slave owners' use of the Bible to keep human beings in subjugation to the more modern denominational divisions along racial lines, American Christianity would not look like what it does today without its past, both good and bad. And as much as the American church has improved in many ways on the darkness of its past, there is still work to be done to better understand today's American Church and consider ways forward. Part of that work is taking an honest look at the past. In this series, we try to do that.In this episode, we ask: How did the American church interact with racial issues throughout its history? How has that shaped the way the American Church looks today? We'll be exploring these questions in various ways throughout this series, starting with this episode. All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

We've have decided to change things up slightly and end the season here, just a little bit earlier than we originally planned. That's because the conversations that we were planning for the last series of season five ended up being much longer and more involved than we thought they would be. So instead of having to shorten the series or the important conversations in it, we've decided to save it all for the next season. We hope the roughly weekly format we tried this season was helpful to keep the conversation going. We're looking forward to picking up again soon for the next one. Until then, take care and keep asking questions!Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In the initial visit with a new doctor, a question that is frequently asked is about the patient's family history. The doctor asks, “Do you have any family history of X, Y, or Z?” Even if the patient can't remember every detail of the family's medical history, the doctor records them in the patient's file anyway. All of this is to help the doctor better understand the patient and his or her medical condition. The current treatment begins with a look back. This is a helpful metaphor to use for diagnosing the state of American Christianity.The American Church has had a long and often dark history when it comes to its involvement with issues of race. From slave owners' use of the Bible to keep human beings in subjugation to the more modern denominational divisions along racial lines, American Christianity would not look like what it does today without its past, both good and bad. And as much as the American church has improved in many ways on the darkness of its past, there is still work to be done to better understand today's American Church and consider ways forward. Part of that work is taking an honest look at the past. In this series, we try to do that.In this episode, we ask: How did the American church interact with racial issues throughout its history? How has that shaped the way the American Church looks today? We'll be exploring these questions in various ways throughout this series, starting with this episode. All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode, we're finish the conversation we began with Ruth Nathaniel last week and we ask: Are there blind spots when we engage in a deep relationship with someone from another cultural or ethnic background? What are the beauties of being in intercultural or interethnic relationships? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

We've said it before on the podcast: America grows more and more diverse every year. And there's U.S. Census Bureau data to support that. The Diversity Index measures the probability that two randomly chosen people come from different racial or ethnic groups. Between 2010 and 2020, the United States as a whole went from a 54.9% chance to 61.1%. Particularly in major urban areas, the likelihood of your coming into contact with someone from another cultural or ethnic background is higher today than it was even ten years ago. But the growth in diversity isn't always accompanied by a corresponding growth in how to engage in intercultural or interethnic relationships well. Even if people are from the U.S. as opposed to having migrated from another country, the gaps between cultures and ethnicities can be wide. Family cohesion is more engrained in some cultures than others that value independence. Honesty – even brutal honesty – is expected in some cultures while politeness – sometimes to a fault – is assumed in others. All of these are gaps. And often, these gaps are unseen or unacknowledged, causing difficulties in these kinds of relationships and those connected to them.In this two episode conversation, we're joined by Ruth Nathaniel and we ask: Are there blind spots when we engage in a deep relationship with someone from another cultural or ethnic background? What are the beauties of being in intercultural or interethnic relationships? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

It is often understood that as times change, so does technology. And so we find new ways of doing old things. For example, communication is not new, but with today's technology we have countless ways of doing it. Few letters are being mailed today, but hundreds of emails are sent in a single day. Shopping has shifted from a physical experience of entering a storefront to scrolling on a webpage and clicking items into a virtual cart. And even then, some online stores pride themselves on a personal experience, trying to get back to the human interaction that was so characteristic of the shopping experience in the past.But what about ancient institutions like the church? Many churches were already live streaming their services online even before the pandemic. But when lockdowns happened, all of that went into overdrive. Churches that already had an online option were prepared, and other smaller churches had to think creatively about how to minister to their congregations online. But all of this did not come without its growing pains. Questions, doubts, and concerns about the viability of online church were brought to the forefront of ecclesial conversations.In this episode, we ask: What do we do about “virtual church”? Where does the church go from here? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The pandemic changed everything. That should go without saying. The whole nation shifted. But moving beyond the macro-changes, there were also changes in smaller pockets of American society. We've already talked a bit about how businesses and schools had to transition overnight to remote work and remote learning. Other organizations had to change and continue to change. The political sphere was as volatile as ever, perhaps even more volatile, with political leaders and influencers from both sides throwing accusations at the other. And those who associate with a particular side were very much taking part of it all.But what about pockets of American society that are thought to be a beacon of hope and guidance in times of upheaval? Religious institutions seem to occupy that space in some shape or another even in our modern age. And for a country that has had such a far-reaching connection to Christianity, the question of how the American church carried itself during the pandemic is an important one.In this episode, we ask: How did the American church respond? How did the American church's cultural influence change?Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The pandemic changed a lot about the way we think about human existence, whether it further entrenched people in their previously held beliefs or opened them up to new ways of thinking about how humans exist and flourish in the world. We had to ask ourselves what aspects of human life are absolutely essential for our own wellbeing, and what could we acceptably relinquish for the short-term.The idea of community is one of those things that was re-examined in light of the pandemic. Everyone seemed to pivot as best as they could to some sort of remote interaction, some with more success than others. In some cases, people welcomed it. Employees enjoyed the ability to stay and work from home instead of commuting to the office. But as things began opening up and people made their way back into the office, there often seemed to be less cohesion in the workplace. Schools went to remote instruction, but quickly saw that the learning experience was not the same without the face to face interaction between teachers and students. And those are just two examples. As we head out of the pandemic season and reshape society and culture, community is an element of human existence that cannot be overlooked.In this episode, we ask: Has our understanding of community shifted? What does it look like to have a healthy and vibrant community post-pandemic? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Early in 2020, the world came to a screeching halt. Whole states went into lockdown. International travel was stopped. Everyone was told to go home and isolate in an attempt to slow the viral spread. Even the slightest sign of illness caused panic and paranoia. And even when solutions were proposed and created, the journey out of the pandemic was a slow and grueling one.For the most part, we are now living in a post-pandemic America. But it is not the same America. There are few places in American life that have not been changed because of the pandemic. From politics to education, business to employment - changes were made that make getting “back to normal” impossible. And we're still trying to figure out what the new normal is.In this episode, we ask: How did the world respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? Did it unite or divide us? How has the pandemic and the things that came as a result of it affected the way we view humanity and human worth? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Religious movements have had a long history in America. From the Great Awakening in the 18th century to the Jesus Movement of the 20th, seasons of what some call moves of God are in no short supply.The most recent of these religious movements is what is now being called the “Asbury Revival.” What began at a small Christian university in early February quickly caught the attention of many. Among Christians, it sparked conversations regarding its legitimacy and religious pilgrimage.In this episode, we ask: How should we think about the so-called Asbury Revival? Is it real? Can we rightly call it a revival? More importantly, how should we think about what ought to happen on the other side of it, once the movement has ended? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

A secure and unshakeable faith is often viewed as the goal of anybody who calls themself a Christian. The mark of someone who is spiritually mature is certainty and unwavering confidence in all matters of faith. There are whole organizations and ministries dedicated to helping people feel certain in their beliefs. People who are in positions of leadership are often thought of as people who have answers, not necessarily people who ask good questions. Questions and faith are pitted against each other, as if a person's faith cannot be strengthened by doubts and questions he or she raises. And so the ideal picture of a person of faith is one who has all the right theological answers, possessing a kind of certainty even in the face of the most troubling or baffling questions.Yet what we've seen recently is a host of people who thought they had achieved that level of spirituality only to be faced with new questions which shook the foundations of their certainty. And so it seems that we never get beyond the point of asking questions. But, understandably, that is an uncomfortable thought for many people.In this final episode of our series on Questions and Doubts, we ask: Can we move past doubt? How can churches do a better job of being a safe space for doubts and questions? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

It is easy to think of life in terms of black and white, this or that. But rarely is that ever the case. We live in the in-between more than we think we do. Nowhere is that more evident than in the realm of faith, spirituality, and religion. Faith and doubt are often thought of as being in opposition to each other. If your faith is strong, then no doubts will arise. But if you have doubts, you have to have more faith. This creates an imbalance where the two are not fully addressed in a meaningful way.In the pursuit of a strong faith, we ignore our doubts and questions. In asking questions and voicing doubts, we often forget to ask what part faith has in answering them. And so, the two remain ever at odds. Perhaps it is good to sit in that in-between space instead of rushing to one side or the other. Perhaps a more worthwhile goal is not to arrive at a conclusion, but to understand how to live in a state of flux and observe how God is working in it.In this episode, we ask: Are faith and doubt always enemies? What does it mean to have faith? What does it mean to doubt? Can one drive the other? What does it mean to say, “Help my unbelief?” All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

If you spend any time taking care of young children, you'll know that they ask a lot of questions, often more than you have energy to answer. They're usually simple, even humorous. But once in a while they ask the big questions - questions about the meaning of life, death, purpose, and faith. No matter how old we get, we continue to ask those kinds of questions in one form or another. And it can feel like these questions can never be answered with complete certainty. And this makes some people uncomfortable.The search for certainty has had often disastrous results. For example, the Exvangelical movement has garnered a large amount of attention in the past few years, making many church leaders nervous. Among other reasons, it seems that the questions those people are asking are not being answered by the Church, at least not in a satisfactory way. But this is not a modern phenomenon. And if you grew up in church, chances are you know that there were some questions that were off limits, and asking those questions would be a signal of a shaky faith. But are those unspoken boundaries really keeping people safe?In this episode, we ask: Has our obsession with certainty driven us to label some questions as “dangerous?” How have we done this implicitly or explicitly? Is there such a thing as a dangerous question? If so, what is the danger? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The unknown is a scary place to be in. Whether that's in the context of finances, personal relationships, professional goals, or any other area of life, not knowing for sure can be nerve racking - even paralyzing. Humans attempt to plan for the unpredictable from the cradle to the grave, creating college savings accounts for their newborns and paying for life insurance policies that will provide financial stability for loved ones in the event of their deaths. This obsession has touched more than just the everyday matters of human life and has affected the way we ask and answer the bigger questions of what it means to be human, questions of faith and spirituality.The Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries changed the way humans approach these questions, and we feel its effects to this day. Modern faith seems to rise and fall on certainty. And when the standard of certainty is not met, faith that was once thought to be unshakeable often collapses. For some, they are able to reconstruct something meaningful from the rubble. But for others, uncertainty and doubt signal the exit from faith. But without taking away from the real struggle involved in that process - whichever side you land on - we must ask questions about the thing on which faith rises or falls.In this first episode of season 5, we ask: Can human beings ever be certain? Is certainty a goal worth pursuing? Would human existence be better if doubt or uncertainty were resolved? Have we made certainty an idol? All that and more in this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Films have done much to shape how we view war, for good or ill. It was through the medium of film that much of the military propaganda of the 20th century was spread. Even today, we remember past and present wars with films. And there has been a marked shift between depicting the glories of war to depicting its horrors. The individuals portrayed in those films have gone through a shift as well, from the certain warrior to the reluctant fighter.In our previous series on The Lord of the Rings we talked about the power of narrative in shaping us and in shaping the culture. With war being such an inescapable part of human existence, it is no surprise that narrative has had a role in shaping our ideas of it and those who engage in it. Yet the Bible calls Christians to be peacemakers, a role that seems out of place in many portrayals of war in cinema.In this episode, we ask: How has the portrayal of war in cinema had a part in how we as a culture feel about war? What does it mean to be a peacemaker? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Religious wars seem out of place in a modern society. As moderns, we view events like the Crusades or the religious wars of the Protestant Reformations as both strange and sad. Religion is sometimes seen as a useless relic of a bygone era. Given the modern age we live in, we no longer need religion to help explain reality, direct our lives, or give us purpose. Or so the argument goes. The fact that religion has so often been connected to war only strengthens the argument. And yet with advances in science and technology, humanity has invented more ways of killing itself, even while moving further away from religion.War is an ancient practice and so it shouldn't surprise us to find accounts of warfare in the Bible. But the Bible has often been co-opted to prop up the military aspirations of political leaders. While we don't see it as often today, theology still plays a role in the decision to go to war, whether at a large scale or at the individual level. The ancient text is still being used in modern discussions of war. At the same time military technology continues to advance, making modern warfare more efficient and devastating at the same time. How do we make sense of this paradox?In this episode, we ask: How has the Bible been used to justify the atrocities of war? How has modern technology removed the human element from war? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Violence and warfare are not problems for one culture or for one time. Even though mankind has progressed in multiple arenas, we still can't quite figure out how to get along. Countless solutions to violence in society have been proposed, but they only provide surface level treatments or short lived remedies. None provide a long-lasting or permanent solution. And somehow, in the middle of the mess is the Kingdom of God.Christians of all stripes seek to live lives informed by the Bible. But as we've talked about in other episodes, that is more easily said than done. After all, the Bible is an ancient collection of books that were written in a different time and place than modern-day America. But how do we apply ancient wisdom to the incessant problem of warfare and violence?In this episode we ask: What are the views of violence in the New Testament versus the Old Testament? Can the Biblical narratives of local warfare help us navigate socio-politics given the global scale at which war can now be waged? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

War has been a part of human existence since the dawn of time. No civilization has risen to power and influence without the brutality of war. From the ancient Egyptians to Alexander the Great's expansive empire; from the Crusades of the Middle Ages to today's religious wars in the Middle East. We fought a war to end all wars but ended up fighting another world war not even a generation later. War is a dark reality in the human experience.Christians are called to live in a new reality, that of the Kingdom of God. But it's difficult to reconcile that invisible reality with the one that we see. Of course, there is the hope that one day all will be made right, but the pain and suffering of our present reality is still a difficult one to live through. And yet it is one which Christians are called to.Today, we're starting a new series on war and violence. In this episode, we ask: How does the Bible depict war? How did the idea of “just war” develop and is there a theological foundation for it in our modern age? All that and more in this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Doni and Robert, hosts of Mixed Take. Join us as we continue talking about the importance of narrative and retelling old stories in a new way. We also ask: What is more important, being faithful to the story or reinterpreting it for a contemporary audience? Or is that even a dichotomy that should exist? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Stories are not meant to stay in the past. In many ways, they take on a life of their own, captivating the hearts and minds of generations, even after the original audience or even the author have long passed. They are told and retold, adapted and reimagined by each successive generation. This doesn't always happen without bumps along the way, but that is what a good story can do.The Lord of the Rings was originally written as a book for one generation and adapted as a series of films for another. Both were acclaimed masterpieces in their own right. And now, with the new Amazon series, “The Rings of Power,” the world of Middle Earth continues to capture the imaginations of a new audience. All of this came from the mind of one man, but countless others have, in some ways, carried on his work.In this episode, we're joined by Doni and Robert, hosts of Mixed Take, another podcast in the World Outspoken network. Together, we ask: Why is narrative and retelling old stories in a new way so important? What is more important, being faithful to the story or reinterpreting it for a contemporary audience? Or is that even a dichotomy that should exist? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Great literature stands the test of time. But it's not just because of its literary qualities. Of course, things like a well thought out plot and mastery of the language have a role in the longevity of a work of literature, but it also speaks to the audience it was written for. Not only that, but it continues to speak beyond its own time.The Lord of the Rings does that. For some reason, the epic story of good versus evil continues to speak to modern audiences. No doubt, it has a great plot and Tolkien certainly had a mastery of the language. But readers, both original and modern, have been shaped by this work of fiction.In this episode we ask: Does The Lord of the Rings have any wisdom for us today? How do we rightly allow narratives to affect us? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

It's been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. That is to say, even the seemingly purest motives can result in disaster and even evil. But if humans are inherently good, then why is that the case? Throughout history there have been multiple examples of movements that started out as a way to address ills of society, but ended up harming it instead. The common link? Humans.J.R.R. Tolkien saw this up close and personal. Serving in the first World War, he saw first hand how corruptible mankind truly was. And not long after, they repeated their mistake in World War II. But, certainly, we've progressed since then, right?In this episode, we ask: Is the idea behind the relationship between the corrupting Ring and the corruptible ringbearer still relevant today? What are our modern notions of the goodness/depravity of human beings? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Film and literature are rarely, if ever, neutral. They are saturated with ideas of their creators and they invite the viewer or reader to think with them. What's great about that interaction is that it is not bound by time. Stories that are decades removed from their original authors can be read by modern audiences and have a meaningful impact on their world.The author of The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien, had some strong thoughts about the modernizing world, and they can be seen in his books. From his opinions about the disappearing countryside to his opposition to the mechanization of society, he was a bridge between an old world and an ever increasingly modern society. Modernization hasn't stopped since The Fellowship of the Ring was first published in 1954 and we are still reading Tolkien's books today.In this episode we ask: How is The Lord of the Rings a commentary on our modern age? How does narrative act as both a mirror and a lens? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

As timeless as some works of art may be, they are still created within a particular time period, so they show signs of that period. That's why adaptations of books into film are rarely, if ever, 100% faithful to the original work. The new presentation is modified for its contemporary audience. Some critics of The Lord of the Rings claim that the literary work implies outdated ideas about ethnic or racial groups through the way certain races of creatures in the book are described and characterized. Some have even gone as far as to call Tolkien himself a racist. And The Lord of the Rings is not the only work that has been accused of these things. In this episode we ask: Is The Lord of the Rings racist? How do we find value in literature that expresses the outdated views of the age of the author? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The media we consume - whether it's books, film, or music - have a way of shaping who we are. Not only that, but we shape those media based on how we view the world. It's an interesting interconnectedness that defines how cultures function.Christians, of course, aren't separated from their culture. Rather, they are ingrained in it and have a part in being shaped by it as well as shaping it. The Lord of the Rings is a part of that phenomenon we call culture. It has shaped its readers and viewers, and those people have gone on to shape other aspects of culture because of it.As we continue our conversation from last week we ask, why are Christians so obsessed with The Lord of the Rings? What other media are Christians obsessed with for good or bad? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

There are probably some books or films that have fundamentally shaped who you are as a person. Maybe it was a novel you read in elementary school. Maybe it was a film you watched as a young adult. Whatever it was, it shaped the way you viewed yourself and the world. Many consider J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to be one such work. Both the books and the films have captured the hearts and imaginations of generations. And they still hold up.In the first episode of this series, we ask, why is The Lord of the Rings such a big deal? Why is narrative a big deal? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode, Lucas and Reichert talk about a few questions listeners submitted after listening to the Bible series. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Anything worthwhile takes work. That's a common sentiment. High school teachers use it to encourage their students when they struggle to see the point in what they're studying. Coaches use it to inspire athletes to push past their limits. Those words can reframe an otherwise dreaded or seemingly impossible task. But we never think about it in connection with reading the Bible. It's almost uncomfortable to think of reading the Bible as work. After all, if it's God's message to us, shouldn't it be as easy as a conversation between two people?If you've been listening to our Bible series, you know that really understanding the Bible takes more than reading a few chapters for thirty minutes. Actually, it takes a lifetime of reading and rereading, learning and relearning, interpreting and reinterpreting; meditating on Scripture. And the great thing is that it's a never ending journey; the more you dig the more you find. The more you listen, the more clearly you'll hear God's voice through ancient writers.In this final episode of our Bible series, we ask, is reading Scripture really this hard? If you don't have an advanced degree, should you bother even trying to understand the Bible? Isn't that what pastors are for? What are some avoidable mistakes when it comes to Bible reading and interpretation? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Lucas and Reichert continue their conversation about the relationship between faith and science, and how the Bible fits in the middle. Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? Are we reading modern questions into an ancient text? How do we reconcile the words of Scripture with what modern science tells us about the universe? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Faith and science have often been pitted against each other, as if one can only hold to one or the other. The Bible is right in the middle of this conversation. Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? Are we reading modern questions into an ancient text? How do we reconcile the words of Scripture with what modern science tells us about the universe? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The Bible is a religious book. That goes without saying. For thousands of years it's been a source of hope and direction for billions of people. Even those who don't hold any commitment to a singular faith acknowledge the Bible as a profound literary work, even if it's only one of many sources of divine revelation. But it seems like those who don't hold any faith commitments at all are often left out of the picture. The caricature of those people is that they are mockingly dismissive of or vehemently opposed to the Bible. But perhaps some just don't care about it at all. What about them?At the same time, the Bible is in many ways a very human collection of writings, a book grounded in the human experience. And the knowledge gained by humans at any point in time is inherently limited, whether by our five senses or our finite mental capacity to understand things beyond ourselves. Christians throughout the ages have had to wrestle with what it means for the Bible to have both human and divine authors.In this fifth episode of our Bible series, we ask, how do we balance the belief in Scripture as divine revelation with the reality of its human authors and editors. Where does one author stop and the other begin? Can a “non-faith-committed” person glean anything from the Bible? Can someone believe in evolutionary science and still be a Christian? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode Lucas and Reichert continue talking about the work that needs to be done to understand the Bible well. What are some unquestioned assumptions that we as readers take into our readings of Scripture? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Reading well is difficult. Interpretation even more so. When it comes to the Bible, there is no straight line from the text through interpretation to application. While each reader comes to the Bible with a set of assumptions about what the text is and what it is communicating, the Bible comes with its own set of cultural, linguistic, and historical baggage. But much of this baggage is never unpacked at the beginning of the interpretive journey, so the reader is often left confused about how to understand Scripture. While a “face value” approach to interpretation may seem most intuitive, perhaps there are other approaches that can more accurately reveal the Bible's meaning.We're continuing our The Bible Tells Me So series. Last time, we talked about what the Bible is and helpful ways to approach it. Today we ask, if we don't take the Bible at “face value”, what is it even about? What are unquestioned assumptions readers come to the Bible with? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

In this episode, Lucas and Reichert continue the conversation about how to approach the ancient theological text that we call “the Bible.” Make sure to listen to S4E1 before listening to this week's edition of the podcast!Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

The Bible has been called the best selling book in history. But for all the copies that have been produced and sold, it is also one of the most misunderstood texts of all time, both among the faithful and critics. While one side considers it a form of divine revelation, the other views it as a purely human product, complete with inconsistencies and outright errors. While one side believes it holds relevance in the twenty-first century, the other views it as an obsolete relic of the pre-modern era. But even these examples are extreme ends of a wide spectrum of views on one of the world's most beloved and hotly debated texts.In this episode as well as the next few episodes we tackle certain questions with the hope of pointing to the lens through which we discuss all of our topics as a podcast. Today we ask, what is the Bible? What does it mean to read it literally? Are there less than helpful ways of approaching the text? How do our answers to these questions affect the way we live out our lives? All that and more on this edition of the podcast.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

With season 4 right around the corner, Lucas and Reichert finish talking about their thoughts on “The Bible Tells Me So” episode from season 0. Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

As the start of season 4 comes closer, Lucas and Reichert look back at an old discussion that they will be continuing in the first series of the new season of QFTP.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

Season 4 of QFTP is right around the corner! Join Lucas and Reichert as they talk about what to expect for this upcoming season.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew

On this final episode of season three, we're doing something a little different. We're releasing an episode from The Mestizo Podcast, a podcast in the same ministry network we're a part of, World Outspoken. It's moderated by Emanuel “Ricky” Padilla, the president of the organization and a guest we've had on our podcast before. We're releasing this episode on our platform because we feel it touches on a topic that fits in with the kinds of conversations we have here. You'll hear from individuals who are from “mixed” heritage. Their mestizaje, or mixedness, is not coming from the historical mix but a more recent inter-mixed family. The panel of modern mestizos speak about how they navigate this for themselves and what it is that they find along their journey as they live with people who may not understand their mixedness.What are the unique experiences of being from a mixed background? How can a person think theologically about mixedness? What does it mean to be a part of the mixed people that is the universal Church? All that and more on this special edition of Questions From The Pew.Leave us a short voice message or text message at (312) 725-2995.Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/questionsfromthepew