The Skeptical Pastor Podcast

Racial Justice. It seems to be missing from our churches. Especially, the White Evangelical Church. How did we get here? What can be done? Can the church be saved? Is Jesus okay with this? Join the conversation as Pastor Nate Heyboer and I talk about why racial justice became so important to him, what white privilege is (and isn't), how the White Evangelical Church has failed with regards to racial justice, how this has led to much skepticism towards the church and Jesus in general, and our path forward as people, as the church, and as a nation. Racial Justice Resources Mentioned in Podcast: The Myth of Equality, Ken Wytsema Divided by Faith, Michael O Emerson Race: A Theological Account, J. Kameron Carter The Christian Imagination, Willie Jennings Return to Justice, Soon-Chan Rah Jesus and John Wayne, Kristen Du Mez How to be Anti-Racist, Ibram Kendi 13th, Ava DuVernay Verge Network has a free racial justice series on Youtube that is excellent. Continue the Conversation: anchor.fm/skepticalpastor facebook.com/skepticalpastor Instagram: skepticalpastor theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com

killjoy /ˈkilˌjoi/ noun a person who deliberately spoils the enjoyment of others through resentful or overly sober behavior. Is God a killjoy? It sure seems like it, the God of the Bible has a crap-ton of rules and they seem to try to steal our joy. And this makes me skeptical about following Jesus. Join the conversation as we lean into the rules of God that we find in the Bible and explore why God has these rules. Continue the Conversation: anchor.fm/skepticalpastor facebook.com/skepticalpastor Instagram: skepticalpastor theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com

It's easy to have questions and doubts about Christianity. But what do we do once we have them? Cause doubts can make us feel stuck and lost. And let's be honest, feeling stuck and lost is no fun. Join the conversation as we use Natasha Crain's article "5 Things To Do When You're Struggling with Faith Doubts" as the template for our conversation. And make sure to stick around for the bonus thing to do when you are struggling with faith doubts. Continue Conversation: anchor.fm/skepticalpastor facebook.com/skepticalpastor Instagram: skepticalpastor theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com And Mentioned in the Conversation Threads Podcast Episode 123: Leaving Christianity

Is the church leading us away from Jesus? Often it seems like we have doubts about Jesus because of the church. But what if we need the church to do this Jesus thing? And what if the way of Jesus is the true way, even if the church and her people are horrible sometimes? Join my special guest Adam and me as we explore the church, her faults, the way she causes us to have major doubts about this Jesus thing, and what we should do with the church moving forward. Find Adam on Twitter: @adamjaldridge Continue Conversation: anchor.fm/skepticalpastor facebook.com/skepticalpastor Instagram: skepticalpastor theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com

Did 12 ordinary, common men deceive the entire known world? Did they somehow steal the body of their Rabbi from the Romans? All of history rests on this question. And more importantly, all of eternity rests on this question. Boiled down: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Let's talk!!! Mike's Favorite Line: "If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, if his body still is in the ground somewhere, then Christianity is stupid and useless and is a complete and utter waste of time." Continue Conversation: anchor.fm/skepticalpastor/message facebook.com/skepticalpastor Instagram: skepticalpastor theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com

Have people made up the fairytale of a God so they can sleep at night thinking that this life isn't all there is, that there's a God who exists outside of it, that this life isn't just random chance? Boiled down: Is God a myth? Let's talk!!! Mike's Favorite Line: If God exists why in the hell is there evil, pain, and suffering? Like, I just don't get it... if a god exists, if God exists in the midst of all this that's going on why in the world is there evil? Why is there evil that still reigns? Why is there pain? Why is there suffering? Continue Conversation: anchor.fm/skepticalpastor/message facebook.com/skepticalpastor Instagram: skepticalpastor theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com

Jesus is DANGEROUS. He either was a lunatic or a liar. Or he was and is Lord and if this is true it changes EVERYTHING. So, what's the TRUTH? Let's ask a bunch of questions to discover the truth!!! Mike's Favorite Line: "I believe that if we're going to ask the tough questions, we need to look at the things that would be most skeptical of Jesus. Yes. We could go to the Bible and we can make a claim from there, but I want to go to non-biblical sources because I want to take the toughest route." Continue Conversation: anchor.fm/skepticalpastor/message facebook.com/skepticalpastor Instagram: skepticalpastor theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com Ending Song Credit: Instagram: @acharlesmusic @backroomscene Facebook: @acharlesx @backroomscene

If the Bible is reliable & trustworthy (something we discussed in our last conversation) what do we do with it? Is it a trustworthy history book? Is it a book with good stories? Is it filled with good moral lessons? Or is it something far more? And what does any of this have to do with your normal, everyday life? Let's Talk. Shoutout Segment Links:      Oh God: Watch Your Forking Profanity      Armchair Expert: Episode 258 (Matthew McConaughey)      Threads Podcast: Episode 112 (Anxiety) Continue Conversation:      anchor.fm/skepticalpastor/message      facebook.com/skepticalpastor      Instagram: skepticalpastor      theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com And thanks for joining the conversation. Ending Song from bensound.com

Let's talk about the Most Dangerous Book in the world. Much good has been done because of this book. BUT, this book has been used to justify evil. And to make matters worse this book is old, archaic, and just plain old out of touch with today's morals. Yet, this book and its adherents claim it is the Word of God. So what do we do? Can we trust this book or do we trust modern critics? Let's explore this question and more. Continue the Conversation (questions, doubts, pushback) anchor.fm/skepticalpastor/message theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com facebook.com/skepticalpastor Insta: skepticalpastor Links to Hey Guys Media & Threads Podcast heyguysmediagroup.com threadspodcast.com

Doubt & Faith seem paradoxical, like opposites, like oil and water. It seems as though doubt casts out faith and that faith drives out doubt. But when we take a look at the patron Saint of Skeptics, Doubting Thomas, we see something totally different about the relationship between Doubt & Faith. So come join the conversation. Mike's Favorite Line: “To my fellow skeptics, don't give up!!!” Also, discover Mike's biggest doubt and struggle with the Christian faith. Join the conversation, if you have a question, comment, or pushback either leave a voice message at anchor.fm/skepticalpastor/message or send an email to theskepticalpastorpodcast@gmail.com The Skeptical Pastor Podcast is produced by Hey Guys Media Group (heyguysmediagroup.com), they produce many podcasts including my favorite podcast ‘Threads Podcast: Life Unfiltered (threadspodcast.com)

This episode is about the origin story of 'The Skeptical Pastor Podcast'. It's a behind the scenes look at the conversations that we are about to embark on as we seek to wrestle with the questions and doubts that we have about Christianity. Mike's Favorite Line: "Our questions and doubts about Christianity are not something to be ashamed of, but something to be proud of."