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Learning to love Jesus and my neighbor with healthy, life-giving Christian theology. Tune in each week for another episode of "The Unlearning Podcast" with Ashley Lynn Hengst.

Ashley Lynn Hengst


    • Mar 19, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 24m AVG DURATION
    • 91 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Unlearning Podcast

    88: LUKE: 9:28-36 | Listen to Christ

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 16:05


    Living in a Trump 2.0 world can be incredibly difficult. On today's episode, Ashley unpacks the transfiguration moment in the life of Christ to offer some insight on how we might cope with our challenging political climate. For more information, check out Ashley's work at ashleylhengst.com

    87: LUKE 21:25-36 | God with us

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2024 17:21


    On today's episode, Ashley begins the advent season by helping us to prepare for Christmas while deconstructing an apocalyptic passage. To learn more about Ashley, visit her on ashleylhengst.com

    87: Original Goodness

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 19:05


    On today's episode, Ashley deconstructs the doctrine of Original Sin by offering up Richard Rohr's theology around our “Original Goodness.” To learn more about Father Rohr, please visit the Center for Action and Contemplation website.To learn more about Ashley's work, visit her at ashleylhengst.com

    86: Christian Mysticism (False Self)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 22:24


    On today's episode, Ashley continues her series on Christian Mysticism by exploring the topic of sin or the false self. To learn more about Ashley you can find her on Instagram or Threads at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    85: Myths & Stereotypes of Bisexuality

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024 18:47


    On today's episode, Ashley deconstructs the myths and stereotypes that many people hold, even in the queer Christian community, about bisexual people. Ashley deconstructs those myths helping listeners understand how their roots of patriarchal and purity culture thinking. To learn more about Ashley you can visit her on Instagram or Threads at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    84: PRIDE 2024 - The Sacred Rebellion of Christ

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 20:13


    This sermon was originally preached at the Altadena PRIDE Spiritual Exploration event on Saturday, June 8th at the Altadena Baptist Church. Check out these links for more information about the Altadena PRIDE and the Baptist Church. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Threads at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    83: Christian Mysticism (Everything & Everywhere)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2024 19:45


    On today's podcast, Ashley provides a brief introduction to Christian mysticism and contemplative spirituality through unpacking Vincent Pizzutto's wonderful book "Contemplating Christ: The Gospels and the Interior Life." To learn more about Ashley's work, you can find her on Instagram and Threads at @ashleylhengst and online at ashleylhengst.com

    83: Friday Field Notes: Real Authority

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 13:58


    On today's Friday Field Notes, Ashley offers a critical examination on how we define authority as Christians. Who has authority over our lives? How do they exercise that authority? Is authority that is demanding and forceful God's will? This episode is another episode in her series on sexual theology, unpacking Carter Heyward's ground breaking book "Touching Our Strength: Erotic as Power and the Love of God." To learn more about Ashley, you can find her on Instagram and Threads @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    81: Love & Respect?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 10:55


    On today's podcast, Ashley unpacks Emmerson Eggerich's book "Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires and the Respect He Desperately Needs." She deconstructs the theology around Eggerichs' work and offers up a different definition of love inspired by Cater Heyward's book "Touching Our Strength: The Erotic as Power and the Love of God." In Heyward's book, she defines love as being rooted in mutual respect and discovery. Ashley offers Heyward's definition of love as a healthy alternative to Eggerich's patriarchal theology. To learn more about Ashley's ministry, visit ashleylhengst.com or connect with her on Istagram @ashleylhengst.

    80: Sexual Confusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2024 13:27


    On today's episode, Ashley unpacks the term "sexual confusion" and offers up a more positive way of understanding mystery in sex and romance using Episcopal Priest, Carter Heyward's book "Touching Our Strength: The Erotic as Power and the Love of God." Instead of being ashamed of what we don't understand, instead of being frustrated we ought to embrace the lack of clarity, embrace the mystery and the unknowing. Because It is in embracing what is concealed, being open to what we don't understand or cant explain that we begin to open ourselves up to the work of God. To learn more about Carter Heyward, visit her website at https://www.revcarterheyward.com/ and to connect with Ashley you can find her on Instagram or Threads at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    79 - Friday Field Notes: Love Without Judgement

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 11:58


    On today's episode, Ashley discusses the idea of loving others (and yourself) without judgement. To learn more about Ashley's work you can find her at @ashleylhengst or on Instagram at @ashleylhengst.

    78: Audre Lorde - The Erotic as Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 20:16


    After a brief hiatus, Ashley is back with another episode on renewing sex, helping listeners to build a sexual theology that is healthy and life giving. Today's episode features a clip from an interview with Audre Lorde from 1982 and highlights her essay "Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power." To learn more about Ashley's work, visit her website at ashleylhengst.com or follow her on Instagram @ashleylhengst.

    77: Renewing Sex: A New Way of Looking at Sex and Intimacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2024 34:43


    On today's episode, Ashley records what she shared at her break out session at this past January at the annual Queer Christian Conference 2024 in Albuquerque, NM. To learn more about a healthy understanding of sex and intimacy, be sure to check out Carter Heyward's book "Touching Our Strength: The Erotic as Power and the Love of God" and Audre Lorde's essay "Uses of the Erotic" found online and in her book "Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches." You can also check out Ashley's series of episodes on sexual ethics starting with episode 22 called "Healthy Christian Sexual Ethics." To learn more about Ashley Lynn Hengst and her work, you can find her at ashleylhengst.com or on Instagram and Threads at @ashleylhengst. To learn more about the Queer Christian Conference, please visit : https://www.qchristian.org/ 

    76: Compassion & San Suu Kyi

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 12:30


    On today's episode, Ashley unpacks compassion by looking at the life of San Suu Kyi and the writings of John Philip Newell. Ashley refers to the book "The Rebirthing of God" by Newell and explores what compassion means in light of Jesus' teachings to love our enemies. You can learn more about Ashley's work at ashleylhengst.com or follow her on Instagram @ashleylhengst

    75: LUKE 5:1-11 | Callings: The Dark Blossoming of Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 17:45


    On today's podcast, Ashley unpacks Jesus' call of the first disciples and helps listeners reimagine their own calling upon their lives. She deconstructs how we understand the Great Commission and talks through passages from Gregg Levoy's book "Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life." For more information about Ashley and her work visit ashleylhengst.com

    74: "The Grown-Woman Theology" of Brittney Cooper

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 19:12


    On today's episode, Ashley unpacks Brittney Cooper's womanist theology in her book "Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower." Cooper's analysis of the evangelical purity culture of the 1990s and the "True Love Waits" campaign provides readers with an understanding of how evangelicalism specifcally harms black women. Cooper's analysis and theology is a call to wholeness as it is a call to reject the white supremacist values found in the Christian religion. To learn more about Cooper's work, check out her Instagram page.Ashley Lynn Hengst is the host of "The Unlearning Podcast." To learn more about Ashley and her work, visit ashleylhengst.com

    73: JEN HENGST: On Pregnancy & Becoming a Mother

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 34:53


    On today's episode, Ashley sits down with her lovely wife, Jen Hengst, to talk about their pregnancy journey and all of our dreams for the future. To learn more about Ashley, you can connect with her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    72: The Feminist Eros of Carter Heyward

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023 20:35


    Carter Heyward is an American feminist theologian and priest in the Episcopal Church who has is known as one of the Philadelphia Eleven, eleven women whose ordinations eventually paved the way for the recognition of women as priests in the Episcopal Church in 1976. Heyward has written extensively on feminist theology and what she calls a "feminist eros," teaching us to embrace the divinity of our sensual power.  On today's episode, Ashley walks us through the journey of Heyward's life and encourages ex-evangelicals to consider Heyward's theology on sexuality and the divine. To learn more about Heyward's life and ministry, check out her website: https://www.revcarterheyward.com/Ashley Lynn Hengst is the host of "The Unlearning Podcast." To learn more about Ashley, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    71: Parenting After Deconstruction with Sarah Swartzendruber

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2023 40:56


    On today's episode, Ashley sits down with Sarah Swartzendruber, creator of "Parenting After Deconstruction" and co-pastor of Cascade Church in Portland, OR. Sarah is passionate about empowering parents in deconstruction to create spiritual practices for their kids. You can learn more about Sarah's work by heading to her website or by following her ministry on Instagram.Ashley Lynn Hengst is the host of "The Unlearning Podcast." You can learn more about Ashley by visiting her website and by following her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst.com

    70: DAMON GARCIA: The God Who Riots - Taking Back the Radical Jesus

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 50:21


    On today's episode, Ashley sits down with Damon Garcia,  a writer, video essayist, and public theologian. His work is centered around the intersection between liberation and faith. He is the author of The God Who Riots: Taking Back the Radical Jesus . He lives in Santa Maria, California. Follow Damon's work on Twitter and Instagram @whoisdamon and at damongarcia.com.Ashley Lynn Hengst is the host of the Unlearning Podcast. To learn more about her work, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com 

    69: Friday Field Notes: Psalm 51: Born in Sin?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 13:59


    Lent is finally here and with the lenten season comes a lot of wonderful opportunities for personal examination and introspection. David's Psalm 51 is often used to guide people into a spirit of repentance but we hardly ever think about the context or what David's words truly mean. On today's episode, Ashley deconstructs the idea that we are "born in sin" and helps listeners to consider healthy ways to practice and experience lent. You can connect with Ashley Lynn Hengst on Twitter and Instagram at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    Oriented to Love: Side B Conversations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 13:16


    On today's episode, Ashley talks about a recent Oriented to Love panel that she attended at Evergreen Baptists church were the panelists discussed a Side B theology. To learn more about Ashley and to find more of her work, you can connect with her on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    5 Things the Bible Does NOT Say About Sex

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 17:34


    On today's episode, Ashley unpacks 5 common misconceptions about sex and romance from Paul Carter's article in the Gospel Coalition.  She unpacks the term "biblical sexuality" and helps listeners to understand the danger of misleading interpretations of Scripture. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com

    My Coming Out Journey, Advice & "The L Word"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 22:51


    On today's episode, Ashley shares the ups and downs of her own coming out journey. She also describes the powerful impact "The L Word" (2004-2009) show had on her own life and offers encouraging advice for Queer Christians seeking wisdom on how to come out safely.You can connect with Ashley at ashleylhengst.com or on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengts.

    advice l word queer christians
    Friday Field Notes: Breaking the Rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2023 11:38


    On today's episode, Ashley helps deconstruct toxic cultural rules given to us by society and the church. Instead, she offers up Melody Beattie's rules for healthy living found in her book "Beyond Codependency." Below is her list of rules:1.     It's okay to feel my feelings and talk about them when it is safe and appropriate, and I want to.2.     I can think, make good decisions, and figure things out.3.     I can have, talk about, and solve my problems.4.     It's okay for me to be who I am.5.     I can make mistakes, be imperfect, sometimes be weak, sometimes be not so good, sometimes be better, and occasionally be great.6.     It's okay to be selfish sometimes, put myself first sometimes and say what I want and need.7.     It's okay to give to others but it's okay to keep some for myself too.8.     It's okay for me to take care of me. I can say no and set boundaries.9.     It's okay to have fun, be silly and sometimes enjoy life.10. I can make good decisions about who to trust. I can trust myself. I can trust God, even when it looks like I can't.11. I can be appropriately vulnerable. I can be direct and honest12. It's okay for me to be close to some people.13. I can grow and change, even if that means rocking a bunch of boats.14. I can grow at my own pace.15. I can love and be loved. I can love me because I'm lovable and I'm good enough.Ashley would add two more:It's okay to stand up for myself. And it's okay if others don't agree or support that.For more information on Ashley Lynn Hengst you can reach out to her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website ashleylhengst.com

    Queer Christian Conference & Bishop O.C. Allen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 17:39


    Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the Queer Christian Conference in Washington, DC. where I heard Bishop O.C. Allen preach for the first time. Check out more information on the conference and on Bishop Allen here.Here is a link to the Bishop Allen's commandments for 2023. For more information on Ashley Lynn Hengst you can reach out to her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website ashleylhengst.com

    Season 1: Trailer - Pleasure & Purity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 1:55


    For the next few months,  all of the episodes on the Unlearning Podcast will be dedicated to the deconstruction of the evangelical purity culture while reconstructing a healthy Christian sexual ethic. Be sure to hit the subscribe button so that you never miss any episodes on the Unlearning Podcast season of Pleasure and Purity. You can connect with Ashley Lynn Hengst on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    63: How To Respond When Your Child Comes Out As LGBT

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 22:22


    What is the best, most-Christ-like way to respond to your child when they come out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered? As evangelicals we've been taught to believe that love and judgement go hand in hand and to love the sinner but hate the sin. This kind of theology is incredibly dangerous.  On today's episode, Ashley walks evangelical parents through the coming out process, unpacking distorted beliefs around sin and gender. She also gives listeners 5 ways to help process the coming out experience that provide parents with a healthy way to learn and grow.This episode is dedicated to the evangelical parent. Ashley mentions a podcast episode on Will and Grace as well as PFLAG, a resource for parents of lesbian and gay children. She also encourages listeners to read "Crossing the Bridgeless Canyon" by Kathy Baldock. To find an LGBT affirming church in your area, please visit:  https://www.gaychurch.org/find_a_church/Ashley will be giving a break out session at the Queer Christian Conference in January 5-8th 2023. For tickets and information you can visit: https://www.qchristian.org/You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    62: Christ-Centered Pastoral Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2022 16:02


    Does the purpose and function of pastoral ministry change the more theologically progressive we become? On today's episode, listeners are invited to consider the meaning of pastoral care. Ashley makes the case for a Christ-centered pastoral ministry, a ministry that reflects attending to the needs and the concerns of the people under your care in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ. This January, Ashley will be presenting a break-out session on "Healthy Christian Sexual Ethics" at the Queer Christian Conference. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengstcom

    61: Friday Field Notes | Resistance and Fundamentalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 13:12


    The Friday Field Notes segment of "The Unlearning Podcast" is here to help you reconstruct your faith after a season of deconstruction. On today's episode, Ashley reads the chapter "Resistance and Fundamentalism" from Steven Pressfield's book "The Art of War." Ashley will be leading a break out session at the Queer Christian Conference this January 5-8th in Washington DC. For more information, check out: https://www.qchristian.org/You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or visit her website at ashleylhengst.com

    60: A Literal Resurrection?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 28:25


    Did Jesus really resurrect from the dead? Do we have to believe in a literal resurrection in order to go to heaven? On today's episode, Ashley unpacks all of the toxic thinking surrounding the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ. In this episode, she features the opening line of Rev. Mike Kinman's Easter sermon. She also shares  John Piper's reading of Romans 8. To hear Piper read the full chapter, click here.Ashley will be leading a break out session at the Queer Christian Conference this January 5-8th in Washington DC. For more information, check out: https://www.qchristian.org/You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or visit her website at ashleylhengst.com

    59: Friday Field Notes | The Power of Detachment

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2022 13:51


           As we go through our deconstruction journey, we sometimes feel guilty in leaving communities and friend groups that no longer serve us. As we unlearn toxic theology, we sometimes feel guilty over no longer being friends with people who still hold onto evangelical beliefs. And because we've taken Scripture so literally, we feel like we are sinning when we upset people and make them mad. On today's episode, I want to briefly unpack that and introduce to you the power of detachment.You can connect with Ashley Lynn Hengst on Instagram or Twitter @ashleylhengst or visit her on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    58: LUKE 4:38-41 | Healing & the Well- Being of Middle-Aged Women

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 11:59


    Luke could have begun his gospel narrative with the healing of a very important Roman centurion or of a rich young ruler.  But instead of choosing the most respected people in society, Luke described Jesus as moving to the margins, particularly when it came to the intersectional realities of age and gender. On today's episode, Ashley walks us through the healing of Peter's mother-in-law in Luke 4:38-41. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or visit her website at ashleylhengst.com

    57: Dealing with Emotions (No Bad Parts)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2022 29:15


    As evangelicals, we've been taught to believe that our heart and our emotions and even our very minds cannot be trusted. Evangelicals have used a variety of bible verses to support this idea, that we are inherently evil and that we should "crucify" the bad parts of ourselves or our flesh. On today's episode, Ashley deconstructs toxic theology around emotions. She then, offers up internal family systems as a healthy way of understanding emotions.Ashley references "Boundaries" and "The Gifts of Imperfection" as well as Dr. Richard Schwartz's book "No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model." Ashley provides an overview of how adopting Internal Family Systems can create a compassionate relationship with the different "parts" of who we are.  You can check out more of Dr. Schwartz's ground breaking work on emotions here. And you can connect with Ashley Lynn Hengst on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website ashleylhengst.com

    56: LUKE 4:31-37 | Forces Hidden in Mystery

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 20:39


    Many of us received our understanding of demons from the (1973) move "The Exorcist."  We believe demons to be part of a moral army of oppressive spirits that recruit humans into an evil force, possessing them with an evil energy, not unlike the death eaters in Harry Potter. But bible scholar Fred B. Craddock paints a different picture of demons, that might shed some light on our next passage in Luke. Join Ashley for another episode on the Gospel of Luke. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or online at @ashleylhengst.com.

    55: THE BRIEFING | August 2022 Edition with Dr. Tracey Shenell & Pastor Hannah Sims

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2022 63:43


    Welcome to our monthly on the Unlearning Podcast called “The Briefing: News and Events from a Progressive Christian world view.” In our August episode, I interview Dr. Tracey Shenell and Pastor Hannah Sims on all of their thoughts concerning recent news and events. The Briefing on the Unlearning Podcast is here to help you think critically about the world around you AND to demonstrate what it's like to have healthy, respectful conversations about politics, news, and Christianity.On today's episode, we are going to talk about freedom of speech and the recent stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, the sentencing of Brittney Griner, what we can expect in a Post-Rowe world and the popular show Yellowstone and the opinion piece Tressie McMillan Cottom wrote for the New York Times.You can connect with Dr. Tracey Shenell at https://www.traceyshenell.com/ and Pastor Hannah Sims on Facebook and on Twitter @hannahfjean. Ashley Lynn Hengst is the host of the Unlearning podcast and you can connect with her at on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or at ashleylhengst.com

    54: What is "liberation theology"?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2022 14:00


    When thinking about Christianity as a religion, Cuban theologian Miguel De La Torre explains that we must define our religion from the point of view of people on the margins and not people in wealth and in power. That's a big change in point of view for a lot of us because for many of us, all we do is follow and like and invest in the point of view of the rich, famous and powerful. But Christ is calling us to fix our gaze on the liberation of the poor and the oppressed, on the people living on the margins. On today's episode, Ashley helps listeners define Jesus gospel of liberation and compares it to the evangelical understanding of salvation. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or find her on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    53: Friday Field Notes | Lex Orandi, Lex Crendendi

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 10:20


    Lex Orandi, Lex Crendendi "the law of prayer is the law of belief" or you are what you pray. On this week's Friday Field Notes,  Ashley talks about prayer and invites listeners to incorporate the beautiful tradition of the Book of Common Prayer into their prayer lives. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    52: THE BRIEFING | July 2022 Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 17:04


    THE BRIEFING  is a monthly segment by Ashley Lynn Hengst on the "News and Events from a Progressive Christian Point of View." This past July, we saw the exquisite images from NASA's James Webb Telescope, continuation of the midterm elections, the passing of the Inflation Reduction act , and former President Trump's Margo Island fiasco. Check out the New York Times article that Ashley mentions on the James Webb Space Telescope. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    51: Friday Field Notes | Coffee & Cookies

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2022 6:22


    As we make our way back to church and look for a church and look for a pastor and begin to reconstruct our faith, it is so important that we begin to take part in Christian fellowship. Staying after church for cookies and coffee to talk with people, to catch up on their week, to encourage other people and to be encouraged by them is good for your soul On today's episode, Ashley talks about the importance of "fellowship" and staying after church for "coffee and cookies. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    50: The Problem with Deconstruction

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2022 10:21


    Whenever people go on an unlearning journey, on a journey of deconstructing their Christian faith, it's often necessary to take a break from attending church and to take a break from reading Scripture and sometimes to take a break, even from praying. And that's okay. Religious trauma is a REAL THING and sometimes you cannot heal from trauma until you separate yourself from the situation or context in which that trauma occurred. But in the process of taking a break and unpacking some of these toxic, unhealthy beliefs, we often tempted to let go of our religion and our faith all together.  On today's episode, Ashley talks about the problem with losing our religion and encourages listeners to keep their faith, whatever faith feels right to them.You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    49: Friday Field Notes | Reading Scripture through the Lens of your own Liberation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 14:43


    It doesn't matter what evangelical pastors say – Scripture is for everyone. We can all approach the Bible using our own context or through the lens of our own liberation and allow God to strengthen us, fill up our soul and strengthen our connection to the Divine no matter who we are or what context we find ourselves in. On today's Friday Field Notes, Ashley talks about how to read the Bible through your own experience of liberation. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or visit her website at ashleylhengst.com

    48: LUKE 4:14-30 | Jesus' Gospel of Liberation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 20:57


    This gospel that Jesus proclaimed is a gospel of liberation – not a gospel of hell fire and brimstone. This is why liberation theologies are so important. Liberation theologies like black theology or feminist theology or womanist theology or queer theology are theologies of liberation, ways of looking at Scripture and at the character of God that support spiritual and physical freedom from oppressive forces.On today's episode, Ashley takes a look at Luke chapter 4:14-30 and focuses on aspects of Jesus' rejection at Nazareth that many pastors ignore, primarily Jesus' focus on liberation.You can connect with Ashley on Instagram at Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    Trailer: The Unlearning Podcast with Ashley Lynn Hengst

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 1:21


    Welcome to the Unlearning Podcast – a gentle deconstruction podcast dedicated to helping you learn to love Jesus and your neighbor through healthy life-giving theology. I am your host, Ashley Lynn Hengst and I'm so grateful you are checking out the show. I am a graduate of Claremont School of Theology and I'm passionate about helping people understand and practice the Christian faith in a healthy way. On this show we cover everything from the wrath of God to healthy Christian sexual ethics. I share interviews with pastors, bible teachers and wonderfully ordinary people of faith whose lives have been enriched by their own unlearning journey. You will also find a monthly segment called The Briefing on news and events from a progressive Christian world view as well as a weekly segment called “Friday Field Notes” which provides ways to reconstruct your faith.             If are looking for a podcast to help you unlearn toxic evangelical theology and show you a healthy way of understanding and practicing the Christian faith make sure to subscribe so that you never miss out on future episodes to help you with your unlearning journey.         You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    47: Friday Field Notes | Cultivating Hobbies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2022 9:32


    Your life is so much more than what you give and do for other people. The abundant life that Christ talked about is not limited to service of others. It's about living joyfully in your spirit and enjoying the healthy pleasures of life knowing you are unconditionally loved. What would you love to do if time and money were not a problem? What would you love to do if you were in the best physical shape you could be in? What would you want to try? What might be fun?The more you take care of yourself  through hobbies the better you will show up at work and in your relationships. When you cultivate fulfilling hobbies, you come back to your relationships from a place of fulfillment – not from a place of lack. Join Ashley Lynn Hengst each Friday on her segment: Friday Field Notes where she gives you a brief helpful episode on reconstruction.  You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or visit her website at ashleylhengst.com

    46: LUKE 4:1-13 | Jesus & The Devil

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 21:35


    "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word from the mouth of God." This was Jesus' response to the Devil when he presented him the temptation to use God's power for selfish gain. On today's episode, Ashley walks us through some of the questions that come up for progressive Christians when looking at the temptation of Jesus. Is the Devil real? Is there evil in the world? How do we reconcile the presence of evil if we reject the doctrine of the depravity of man? Are people inherently good?Ashley Lynn Hengst is a graduate of Claremont School of Theology and works in the progressive Christian community in Los Angeles. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or visit her website at ashleylhengst.com

    45: Friday Field Notes | Spiritual Location Exercises

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 8:55


    Today marks the very first Friday Field Notes segment : a *new*  weekly segment dropping every Friday dedicated to help[ing you reconstruct a healthy Christian faith experience. How do we build our faith? What are some healthy faith practices (or spiritual disciplines) that we can adopt? What are some healthy Christian living books that we can read? How do you find a healthy church? Why is serving your faith community so important? For those of you who don't have a lot of time to listen to podcasts but want short bite-size episodes on healthy Christian living, the Friday Field Notes will be for you. Ashley Lynn Hengst is the host of the Unlearning Podcast. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    44: LUKE 3 | Healthy Repentance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 33:13


    In this episode, Ashley continues her series on the Gospel of Luke walking listeners through the beauty of baptism and repentance. Healthy repentance is not rooted in shame or despair but hope in the grace of a loving God. Ashley Lynn Hengst is the host of the Unlearning Podcast. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    43: Part 2 - Pleasure & Purity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 53:12


    In this sermon, Ashley gives her second talk "Pleasure & Purity: Healthy Christian Sexual Ethics" at Central Avenue Church in Glendale, CA on June 26th. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram & Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    42: Part 1 - Pleasure & Purity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 35:00


    In this sermon, Ashley talks about "Pleasure & Purity: Healthy Christian Sexual Ethics" as part of a two part talk given at Central Avenue Church in Glendale, CA on June 19th.You can connect with Ashley on Instagram & Twitter @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

    41: Prayerfully Pro-Choice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 20:51


    Today's episode is in response to the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. In this episode, Ashley outlines the importance of being "prayerfully pro-choice." She talks about the history of Roe vs. Wade, recent statistics on abortion and what Scripture has to say about the issue. Ashley also shares Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry's statement as well as a statement posted on Instagram by former First Lady Michelle Obama. To learn more about how you can get involved with advocating for reproductive rights, you can visit the website of Planned Parenthood and The United State of Women.To learn more about Ashley's work, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or visit her website at ashleylhengst.com

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