What The Actual Faith

My new friend David, cohost of The Hypotheticast, talks with me about losing faith, finding hope, and why college is the perfect storm for a faith crisis. We had a long conversation with lots of laughs, and this is just a short snippet of that.

Tameka and I had a HUGELY compelling conversation about her spiritual path from Judaism to Paganism, and how that informs her actions as an activist and ally for minority groups. Stuff we mention in the show: Modern Witches Confluence website https://witchesconfluence.org   Modern Witches Confluence Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/837097549830192/permalink/921991831340763/   Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie clarifies transgender comments as backlash grows https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/13/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-clarifies-transgender-comments   ELCA Draft Social Statement on Women and Justice http://www.elca.org/womenandjustice   Tameka’s glossary of terms: Gender essentialism - the theory that there are certain universal, innate, biologically- or psychologically-based features of gender (different from sex) that are at the root of observed differences in the behavior of men and women.  TERF – Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist

You've never read the Bible...but maybe you'd like to get started. It's an awfully big book, though...where do you even begin?!? Never fear - Ally's here! I've got a whole bunch of resources for you, including podcasts, YouTube videos, reading plans, even an expert on which translation you should pick! I'm grateful to Sophy (cohost of the amazing Two Broads Talking Politics podcast and a New Testament scholar) for her last minute cameo - super helpful and fun.   Here's stuff I mention in the show: “Some Helpful Ways to Read the Bible” by Diane Jacobson “23 Bible Reading Plans That Will Satisfy Anyone” by Alex Tran Religious Studies courses at Open Yale Courses The Bible Project – www.thebibleproject.com and on YouTube The Bible for Normal People Podcast   Thanks again for listening and let me know how your adventures in Bible reading go!

There's plenty of stories in the Bible that are confusing or unusual enough to make us ask, "Why would they put this in there?!" As a listener request, I tackled the story of Jesus and the SyroPhoenician Woman. A non-Jewish woman relentlessly pursues Jesus for a healing and ends up changing the course of history. As always, thank you so much for subscribing, sharing, and reviewing the show! References in the show: The story in Mark's Gospel The story in Matthew's Gospel "Jesus and the Performance of Wokeness" - an episode of The Word Is Resistance 'Nevertheless, she persisted' becomes new battle cry after McConnell silences Elizabeth Warren

My friend Mira, raised as a Traditional Jew, talks with me about living in the South, dodging Bibles, being damned to Hell, and how delicious Jewish Food is. (Protip: buy a Kosher turkey next Thanksgiving.) Stuff referenced in this episode: "First They Came..." - a poem by German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches: The Riddles of Culture by Marvin Harris Reviews and ratings are always appreciated!

How many times have you heard the phrase "good Samaritan" without knowing what it actually means? This week, I go more in depth into the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and the lessons it may have for us about approaching the issue of immigration. Stuff mentioned in this episode: Martin Luther King Jr. speech: "I've Been To The Mountaintop" The Parable of the Good Samaritan (NRSV translation of the Bible) Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Wikipedia page

Peter Clark, ELCA pastor and cohost of the theology podcast Stumbling Block, hangs out with me to talk about his faith journey, the challenges of being a pastor, and how churches can better care for their Millennials and young adults. Be sure to leave reviews and ratings (especially on iTunes) and hit me up on Facebook and Twitter - @wtafaithpodcast everywhere on social media! Or you can email me at wtafaithpodcast@gmail.com. Breathe in peace, and breathe out love, friends.

I sat down (figuratively speaking) with my very good friend Kate, from the true crime/psychology podcast Ignorance Was Bliss. Kate's work and life experiences leave her uniquely qualified to linger in the uncertainty of agnosticism - not knowing whether a god exists, and being comfortable with that lack of knowledge. Ignorance Was Bliss can be found on most podcasting platforms, and on Facebook and Twitter.

My husband, Mike, is different from me in a lot of ways. Our faith is just one of them. We sit down for a chat about social media, creativity, politics, and atheism.

As I'm starting to get this podcast together, I'm inspired to share some thoughts about swearing and whether I think it's good, bad, or somewhere in-between. Stuff I reference in this episode: Time Magazine 9/13/16 - What Profanity Teaches Us About Ourselves National Geographic Magazine 1/27/18 - Science Says Swearing Is Good For You Luther Insult Generator

There's a funky little micro-generation between Gen X and Millenials...and that's my people. Just a brief introduction to me and to what I hope this podcast will end up being.