Podcast appearances and mentions of John Shelby Spong

What's up Theology Nerds! Today on the podcast I'm joined by my brilliant friend Diana Butler Bass for another edition of "Ruining Dinner" as we mark the first 100 days of Trump's second administration. We dive into some fascinating new data on religion and politics in America that just dropped, examining everything from unexpected consensus on religious liberty (a rare bright spot!) to disturbing trends in support for political violence among Christian nationalist adherents. Diana shares her recent adventures lighting the Old North Church green for Bill McKibben's "Sunday" climate initiative, while I update her on my site visit to St. Paul (not Minneapolis!) for Theology Beer Camp and my new life as a chicken dad. We explore how competing narratives of discrimination reveal deep divides in American Christianity, unpack the dangers of executive overreach, and discuss what Lindsey Graham's papal nomination trolling reveals about our political moment. This conversation was originally for our Substack members, but we're sharing a portion with all of you – join us at The Process This or The Cottage to catch future episodes live!  Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America's most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. The Interlocking Crises of Religion & Democracy Faith in a Toxic Public Square The Resurrection of Jesus 2024: The Sequel The Christology Ladder The Indictment Edition of Ruining Dinner American Saints in a Cynical Age Ruining Dinner… and Date Nights Welcome to the Post-Christian Century Ruining Christmas Dinner Ruining Election Night Dinner The Over-Rated Genie God Bad Blood, Civil War, and other Soothing Topics Shall the Fundies (Keep) Winning?, Abortion, and Black Holes Theology and Spirituality in a Time of Rupture White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus 20 Years of Religious Decline Jesus After Religion and Beyond Fear Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Evangelical Decline, the Supreme Court, and the Horizon of Possibility Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants Religion, Politics, & the Elephant in the Room  ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ⁠⁠ManyFacesOfChrist.com⁠⁠ for more details and to sign up! _____________________ ⁠⁠Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. ⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠ production. Follow ⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our⁠⁠ Substack - Process This!⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 45 classes at ⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger Wolsey wants to set your soul on fire! We've been huge fans of Wolsey's "Kissing Fish Book" Facebook fan page for years, (inspired by his book "Kissing Fish: Christianity for People who Don't Like Christianity") where he curates a Progressive Christian forum that challenges fixed ideas about Christianity, so we were so grateful go get to talk with him about his current burning passions. His latest book, "Discovering Fire: Spiritual Practices that Transform Lives" carries on his iconoclastic work and explores a more expansive view of love, society, and our possibilities to connect with the divine on a soul level. Wolsey describes himself as a "Progressive Pastor, Spiritual Director, Speaker, Writer, Soul Friend, & Coach." From his website: "I have been a speaker at The Wild Goose Festival (4 times), The Embrace Festival, The Lion and The Lamb Festival, and Christianity 21. I've blogged for Elephant Journal, Huffington Post, and now primarily for Patheos as “The Holy Kiss.” I'm the author of Discovering Fire, and Kissing Fish, and am the administrator of the Kissing Fish Facebook fan-page. I am also a contributing writer for the John Shelby Spong weekly newsletter “Progressing Spirit,” and serve on the Board of Directors of ProgressiveChristianity.org Roger Wolsey https://www.rogerwolsey.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RogerWolseySoulCoach https://www.facebook.com/KissingFishBook https://www.instagram.com/rogerwolsey/Remember to come see us in person at Theology Beer Camp October 17-19 Denver, CO  Get Information and Tickets for https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tRADICALHOBBITthe-return-of-the-god-pods-tickets-824208298207 Promo Code for our listeners: RADICALHOBBIT (all caps, no spaces) ______ Find your guides at Quoir Academy! If you've ever deconstructed your faith you know it's not easy. But just imagine if you could have people to guide you through your process? People like, Jim Palmer, Kristin Du Mez, Jennifer Knapp, Brad Jersak, Brian Zahnd, Paul Young, and more? Well, if you head over to Quoir Academy and register for SQUARE 2 using the Promo Code [RAD] you'll get 10% off the regular registration cost of this awesome course and community just for being a fan of our show. Follow this registration link: https://www.bk2sq1.com/square-2-next-steps-into-reconstruction?coupon=RAD

In a recent episode of Dads with Daughters, we delve into the multifaceted journey of fatherhood with guest Travis Hawkley, a father of three vibrant daughters aged 17, 13, and 9. The episode is a treasure trove of insights, real-life anecdotes, and practical advice for fathers striving to be the best dads they can be.  Embracing Each Child's Unique Needs One of the central themes of the conversation is the importance of treating each child as an individual. Travis shares how his middle daughter faced anxiety around dance recitals. Despite her love for dancing, the pressure to perform became overwhelming. Instead of insisting she fit into a conventional dance class, Travis and his wife found a non-performing dance class that allowed their daughter to continue her passion without the stress of recitals. This decision underscores Travis's belief in accommodating each child's unique needs rather than imposing one-size-fits-all expectations. Travis's approach to parenting is a thoughtful balance of supporting his daughters' independence while providing the guidance and resources they need to explore their interests. The key is to avoid making his daughters feel like they need to prioritize his feelings over their own, thereby fostering a sense of independence and self-driven choices. The Power of Curiosity and Engagement Travis advocates for a parenting style rooted in curiosity and engagement. He emphasizes the importance of initiating conversations and asking open-ended questions to understand each child's interests and aspirations. This approach not only strengthens the parent-child bond but also empowers children to express themselves freely. Supporting their interests doesn't have to be costly. Travis suggests starting with low-cost activities to gauge their passion. For example, his oldest daughter's interest in stagecraft was nurtured with encouragement and opportunities to explore theater, even without a clear career path in mind. The support allowed her to pursue her passion without fear of failure. Travis shares that his most successful moments as a father are when his daughters approach him with difficult questions, showcasing their trust and openness. This trust is built through consistent engagement and letting children guide conversations, ensuring they feel heard and valued. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs A significant part of Travis's parenting philosophy is fostering a positive growth mindset. He underscores the importance of helping children overcome limiting beliefs—self-imposed barriers that can hinder their potential. Drawing from his own experience, Travis recalls how being praised for his test-taking skills became a limiting belief, leading him to put less effort into his studies. It was only through conscious effort that he deconstructed this belief to succeed academically later in life. Travis applies these lessons to his children, particularly regarding their future aspirations. His oldest daughter, for instance, feels uncertain about her post-high school plans amidst societal pressure to have a clear career path. Travis reassures her by sharing his varied career experiences and emphasizes the importance of flexibility and openness to change. He encourages her to consider non-traditional career paths, like becoming an electrician while indulging her theater interests, highlighting the value of adaptability in today's world. Inspiration and Influence Travis draws inspiration from his daughters and their interactions, finding joy and motivation in their growth. His parenting style is also influenced by his parents—his mother encouraged exploration and trying new things, while his father, despite different interests, provided a model of support and care. This blend of influences has shaped Travis's motto: "Love wastefully." He emphasizes that love is an inexhaustible resource and advocates for loving fully and unconditionally. This philosophy extends to self-love and maintaining a balance between work and personal fulfillment. Conclusion In his conversation with Dr. Christopher Lewis, Travis Hawkley showcases a profound and nuanced approach to fatherhood. By treating each child as an individual, fostering curiosity, and helping them overcome limiting beliefs, Travis exemplifies the values of love and support that are crucial in raising strong, independent daughters. His journey reminds us that being present, engaged, and adaptable are key components of fatherhood. As Travis encourages, let's all strive to "love wastefully" and support our children's journeys without reservation.       TRANSCRIPT (Unedited transcript created through CASTMAGIC) Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:05]: Welcome to dads with daughters. In this show, we spotlight dads, resources, and more to help you be the best dad you can be. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:16]: Welcome back to the dads with daughters podcast where we bring you guests to be active participants in your daughters' lives, raising them to be strong, independent women. Really excited to have you back again this week. Every week, I love being able to walk on this journey with you because, you know, it is a journey. All of us are on a journey together in trying to raise our daughters. Whether you have a brand new newborn at home or you have college age kids, you're always going to be a father And you're always going to have to do what you can to continue to learn to grow and to be present, to be active and to be able to be there to help your kids to continue to become the people that they're becoming. And we can't do that alone. There are so many other dads that are out there that have walked this path prior to us, are walking side by side with us, and men don't always do a great job of talking to one another. That may not be a surprise to you, but it's true. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:15]: And it's important for us to understand that we have resources in our own community and beyond that can help us to be even better dads. So that's why this podcast exists. This podcast exists to help you to be that active dad that you wanna be, but also to give you some tools for your toolbox and to open up your mind to different ways of doing things because there's no one right way to father. You can do it in so many different ways, but you can learn from other dads too. That's why every week I bring you different guests, different people with different experiences that can help you along that journey. And today we got another great dad with us. Travis Hockley is with us today. And Travis is a father of 3 girls. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:58]: He has 3 girls that are 17, 13, and 9. So he's right in the thick of it and working to help his daughters to prepare them to be grown and flown. He's got one that's gonna graduate this year. So it is a definite process. And I'm really looking forward to talking with him today about his own journey and to share that journey with you as well. Travis, thanks so much for being here today. Travis Hawkley [00:02:24]: Thank you, Christopher. I appreciate it. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:02:25]: It is my pleasure. I thank you for being here. And we always start our interviews with an opportunity to kind of turn the clock back in time. I love being able to do that. I said you have 3 girls and your oldest is 17. So I'm gonna go back. Maybe it's 18 years. Maybe it's 17 and a half years, you know, but I wanna know what was your first reaction? What was that first reaction that you had when you found out that you were going to be a father to a daughter? Travis Hawkley [00:02:52]: You know, I I've listened to a few episodes of the podcast and have talked to a lot of other dads. And I've noticed that a lot of dads were pretty fearful, terrified, apprehensive about having a daughter. And, honestly, I didn't feel that. I think I probably would have felt more terrified had it been having a boy. And that comes from any number of things. But growing up, I didn't I guess I didn't ever, like, identify a whole lot with a lot of the, like, quote, unquote, stereotypical guy things. Wasn't a huge fan of sport. Didn't really like a lot of that stuff. Travis Hawkley [00:03:25]: I liked art. I liked music. I liked the things that are unfortunately labeled as stereotypically female. And so when we were starting to have kids and I found out I was having a girl, that to me just it felt right. It felt normal. It felt natural. I was like, alright. I I can do this. Travis Hawkley [00:03:43]: And as you mentioned, I have 3. And every time, you know, went through that process and found out I was having another girl, I was just excited. And then after we had our 3rd, someone said, well, are you gonna try for a 4th and see if you can get that boy? And I thought to myself and I'm like, okay. Well, statistically speaking, if we have another one, it's probably gonna be a girl too because that's just the way that that works in in a lot of cases. But I was like, you know, I know girls. I'm a good girl dad. I I know what I'm doing at this point in time. You know, if I were to have a boy, that would really kinda throw things off a little bit. Travis Hawkley [00:04:16]: You know, if if we were to have another one, which we didn't. But having a girl would probably be another great thing. So I didn't really feel that apprehension. I I loved it, and I've loved every minute of being a a girl dad. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:04:26]: It's definitely a journey and definitely something you have to learn about. I relate to what you said in regards to growing up. I was much more on the music, the choir, the theater, the the things that were not the let's watch basketball, baseball, football, you know, being on the sports teams and things like that. And not to say that there's anything wrong with that, but Nope. That I think that I would have probably felt similar if I had had a son and being able to understand, okay, what do I have to do to be able to understand where they are going to be coming from? Because their journey may be different than mine. But at the same time, I guess I have to think about that as a father to a daughter too, because their journey is definitely different than mine. And I have to realize that and be open to that as well. Now you said that you didn't really feel fear when your children were born. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:05:20]: As your kids have gotten older, as they've gone through the different phases and stages, and you have one that's getting ready to be in her last year of high school, and then you've got younger ones as well. What would you say has been your biggest fear throughout their lives that you've had to deal with? Travis Hawkley [00:05:35]: I think one of the biggest things that I have been fearful of really has less to do with them and more to do with me as a father of I didn't want to put expectations on my kids in such a way that would cause them to maybe count my feelings as more important than their own. I didn't want them to ever think, oh, if I don't do this, I'm gonna disappoint my dad. That was never something that I wanted them to feel. And I feel like my parents did a really good job of that as well. So that was you know, it wasn't something that that was I was trying to go against how I was raised. I feel like my parents did a great job, but I just I didn't want them to go through life thinking that what I thought was more important than what they wanted to do. So I think that's probably has been and still is my biggest fear. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:06:28]: Now you have 3 daughters, all at very different ages, completely different parts of their life in how they relate to you, probably how they relate to each other. And once you bring more than one child in the mix, you have to deal with a lot of the connections and you have to be able to do what you can as a father to be able to build those unique relationships with each of your kids because each of your children are always going to be very different than one another. That being said, as you think about the journey that you've been on with your daughters, what have you had to do to be able to build those unique relationships with each of your daughters to be able to allow you to understand them better, but also allow for them to be able to connect better with you? Travis Hawkley [00:07:15]: Yeah. That's a fantastic question. And we definitely spread them out. I mean, they're all 4 years apart in school. So my oldest is currently in her will will be entering her senior year of high school, which means that my middle child is 13. She'll be entering her 8th grade year, and then my youngest will be entering her 4th grade year. So they are never in the same school at the same time, except for, like, 1 year in elementary school. So it really has been very different to get to know them and parent them because they aren't. Travis Hawkley [00:07:46]: They're not in a similar life position at all, which has been really interesting and fascinating. For each one of them, I mean, it has been really nice. It was really nice with my oldest, for example, because she was 4 by the time her sister was born. So I had a lot of time. And at that point in time, I was teaching and going to school. So I had a lot of extra time that I could spend with her. So she and I kind of, I mean, grew up together. We learned a lot from each other. Travis Hawkley [00:08:13]: We'd go to the library at any time that we wanted to. You know, all the things that we wanted to do, we just kinda did, which was nice. And she, personality wise, is a lot like her mom. And so she and I got along really well. When my second child came along, she was very much personality wise like me, and we did not mesh at all. And so it was really, really difficult to between the ages of maybe 25, we just butted heads constantly. And it was really, really rough. I really feared so I guess here's one thing I did fear. Travis Hawkley [00:08:46]: I really feared that she and I would never really be able to connect. And I knew deep down that that likely wasn't going to be the case, that we just kinda had to figure each other out. And I think where we finally did learn how to connect was once I kinda took away those expectations at the beginning. And I did have certain expectations on my kids even though I attempted not to. I expected her to act a certain way, and she wasn't gonna act that way. And that had nothing to do with parenting, had everything to do with just her innate personality. And once I figured out how to let that go and accept her personality and and accept her feelings and accept who she was, we were able to connect. And now she's probably the most like me, and she and I could connect perfectly well. Travis Hawkley [00:09:34]: So, yeah, there definitely have been challenges with each one to kinda get to know them. And I think for me, it's been finding their thing. So my oldest was, for example I mean, we're all readers just because I'm a reader, so reading's just always been a thing. But my oldest was really, like, a reader. She would just pour through books, and she and I connect in that way. My middle child, not as much of a reader, but she really likes movement and dance and things like that. So she and I have been able to connect through that. My youngest, she more likes movies and other things. Travis Hawkley [00:10:10]: So it's been a lot of spending time together to discover what each one of them likes and trying to make sure that I connect with them on that, but also just kind of being curious. I think for me, the the biggest thing as a dad is being curious about what it is that they are interested in at the moment and giving that my attention and helping them to figure out what they're interested in. And by doing that, I've been able to keep them interested, keep them coming to me. They feel like they can come to me with anything. They're not gonna get pushed away. My oldest was in 8th grade, so this is three and a half years ago now, probably. My oldest was trying to kinda figure out what she was gonna do in high school, you know, her courses for high school. She didn't know exactly what she wanted to do. Travis Hawkley [00:10:54]: And she came to me, and she's like, what if I did theater? And I was like, I I think that's fascinating. I think you'd be really good at that. And she's like, well, I don't wanna act. She's like, what if I did stagecraft? And I could tell that she was maybe a little bit apprehensive to go to her mom about it because her mom wanted her to do certain things. And when she came to me, and she brought it up and was really excited about it, I was like, well, let's let's look into it. Let's kinda figure it out. We love going to musicals, so being around with really amazing sets and that lifestyle, whatever, was something that we were into, and she has run with it. So now she runs the soundboard for all the musicals and the plays, and she's a stage manager. Travis Hawkley [00:11:32]: So she does all this really cool stuff, and she's starting to do a community. So something that she was just really kind of interested in, didn't really know, she and I were able to connect on and kind of turn that into something that might continue, might end up being a potential career path for her as well. So Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:11:48]: Love that because there are so many different career paths that you can take, and sometimes you go down one pathway that can spark an interest, spark a light, and can open up a door for something completely different than you thought. And so I commend you for encouraging her in that way. And, you know, one of the things that I think that that really makes me think about is the fact that I think that many women today, and I've seen this in my own daughters, whether it be society or people around them, there have been things that make them feel that they're limited, that they have these limiting beliefs that hold them back from achieving their full potential. I said, I've seen this in my own daughters and we've had to have many conversations and and really trying to unpack that for ourselves. And I know in talking to you, you said you've had some similar things that you've been doing with your own daughters to be able to help them and to really make them think in different ways. I guess I'd be interested to better understand where did you start seeing that in your own daughters? And what did you have to start putting in place to try to unpack that for your daughters so that they were willing to not only hear you, but then be willing to act on what you were trying to instill in them? Travis Hawkley [00:13:03]: So I think in order to kind of unpack that, I've got to go back to my own childhood and look at all of the one of the things that has been pretty constant in my life, and I think in most of our lives, has changed. So when I was 12 years old, my family moved from Fort Worth, Texas to Boise, Idaho, and that was a huge change. And then when I was 18, I went and lived in Russia for a semester to teach English to little kids at a kindergarten in Russia as a kind of a volunteer experience. And I lived for a couple years in Spain, and then I went to school, and I moved around a lot. I became a teacher. I taught at the college level, ESL and Spanish at a college level mostly. And so I have gone through a lot of changes where I've had to confront a lot of my own limiting beliefs and kind of deconstruct those. Living outside of the country is a fantastic way to butt up against those things that you have that are gonna limit you. Travis Hawkley [00:13:54]: I remember multiple occasions when I lived in Russia. I was 18 years old. I didn't know anything, you know, about life in the real world. And there I was in all these situations where the things that I had grown up with, the beliefs that I had grown up with were being pushed back against by people who believed in a completely different way. And, you know, I found that I could go one of 2 ways. I could either fight back against them and try to hold on to the things that I thought were right, or I could examine those beliefs and figure out where they could change and how I could become different, how I could help make those beliefs work for me. And so I started regularly through all these insane life changes, examine these beliefs, and try and figure out where they come from, and why were they there, and how were they causing me to act in a certain way. And so I I started in my head, just as as you were talking about, and I started calling them limiting beliefs. Travis Hawkley [00:14:49]: And as I was teaching so I had one particular job where I worked at a career college in Tucson, Arizona. And my job was specifically to help people who were getting back into school. So most of them had been out of college for a while. They were coming back to school at 25, 30. I think the oldest student that I had was 63 who were coming back to a career college to try and do something different. Now a lot of these students had been not great students when they were in school before. They'd either had not finished high school, they never finished their diploma or GED, or had gotten their GED by the skin in their teeth, had been told by their teachers that they weren't good students, that they were never going to amount to anything. And they were coming back to school because they needed a way out. Travis Hawkley [00:15:31]: They needed to change their lives. And they saw education as being that way, that thing that was going to help them. And so the class that I taught focused on 3 different things. Academic study skills, number 1, super important. They wanted to make sure that they could actually do school. Also, career exploration skills. So we, you know, did resume writing and interview questions and that type of thing, which was really fun. But then the 3rd piece was mindset. Travis Hawkley [00:15:55]: It was looking at helping them figure out how to have a positive growth mindset moving forward. And that was where I really, really, really so at at that point in time, my oldest was 2, maybe 3 years old when I got that job. And so it was a really great time for me to have that job, that experience because it really helped me to flush out to see these people going through this experience of deconstructing actively, harshly these ideas that they had grown up with and had had since they were really young. And so it it taught me to be very cognizant of what I was putting on my kids. I didn't want them to have any beliefs that were going to stop them, that were going to limit them. I wanted them to grow up free of those things. And, you know, that's hard, and I'm idealistic for me to say, oh, I didn't want them to have any sort of beliefs that we're going to limit them. But I think depending on how you view any belief could be a bit a limiting belief. Travis Hawkley [00:17:00]: But I think what it really boils down to is helping them to be able to overcome, any belief that they find that might be getting in the way. One of the things and I and I always liked to share this one when it came to my teaching experience as well. When I was in 1st grade, I had a very little white haired grandmotherly type first grade teacher. Her name was missus Cox. She was fantastic. Both my my older brother and older sister had had her as well. So I was the 3rd of me and my siblings to have her. And she told me when I was in 1st grade that I was really, really good at taking tests and that I was gonna be really successful in school because I was really good at taking tests. Travis Hawkley [00:17:36]: Now that sounds like it's a wonderful thing, except that as I got older, and mostly into high school and college was where I really saw this, I felt like I was really good at taking tests and didn't need to study all that much because I was good at taking tests. And so it was really difficult. I mean, I did really well on tests, period. I mean, I I was great at taking tests, but I didn't put in the work to really make a lot of that knowledge last. So even something that seems like it's a positive can potentially limit you in certain ways. And once I figured that out, when I was in college, I was probably in my junior year of college. By the time I kinda figured that out, then I had to go through process of deconstructing that and figuring out how to go about doing the rest of my education without having that be a problem. So when it comes to my girls, I try to make sure that they know that any belief that they have, we can go about modifying it or changing it. Travis Hawkley [00:18:31]: Or we can figure out how to work within that belief if it's causing problems to what they wanna do. I'll give an example. My my 13 year old is a dancer. And probably maybe 4 years ago, she came to me, and she was having a hard time a lot with, like, recovery when it came to how she was able to do her dance practices and her workouts and things like that. She wanted to get better. And at that point in time, I had done a lot of diet and lifestyle changes. I've had kind of figured out some things, and I made some suggestions to her. And I said, you certainly don't have to do this, but you wanted to kind of adopt this lifestyle that I have. Travis Hawkley [00:19:10]: I feel like you might benefit from this. And she was like, well, I'll certainly give it a try even though it was different from the way the rest of the family ate, except for myself, of course, and was way different from the way most of her friends led their lives. And she was able to adopt that lifestyle and was able to make a lot of really interesting changes when it came to her her dance. She was able to recover lots faster. She was able to, you know, just get better by leaps and bounds. Where before, she was, you know, very incrementally getting better. Now she was exponentially getting better. And she's an amazing dancer now where had she had she not made those changes, you know, who knows? So it's interesting to look at, and not that she was eating bad before, but just for the lifestyle that she wanted, adopting a different belief system led her to be able to do that. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:20:13]: So that was your oldest that you were just talking about. And right? Travis Hawkley [00:20:18]: Middle child. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:20:18]: Okay. So talk to me about what so that was your middle child that you were talking about. So what has been the the, what's been the reaction as you've had these conversations with your youngest and your oldest? Travis Hawkley [00:20:37]: So about that specifically or about, you know, just in in general about things that they like to do? Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:20:44]: About the limiting beliefs and and things that limit them and hold them back. Travis Hawkley [00:20:48]: Yeah. So my oldest, I think the thing that has been the most prevalent recently is, as you mentioned, she will be graduating from high school next year. And her biggest thing on her mind is what she's gonna do after. And she has had this problem for years, probably since she was in the 7th grade, where she felt like her friends all knew what they were gonna do. They all already had their life plan out. I'm gonna be a doctor. I'm gonna be a whatever. I'm gonna do this. Travis Hawkley [00:21:13]: And she had no idea. She did not know what she wanted to do, and that was really frustrating to her because she didn't have one thing that she found to be really, really interesting. And I told her that. I'm like, that's not a problem at all. But she saw it as one because society was telling her that she should know what she wanted to do when she grew up. We asked that question to kids all the time. What do you wanna be when you grow up? And she felt like she should know, and she did. And that was really, really hard. Travis Hawkley [00:21:39]: And I made sure to point out to her how many different things I had gone through. Yes. I was a teacher, but I taught so many different things. And I taught at a university. I taught at a community college. I taught at the career college. I wasn't when we when I moved back to Boise about 10 years ago, I wasn't able to find a job in education. I got a job as a sales guy at an IT company. Travis Hawkley [00:21:59]: I didn't know anything about sales. I didn't know anything about IT. And I got that job, and I was able to make it work. And I was interested, and I was curious. And so I have I walked her through all those different things that I've gone through in my life and said, you might choose one thing that you're gonna do in your college career, and that's gonna change anyway. Most people nowadays, at least, do not start out with one thing and stay doing that one thing for the rest of their life. And if they do, that's awesome. That's because they've been able to stick with it, be interested in it. Travis Hawkley [00:22:28]: That's something that is great for them. I'm like, but not everybody's like that. You get to figure out what you're like, and you get to figure out how you wanna proceed. And that's something that has been kind of interesting because her mom is very much set on her going the route of the traditional 4 year bachelor's degree education going through and and doing that process and getting a job that way. And my daughter doesn't want to. She has talked about becoming an electrician. And using that, coupled with the theater experience that she was talking about before, setting up sound systems, microphone systems she wants to continue to work at. She's currently volunteering at a small playhouse here, being a stage manager, doing sets, doing sound, and she's been able to find something that she feels she's going to be able to do for a while. Travis Hawkley [00:23:17]: And we've had conversations about what happens when that changes. What happens when she becomes interested in something else and doesn't wanna keep doing that? And I think in a lot of cases, most people get into that sort of situation and they feel stuck. How am I gonna change? How am I gonna do this? That sunk cost fallacy of being like, I've already put in this much time and effort. I can't switch. I can't do something different. And so that's kind of been a conversation a lot recently with my oldest. My youngest, you know, really hasn't hit a lot of those yet being only 9. But I think the one most recently, she followed in her just oldest sister, my middle child's footsteps, and went into dance. Travis Hawkley [00:23:54]: And she found herself getting kind of anxious about performing in dance recitals. And she didn't really know what it was when she was, like, 5 or 6 years old. She just kind of didn't think that she really liked being up in front of people, but she didn't really know what was going on. And just this last year, she came to us, and she said she's like, I wanna keep dancing. She's like, I just don't wanna keep performing. Can I do that? Is that okay? And, of course, that's okay. We just had to get her into the right dance class. We found dance classes that worked where she was able to do the dance classes and learn routines and learn skills, but she didn't have to perform in front of people. Travis Hawkley [00:24:36]: That's just not something that she is interested in doing where my 13 year old loves it, thrives on that. And so for my kids, it's that each one of them is so different. Lumping them all into one expectation and saying, well, because we want this for you or we want this for the other, you all have to do the same thing. That's ridiculous. I've been able to help each one of them in unique ways to kind of find their own way forward. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:25:02]: Now as you think about other dads that are out there that are listening to this and want to start having these conversations with their own conversations with their own daughters. Is there advice that you might have for them in regards to how to start? Travis Hawkley [00:25:14]: I think being curious about your kids is one of the main ways. And especially if you notice your kids struggling in a certain way or trying to live up to some standard that they're not sure where it came from, be curious. Be engaged. Just start the conversation. You know? Hey. What are you interested in now? What is something that I don't know about you? What is something that you're interested in that, that I might be interested in? Teach me about something. Tell me about what's important to you. And I know that's hard. Travis Hawkley [00:25:49]: I mean, I I feel like I've done a good job from the beginning of keeping engaged with my girls. I've never really had to fight to keep their attention or to get their attention. But really that is born from I've always done this. I've always been interested. I've always been engaged. I'm a lifelong learner. I was a teacher, so I'm interested in everything. And so it was easy for me to kind of step in and say, well, what do you want to do? Let's explore that. Travis Hawkley [00:26:13]: And every time that my kids, within reason, every time that my kids wanted to try something, I was all for it. I was like, alright. Let's go. Let's do this. And I made sure that they knew if it was something that there was gonna be a lot of cost, I was like, let's find a low cost way to do this just in case it does stick. And at the moment that it sticks, we'll go all in. We can buy all the things. We can do all the whatever. Travis Hawkley [00:26:33]: But I wanna make sure that it's something that you're really interested in. Then when it is, great. Let's go. And so I think, again, just kind of boiling that down. Be engaged. Be curious. You've gotta spend time with your kids. You've gotta give them that time, and you've gotta let them take over and kinda steer those conversations. Travis Hawkley [00:26:53]: Having those expectations of, oh, my kids should be this way. My kids need to do this. That's gonna lead to your kids. In some cases, they're they're gonna thrive on that. They're gonna be okay. And in others, that's not gonna be who they are, and they're gonna have a hard time. But getting to know your kids, asking them open ended questions, and just, again, being curious, being engaged, I think is is probably the best advice I could give. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:27:15]: We always finish our interviews with what I like to call our fatherhood 5, where I ask you 5 more questions to delve deeper into you as a dad. Are you ready? Travis Hawkley [00:27:22]: I'm ready. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:27:22]: In one word, what is fatherhood? Travis Hawkley [00:27:24]: Love.  Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:27:25]: When was the time that you finally felt like you succeeded at being a father to a daughter? Travis Hawkley [00:27:28]: I think it comes mostly from every time they come to me with a question that I know was difficult for them to approach with me. Knowing that they feel my love and openness to where they could come to me, I think that's when I feel the most successful. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:27:47]: Now if I was to talk to your daughters, how would they describe you as a dad? Travis Hawkley [00:27:50]: I'm I'm sure all sorts of colorful words would come around. I'm I'm definitely not a normal person in a lot of ways. They would probably describe me as being funny and weird and being really energetic, and they would probably use the word engaged too. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:28:06]: Now who inspires you to be a better dad? Travis Hawkley [00:28:08]: I mean, my girls definitely inspire me to be a better dad. I mean, on a daily basis, when I'm playing with them, when I'm talking to them, I just I want to be the best type of dad that I can. My own dad was a huge influence on me. He was great. We didn't necessarily have the same interests. He was very much the sports is sports guy, loves to watch sports, and yet he still found ways to connect with me, which was fantastic. And so he definitely helped my mom. Another great example, not a dad, but she was an example of a great parent. Travis Hawkley [00:28:41]: She was interested. She loved to help me, you know, explore new things. She taught me how to cook when I was really young. She a lot of things that I find interesting kinda came from her. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:28:52]: Now you've given a lot of piece of advice today, a lot of things that you've learned along the way with your 3 daughters. As you think about dads that are listening, what's one piece of advice you'd wanna give to every dad? Travis Hawkley [00:29:04]: For sure. I have a motto, and it's actually painted on my wall in my house in letters that are probably a foot and a half tall. And it's probably about, you know, 8 feet long. And it says love wastefully. And it comes from a guy named John Shelby Spong, and he talks about just loving in such a way that we just give everything, that we just love with everything that we have. And that has been you know, I only discovered that maybe, like, a year and a half ago, that freezing. But I noticed as I kinda look back on my life, I I really have tried to adopt that in a lot of ways, whether it comes to dealing with my kids, dealing with other people, dealing with myself. As a dad, I think it is really hard for me to love myself in a lot of ways because of the stresses of being a dad. Travis Hawkley [00:29:55]: It's hard to be a dad. You're worried not only about providing for your family. You're worried about, am I connecting with my kids? Am I being a good dad? Am I being a good husband? Am I being everything that I need to be a good provider? There's so much stress around being a dad. Loving yourself can be really, really tough. But giving yourself that love and that curiosity towards yourself too, finding the things that you want to do that you find to be interesting. For a really long time, I was just focused on providing a paycheck for my family, and that was solid. Every dad wants to be able to do that. It was harming my mental health in a lot of ways. Travis Hawkley [00:30:33]: And so I recently, within the last year, have started my own business as a life transition coach, helping people to do that, which is directly born from my experience as an educator, as a teacher. I'd already been doing that. And so taking that upon myself and realizing this was going to be not as lucrative right at the beginning, but was going to be more fulfilling has helped me to be a better provider still, has helped me to be a better dad, has helped me to be just a better person. So, anyway, tying that all back into the idea of love wastefully. It's not something that's in limited supply. We can love our kids with as much as we have. There's nothing you're not gonna run out. You're not gonna run out of love. Travis Hawkley [00:31:15]: Give it all and love them and and love everyone around you. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:31:18]: Great way to end the show today, and I really appreciate you being here. If people wanna find out more about you, where is the best place for them to go? Travis Hawkley [00:31:24]: So I am the only, to my knowledge, Travis Hockley in the world. So you can find me pretty easily. Google my name, and I should show up on Facebook and Instagram. I will have a website here in the not so distant future, but I don't have it yet. But those are probably the 2 best places to find me. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:31:41]: Well, Travis, I just wanna say thank you. Thank you for being here today, for sharing your own journey, and I wish you all the best. Travis Hawkley [00:31:46]: Awesome. Thank you, Christopher. I appreciate it. This has been great. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:31:49]: If you've enjoyed today's episode of the Dads with Daughters podcast, we invite you to check out the fatherhood insider. The fatherhood insider is the essential resource for any dad that wants to be the best dad that he can be. We know that no child comes with an instruction manual and most dads are figuring it out as they go along, and the fatherhood insider is full of resources and information that will up your game on fatherhood. Through our extensive course library, interactive forum, step by step road maps, and more, you will engage and learn with experts, but more importantly, dads like you. So check it out at fathering together dot org. If you are a father of a daughter and have not yet joined the dads with daughters Facebook community, there's a link in the notes today. Dads with daughters is a program of fathering together. We look forward to having you back for another great guest next week all geared to helping you raise strong and powered daughters and be the best dad that you can be. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:32:47]: We're all in the same boat, And it's full of tiny screaming passengers. We spend the time, we give the lessons, we make the meals, We buy them presents and bring your a game. Because those kids are growing fast. The time goes by just like a dynamite blast. Calling astronauts and firemen, carpenters, and musclemen. Get out and be the world to them.

In this episode of Ruining Dinner, Diana and Tripp discuss the rising influence of Christian nationalism, highlighting an interview with Pastor Joel Webbon, who advocates for a return to patriarchy and speaks against democracy. The conversation then expands to the cultural antagonism present in America and the importance of truth, kindness, and listening in political discourse. The conversation then reflects on the role of democracy in managing differences and the theological and ethical implications of truth and kindness in fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.  Come hang out with us at Theology Beer Camp, Oct. 17-19 in Denver.  Use the code HOBBITCOTTAGE for a 50-buck discount :)  If you want to join our regular online hangouts, go to Diana's substack community, the Cottage, or the Homebrewed Community.  Previous Episodes with Diana & Tripp Faith in a Toxic Public Square The Resurrection of Jesus 2024: The Sequel The Christology Ladder The Indictment Edition of Ruining Dinner American Saints in a Cynical Age Ruining Dinner… and Date Nights Welcome to the Post-Christian Century Ruining Christmas Dinner Ruining Election Night Dinner The Over-Rated Genie God Bad Blood, Civil War, and other Soothing Topics Shall the Fundies (Keep) Winning?, Abortion, and Black Holes Theology and Spirituality in a Time of Rupture White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus 20 Years of Religious Decline Jesus After Religion and Beyond Fear Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Evangelical Decline, the Supreme Court, and the Horizon of Possibility Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants Religion, Politics, & the Elephant in the Room This Episode is Sponsored by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary This episode is sponsored by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump underscores the ever-present threat of political violence in the United States. In such a time as this, the Christian work of peacemaking in our communities is essential.  So, what are we to do?  The ways of the world are violence, retribution, dehumanization, political and religious extremism, and living in echo chambers. Instead, we can choose to love radically and work courageously for authentic and positive peace. Join us in person or online Sept. 22-24 at the Henderson Leadership Conference Faithful Resistance: Choosing Christ Over Empire, led by Dr. Diana Butler Bass and the Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade, for timely, inspiring lectures and workshops full of strategies for ministry and laypeople amid political and theological divisions.  _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our upcoming class - THE GOD OF THE BIBLE: An Absolutely Clear and Final Guide to Ultimate Mystery ;) Come to THEOLOGY BEER CAMP. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most progressive church goers have been exposed to academic criticism of the New Testament, especially as concerns the nature of the historical Jesus. After all, the Jesus Seminar has been around for 40 years, giving us those wonderful books by Marcus Borg, John Shelby Spong, Karen Armstrong, and Jon Dominic Crossan. Still, I have marveled at how church members can leave a brilliant lecture about the historical Jesus and in minutes, default to a kind of 4th century creedal set of beliefs about Jesus. This message attempts to challenge us to critically interrogate the image of Jesus we carry around in our heads.

Tripp & Diana were pumped to have Tim Whitaker from The New Evangelicals join us for this edition of Ruining Dinner and our upcoming open online class - Faith and Politics for the Rest of Us. Our contemporary public square is increasingly chaotic, toxic, and repulsive. Yet, our challenges as a people, nation, and species are growing. The rise of Christian Nationalism repulses a growing number of Christians who have a hard time thinking and speaking from a more vibrant theological vision. We are bringing together several alternative theo-political visions to introduce a multiplicity of vibrant, yet neglected traditions in public theology. With the help of some of the most powerful voices in the academy, participants will be introduced to these traditions and get to put them into action as we wrestle with our present moment, discovering the potential for an alternative public Christian witness. In a time where the public square is increasingly tribal and algorithmically addicted to outrage, over-simplification, and performative politics, a tour of these rich yet neglected theological traditions can inspire and fund a more vibrant Christian voice in the public square as we seek to embody the love of neighbor to which we are called. This class is donation based (including 0), so join the fun and tell your friends:) www.FaithAndPolitics.net Come hang out with us at Theology Beer Camp, Oct. 17-19 in Denver. Yse the code HOBBITCOTTAGE for a discount :) If you want to join our regular online hangs, head over to Diana's substack community, the Cottage, or the Homebrewed Community.  WATCH the video of the conversation Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America's most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. Previous Episodes with Diana & Tripp The Resurrection of Jesus 2024: The Sequel The Christology Ladder The Indictment Edition of Ruining Dinner American Saints in a Cynical Age Ruining Dinner… and Date Nights Welcome to the Post-Christian Century Ruining Christmas Dinner Ruining Election Night Dinner The Over-Rated Genie God Bad Blood, Civil War, and other Soothing Topics Shall the Fundies (Keep) Winning?, Abortion, and Black Holes Theology and Spirituality in a Time of Rupture White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus 20 Years of Religious Decline Jesus After Religion and Beyond Fear Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Evangelical Decline, the Supreme Court, and the Horizon of Possibility Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants Religion, Politics, & the Elephant in the Room Join our upcoming class, FAITH & POLITICS FOR THE REST OF US! Come to THEOLOGY BEER CAMP. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are joined by Diana Butler Bass as we discuss the historical Jesus, the resurrected Christ, and a host of questions from members of the online class. To join the class, head over to www.CrossanClass.com WATCH the video of the conversation here. JOIN our next class, GOD AFTER DECONSTRUCTION with Thomas Jay Oord Come to THEOLOGY BEER CAMP. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Previous Episodes with Diana & Tripp 2024: The Sequel The Christology Ladder The Indictment Edition of Ruining Dinner American Saints in a Cynical Age Ruining Dinner… and Date Nights Welcome to the Post-Christian Century Ruining Christmas Dinner Ruining Election Night Dinner The Over-Rated Genie God Bad Blood, Civil War, and other Soothing Topics Shall the Fundies (Keep) Winning?, Abortion, and Black Holes Theology and Spirituality in a Time of Rupture White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus 20 Years of Religious Decline Jesus After Religion and Beyond Fear Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Evangelical Decline, the Supreme Court, and the Horizon of Possibility Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants Religion, Politics, & the Elephant in the Room John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at DePaul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Historical Jesus, How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian, God and Empire, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, The Greatest Prayer, The Last Week, and The Power of Parable. He lives in Minneola, Florida. Previous Podcast Episodes with Dom & Tripp Brian McLaren & John Dominic Crossan: The Message of Jesus & the Judgement of Civilization Brian Zahnd & John Dominic Crossan: God, Violence, Empire, & Salvation Why the Biblical Paul is Awesome Christian Resurrection & Human Evolution The Cross & the Crisis of Civilization The Coming Kingdom & the Risen Christ The Parables of Jesus & the Parable of God How to think about Jesus like a Historian the Last Week of Jesus' Life Jesus, Paul, & Bible Questions Saving the Biblical Christmas Stories the most important discovery for understanding Jesus The Bible, Violence, & Our Future Resurrecting Easter on the First Christmas  From Jesus' Parables to Parables of God  Render Unto Caesar on God & Empire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Quoircast podcast episode it brought to you by The Messy Spirituality Podcast - conversations about life, God, spirituality, and becoming a better human.In this episode we chat with  Roger WolseyRoger Wolsey is a seasoned speaker, having presented at The Wild Goose Festival on three separate occasions, as well as The Embrace Festival, The Lion and The Lamb Festival, and Christianity 21. He is an accomplished blogger, having written for notable publications such as Elephant Journal, Huffington Post, and, most recently, Patheos, where he writes under the moniker "The Holy Kiss." Roger is also a published author, having written two books titled Discovering Fire and Kissing Fish. He is the administrator of the Kissing Fish Facebook fan-page and a contributing writer for the John Shelby Spong weekly newsletter, "Progressing Spirit." Additionally, Roger serves on the Board of Directors of ProgressiveChristianity.org.You can follow Roger on:Facebook     Instagram       YoutubeYou can find all things Roger Wolsey on his websiteYou can purchase Discovering Fire on Amazon.comYou can connect with This Is Not Church on:Facebook     Instagram      Twitter     TikTok     YouTubeAlso check out our Linktree for all things This Is Not Church relatedPlease like and follow our Quoircast Partners:Heretic Happy Hour     Messy Spirituality     Apostates Anonymous    Second Cup with KeithIdeas Digest     The New Evangelicals     Snarky Faith Podcast     Wild Olive     Deadly Faith     Jonathan FosterEach episode of This Is Not Church Podcast is expertly engineered by our producer The Podcast Doctor Eric Howell. If you're thinking of starting a podcast you need to connect with Eric!

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Kissing Fish Author Roger Wolsey, exploring the themes of his new book, Discovering Fire._____LINKShttps://www.rogerwolsey.comBOOKhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ9V9V8H _____Spiritual Director, Speaker, Writer, Soul Friend, & CoachI have been a speaker at The Wild Goose Festival (3 times), The Embrace Festival, The Lion and The Lamb Festival, and Christianity 21. I've blogged for Elephant Journal, Huffington Post, and now primarily for Patheos as “The Holy Kiss.” I'm the author of Discovering Fire, and Kissing Fish, and am the administrator of the Kissing Fish Facebook fan-page. I am also a contributing writer for the John Shelby Spong weekly newsletter “Progressing Spirit,” and serve on the Board of Directors of ProgressiveChristianity.org I am an experienced wedding officiant (including premarital counseling), and help grieving families celebrate and remember their deceased loved ones through personal and meaningful funeral, memorial, and celebration of life services.Those things are nifty, but I'm just a human—a fellow human being who's learned many things the hard way in life. I turned 50 three years ago and experienced a text-book midlife crisis as part of that transition. I've taken deep dives in a wide range of spiritual practices and personal development work and am committed to helping others in life.From Secretary to CEOWelcome to "From Secretary to CEO", the podcast that takes you on a journey of personal...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyAn ex-evangelical boomer, a middle-aged gay artist, and a frazzled stay-at-home mom walk into a bar, share a table, and go deep about some of life's big questions.Join Frank, Ernie, and Erin as they share stories of love, sex, grief, religion and so much more. This is “Love in Common.”Visit LoveInCommon.org to Subscribe on your favorite Podcast platform. Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of Fall In Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy. Learn more at https://www.lovechildrenplanet.comFollow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTube In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer PodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-conversation-with-frank-schaeffer/id1570357787NEW: Love In Common Podcast with Frank Schaeffer, Ernie Gregg, and Erin BagwellApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/love-in-common/id1665307674

I am a people watcher. I love watching how people react and respond in various situations and circumstances, and I learn a lot about people and human behavior by doing this people watching. I find it fascinating to watch people's actions when forced to move beyond their comfort zones.  Quite honestly, when any one of us is forced to move beyond our comfort zone because of changing circumstances, we often react adversely. One can expect that when we step outside of our comfort zone, we usually experience added stress and anxiety.  And, when this happens, people can become quite reactive – often displaying unpleasant behavior.  So, the gospel reading on this night is captivating because we see the disciples having to move way beyond their comfort zones. In biblical times, the washing of feet was a non-religious, ordinary part of everyday life. It was as ordinary as brushing your teeth or washing your hands before a meal. It was a secular practice that routinely took place after entering a dwelling, especially if you would be sitting down and preparing to eat a meal.  After all, peoples' feet would get very dirty from all of that walking in those sandals on dusty roads. Furthermore, this foot washing was always done by the lowliest of servants.  So, when Jesus gets up from the table and begins washing the disciples' feet, his action is truly shocking. In fact, it is disgraceful and scandalous, and it moves the disciples to a place of real unease.  It moves them beyond their comfort zones. Reactive Peter, always the outspoken one, always a work in progress, knows that servants wash the feet of their master.  Masters do not wash the feet of their servants. This is just NOT how the world works.  So, certainly Jesus, the one they see as the Messiah, should not be the one touching their feet!  Peter's world is structured by domination, power, hierarchy, and tradition. Foot washing revealed the societal pecking order. It was usually done by slaves, children, and women, those who had no standing in society. The lower class washed the upper class. Now, I have to say, our world is not all that different from Peter's. Those who have power, wealth, intelligence, beauty, and position are the ones who are washed, they make sure they get the best of everything and hire others to do the menial work. Those who don't have power, wealth, intelligence, beauty and position – well, they are the washers. But this night is different, this foot washing is different. Once again Jesus is breaking the rules and the social order is being realigned as Jesus forces the disciples to move beyond their comfort zones.  In the middle of supper Jesus gets up from the table, removes his outer robe, ties a towel around himself, pours water into a basin, and he begins to wash the disciples' feet. With this action, the boundaries that establish status and power are completely reversed, and all human images of protective barriers that provide security are removed. And what is the result? Turmoil fills the room.  Peter is alarmed.  His world is being changed.  This is truly uncomfortable.  Peter does not like it and he does not understand it.   As we ponder Peter's reaction, I ask you to think about the past few years of our lives, about how our world has changed. I ask you to think about how you may have felt threatened by that change. Think about the last time some circumstance forced you to move beyond your comfort zone.  Even when it's for our own good we often resist, get angry, or fight back. At a minimum, we grumble under our breath or vent to a trusted friend. So, Peter responds saying, “You will never wash my feet!  I am hanging on to what I know, to what I have. I don't want you messing with my world. This is just not right and definitely not comfortable.” Today in the church we might respond, “We've never done it like this before and we're just not really interested in starting now.” Jesus is always setting before us one example after another of what God's life in the world looks like.  God's life in this world is always going to shake us up and move us to places that quite frequently seem uncomfortable and downright risky.  For Peter, Jesus' action looks like nothing he has ever seen or done before.  As he reacts, I wonder if he might be pondering, “If this is how the Messiah acts, what will be expected of the Messiah's disciples? Whose feet might I be asked to wash for the love of Christ?” Well, as Peter objects and wonders, he hears Jesus say, “You also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master.” Listen to the way theologian, John Shelby Spong, describes what Jesus is saying. Spong writes: Peter, do not resist the freeing power of divine love through which I am calling you into a new dimension of what it means to be truly human. Here status needs are not relevant. Those rules apply only in the world of consistent human yearning, the world of human becoming.  I am a doorway for you into being itself.  Come through me and you will become more fully human.  I am inviting you into an experience that will make you whole.  If I do not wash your feet, you cannot be part of the God I am revealing and of the humanity I am offering.  (John Shelby Spong, The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic)   In the gospel of John, Jesus is always calling us into a new way of being, new life that truly matters. And, tonight, we see Jesus sets before the disciples and before us an example of love, servant love. That is the kind of love he has lived and that is the kind of love he calls us to live.  By doing this, Jesus has washed away the old ways of domination and hierarchy. He has replaced those old ways with something new, communion and love. There are no feet excluded from God's love, and God's very self is defined as love. There are no feet unworthy of being washed. Even Judas's feet were washed.  And, the unconditional love of Jesus always means moving beyond our comfort zone and going to the places where Jesus goes. Think of all the feet that pass through our lives in a day, a month, a year, a lifetime. What have we done with those feet? What will we do with them? Maybe we ignore them. Maybe we have stepped on them. Maybe we have received them into our lives and maybe we have not.  So many feet. Young, old, tired, lost, angry, hurt. There are all sorts of feet. Feet that have walked through the muck of life. Feet that have trespassed into places they shouldn't have gone. Feet that have stood on holy ground. Feet that have carried the message of good news. Feet that dance to a different beat or walk a path different from ours. Those are the very feet Jesus washed. They are the feet of the world. They are the ones he commands us to wash.  And guess what?  They are no different from our own feet. We too have walked through the muck of life. Our feet have trespassed into places they shouldn't have gone. Our feet have stood on holy ground. Our feet have carried the message of good news. Our feet have sometimes walked a unique, if not strange, path. Well, still feeling the discomfort of this situation, Peter hears Jesus then say, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus, through his action of washing the disciples' feet, has just taken on the role of the servant.  He is showing the disciples that love means serving others, all others!  The love he has for them also means providing routine physical, even intimate care for others.  Jesus subverts the religious expectations of the moment by turning this non-religious deed into an act of humility, service, and love. And he moves his disciples way beyond their comfort zones.  Yes, that is where love will always take us. That is what love does because love always takes us to the cross. Tonight, Jesus comes to each one of us and, through his very humble deed, shows us and teaches us what love is all about.  The self-giving love of Jesus connects us to the very source of love, God's very self.  It is a love we will see lifted high on a cross. And it is that self-giving, healing love that empowers us to move beyond our comfort zones as we share God's love for the sake of a very broken world. 

When we start to deconstruct our faith, it's natural to wonder where Jesus fits within all of it. Today, lead pastor Josh Scott begins a new series where we'll examine who Jesus is and how we can meet him again. Josh talks through some of the different sources that tell us about Jesus, and he reminds us that examining our own experience of Jesus is an important part of the process. Episode Recap: When our faith changes, what do we do with Jesus? (1:53) How do we “know” about Jesus? (7:37) Scholars of Jesus agree Jesus existed and was executed by Pilate (10:29) Non-Christian sources that mention Jesus (12:56) The Bible is not a biography of Jesus (22:43) Our own experience of who Jesus is matters (31:43) The story of Jesus shows us that the divine is within us (37:00) A lament from “Jesus for the Non-Religious” (40:31) Resources: Learn more about GracePointe Check out our schedule of upcoming events Follow GracePointe on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time” by Marcus Borg “The Quest for the Historical Jesus” “Jesus for the Non-Religious” by John Shelby Spong

In our service today, I reflect on the Legacy of Bishop John Shelby Spong, who died on the 12th September 2021 - a little over 12 months ago. It's a repeat of a service I first gave at our Shady Grove Church shortly after learning that Bishop Spong had died. His 12 theses for the reform of the Episcopal Church in the USA resonate with many Unitarians - and a growing cohort of Christians who believe that there is a need for a rational, intellectually credible definition of the nature and presence of God in our lives that reflects our Science and questions outworn dogma. What remains steadfast is agape Love: - that God is Love and Love is God; - that God is to be found in the Love we must give "wastefully" and - hopefully, receive. For this is where we see the living presence of God at work in the world - even in the hard times!

The Gospels are magnificent, classic, world-shaping, reverent sketches of Jesus of Nazareth, who, to his followers, became the Christ. The Gospels have many tantalizing gaps in the story of the Jesus who lived, walked, and loved among family members, Galilean friends, and tyrannical religious and political systems. The Gospels are essentially memories of memories of a cadre of devoted followers of Jesus. That said, the four Gospels are all we have of the telling of the Jesus of Nazareth story from about 4 BCE to about 30 CE. Through careful, reverent, well-researched twenty-first-century flights of informed imagination, Maddox aims to fill in some of the historical blanks in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, this unique person, in the words of John Shelby Spong, “full of God.” Volume one imagines the Αρχή (beginning) of Jesus of Nazareth. Volume two trumpets the call of Jesus to serve his beloved kingdom of weeds. As the late Marcus Borg had a way of saying, “It may not have happened exactly this way, but it's true anyway.” Meet Jesus again for the first time as he grew and served among God's beloved “weeds” in his own time. This is the first of a three-part series. Book Two: The Kingdom of Weeds is available here. Book three has not yet been published. Learn more at GoodFaithMedia.org.

My friend and scholar of American Religion, Diana Butler Bass, is on the podcast for a little experiment. We plan to host monthly conversations about religion, politics, and culture from a progressive Christian perspective. We would love your input on the flow, format, and such - so holla :) We plan to have live stream sessions each month with our online communities. To be a part of future zoom sessions like this one, make sure you join Diana's newsletter community, the Cottage. Yes, she does have an actual cottage where she reads, writes, and zooms    Follow the podcast, drop a review, or become a member of the HBC Community. Previous Episodes with Diana & Tripp Theology and Spirituality in a Time of Rupture White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus 20 Years of Religious Decline Jesus After Religion and Beyond Fear Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza Evangelical Decline, the Supreme Court, and the Horizon of Possibility Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants Religion, Politics, & the Elephant in the Room Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“God is not a Christian, God is not a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Hindu, or a Buddhist. All of those are human systems which human beings have created to try to help us walk into the mystery of God. I honor my tradition, I walk through my tradition, but I don't think my tradition defines God, I think it only points me to God.” ― John Shelby Spong “The church is like a swimming pool. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end.” ― John Shelby Spong, Eternal Life: A New Vision: Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell “What the mind cannot accept, the heart can finally never adore.” ― John Shelby Spong “Whatever it was that people experience in Jesus has today come to be identified with medieval doctrines based on premodern assumptions that are no longer believable. That identification means that serious theological discussion seems to accomplish little more than to erect a division between the shouters and the disinterested. Jesus becomes the captive of the hysterically religious, the chronically fearful, the insecure and even the neurotic among us, or he becomes little more than a fading memory, the symbol of an age that is no more and a nostalgic reminder of our believing past. To me neither option is worth pursuing. Yet even understanding these things, I am still attracted to this Jesus and I will pursue him both relentlessly and passionately. I will not surrender the truth I believe I find in him either to those who seek to defend the indefensible or to those who want to be freed finally from premodern ideas that no longer make any sense.” ― John Shelby Spong --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/support

John Shelby Spong died this past summer at the age of 90. By popular demand, here are his conservations with Tapestry from 2007 and 2009.

The first reading (post published Oct 9, 2021) Dr. Ehrman xxx the passing of John Shelby Spong. In the second reading (post published Oct 13, 2015) Dr. Ehrman answers a blog members's question re the existence of manuscripts that are consistently anti-heretical. Join the blog at https://ehrmanb.log.org/ and read up to 6 new posts each week and every post in the archives. Your entire minimal cost of membership goes to charity. https://ehrmanblog.org/john-shelby-spong-in-memoriam/ https://ehrmanblog.org/are-their-any-completely-anti-heretical-manuscripts/

This episode is an audio version of a book review I posted on earnestlayman.wordpress.com on September 29, 2021. The book is "The Reformed Pastor" by Richard Baxter, a 17th century Puritan. ***RESOURCES*** Here is the link to the written book review: https://earnestlayman.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/book-review-the-reformed-pastor-by-richard-baxter/ Here's an article showing a bit about how Greg Locke divorced his wife: https://pulpitandpen.org/2018/08/07/pastor-greg-locke-adultery-in-gods-eyes-marries-church-secretary/ Here's an article showing Locke's threat of a lawsuit against Protestia: https://protestia.com/2021/06/28/a-statement-from-jd-hall-regarding-greg-lockes-lawsuit-threat-against-him-newsweek-cnn/ Here's an article that refute Sean Feucht: https://fitl.co.za/2020/10/20/sean-feucht-feelings-whispers-omens/ Here's an article showing the passing of John Shelby Spong: https://protestia.com/2021/09/14/episcopalian-heretic-bishop-john-shelby-spong-dead-at-90/ Heer's a video on disgraced "pastors" Perry Noble and Mark Driscoll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96x09yJ26pk&t=837s Here's my book review on "Yes! You Really Can Change" by Chip Ingram: https://earnestlayman.wordpress.com/2021/06/05/book-review-yes-you-can-really-change-by-chip-ingram/ Here's my cold sermon review on Todd Smith of Christ Fellowship "Church" in Dawsonville, Georgia: https://anchor.fm/earnestlayman/episodes/Cold-Sermon-Review---Todd-Smith-Sermon-Dated-8222021-Christ-Fellowship-in-Dawsonville--GA-e16h3bb Thanks for listening! “Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. “Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org”

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, reflects on the teachings and recent death of John Shelby Spong, who for many decades influenced a great number of people within the Episcopal Church. Spong was well known for rejecting essential doctrines of the historic Christian faith, including the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation, Virgin Birth, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But consider the words of St. Paul, who asked, “If it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you [like Bishop Spong] say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised [as Bishop Spong preached], your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:12–20 NIV).

On this episode of the podcast, Pastor Keith welcomes back friend of the show Matthew Hinson to discuss the passing of John Shelby Spong. Spong was a liberal bishop in the episcopal church who was well known for abandoning the foundational doctrines of Christian theism. Keith and Matthew read and respond to Spong's 12 "Points of Reform" for Christianity which he published in The Voice, the newsletter of the Diocese of Newark, in 1998.

In a letter to Robert Hooke in 1675, Isaac Newton wrote: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”. The phrase is understood to mean that if Newton had been able to discover more about the universe than others, then it was because he was working in the light of discoveries made by fellow scientists, either in his own time or earlier. I stand on the shoulders of John Shelby Spong and he stood on the shoulders of John A T Robinson, an English New Testament scholar, author and the Anglican Bishop of Woolwich, his friend and mentor. Robinson stood on the shoulders of Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and situational ethicist Joseph Fletcher, when he published a highly controversial book in 1963, Honest to God. Find out more: https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/in-memoriam-of-my-mentor-john-shelby-spong/

The progressive faith community lost a giant this week with the passing of the Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal bishop of Newark, NJ, prolific writer, and a towering figure in fearless, faithful, loving theology for many decades. A champion of gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights, he ordained the first openly gay man to […]

In this episode, Diana Butler Bass joins the pod and we tackle some excellent questions. Here you will get a glimpse of what a QnA session sounds like in our current online learning group Oh God What Now: Christianity 20 years after 9/11. The class itself is 6-weeks and features a weekly session with Diana Butler Bass and Brian, along with occasional QnA sessions like this.  Here are a few links from things we mention in the episode... If you enjoy the QnA, then consider joining the class for more - Oh God What Now: Christianity 20 Years After 9/11. Head over HERE to check out Diana's recent newsletter breaking down the recent data on American Evangelicals. To get other sweet newsletter posts from Diana join the Cottage here. In the episode, we discuss two collections of data. First is this recent study from PEW Research Center and then this study from PRRI looking at the partisan divide on perspectives about 1/6. We both mention our love for this particular John Shelby Spong book. I mention how much of loved The Eyes of Tammy Faye - a movie you should check out. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Diana Butler Bass joins the pod and we tackle some excellent questions. Here you will get a glimpse of what a QnA session sounds like in our current online learning group Oh God What Now: Christianity 20 years after 9/11. The class itself is 6-weeks and features a weekly session with Diana Butler… Read more about Diana Butler Bass: White Evangelical Theopolitics, John Shelby Spong, & Jesus

we give thanks for John Shelby Spong's life and talk about how inner work can change the world.

After noting the passing, on the same weekend, of two of my former debate opponents -John Shelby Spong and Bob Enyart-, we dove into this presentation by three Church of Christ gentlemen on the subject of -total depravity.- We covered a lot of ground and hopefully you will be aided by the discussion- We hope to do another program tomorrow as well.

DOCUMENTATION AND ADDITIONAL READING PART 1 (0:0 - 4:28): ────────────────── Thinking Seriously About President Biden‘s Sweeping Vaccine Mandate That Will Cover Nearly 100 Million Americans NEW YORK TIMES (KATIE ROGERS AND SHERYL GAY STOLBERG) Biden Mandates Vaccines for Workers, Saying, ‘Our Patience Is Wearing Thin' PART 2 (4:29 - 13:40): ────────────────── The Complex Issues of a Federal Vaccine Mandate: Evaluating President Biden's Coercive Move — Moral, Constitutional, and Political Considerations NEW YORK TIMES (JIM TANKERSLEY) Biden's New Vaccine Push Is a Fight for the U.S. Economy PART 3 (13:41 - 18:30): ────────────────── More Woke Than Capitalism: Virtue Signaling in Corporate World as Salesforce CEO Commits to Move Anyone With Hindered Access to ‘Reproductive Healthcare' From Texas — Or Any Other State CNBC (JORDAN NOVET) Salesforce Offers to Relocate Employees and Their Families After Texas Abortion Law Goes Into Effect CNN (RAMISHAH MARUF) Salesforce Said It Will Help Employees Leave Texas Due to Abortion Law PART 4 (18:31 - 25:0): ────────────────── A Parable of Post-Christian Religion: John Shelby Spong, Non-Theist Episcopal Bishop Dies at 90 WASHINGTON TIMES (MARK A. KELLNER) John Shelby Spong, Liberal Episcopal Bishop, Dies at Age 90 PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY (JOHN SHELBY SPONG) Charting the New Reformation: The Twelve Theses PROGRESSING SPIRIT (JOHN SHELBY SPONG) Oklahoma! A State in Transition

Matt and Anne discuss the death of Bishop John Spong, his influence on The Episcopal Church, and the damage done when a denomination will not dare to discipline. Download Audio

Dr. Craig debates John Shelby Spong on the nature and historicity of the resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus told the apostles that they were witnesses. Have you ever witnessed the risen Christ in your own life? Where and when? Pastor Sal explores what it means to experience the divine, sharing wisdom from Robin Meyers, John Shelby Spong, and even Judge Judy!

Over the past year, due to this pandemic, many of us have had to face situations where we have been forced to move beyond our comfort zones.  Moving to online worship is an example of how we have been forced to go to a place that was initially beyond our comfort zone.  It took us a while to adjust to this new reality. Wearing masks, maintaining physical distance from others, and following public health guidelines have also forced people to move way beyond their comfort zones.  I find it is fascinating to watch people’s actions and behavior when forced to move beyond their comfort zones.  Quite honestly, when people are forced to do this because of circumstances, they often react adversely. We have seen this in extreme examples over the past year.  When we step outside of our comfort zone, it always tends to produce added stress and anxiety.  And, when this happens, people react – often unpleasantly.  So, the gospel reading on this night is captivating because we see the disciples having to move way beyond their comfort zones. In biblical times, the washing of feet was a non-religious, ordinary part of everyday life. It was as ordinary as brushing your teeth or washing your hands before a meal. It was a secular practice that routinely took place after entering a dwelling, especially if you would be sitting down and preparing to eat a meal.  After all, peoples’ feet would get very dirty from all of that walking in those sandals on dusty roads. Furthermore, this foot washing was always done by the lowliest of servants.  So, when Jesus gets up from the table and begins washing the disciples’ feet, his action is truly shocking. In fact, it is disgraceful and scandalous, and it moves the disciples to a place of real unease.  It moves them beyond their comfort zones. Reactive Peter, always the outspoken one, always a work in progress, knows that servants wash the feet of their master.  Masters do not wash the feet of their servants. This is just NOT how the world works.  So, certainly Jesus, the one they see as the Messiah, should not be the one touching their feet!  Peter’s world is structured by domination, power, hierarchy, and tradition. Foot washing revealed the societal pecking order. It was usually done by slaves, children, and women, those who had no standing in society. The lower class washed the upper class. Now, I have to say, our world is not so different from Peter’s. Those who have power, wealth, intelligence, beauty, and position are the ones who are washed, they make sure they get the best of everything and hire others to do the menial work. Those who don’t have power, wealth, intelligence, beauty and position – well, they are the washers. But this night is different, this foot washing is different. Once again Jesus is breaking the rules and the social order is being realigned as Jesus forces the disciples to move beyond their comfort zones.  In the middle of supper Jesus gets up from the table, removes his outer robe, ties a towel around himself, pours water into a basin, and he begins to wash the disciples’ feet. With this action, the boundaries that establish status and power are reversed, and all human images of protective barriers that provide security are removed. And what is the result? Turmoil fills the room.  Peter is alarmed.  His world is being changed.  This is truly uncomfortable.  Peter does not like it and he does not understand it.   As we ponder Peter’s reaction, I ask you to think about this past year, about how your world has changed and how you have felt threatened by that change. Think about the last time some circumstance forced you to move beyond your comfort zone.  Even when it’s for our own good we often resist, get angry, or fight back. At a minimum, we grumble under our breath or vent to a trusted friend. So, Peter responds saying, “You will never wash my feet!  I am hanging on to what I know, to what I have. I don’t want you messing with my world. This is just not right and definitely not comfortable.” Today in the church we might respond, “We’ve never done it like this before and we’re just not really interested in starting now.” Jesus is always setting before us one example after another of what God’s life in the world looks like.  Friends, God’s life in this world is always going to shake us up and move us to places that quite frequently seem uncomfortable and downright risky.  For Peter, Jesus’ action looks like nothing he has ever seen or done before.  As he reacts, I wonder if he might be pondering, “If this is how the Messiah acts, what will be expected of the Messiah’s disciples? Whose feet might I be asked to wash for the love of Christ?” Well, as Peter objects and wonders, he hears Jesus say, “You also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master.” Jesus is essentially saying: Peter, do not resist the freeing power of divine love through which I am calling you into a new dimension of what it means to be truly human. Here status needs are not relevant. Those rules apply only in the world of consistent human yearning, the world of human becoming.  I am a doorway for you into being itself.  Come through me and you will become more fully human.  I am inviting you into an experience that will make you whole.  If I do not wash your feet, you cannot be part of the God I am revealing and of the humanity I am offering.  (John Shelby Spong, The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic)   In the gospel of John, Jesus is always calling us into a new way of being, new life that matters. And, tonight, we see Jesus sets before the disciples and before us an example of love, servant love. That is the kind of love he has lived and that is the kind of love he calls us to live.  By doing this, Jesus has washed away the old ways of domination and hierarchy. He has replaced those old ways with something new, communion and love. There are no feet excluded from God’s love, and God’s very self is defined as love. There are no feet unworthy of being washed. Even Judas’s feet were washed.  And, the unconditional love of Jesus always means moving beyond our comfort zone and going to the places where Jesus goes. Think of all the feet that pass through our lives in a day, a month, a year, a lifetime. What have we done with those feet? What will we do with them? Maybe we ignore them. Maybe we have stepped on them. Maybe we have received them into our lives and maybe we have not.  So many feet. Young, old, tired, lost, angry, hurt. There are all sorts of feet. Feet that have walked through the muck of life. Feet that have trespassed into places they shouldn’t have gone. Feet that have stood on holy ground. Feet that have carried the message of good news. Feet that dance to a different beat or walk a path different from ours. Those are the very feet Jesus washed. They are the feet of the world. They are the ones he commands us to wash.  And, guess what?  They are no different from our own feet. We too have walked through the muck of life. Our feet have trespassed into places they shouldn’t have gone. Our feet have stood on holy ground. Our feet have carried the message of good news. Our feet have sometimes walked a unique, if not strange, path. Well, still feeling the discomfort of this situation, Peter hears Jesus then say, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus, through his action of washing the disciples’ feet, has just taken on the role of the servant.  He is showing the disciples that love means serving others, all others!  The love he has for them also means providing routine physical, even intimate care for others.  Jesus subverts the religious expectations of the moment by turning this non-religious deed into an act of humility, service, and love. And, he moves his disciples way beyond their comfort zones.  Yes, that is where love will always take us. That is what love does because love always takes us to the cross. Tonight, Jesus comes to each one of us and, through his very humble deed, shows us and teaches us what love is all about.  The self-giving love of Jesus connects us to the very source of love, God’s very self.  It is a love we will see lifted high on a cross. And, it is that self-giving, healing love that empowers us to move beyond our comfort zones as we share God’s love for the sake of a very broken world. 

Today’s meditation comes from The Gospel Of John in the New Testament, and from the writings of John Shelby Spong.

https://m.youtube.com/results?search_query=bishop+john+shelby+spong+ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/support

Upon This Rock #3 Life From God’s Perspective By Louie Marsh, 1-31-2021   Intro: last quote Thoreau   Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of life. - Joni Eareckson Tada   When your perspective is preloaded with the Word of God, lies lose their power over your life. -Steven Furtick   The Bible interprets life from its particular perspective; it does not record in a factual way the human journey through history. - John Shelby Spong   It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. – David Henry Thoreau   The next 3 sermons are closely linked together and form the heart of what I’m trying to communicate to you on Sunday mornings during this campaign.   I) God Sees Life Very Differently Than I Do:   He deals in absolute truth – I deal in   “25In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25, ESV)   Show Shootist Video with John Wayne and Ron Howard.   “12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12, ESV)   I value what’s outward & visible, God cherishes the INWARD/INVISIBLE.   “15When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15–17, ESV)   “7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)   II) Examples of How We See Life Differently Than God:   1) Jesus says I must LOVE my enemies?   “44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44–45, ESV)   2) God actually expects me to FORGIVE everyone who hurts me?   “21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, ESV)   3) I’m supposed to pray for and BLESS those who persecute me?   “14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Romans 12:14, ESV)   4) God COMMANDS me to be sexually pure?   “27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27–28, ESV)   5) Jesus says my highest calling is to be a SERVANT?   “11The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11–12, ESV)  

In the Old Testament, Jacob dreamt of a ladder reaching into the heavens. Today we learn from Isaac of Nineveh, John Shelby Spong, and Hindu Chakras as Pastor Sal talks about how to find the ladder within you and connect with the Presence of the Divine.

Religions du monde - Dimanche 31 mai 2020 - 11H10-12H (Heure de Paris) John Shelby Spong , 88 ans, a été évêque de l’église épiscopalienne jusqu’en 2000. Il a cherché pendant son sacerdoce à comprendre pourquoi des chrétiens en recherche s’éloignaient de la foi traditionnelle, ou s’y trouvaient mal à l’aise en raison des doctrines, des rites, d’un langage ou de positions jugés obsolètes. Il en est venu à la conclusion que si le christianisme n’abandonnait pas des credo devenus plus crédibles pour l’homme du XXIème siècle, il serait amené à disparaître. John Shelby Spong est l’auteur de plusieurs livres édités en France chez Karthala. Robert Ageneau, fondateur de cette maison d’éditions, revient sur la journée d’études qui a été consacrée à l’automne 2019 à l’œuvre de l’évêque et exégète américain, journée qui a fait l’objet d’un livre publié dans la collection Sens et conscience «Pour un christianisme d’avenir». La reprise des cultes en France : Durement touchés par le rassemblement à Mulhouse de la Porte ouverte chrétienne, à la mi-février 2020, megachurch stigmatisée au début de la pandémie par la préfète du Grand Est, les évangéliques se montrent très prudents pour un retour à la normale des célébrations. Romain Choinet, responsable de la communication du Cnef, le Conseil national des évangéliques de France. Et à propos de la demande pressante de responsables de la hiérarchie catholique exercée auprès du gouvernement pour rouvrir les lieux de culte avant début juin  2020 afin de permettre aux fidèles de communier, le père François Glory, prêtre des MEP (Missions étrangères de Paris), donne un autre point de vue sur le sujet et rappelle qu’en Amazonie, où il a vécu 35 ans, l’Eucharistie tous les dimanches n’était pas la priorité.

Highlights from some of our earliest programs with a particular focus on non-theistic beliefs in our country. You’ll hear my 2006 interview with secular trailblazer Sam Harris. We discussed his book, The End of Faith. Also, the late broadcaster, activist and author Margot Adler. We spoke in 2006 about Neopaganism and the role of Pagan traditions dating back to the founding of our nation. And the Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong. At the time of the interview, the prolific retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, NJ had just published his 2009 book, titled Jesus for the Non-religious.

Horrified by the Holocaust and fearful that the New Testament, as it has been traditionally understood, may have contributed to this tragedy, Christian scholars and ministers of all stripes have, in recent decades, proposed several, “extra-textual” ways of altering that understanding. Eugene Fisher, for instance, the former director of ecumenical affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, warns against reading the passion accounts, which seem to portray all Jews as guilty of Jesus’s death, from the pulpit without “adequate catechesis and preparation.” He also recommends that passages that reinforce this charge, such as the Parable of the Marriage Feast in Matthew (22:1–15), should be avoided entirely. Marilyn Salmon, an episcopal priest and writer, similarly counsels caution when presenting certain incidents in the New Testament, especially in the Gospel of John. She encourages ministers to read from Bibles that substitute “our people,” “the crowd,” or “the public” for John’s spiritually blind “Jews” and suggests that when they relate stories that appear to accentuate that blindness, such as Nicodemus’ nocturnal visit to see Jesus, that they do so imaginatively, from another, pro-Jewish, viewpoint. In addition, both Salmon and Fisher recommend that readers of the New Testament avail themselves of “interpretive tools,” such as study Bibles and scholarly commentaries, which place the hostility towards Jews present in John and in the other Gospels in a more historically limited, less “everlasting” context. John Shelby Spong, a retired episcopal bishop, offers a more radical and, for many, a less acceptable approach. He views many of the events in the Gospels as simply “untenable,” primarily because they represent for him literary, not historical, efforts to portray Christianity as superior to Judaism. As Spong sees it, there were no literal shepherds, no angels, no guiding star, no magi, no flight into Egypt,” no temptation in the Wilderness—not even a Sermon on the Mount. He therefore urges his readers to look “beyond the literal and culturally dependent interpretation of the Gospels” and read into them what he feels is “their true, more modern meaning”—a meaning that not only refutes anti-Semitism but conforms to current political agendas. In this episode of Latter-day Saint Perspectives Podcast, Laura Harris Hales interviews Bradley J. Kramer about his new book, Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament. In this book, Kramer reviews how Fisher, Salmon, Spong, as well as other Christian scholars and ministers have attempted to deal with such anti-Semitic elements as the “blood curse” in Matthew (27:25) and John’s claim that the devil is the father of the Jews (8:44), and he contrasts their efforts with the approach employed by the Book of Mormon.   According to Kramer, the Book of Mormon counters anti-Semitic elements in the New Testament not by avoiding, altering, reimagining, or rejecting its most problematic passages but by joining with the New Testament and by adding to an expanded canon a multitude of pro-Jewish elements. Coming as they do from a scripture of equal stature and status, the many pro-Jewish statements, portrayals, settings, and structuring elements present in the Book of Mormon mix in with their anti-Semitic counterparts in the New Testament and overwhelm them with their greater power, broader context, wider sweep, and closer connections to Judaism as it is practiced today. In this way, the Book of Mormon discourages anti-Semitic attitudes and behaviors in the same way the New Testament encourages them—literarily, and it does so respectfully, without challenging the New Testament’s text or undermining its religious authority or reliability. As Kramer writes, just as “the Gospels work together, despite their differences, to provide Christians with a more complete and more religiously accurate picture of Jesus and his teachings,

Horrified by the Holocaust and fearful that the New Testament, as it has been traditionally understood, may have contributed to this tragedy, Christian scholars and ministers of all stripes have, in recent decades, proposed several, “extra-textual” ways of altering that understanding. Eugene Fisher, for instance, the former director of ecumenical affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, warns against reading the passion accounts, which seem to portray all Jews as guilty of Jesus’s death, from the pulpit without “adequate catechesis and preparation.” He also recommends that passages that reinforce this charge, such as the Parable of the Marriage Feast in Matthew (22:1–15), should be avoided entirely. Marilyn Salmon, an episcopal priest and writer, similarly counsels caution when presenting certain incidents in the New Testament, especially in the Gospel of John. She encourages ministers to read from Bibles that substitute “our people,” “the crowd,” or “the public” for John’s spiritually blind “Jews” and suggests that when they relate stories that appear to accentuate that blindness, such as Nicodemus’ nocturnal visit to see Jesus, that they do so imaginatively, from another, pro-Jewish, viewpoint. In addition, both Salmon and Fisher recommend that readers of the New Testament avail themselves of “interpretive tools,” such as study Bibles and scholarly commentaries, which place the hostility towards Jews present in John and in the other Gospels in a more historically limited, less “everlasting” context. John Shelby Spong, a retired episcopal bishop, offers a more radical and, for many, a less acceptable approach. He views many of the events in the Gospels as simply “untenable,” primarily because they represent for him literary, not historical, efforts to portray Christianity as superior to Judaism. As Spong sees it, there were no literal shepherds, no angels, no guiding star, no magi, no flight into Egypt,” no temptation in the Wilderness—not even a Sermon on the Mount. He therefore urges his readers to look “beyond the literal and culturally dependent interpretation of the Gospels” and read into them what he feels is “their true, more modern meaning”—a meaning that not only refutes anti-Semitism but conforms to current political agendas. In this episode of Latter-day Saint Perspectives Podcast, Laura Harris Hales interviews Bradley J. Kramer about his new book, Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament. In this book, Kramer reviews how Fisher, Salmon, Spong, as well as other Christian scholars and ministers have attempted to deal with such anti-Semitic elements as the “blood curse” in Matthew (27:25) and John’s claim that the devil is the father of the Jews (8:44), and he contrasts their efforts with the approach employed by the Book of Mormon.   According to Kramer, the Book of Mormon counters anti-Semitic elements in the New Testament not by avoiding, altering, reimagining, or rejecting its most problematic passages but by joining with the New Testament and by adding to an expanded canon a multitude of pro-Jewish elements. Coming as they do from a scripture of equal stature and status, the many pro-Jewish statements, portrayals, settings, and structuring elements present in the Book of Mormon mix in with their anti-Semitic counterparts in the New Testament and overwhelm them with their greater power, broader context, wider sweep, and closer connections to Judaism as it is practiced today. In this way, the Book of Mormon discourages anti-Semitic attitudes and behaviors in the same way the New Testament encourages them—literarily, and it does so respectfully, without challenging the New Testament’s text or undermining its religious authority or reliability. As Kramer writes, just as “the Gospels work together, despite their differences, to provide Christians with a more complete and more religiously accurate picture of Jesus and his teachings,

The Rev. Dr. Joanne Sanders preached on December 15, 2019 at Stanford Memorial Church.  The readings for the sermon was “A Modern Magnificent” by John Shelby Spong and Luke 1: 46-55.

The writer of the Gospel of Matthew records that Joseph the son of Jacob a dreamer of dreams, protected his step son (Jesus) by taking him to Egypt. What do you think the first century Jewish Christians thought about this familiar theme from their rich history? What was Matthew’s theological point? Some of the thoughts for this post were inspired by the thoughts of James Dunn and John Shelby Spong. Here are the books that capture some of the concepts. The Oral Gospel Tradition by Amazon.com Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802867820/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_kdcHCbWY0F146 Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy: A Journey into a New Christianity Through the Doorway of Matthew’s Gospel by Amazon.com Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062362313/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_wEWICb6FCC9S0

The writer of the Gospel of Matthew records that Joseph the son of Jacob a dreamer of dreams, protected his step son (Jesus) by taking him to Egypt. What do you think the first century Jewish Christians thought about this familiar theme from their rich history? What was Matthew's theological point? Some of the thoughts for this post were inspired by the thoughts of James Dunn and John Shelby Spong. Here are the books that capture some of the concepts. The Oral Gospel Tradition by Amazon.com Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802867820/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_kdcHCbWY0F146 Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy: A Journey into a New Christianity Through the Doorway of Matthew's Gospel by Amazon.com Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062362313/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_wEWICb6FCC9S0

Today We sit down with Bishop John Shelby Spong.  Jack is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000 he was Bishop of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey). He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. He calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and […] The post Mythical Jesus: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today We sit down with Bishop John Shelby Spong.  Jack is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000 he was Bishop of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey). He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. He calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and… Read More »Christ Of Faith: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness The post Christ Of Faith: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness appeared first on Christ of Faith.

Today We sit down with Bishop John Shelby Spong.  Jack is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000 he was Bishop of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey). He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. He calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and […] The post Mythical Jesus: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Jeff and Allen have another conversation with Jennifer Knapp about the many things she is currently working on.  The discussion takes us through her recently finished theology degree from Vanderbilt University, her upcoming tour and finally one of her favorite cooking methods. For those unfamiliar with Jennifer Knapp’s work, she has been a recording artist since the late 1990s.  She started her music as a CCM artist. After an extended hiatus and coming out as a lesbian Jennifer started the second half of her musical career outside CCM.  She refers to her current musical trajectory as career 2.0. In addition to being an accomplished singer and songwriter Jennifer is also the founder of a non-profit  called Inside Out Faith.  Inside Out Faith helps faith communities educate, affirm and foster support of LGBTQ persons and their allies. In this episode Jennifer shares how her theological education is shaping her current work and gives some solid recommended reading for anyone looking to move forward in their religious exploration.  Her recommendations include works from Karen Armstrong, Diarmaid MacCulloch and John Shelby Spong. She also shares more about her upcoming tour in which she plays songs from her career 1.0 as a CCM artist.  She talks about that the tour was at the request of her fans, many of whom have grown right alongside Jennifer and view many of her songs, old and new, as the soundtrack of their lives.  Her upcoming Christmas music with Margaret Becker is also discussed. Finally, we end on a lighter note as Jeff and Jennifer nerd out on the wonder that is cooking Sous Vide.  They share go-to recipes practically turning the show into a foodie podcast. To find out more about Jennifer Knapp and all her work visit her website at www.JenniferKnapp.com. RELEVANT LINKS From Another Conversation with Jennifer Knapp A Conversation with Jennifer Knapp – Isolation, Creativity & Career 2.0 – 102 (First Irenicast episode with Jennifer Knapp) Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Theologian) Reinhold Niebuhr (Theologian) Matthias Roberts (Host of the Queerology Podcast) Live from SpiritPride Vancouver – E56 (Queerology Podcast Episode) Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Methodology for Theological Reflection) A History of God by Karen Armstrong (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) The Reformation by Diarmaid Macculloch (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) Bart Ehrman (Biblical Scholar & Author - Amazon Affiliate Link) Jesus for the Non-Religious by John Shelby Spong (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) The Future of Faith by Harvey Cox (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) Bonnie Raitt (Musician) The B-52's - Love Shack (Official Music Video) Tracy Chapman (Musician) Natalie Merchant (Musician) Tommy Boy Movie CLIP - JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy (YouTube Video) Chris Farley Interview with Paul McCartney (YouTube Video) Margaret Becker (Musician) Jennifer Knapp Concerts through Concert Window Sous-vide (Wiki) ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide (Amazon Affiliate Link) Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker (Amazon Affiliate Link) Inside Out Faith (Jennifer Knapp’s LGBTQ+ Advocacy Group) CORRECTIONS At 48:11 Jeff mentions Jennifer Knapp’s online concert series called Second Thursdays, however Jeff mistakenly refers to them as Second Tuesdays. YOUR SUPPORT Thank you for listening to Irenicast.  If you appreciate the show please consider sharing your appreciation by rating, reviewing and/or subscribing to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or whatever platform you’re listening on. You can also help support the show financially by going to irenicast.com/amazon to do your Amazon shopping.  This will cost you nothing, but Amazon will give a portion of the proceeds to the show. IRENCAST HOSTS Jeff Manildi | co-host and producer | jeff@irenicast.com Jeff  is the Director of Discipleship at a United Methodist church on the central coast of California and co-founder of Irenicast.  In addition to getting his B.A. in Theology, he also received his ordination through the prestigious online organization of The Universal Life Church whose alumni include the likes of Conan O’Brien and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.  Jeff loves all things that tell a story: people, movies, tv, music, comics, etc. You can follow Jeff (@JeffManildi) on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.  You can also listen to Jeff’s other podcast Divine Cinema. Rev. Allen O’Brien | co-host | allen@irenicast.com Allen is the pastor of a UCC church in Northern California and co-founder of Irenicast. He believes in the importance of education, peace, and ecology, throws things to his border collie Sonata, and writes for multiple platforms. You can follow Allen (@RevAllenOB) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & Good Reads.  Also if you are in the Sacramento, CA area check out Allen’s brick and mortar version of this podcast called Intersections. ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION Join our progressive Christian conversations on faith and culture by interacting with us through the following links: Read Us on our blog Irenicon Email Us at podcast@irenicast.com Follow Us on Twitter and Google+ Like Us on Facebook Listen & Subscribe to Us on iTunes, Google Play, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, Spreaker and SoundCloud Speak to Us on our Feedback Page and the Post Evangelical Facebook Group See Us on Instagram Support Us on Amazon Love Us? CREDITS Intro and Outro music created by Mike Golin. This post may contain affiliate links.  An Irenicon is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Bishop John Shelby Spong has been on the leading edge of progressive Christianity. Over the decades he has shared his own honest journey with faith, doubt, and social activism as an Episcopal priest, bishop, and author. Some of his many books include: Living in Sin? A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture, and Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers in Exile. He is the author of the newly released, Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today. This conversation with Bishop Spong is the fourth of five interviews in my series, Revisioning Christianity. Already we heard from John Dominic Crossan, Resurrecting Easter: How the West Lost and the East kept the Original Easter Vision, Bart Ehrman, author of The Triumph of Christianity: How A Forbidden Religion Swept the World, and David Skrbina: The Jesus Hoax: How St. Paul’s Cabal Fooled the World for Two Thousand Years. Next week, I speak with Angela Yarber about the Holy Women Icons Project. All of those interviews are available on podcast at Progressive Spirit.

Dr. David Skrbina makes the case that Christianity started as a hoax by Paul: "Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most famous men in history.  There are good reasons to believe that he walked the earth some two thousand years ago, and was eventually crucified. But what about Jesus Christ, son of God?  What if he never existed?  What if the divine, virgin-born, resurrected Jesus Christ was a myth, a lie—even a hoax?  That would have huge implications for modern-day Christianity; it would mean that there is a gigantic falsehood at the core of the religion of some two billion people.In this book, Dr. David Skrbina presents a profound and stunning theory:  that St. Paul and a band of friends constructed a ‘Jesus hoax.’  They took a kernel of truth based on Jesus, the man, and turned him into the divine savior of humanity.  They did so as a way to strike back at the hated Roman Empire, and to undermine its strength among the common people."That is from the back cover of The Jesus Hoax: How St. Paul's Cabal Fooled the World for Two Thousand Years by Dr. David Skrbina. https://www.davidskrbina.com/jesus-hoax   This is the third part of series on Revisioning Christianity. Different scholars bring different views to help us understand the history of Christianity and its future. How did Christianity become empire’s religion? Is it believable today? Was it ever believable? Does it yet have a message to inspire peace and justice? Or is it the result of a malicious hoax and a bad idea?  John Shuck’s five guests include 1) Bart Ehrman, author of the newly released, The Triumph of Christianity: How A Forbidden Religion Swept the World,2) John Dominic Crossan, who with his wife, Sarah Sexton Crossan have just released Resurrecting Easter: How the West Lost and the East Kept the Original Easter Vision. 3) John Shelby Spong, author of the newly released, Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today, 4) Angela Yarber, creator of the Holy Women Icons Project, and this week,5) David Skrbina, author of the newly released, The Jesus Hoax: How St. Paul’s Cabal Fooled the World for Two Thousand Years, Dr. David Skrbina is a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, where he's taught since 2003.  His areas of expertise are philosophy of mind, philosophy of technology, and history of religion. Professor Skrbina's books include Panpsychism in the West, The Metaphysics of Technology and Mind that Abides.   Professor Skrbina corresponded extensively with Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, and in 2010 published Technological Slavery. This was the first book written by Ted Kaczynski.  It contains the only corrected version of his manifesto, five previously unpublished essays, and about 100 pages of letters to Dr. Skrbina. Dr. Skrbina is a pioneer in eco-philosophy encompassing ethics, metaphysics, and cosmology and is Deputy Director of the Eco-Philosophy Center. He ran for Lieutenant Governor for the state of Michigan in 2006 with the Green Party. He has a master’s degree in Mathematics and a Ph. D. In philosophy. 

Bart Ehrman asks how did a religion that began with a small group of illiterate day laborers become the dominant religion of the Roman Empire in just three centuries? What was gained and what was lost when the Roman Empire became the Christian Roman Empire? This is the second part of series on Revisioning Christianity. Different scholars bring different views to help us understand the history of Christianity and its future. How did Christianity become empire’s religion? Was Christianity a hoax? Is it believable today? Does it yet have a message to inspire peace and justice?  John Shuck's five guests include 1) John Dominic Crossan, who with his wife, Sarah Sexton Crossan have just released Resurrecting Easter: How the West Lost and the East Kept the Original Easter Vision. 2) John Shelby Spong, author of the newly released, Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today, 3) David Skrbina, author of the newly released, The Jesus Hoax: How St. Paul’s Cabal Fooled the World for Two Thousand Years, 4) Angela Yarber, creator of the Holy Women Icons Project, and this week, 5) Bart Ehrman, author of the newly released, The Triumph of Christianity: How A Forbidden Religion Swept the World,   Bart Ehrman is a leading authority on the New Testament and the history of early Christianity. He is the author of more than 30 books and is Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He has been on my program three times previously. Previously we discussed his books, Did Jesus Exist? Jesus Before the Gospels, and How Jesus Became God. Today we explore the question, “How did Christianity triumph?” His book is The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World.

John Shuck begins a five-part series on Revisioning Christianity. How did Christianity triumph? Was it a hoax? Is it unbelievable? Does it yet have a message to inspire peace and justice?  My five guests include Bart Ehrman, author of the newly released, The Triumph of Christianity: How A Forbidden Religion Swept the World, John Shelby Spong, author of the newly released, Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today, David Skrbina, author of the newly released, The Jesus Hoax: How St. Paul's Cabal Fooled the World for Two Thousand Years, Angela Yarber, creator of the Holy Women Icons Project, and starting us off, John Dominic Crossan, who with his wife, Sarah Sexton Crossan have just released Resurrecting Easter: How the West Lost and the East Kept the Original Easter Vision. Professor John Dominic Crossan is regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. He is the author of 30 or so books including his hugely influential, The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant. This is the third time Professor Crossan has been on Progressive Spirit. Previously on this show we discussed his books, The Power of Parable: How Fiction by Jesus became fiction about Jesus, and How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis Through Revelation. In this episode, we discuss how the vision of Easter as depicted in the Eastern iconography of Anastasis "rising up" symbolizes non-violent resistance to empire.Re

We revisit a 2016 interview with Bishop Spong to mark the release of his new book, Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Shelby Spong, whose books have sold more than a million copies, was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, NJ for 24 years. Guest Biography John Shelby Spong, whose books have sold more than a million copies, was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. Many of the views that once turned the former Episcopal bishop into a lightning rod are now regarded as so matter-of-fact that they barely garner much notice: ordaining gay clergy, blessing same-sex marriages, or having a female presiding bishop. His admirers acclaim him as a teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary layperson — he’s considered the champion of an inclusive faith by many, both inside and outside the Christian church. In one of his recent books, The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible’s Texts of Hate to Discover the God of Love (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2005), this visionary thinker seeks to introduce readers to a proper way to engage the holy book of the Judeo-Christian tradition. A committed Christian who has spent a lifetime studying the Bible and whose life has been deeply shaped by it, Bishop Spong says he was not interested in Bible bashing. “I come to this interpretive task not as an enemy of Christianity,” he says. “I am not even a disillusioned former Christian, as some of my scholar-friends identify themselves. I am a believer who knows and loves the Bible deeply. But I also recognize that parts of it have been used to undergird prejudices and to mask violence.” A visiting lecturer at Harvard and at universities and churches worldwide, Bishop Spong delivers more than 200 public lectures each year to standing-room-only crowds. His bestselling books include Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, A New Christianity for a New World, Why Christianity Must Change or Die, and Here I Stand. Bishop Spong’s extensive media appearances include a profile segment on 60 Minutes as well as appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News Live, Politically Incorrect, Larry King Live, The O’Reilly Factor, William F. Buckley’s Firing Line, and Extra. Bishop Spong and his wife, Christine Mary Spong, have five children and six grandchildren. They live in New Jersey. Show notes: http://www.inspiredmoney.fm/012 Links www.johnshelbyspong.com Facebook Twitter Instagram In this episode, you will learn: How growing up poor in North Carolina shaped his views and compelled him to fight for what he believes. What the bible teaches us about money. How the Diocese of Newark grew its endowed funds from $4mm to $40mm during Jack Spong's term as Bishop. Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter or Facebook. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes. Special thanks to Jim Kimo West for the music.

Marty grew up the oldest of 9 boys in a very devout Catholic family. Marty became agnostic in 1996 and as of 2011 considers himself an atheist. He is one of the friendliest, most helpful people you'll meet. I often notice him encouraging other atheists & agnostics on social media (some of them newly deconverted). Marty offers fascinating specifics about his Catholic upbringing. Just like so many deconverts, Marty took his faith very seriously. Trusting God to provide following a significant injury was a major turning point. He married at 19 years old and has been married 29 years now! His wife is a graphic designer, he is an IT developer. He likes hiking, the Seattle Seahawks, plays a little guitar and is a science enthusiast. He is also a board member with Sunday Assembly in Olympia, Washington. His daughter graduated from college in 2016 and his son is a Junior in college.   Marty's Blog:  https://nohell4u.wordpress.com martymcdonald@outlook.com   Richard Rubenstein https://www.amazon.com/When-Jesus-Became-God-Christianity/dp/0156013150   John Shelby Spong https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_19?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=rescuing+the+bible+from+fundamentalism+by+john+shelby+spong&sprefix=rescuing+the+bible+%2Cstripbooks%2C198&crid=1YUJMOE861ZGS   Marlene Winell http://marlenewinell.net   Ryan Bell & Life After God http://www.lifeaftergod.org https://www.facebook.com/ourlifeaftergod/      

Cass Midgley and Dr. Bob Pondillo interview Colleen Jousma. She was raised 7th Day Adventist and attended their flagship university to be a minister or missionary. She had (and still has) a big heart and wanted to help people. She didn't care much for trying to convert people. She taught English as a second language for a summer in Ukraine and over a year in South Korea. Her deconstruction was slow and in gentle stages, with stops at Unity Church and John Shelby Spong. Today she lives in Southern California with her partner, volunteers at animal non-profits, and Recovering From Religion. She's a blogger and has written specifically about her deconversion and the personal development she has pursued post-Christianity. And she educates Bob and I on exactly what the mark of the Beast is.    We taped this conversation on March 25th, 2017. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Our show is available on most podcast platforms.  Also, you can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge one dollar per episode through Patreon; that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast, or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. The smallest contribution is greatly appreciated. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU  Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack JohnsonThe segue music is on this episode was created by the Barry Orchestra found at barryorchestra.bandcamp.comwww.reasonnc.com Colleen's blogs:https://myjourneythrlife.wordpress.com/2017/02/23/deconversion-stories/ https://myjourneythrlife.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/i-was-a-seventh-day-adventist-christian/ https://myjourneythrlife.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/sunny-day/ brief post about how I was seeing myself after I got some clarity on how I was perceived by others (I feel this really relates to my anxiety even though at the time I didn’t realize it) https://myjourneythrlife.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/discussing-things-that-people-often-dont-discuss/ post about my depression https://myjourneythrlife.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/why-they-think-i-left/ https://myjourneythrlife.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/9/ my journey out of christianity http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ To volunteer at Recovering From Religion Their podcast: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/podcast/ Tracy McMillan's TED Talk Key Words: Bart Campolo HumanizeMe podcast Michael Dowd EA podcast episode 25 Climate Change prophets, seers inconvenient truth   post-truth out of integrity with myself Karl Marx “Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness.” doomsday YOLO Ernest Becker Denial of Death Worm at the Core “The real world is simply too terrible to admit. it tells man that he is a small trembling animal who will someday decay and die. Culture changes all of this, makes man seem important, vital to the universe, immortal in some ways” Tracy McMillan "I feel that as long as you're honest, you have the opportunity to grow. It's when you shut down, go into denial, and try to start hiding things from yourself and others, that's when you lock in certain behaviors and attitudes that keep you stuck."  

Bryan and Tina welcome Ogun back from his hiatus in the Caribbean. We discuss the our favorite parts of the Super Bowl and "the Gospel according to Lady Gaga" of empowerment, grace, and self-acceptance. That, plus John Shelby Spong's take on true religion: “True religion is not about possessing the truth. No religion does that. It is rather an invitation into a journey that leads one toward the mystery of God. Idolatry is religion pretending that it has all the answers.”

We speak with retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong about his long career, and some of his iconoclastic stances toward faith.  aWe also talk about his new book, Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome everyone to episode 99 of the Everyone’s Agnostic podcast, I’m Cass Midgley. Today, I bring you a special episode where I’m going to briefly focus on music as a voice that both called me to stay Christian and called me out, and my guest today symbolizes that tension. Some of my favorite Christian music artists were Edin-Adahl, Sweet Comfort Band, Allies, The Front, David & the Giants, Russ Taff, Charlie Peacock, the 77s, Jimmy Abegg, Mark Heard, Dave Perkins, Jon Gibson, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Switchfoot, and Adam Again.  I collected over 800 Christian music cassettes and CDs between the early 80s and late 90s. I was the music buyer at a Christian bookstore and I was a sales rep for StarSong. Early on I decided to ban secular music from my life. Part of what keeps one convinced that they’re in the right is by surrounding one’s self with music that only confirms one’s beliefs.  How could all these songs be written about something that’s not true? And yet, in the outside world, there were even more songs and musicians who felt no need to write religious songs. One of the hats my guest today wears is that of a music critic. He wrote close to 900 articles in Christian music publications between 1982 and 1999. That’s over one articles a week for 17 years and those same years coincide with my infatuation with Christianity. And if you trace those articles chronologically, he little by little, started reviewing secular music more and more, which gave me permission to lift my ban on it and listen outside the Christian sub-culture. The other thing I think this episode points out is that there are some smart Christians out there who, maybe in the vein of John Shelby Spong, or Marcus Borg, or Paul Tillich, have figured out a way to shape their Christian narrative into a redemptive work and practice that makes the world a better place. They have salvaged, at least for themselves and a few others, that which claimed to be salvation.  They’ve made craft beer out of barley and hops and it has enhanced the lived experience of those in their wake.  Reverend Brian Quincy Newcomb has served as pastor in the United Church of Christ for over 30 years. We talk about the evolution of his faith from childhood to present day. I picture him as a master craftsman that started whittling away at a solid tree trunk 40+ years ago and today it is a sculpture of a giant black bear with her cub in her mouth, a fish in one hand, and crossing a roaring river. We talk about the formation of his faith, through deconstruction and reconstruction, and his struggle with kidney cancer. And at the end, some friends offer a few words about Brian’s impact on their lives.  We taped this talk May 7th, 2016. Subscribe, rate us, and/or leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Also, you can support through our Patreon page. Credits: "Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson Thanks for listening and be a yes-sayer to what is. Link to Brian’s bio on the church website Some of Brian’s reviews on The Fire Note Peter Enn’s book: “The Sin of Certainty” Seth Godin’s Amazon book page Rene Girard interview      

A pioneer of the progressive Christian movement, John Shelby Spong, returns for the third time to Progressive Spirit.  We discuss his 25th book, Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy. The retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark demonstrates that the gospel writers were not writing material to be taken literally but liturgically. As Christianity moved away from Judaism it lost its ability to interpret the stories about Jesus.  The Christian faith became a matter of believing things that can't possibly be true.   Fundamentalist Christians, says Spong, are heretics.   He charts a course for spiritual thinkers to embrace faith and the modern world. Find his weekly column at www.johnshelbyspong.com.

In this episode, we take our first phone call from a loser, discuss middle America, and whether losing hell is a good idea or not. I don't know if there is a heaven or hell. I used to be certain there was, but these days I am not so sure. After reading the scriptures in context more than ten times, I don't see it speak of a heaven, but of a recreated earth, and there doesn't seem to be a hell, but more of an existence apart from God. Which for many of us reading this post, probably sounds pretty good. I don't claim to be a theologian, but I used to. I don't claim to be well educated, but I used to think I was. I have already been labeled a heretic by my old church, received hate mail and fighting messages from pastors, all while joyfully accepted my apostate reality, but am I going to hell? I don't think I should care anymore. At least, I don't want to. I have recently come to the conclusion that trying to live like there is a hell is of no help to the fulfillment or joy to be found in my life. It only makes me wonder who is in and who is out. So fuck it. A fellow Loser sent me this to me after his therapy session he just finished, "I had an insane therapy breakthrough today. We talked about the podcast and my time at Mars Hill the whole time. The two mind-blowing bullet points: 1 - Literally no one has authority over you, there are only people who try to exert power over you, and 2 - It’s perfectly acceptable to be pissed off, and I quote my therapist, 'to tell all those motherfuckers to fuck off forever.' " One place we know the doctrine of heaven and hell works to control and manipulate is in religion. It keeps people, contained, controlled, and pliable to the institutions needs and desires. It keeps people coming to church and inviting others with them. The more and more distance my life has from "church" the freer I feel, and the more clarity I feel I have. I am free to explore, to live life on a journey of discovery, and to enjoy the journey's of others, without judgment. Hell as an Invention of the Church John Shelby Spong retired Episcopal bishop from Newark, N.J., interviewed by Keith Morrison on Dateline, NBC, August 12, 2006. DATELINE NBC: To Hell and Back, Parts 1-4 After learning Greek and Hebrew to read the original manuscripts of the scripture, then famous evangelical megachurch pastor Carlton Pearson began to find discrepancies. He soon became to disbelieve in the doctrine of hell and began speaking about, what he called, "The Gospel of Inclusion." He lost everything because of it.   Join the CounterCulture Society:  http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT   Become a Producer:  https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion   Find Out More:  http://www.losingourreligion.org   This Episode's Landing Page:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/24/im-a-loser-middle-america-losing-hell-living-life-loser-keith-john-shelby-spong-carlton-pearson   Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion   Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion   Watch the Videos:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/24/im-a-loser-middle-america-losing-hell-living-life-loser-keith-john-shelby-spong-carlton-pearson

Rabbi Brian encourages you to, in the words of John Shelby Spong, “live fully, love wastefully.”

John Shelby Spong is one of the most influential liberal Christians in the world and advocates that Christianity needs to re-interpreted for the modern world leaving behind supernatural beliefs.  In his latest book "Eternal Life: a new vision" he claims that we need to transcend belief in God, heaven and hell to undesrtand what "Life in all its fullness" means. Terry Boyle, Uk Pastor of Insight for Living, defends an evangelical view of Scripture and doctrine and asks "what is left if we gut Christianity of its core beliefs?" For the Book "Eternal Life: a New Vision" click here For John Shelby Spong visit http://www.johnshelbyspong.com/ For Terry Boyle visit http://www.insightforliving.org.uk/ For more Christian debate and dialogue visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or Get the podcast or via Itunes If you want to explore some of the issues raised by Spong in this programme then visit: Unbelievable? 29 Aug 2009 - Jesus and the Eyewitnesses part 1 : Richard Bauckham and James Crossley Unbelievable? 20 Dec 2008 - The Virgin Birth: Fact or Fiction? Revd Michael Sayward debates Unitarian Sarah Tinker Unbelievable? 15 Nov 2008 - Does the Trinity lead to polytheism? James White of Alpha & Omega ministries debates Abdullah Al Andalusi Join the discussion at the Premier Community Email the show unbelievable@premier.org.uk

Bishop John Shelby Spong has sold over a million books.  He has been an outspoken advocate for religious literacy and social change in regards to race, gender, and sexuality.   In 2013 he published his latest book , The Fourth Gospel:  Tales of a Jewish Mystic.    Bishop Spong found this gospel “almost repellent” because it has been used to foster an outdated pre-modern view of God, religious exclusivism, literalism, and anti-semitism.  But when it is seen through the eyes of Jewish mysticism, it comes alive in a relevant way for 21st century seekers.

John Shelby Spong - Jesus for the Non-Religious - 04/19/07 by westminsterforum

Jesse Herriott is joined this week by special guest Bishop John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal bishop, best-selling author, and the preeminent voice for liberal Christianity. Bishop Spong's latest book is The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic.

In the Avett Brothers song "Ten Thousand Words," books cannot provide all of life's answers. Rev. Ken Beldon, inspired by the song's lyrics, weaves together lessons from St. Francis of Assisi, Corinthians, John Shelby Spong, Walt Whitman, Roger Ebert, and even South Park to illuminate this week's Song of the Spirit.

In the Avett Brothers song "Ten Thousand Words," books cannot provide all of life's answers. Rev. Ken Beldon, inspired by the song's lyrics, weaves together lessons from St. Francis of Assisi, Corinthians, John Shelby Spong, Walt Whitman, Roger Ebert, and even South Park to illuminate this week's Song of the Spirit.

In the Avett Brothers song "Ten Thousand Words," books cannot provide all of life's answers. Rev. Ken Beldon, inspired by the song's lyrics, weaves together lessons from St. Francis of Assisi, Corinthians, John Shelby Spong, Walt Whitman, Roger Ebert, and even South Park to illuminate this week's Song of the Spirit.

In the Avett Brothers song "Ten Thousand Words," books cannot provide all of life's answers. Rev. Ken Beldon, inspired by the song's lyrics, weaves together lessons from St. Francis of Assisi, Corinthians, John Shelby Spong, Walt Whitman, Roger Ebert, and even South Park to illuminate this week's Song of the Spirit.

This week on Religion For Life I begin my four-part series on the historical Jesus, “Will the Real Jesus Please Rise?”  For four weeks, I will interview four of the most prolific and provocative scholars in the United States, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Dr. Bart Ehrman, Dr. Robert M. Price, and Dr. John Dominic Crossan. The series begins with Bishop John Shelby Spong.  The retired Episcopal Bishop who has written over twenty books on religion, with such titles as Why Christianity Must Change Or Die, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, and Jesus for the Non-Religious talks about his new book, Reclaiming the Bible for the Non-Religious World.  Bishop Spong explains the concept of midrash in understanding how the stories about Jesus came to be written.

Jesse Herriott is joined this week by special guest Bishop John Shelby Spong, retired Episcipal bishop, best-selling author and the preeminent voice for liberal Christianity. Bishop Spong's latest book is Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World. Bishop Spong is considered the champion of an inclusive faith by many, both inside and outside the Christian church. Bishop Spong delivers more than 200 public lectures each year to standing-room-only crowds and his extensive media appearances include a profile segment on 60 Minutes, as well as appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News Live, Politically Incorrect, Larry King Live, The O'Reilly Factor, William F. Buckley's Firing Line, and Extra. 

Hosted by Michael Dowd, these conversations with leading Christian theologians, clergy, and scientists were recorded during the Christian season of Advent in 2010. Ten of the 38 hour-long episodes have been excerpted here for an hour-long podcast. Speakers are: Denis Lamoureux, Joan Chittister, Bruce Sanguin, Kenneth Miller, Gail Worcelo, Ross Hostetter, Brian McLaren, Philip Clayton, Gretta Vosper, and John Shelby Spong. The entire series can be accessed at EvolutionaryChristianity.com. Subsets of the series (an Evangelical subset and a Catholic subset) will be sampled in the following two podcasts.

To recover means to get back something previously lost, to reclaim what is useful, to find the essence of who we are, and connect that with life around us. Bishop John Shelby Spong is a visionary thinker who articulates a spirituality of wholeness—one that engages life in ways that express integrity, love and equality. He opens doors to powerful new ways of understanding and relating with Spirit's presence—ways that deepen and broaden recovery. Bishop Spong, whose books have sold more than a million copies, was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. He is a visiting lecturer at universities and churches and has made extensive media appearances. Bishop Spong also writes the weekly e-column “A New Christianity for a New World.“

John Shelby Spong is one of the best known and most highly regarded leaders in the movement within Christianity to evolve faith in step with modern times and humanity's collective intelligence. During his tenure as Episcopal Bishop of Newark, John Shelby Spong (known to friends as "Jack") was regarded as a fearless advocate for church reform -- a hero to some, a heretic to others. Spong, who retired from professional ministry in 2000, was the first to ordain an openly gay priest, and he called for Christians worldwide to leave behind premodern religion in favor of a liberal, progressive, ever-evolving faith. Spong's best-selling books include Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism • Why Christianity Must Change or Die • A New Christianity For a New World • The Sins of Scripture • and Jesus for the Nonreligious. He also has a personal website. Theme song "Holy Now" courtesy of Peter Mayer.

Is there life after death? What about heaven and hell? Retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong has some provocative ideas that you probably won't hear in church on Sundays. In this 45-minute interview with Kevin Coughlin of MorristownGreen.com, Bishop Spong discusses his new book, "Eternal Life, A New Vision," which traces the origins of religion and its clash with science. You may be surprised by which side the Bishop takes. Link: http://bit.ly/baLDUq

(1) John Shelby Spong Was the First Emergent, (2) Will Rick Warren Give and Inclusive Invocation, (3) Perry Noble, Purpose Driven Rock Star, Skimps on God's Word and Preaches About Himself

John Shelby Spong is the retired Episcopal archbishop of New Jersey and author of 15 books including "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism" and "The Sins of Scripture".70 minute phone interview with a dynamic, progressive thinker!

A pre-eminent voice for liberal Christianity, John Shelby Spong was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2000. His admirers acclaim his making contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary lay person—he's considered a champion of an inclusive faith by many both inside and outside the Christian church. His challenges to the church have also made him a target of hostility, fear, and death threats. Calling himself "a joyful, passionate, convinced believer in the reality of God," he seeks not to create a new religion, but to reform the church he loves. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 9117]

A pre-eminent voice for liberal Christianity, John Shelby Spong was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2000. His admirers acclaim his making contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary lay person—he's considered a champion of an inclusive faith by many both inside and outside the Christian church. His challenges to the church have also made him a target of hostility, fear, and death threats. Calling himself "a joyful, passionate, convinced believer in the reality of God," he seeks not to create a new religion, but to reform the church he loves. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 9117]

A pre-eminent voice for liberal Christianity, John Shelby Spong was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2000. His admirers acclaim his making contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary lay person—he's considered a champion of an inclusive faith by many both inside and outside the Christian church. His challenges to the church have also made him a target of hostility, fear, and death threats. Calling himself "a joyful, passionate, convinced believer in the reality of God," he seeks not to create a new religion, but to reform the church he loves. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 9117]