Assimilation of two or more originally discrete religious traditions
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Would you like to learn more about Japanese character like yōkai, Buddhist deities and Kami gods? Are you interested in finding out where the original stories come from? How all of that relates to tattooing? We got you covered. In this very informative episode with Joshua Frydman, associate professor of Japanese at the university of Oklahoma, specialized in Japanese ancient myths and literature, we dive into the origins of Japanese mythology and folklore. Shintoism, Buddhism, Chinese influence, philosophical/cultural implications and more. Welcome to the nerd side of tattooing :) 13:43 Overview of Japan's development 16:46 Religious systems in Japan 23:36 Syncretism of Japan 24:16 Kami and Gods 33:10 Seductivity and danger nature 39:40 Oni 42:07 Differences with Western folklore 44:38 Susanoo and Amaterasu 48:40 Not a definite answer 53:39 Godzilla modern myth 55:28 A fluid religion 1:01:05 Reading recommendations 1:04:30 Mythological names to real animals 1:06:21 Kannon's example Joshua's book: ‘THE JAPANESE MYTHS: A GUIDE TO GODS, HEROES AND SPIRITS' Stef's Instagram stefbastian.com
SummaryIn this conversation, Teresa Yanaros shares her transformative journey from the New Age movement to Catholicism, detailing her experiences with the occult and the importance of understanding spiritual practices. She emphasizes the dangers of syncretism and the blending of beliefs in modern spirituality, advocating for a clear Christian worldview and the role of sacraments in healing and deliverance. Teresa provides insights into how to engage with loved ones involved in the occult and stresses the need for discernment in spiritual practices.Takeaways* Teresa Yanaros transitioned from New Age beliefs to Catholicism after realizing the dangers of the occult.* The occult is defined as engaging with demonic spirits, often through invocation or evocation.* The New Age movement is characterized by self-centered practices that can lead to spiritual deception.* Worldview shapes our beliefs and actions; a Christian worldview is essential for discernment.* Sacraments, especially confession, play a crucial role in healing from occult practices.* Many people involved in the New Age have underlying trauma they are trying to address.* Syncretism is prevalent today, with many Christians blending beliefs from different spiritual practices.* Awareness of the occult's influence is necessary for spiritual safety and growth.* Engaging with loved ones in the occult requires love, boundaries, and knowledge.* Resources are available for those seeking to understand and escape the occult.I cannot recommend this new book from Sophia Institute Press by Teresa Yanaros enough! My conversation with Teresa was great, but her book is so helpful! Even if you have not dabbled in the occult (you probably have and don't know it), you will still be edified and inspired by this book!Buy a copy today! - https://sophiainstitute.com/product/freedom-from-darknessThanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.gooddistinctions.com
Today's sermon explores the profound and often hidden origins of Easter, dissecting the customs and symbols that have evolved over centuries. With insightful references to biblical scriptures, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding and aligning tradition with the core Gospel message. From the Apostle Paul's prayers to early Christian celebrations, this sermon invites listeners to reflect on their relationship with God and the influence of ancient pagan practices on modern Christian rituals. As the sermon progresses, it delves into historical transitions, notably the Roman Empire's impact on religious observances, and calls to question the blending of Christianity with pagan traditions. This heartfelt message encourages believers to seek truth and authenticity in their faith, urging a return to scriptural foundations amidst contemporary challenges. With Pastor Quincy Williams Origins of Easter Ephesians 4:17-19 Main Point: Do not worship the Lord God the way pagans worship their gods. Live above what the world is! Stand tall, Be Strong in Christ Jesus our foundation. Before Christ -God warns Israel not to worship the way of the pagans or to worship their gods. “ 31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. 32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:31-32) -Throughout all the Old Testament the Israelites do not heed God nor His prophets' warnings. “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths” (Judges 10:6) -It becomes a very redundant pattern of disobedience and repentance. “The nation that turns from God will always turn to other gods. The reason is simple: when God is removed, the need to worship Him remains” Jonathan Cahn After Christ's resurrection The Early Church -It wasn't until after Jesus' resurrection that He appeared to His disciples and instructs them to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” The disciples went out proclaiming the good news and baptizing those that believed. -The early Christians emphasize the Passover Lamb and Christ's crucifixion. They celebrated the Passover festival and the Day of the Resurrection which was known as the Day of the First Fruits Roman Empire -Persecuted Christians, they were viewed as a threat to established order. Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity 312 AD. Granting religious freedom to all in 313 AD. -In an attempt to push the expansion of Christianity, Constantine practiced incorporating pagan festivals into Christianity. To make it more acceptable and familiar to heathen worshippers. -The Council of Nicaea 325AD addresses theological disputes within the Christian Church and to decide on a unified doctrine. Syncretism-practice of combining different beliefs. It involves merging or assimilating different religious beliefs. -All ancient pagan religions and the occult practiced today stems from Babylon. The first one world religion. “It's interesting to note how often our Church has availed herself of practices which were in common use among Pagans. Thus, it is true, in a certain sense that some Catholic rites of Ceremonies are a reproduction of those of pagan creeds; But they are the taking of What was best from Paganism, the Keeping of symbolical practices which express the religious instinct Common to all races and times." John F. Sullivan Guide for the Gentiles and Jews (Acts 15:28-29) (1 Corinthians 10:31-33) 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:6-8) -Our celebrating of Christ's resurrection and conquering of death is not meant to be once a year! Traditions- a long-established custom or belief that has been passed on from one generation to another. “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” (Romans 14:5) Be a great witness to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit! Set yourselves a part, make it known to the world that you are a new creation in Christ the Messiah. Find other Podcasts, Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here. https://www.mvcnaz.org/live Stay in touch with our Church Center App at https://www.mvcnaz.org/churchcenter Contact us through our CONNECT form at https://www.mvcnaz.org/connect
In this episode, Dave and Jeff delve into the culturally sensitive topic of self-love, therapy, and self-discovery.They analyze how these concepts often intersect with Christianity and discuss the potential dangers to look out for and how to avoid them.Through anecdotes, biblical references, and practical advice, they aim to provide listeners with a balanced, faith-based approach to these three areas.Books mentioned in this episode:- "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self" by Carl Truman- "Strange New World" also by Carl Truman- "Telling Yourself the Truth" by William Baucus- "Waking the Dead" by John EldridgeLinkTree:https://linktr.ee/AllisonParkLeadershipNetworkEmail:Jeffl@allisonparkchurch.comDavel@allisonparkchurch.comInstagram:@Jeffleake11@Dave.Leake
What does it mean for contemporary Christians to obey the Covenant of Sinai? This sermon was preached on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
This week , Chris taught on the letter written to the city of Thyatira. Jesus's critique of the Christians there wasnthat they were tolerating a woman leading them into compromise. Jesus isn't just concerned with what we do, but also what we tolerate. Syncretism is the game of the day, where we merge religious systems. It's what we are tempted towards, but it's God OR something else, not God AND something else.
In this thought-provoking episode, pastors Dave and Jeff Leake tackle the challenging topic of false teachers and false churches. With biblical wisdom and pastoral insight, they explore:How to define a true "false teacher" versus someone who is simply in error or imbalancedExamples of false teachings and churches that distort the gospelWhether Christians should publicly "call out" leaders they disagree withThe importance of grounding believers in sound doctrine to recognize deceptionWhy the real threat may not be specific teachers, but broader ideological influencesIf you're concerned about the rise of false teachings in the church, don't miss this balanced, biblical perspective. Discover how to discern truth, protect your faith, and respond with wisdom and grace.Key Takeaways:Understand the difference between doctrinal disagreement and dangerous heresyLearn how to identify false teachings that threaten salvationGain wisdom on when and how to address errors in the churchBe equipped to guard against ideologies that contradict a Christian worldviewLinkTree:https://linktr.ee/AllisonParkLeadershipNetworkEmail:Jeffl@allisonparkchurch.comDavel@allisonparkchurch.comInstagram:@Jeffleake11@Dave.Leake
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It's Friday, February 21st, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark 10th anniversary of Muslim beheading of 21 Libyan Christians Saturday was the 10th anniversary of when 21 Christians died for their faith in Libya. Islamic State militants beheaded them on February 15, 2015 for refusing to deny Christ. Most of the believers were Egyptian Coptic Christians. Vicky Hartzler with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said, “Today, we remember the 21 young men who were brutally murdered by ISIS solely for being Christian. The U.S. government must continue to be an unrelenting voice against violence that targets religious communities, including Coptic Christians.” In memory of the 21 Christian martyrs, More Productions released a short, 13-minute animated film last year called “The 21.” You can watch it through a special link in our transcript today at TheWorldview.com. Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 and the overthrow of its then-leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi. Since then, numerous other militia groups have battled for control. According to Open Doors, Libya is the fourth most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. 74-year-old pro-life woman arrested for praying outside abortion mill Authorities in Scotland arrested a 74-year-old pro-life woman recently for standing silently outside an abortion mill in Glasgow. Rose Docherty was holding a sign that read, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” Officials charged her with violating a new “buffer zone” law that limits activities around abortion mills. It's the first arrest under the law. The arrest comes days after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called out European leaders for violating the religious freedom of pro-lifers. Kash Patel confirmed as FBI Director In the United States, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kash Patel as FBI Director on February 20th, reports The Epoch Times. PRESIDING OFFICER: “The Yeas are 51; the Nays are 49. The confirmation is confirmed.” Senators voted 51–49 to confirm Patel who gained prominence for exposing alleged FBI and Justice Department malfeasance during the Crossfire Hurricane probe into the Trump campaign. Crossfire Hurricane was the code name for the counterintelligence investigation undertaken by the FBI from July 2016 to May 2017, into links between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine crossed the aisle to join Democrats in voting against Patel's nomination. Surprisingly, GOP Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky supported Trump's nominee. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, age 91, serves as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Before the vote was cast, he made this last-minute appeal. GRASSLEY: “Mr. Patel has spent his whole career fighting for righteous causes. He's been a public defender, representing the accused against the power of the state. He's been a congressional staffer, investigating the partisan weaponization of our legal system. And he served in key national security roles, protecting Americans from foreign enemies. He's received support from former FBI agents, former federal and state prosecutors, and organizations representing more than 680,000 law enforcement officers. “But Mr. Patel's resume, his accomplishments, aren't why he's the best person for this job. Mr. Patel should be considered our next FBI director because the FBI has been infected by political bias and weaponized against the American people. Mr. Patel knows it. Mr. Patel exposed it. I've got plenty of examples to show what's wrong with the FBI.” Kash Patel wrote the 2024 book entitled, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy. Military chaplain fired for citing Romans 1 in sermon A Veterans Affairs chaplain is fighting for his religious freedom. Rusty Trubey served as a chaplain at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pennsylvania. However, Veterans Affairs removed him from his duties for preaching a sermon from Romans 1. The sermon was entitled, “When a Culture Excludes God,” and included homosexuality as an example. First Liberty Institute and the Independence Law Center are representing Trubey. Last week, they sent a letter to Douglas Collins, the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The letter noted, “This is a systemic problem. We know that you will do the right thing to correct not only the unconstitutional policies at the Coatesville Facility, but also throughout our [Veterans Affairs] system.” 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” U.S. poll: Only 40% believe in God of Bible; 4% have Biblical worldview Dr. George Barna released his latest American Worldview Inventory report. The study found that 46% of Americans agree that there is only one Supreme Spiritual Being who created and rules everything in existence. That number rose to 60% among self-identified Christians. Dr. Barna noted many have a mix-and-match approach to faith: “The latest research finds that while two-thirds of Americans identify as Christian, only 4% hold a Biblical worldview. Even more alarming, just 40% believe in the God of the Bible, down from 73% three decades ago. Instead, Syncretism—blending elements from multiple worldviews—has become the dominant perspective.” Joshua 24:15 says, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Meta plans to build 30,000-mile-long sub-sea cable And finally, Meta announced last week it is building the world's largest sub-sea cable. The tech giant is known for its social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Under its new plan called Project Waterworth, it will bring industry-leading connectivity around the world. The cable will connect five major continents and measure over 30,000 miles. That's more than the earth's entire circumference! Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, February 21st, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. And now to close the newscast is my youngest child, Valor Tyndale McManus, who is turning 10 today. He's finally hit the double digits! Seize the day for Jesus Christ. (Adam@TheWorldview.com).
From the beginning of time, a war has raged over humanity—one that seeks to distort, defile, and ultimately sever our connection to God. The Fallen Sons of God abandoned their divine purpose, descending to earth and corrupting its people through deception and genetic manipulation. Their offspring, the Nephilim, were more than just giants of old; they embodied an agenda to erase the image of God from humanity. Though their physical presence faded, their influence remains—woven into the fabric of our world through mind control and ideological deception. But darkness does not have the final say. In this episode of the Revelations Podcast, host Reagan Kramer welcomes back Dr. Laura Sanger, a researcher, author, speaker, and clinical psychologist with a deep passion for awakening people to the spiritual battle at hand. Together, they dive into the spiritual war between the sons of God and the forces of darkness, tracing its origins from biblical times to its modern-day manifestations. They discuss the erosion of biblical truth, the dangers of gender ideology, transhumanism, and the corrupt systems that seek to enslave future generations. Whether you're new to these concepts or looking to equip yourself for the days ahead, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to step into your identity as a son or daughter of God.Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:Learn the hidden truths behind the Nephilim agenda and how it impacts our world todayGain practical insights on how to rise up as a son or daughter of God, equipped with spiritual authority to combat these dark forces.Reflect on the urgency of spiritual maturity and the call to live a victorious life aligned with God's truth in perilous times.Become Part of Our Mission! Support The Revelations Podcast:Your support fuels our mission to share transformative messages of hope and faith. Click here to learn how you can contribute and be part of this growing community!ResourcesMore from the Revelations Podcast hosted by Reagan Kramer: Website | Instagram | Apple Podcast | YoutubeListen to our previous episode with Dr. Laura Sanger, “Fighting the Nephilim Agenda with our Authority in Christ”"The Roots of the Federal Reserve" by Dr. Laura Sanger"Generation Hoodwinked" by Dr. Laura Sanger"From Transgender to Transhuman" — by Martin Rothblatt"Future Humans" — Children's BookLaura Sanger: Website | Instagram | Youtube | RumbleLaura's Telegram: @laurasanger444hzBible VersesEcclesiastes 10:20Mark 41 Corinthians 14:20John 14:10John 7:16-18John 12:49-50 Galatians 4:1,7Romans 8:14Ephesians 5:112 Timothy 4:3-4This Episode is brought to you by Advanced Medicine AlternativesGet back to the active life you love through natural & regenerative musculoskeletal healing: https://www.georgekramermd.com/Episode Highlights[0:50] Introduction and Background of Dr. Laura SangerReagan Kramer welcomes back Dr. Laura Sanger to The Revelations Podcast to shed light on the hidden spiritual war shaping our world today.With a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, her work bridges biblical revelation and scholarly research. Her books, The Roots of the Federal Reserve and Generation Hoodwinked uncover deep-seated deceptions designed to enslave humanity.A recent gathering at Blurry Con provided an opportunity to reconnect with like-minded individuals and reaffirm the urgency of exposing these dark forces.[5:28] Dr. Laura's Vision and MissionA dream and vision she had in May 2020 led to the title Generation Hoodwinked, revealing a world where AI and spiritual oppression silence the voices of future generations.In the vision, Jesus led Dr. Sanger into an underground cavern where children were trapped in cages, symbolizing the control systems designed to enslave them.The Nephilim agenda thrives on deception, and exposing it is essential to breaking its power.Ephesians 5:11 and 2 Timothy 4:3-4 serve as guiding scriptures in this mission, urging believers to stand against false doctrines and wake up to the battle at hand.[11:43] The Battle of the Sons of GodLong ago, the Fallen Sons of God abandoned their heavenly domain, descending to corrupt humanity and unleash the Nephilim agenda.Their goal was to defile the human genome and stage an insurrection against God's divine order.Though Jesus secured victory through His death and resurrection, the war still rages in the spiritual realm.The need for God-fearing believers to rise up has never been greater, as deception seeks to strip humanity of its divine identity.Spiritual warfare is not passive—strongholds must be torn down, and the authority of Christ must be wielded with boldness.[15:38] Defining the Sons of GodNot all believers walk in the full authority of the Sons of God.Romans 8:14 states that those led by the Spirit are the true sons, yet many remain trapped in self-reliance rather than surrendering to divine direction.Cultural norms encourage independence, but spiritual maturity requires complete dependence on Jesus.Obedience to the Holy Spirit is the mark of a true Son of God, distinguishing those who move in divine authority from those merely going through the motions of faith.[20:28] Laura: “Sons of God are not their own person. They don't make their own decisions. They are fully surrendered to the Father's will.”The invitation to step into sonship is available to all—but it requires a willingness to follow God without hesitation.[27:13] Mixture and SyncretismThe mixing of truth with deception opens doors to bondage, preventing believers from being led by the soul rather than the Spirit.Operating from the soul—through emotions and human reasoning—rather than the Spirit leads to misguided intentions, no matter how well-meaning.Syncretism, the blending of Christian faith with pagan influences, is rampant in modern culture, from Halloween celebrations to the normalization of ideologies that distort God's design.Spiritual purity demands discernment, and the removal of compromise is essential to living victoriously in Christ.[30:12] Laura: “The Fallen sons of God, they mix their seed with human seed to birth the Nephilim. And so giving room to mixture, what that does is that allows us to take the bait that causes many of us to become hoodwinked”[36:28] The Nephilim Agenda and TransgenderismA systematic effort to erase human identity is at play, progressing from transgender ideology to full-scale transhumanism.Dr. Laura describes how this movement is being fueled by the United Nations and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE).She highlights the harmful effects of CSE on children, including promoting sexual stimulation and normalizing bestiality.The long-term effects of puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries on children's development and mental health are not acts of liberation but of enslavement[48:04] The Impact of Media and TechnologyMedia and technology are not just entertainment but tools of indoctrination.Future Humans for example, a bestselling children's book, subtly introduces transhumanist ideals by showcasing technological modifications.Movies, music, and television shows create fantasies that reinforce the allure of enhanced abilities, steering the next generation toward a post-human reality.The Nephilim agenda thrives on deception; its end goal is to wipe out humanity and cut at the heart of the Kingdom of God.[50:50] Laura: “The Nephilim agenda is really about defiling the human genome so much that we can't have relationship with Jesus anymore”[52:48] The Role of the Sons of God in Spiritual WarfareThe Sons of God are warriors, called to push back the forces of darkness with unwavering faith.The Hebrew phrase Rak Chazak Amats embodies the strength and courage required to stand in battle.Dr. Laura highlights the importance of the Sons of God in arising and maturing to become heirs of God and walking in their inheritance.As deception intensifies, Dr Laura encourages listeners to find Jesus in the secret place to develop an intimate relationship and learn His voice.[1:05:54] Practical Steps to Become a Son or Daughter of GodVictory begins in the secret place, where intimacy with Jesus is cultivated.Dr Laura emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between the true Holy Spirit and false voices in the church and media.Recognizing this requires deep connection with the True Shepherd, and daily communion with Him to ensure that fear and deception lose their grip.As the episode closes, Dr. Laura prays for listeners, asking for protection, boldness, and the empowerment to walk as Sons of God in a world desperately in need of truth.About Laura SangerDr. Laura Sanger is a researcher, author, speaker, and clinical psychologist dedicated to equipping believers with the knowledge and spiritual tools needed to navigate the unseen battle against darkness. As the founder of No Longer Enslaved, her mission is to awaken people to the pervasive influence of the Nephilim agenda and empower them to walk in their God-given authority.With a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, Dr. Laura Sanger combines scholarly research with biblical revelation to expose the hidden forces shaping our world. As the author of books such as Generation Hoodwinked: The Impact of the Nephilim Agenda Today, she unravels the deep-seated deception embedded in financial systems, transhumanism, and ideological warfare. Dr. Sanger has shared her insights on platforms across the globe, equipping believers to discern false narratives, break free from spiritual bondage, and step into their true identity in Christ. Her teachings emphasize the importance of spiritual maturity, exposing darkness, and wielding the weapons of our warfare with boldness.Connect with Dr. Laura Sanger and learn more about her conferences and resources at No Longer Enslaved.Enjoyed this Episode?If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you found our deep dive into the spiritual influences on mental health insightful, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a review and share this episode with friends and family. Step into your God-given authority and awaken as a Son of God. Expose deception, break free from spiritual bondage, and walk boldly in the truth of Christ.Have any questions? You can connect with me on Instagram.Thank you for tuning in! For more updates, tune in on Apple Podcasts.
Welcome to Season 2, Episode 14 of The Paranormal Rundown! We are down a man or two on this episode, but that is ok, because we have a fantastic guest: Father Michael Pacella! He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and ideas to the discussion. Father Michael has experience as a military chaplain, a PhD in Philosophy, experience as an exorcist, and 45 years of ministry. No wonder this conversation was so interesting! We hit the main topics of Satanic Corporate Logos, Alien Minds, and a brief stint on Sex Robots. One thing that each conversation kept coming back to was the Human Soul, from what damages it to what components it is made of. The Soul is definitely something Fr. Michael has thought deeply about. He also relays a personal story of seeing a Principality in the sky. Other topics we hit include Secret Organizations and Exorcism, Syncretism, Critical Thinking, KKK Chaplains, Soul Subversion, The Fifth Column, Demonic Influence in Combat, Soul Repair, The Soulless Mind, Demonic Obsession, Seeing Inside the Possessed, Evidence of Residence, and much more. Enjoy the Show!You can reach Fr. Michael at saintmichaelschurch14@gmail.comYou can find more information on Fr. Michael, including his books, at his Church's website:https://www.saintmichaelscec.org/fr-michael/The Continue Mission podcast is here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/continue-mission--6470802If you have any questions, comments, or want to consider being on the show, please let us know at feedback@paranormalrundown.comIf you have any bad feedback, please email us at feedback@paranormalrundown.comIf you have any good feedback, please email us at feedback@paranormalrundown.comIf you just want to see if your email is working, please email us at feedback@paranormalrundown.comGet the idea?The Paranormal Rundown is a partnership between the hosts David Griffith, JJ Johnson, Father Michael Birdsong, and Vic Hermanson.Be sure to check out our partner podcasts:You can find JJ at Southern Demonology, https://www.southerndemonology.comYou can find Vic at Trailer Trash Terrors, https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vic-hermansonYou can find Father Birdsong at https://www.becomingahouseofprayer.com, as well as hear his new podcast Ending the Curse at:https://open.spotify.com/show/5yL7ZAN4wcRKnMPAlalVXW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How can we increase our impact in 2025 in business, ministry, community outreach, and connection to younger generations? Today's episode features Dr. Adam Rasmussen, a distinguished Fellow at the Cultural Research Center Directed by George Barna. Rasmussen also serves as the Academic Dean at Arizona Christian University. Dr. Rasmussen brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive research on cultural worldviews and their influence on behavior. In this episode, he sheds light on the alarming decline in biblical adherence and offers practical, research-informed strategies for reaching and impacting the next generation. He emphasizes critical theological principles that can guide leaders in creating effective outreach and fostering genuine discipleship. Join us for a profound discussion that aims to equip leaders with the tools and insights needed to navigate the complexities of modern cultural landscapes and inspire lasting change. In this must-listen episode, Dr. Rasmussen delves into groundbreaking research from the Cultural Research Center, offering invaluable insights on how to make a profoundly positive impact in your community, ministry, and personal life. Here are some key takeaways: 1. Understanding Worldview Development** Worldview starts forming as early as 18 months and is mostly intact by age 13. Only 4% of U.S. adults hold a biblical worldview, highlighting a significant gap. 2. Engaging with the Next Generation** Importance of addressing identity, anxiety, and social justice to connect with younger generations. Practical strategies to counteract the rise of syncretistic beliefs and point people back to biblical truths. 3. Actionable Outreach Tactics** "P.A.S.T." Acronym for outreach: Pray, Ask, Serve, Tell. Building authentic relationships and gently guiding people back to spiritual truths. 4. Foundational Beliefs for Leaders** Seven cornerstone beliefs essential for discipleship. The significance of self-leadership and aligning one's life with the Gospel.
Doctrines that were set during the founding years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints enthroned as eternal (and how it is in heaven) many things that were true of life in those days but would later change. Among these was defining different roles for men and women, and also the priority of procreation. If families were going to survive in those days where most everything the family needs was produced by its own labor, the more children you had, the better. And since women were the ones who carried and gave birth to children, they, by necessity, were consigned to work that could be done while pregnant and raising children too young to work. Men's work was more physical, and it concentrated on labor that needed to be performed outside the house. What happens when these necessities change but the doctrine taught as what God wants and what heaven is all about does not? A term for the friction caused by increasingly larger mis-matches between theology and the evolving ideas/needs used by Dr. Carrie Miles, our LDF guest for this episode, is the problem of "syncretism." Two systems (our examples here are doctrine and changing economic patterns and societal shifts brought on by them) clash and each must learn to somehow manage the tensions the other. How successfully churches accommodate these shifts is a key factor in determining if a religious system stays relevant to those who are being raised in later generations. As we know, the LDS Church has had great difficulty in retaining its younger members as well as others who feel these tensions most acutely. More and more Latter-day Saints come to feel that they are not "safe" within Mormon congregations and within a church at large that does not successfully manage the crisis of syncretism. As a way of talking about this issue of "safety," Dr. Miles draws on the “Polyvagal Theory “first introduced by Stephen Porges, which maps the effects on individuals when they feel disturbed. Any and all the body systems controlled by the vagus nerve react unconsciously to stress and any feelings of danger or a sense that something is “off.” In short, the storyline of this LDF episode is the tale of church members feeling less and less safe—physically emotionally—the greater the gap becomes between teachings and the rhetoric from those who present them, the less safe people feel in the Church when their own life situations, experiences, beliefs, and primary values don't match with formal LDS positions, which have been taught as “eternal” even though they were heavily shaped by the assumptions, gender roles, and sense of sexual morality of the society in which the church emerged. This is a fascinating conversation! Listen in!
Send us a textIn his video series "Testing Christianity," Mr. Ron Charles of @Truthunedited makes a number of claims about Christianity and the word "Christian." He says Christianity is against the Bible, that the apostle Peter never wrote the word "Christian" in 1 Peter 4:16, and that Christianity is a corrupted, pagan-influenced "religion of tares." Are any of these claims valid? That's what we test in this video. We also look at some common warning signs of cults.Links mentioned in this episodeResearch on the use of Linguistic Manipulation by cults:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385905992_Linguistic_Manipulation_in_Cultshttps://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/cultish-techniques-of-manipulationhttps://study.com/academy/lesson/the-psychology-of-cults.htmlDefending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Words Mean Things02:38 The Claims of Truthunedited10:43 "Christian" in the Bible12:07 1 Peter 4:1612:55 Lost in Translation14:36 Did Peter Know Greek?18:45 Cultural Misappropriation23:23 Greek Influences in Christianity25:28 We Are To Be Set Apart28:08 Appealing to Josephus35:23 Syncretism and Language40:27 Acts 11 "First Called Christians"41:49 Early Christianity v. Judaism50:35 How the Bible defines "Christian"54:40 Language of a cult?
What drives churches into irrelevancy and compromises the family’s integrity at its core? It’s syncretism—mixing the things of God with the things of the world. And one of the greatest syncretizing tools in the world today are our phones. As Christians, we must ask ourselves, “Are these devices making me more or less holy in how I use them?” To avoid syncretism, we must, first, double down on the word of God by saturating our minds in Scripture daily. Second, we must double down on our family—don’t let the enemy kick down your home’s door anymore. And, third, we must double down on the church by faithfully devoting ourselves to its interests. Scripture Reference: Psalm 106:35-36; Deut. 18:9; Isaiah 2:6; Mark 7:8; Jeremiah 10:2; Romans 12:2 Sermon:https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/67037998177b921a763bb898
v. 1-7 Moral Depravityv. 8-16 Syncretism
Deception is simply taking a piece of the truth, and twisting it. That's what makes it so convincing. It sounds right... sort of. Almost. I believe I first read in one of C.S. Lewis's books, probably in several of them, that evil defines itself by the absence of God, just as darkness defines itself as the absence of light. Satan cannot create anything; all he can do is pervert something that God made, and intended for good. The introduction of Jonathan Cahn's most recent book, "The Dragon Prophecy," puts this extremely well, so I'm going to just quote him. He writes, "If God is good, then how could there be evil? And if God is evil, then how could God be good? But if God did not create evil, then how could evil exist? Or how could God be God?... If evil was created, it would not be a problem, nor would it be evil. Evil is a problem for the very reason that it was not created. It should not exist, because it was not created, and yet it does. The existence of evil defies the created order. It is not of the creation and thus exists in opposition to the created order. Evil exists in defiance of existence... evil is not simply a force, like that of an earthquake, a hurricane, or a fire. All these bring calamity and destruction. But none would constitute true evil. Serial killers are. Why? The hurricane is an impersonal force. It acts without consciousness, will, choice, volition, or intent. But the serial killer commits his acts with conscious intent, will, an volition--and so is evil. And so evil is not an impersonal force--but a personal one, requiring consciousness, volition, will, and intent. Thus in our search for an answer to evil, we are led to personhood... Evil is an inversion--an inversion of truth, of reality, of existence. Evil is, by nature, inverted and, by nature, inverts. It twists, bends, and turns existence in upon itself. It exists as anti-existence. Its being is anti-being, and its nature, anti-nature. It is a negation and therefore seeks to negate, a nullification that exists to nullify. It has no true, ultimate, or absolute existence and therefore acts to bring that which exists into non-existence... Possessing no absolute or true existence of its own, evil is, as well, by nature, parasitic... Evil must use the good. And so though good can exist without evil, evil cannot exist without good. Truth can exist without falsehood, but falsehood cannot exist without truth. Laws can exist without crimes, marriage without adultery, and life without murder. But crimes cannot exist without laws, adultery without marriage, nor murder exist without life. Destruction requires structure, immorality requires morality, and sin requires the holy. The good is primary. Evil is the parasitic inversion of the good. And so the existence of evil inadvertently testifies not against the existence of the good--but for it. It bears witness, unwillingly, to the existence of the good--the existence of God" (9-10). So if evil itself is an inversion of something created to be good, then nearly everything God created for our pleasure and enjoyment can also become evil... but because it contains the seeds of something that was originally good, Satan can also use that kernel of goodness, or truth, to convince us that the twisted version is actually good and true, too... and if we don't know the truth well enough to tell the difference, we'll fall for it. The Syncretism Trend According to Dr George Barna's research with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, the dominant worldview of Americans (92%) now is syncretism (https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CRC-Release-AWVI-2-April-23-2024.pdf): that is, an amalgamation of disparate and contradictory beliefs, pulled from multiple religious or philosophical ideologies, according to an individual's personal inclinations and emotions. Syncretism is therefore not a single worldview, but a mishmash of beliefs--hence the common phrase, "your truth" and "my truth." The implication is that these can be mutually exclusive, without any logical contradiction. This strategy of Satan's is nothing new. He is a liar and the father of lies by nature (John 8:44). He sticks with this approach because it works. Syncretism in the Old Testament Syncretism has been around since the days of the Old Testament, and was the main reason why the Israelites couldn't seem to stay on the "blessing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Literally the first of the Ten Commandments was "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex 20:3)--and al, the Hebrew word translated "before", also means "by" or "beside." So God wasn't saying they simply had to worship Him the most, but it was okay if they occasionally sacrificed to Baal or Molech or Asherah--so long as He was the most important. No; they were to have no other gods besides Him. Period. The entire Old Testament history is a cycle of the Israelites' disobedience of this one commandment. The first example after the Ten Commandments were given is the golden calf that Aaron made with the spoils from Egypt while Moses was up on the mountain receiving God's law (Ex 32). These Israelites had spent their entire lives in Egypt, where a pantheon of gods were worshipped (many of whom God specifically humiliated by the plagues chosen to eventually force Pharaoh to let them go). When they made the golden calf, the Israelites declared that this was God--the One who had delivered them from Egypt (Ex 32:4). So they weren't exactly abandoning Yahweh for some other god; rather, they were mixing Him with the gods they had grown up with. Then, the Israelites tended to mix worship of Yahweh with worship of the gods of neighboring nations, even before they ever got to the Promised Land. Israel's enemies feared God, and one of them (King Balak of Moab) sent for Balaam, a local seer, to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24). God wouldn't allow Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam wanted Balak's money... so instead, he told Balak how to get the Israelites to curse themselves, by placing themselves on the "cursing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Numbers 25 shows the result: the Moabite harlots used sex to entice the men of Israel into idolatry. The issue in this case wasn't so much the sex, as it was that sex was used in worship of false gods. The cycle repeats throughout the Old Testament: Israel falls into idolatry, they fall under the 'cursing' side of God's covenant as a result (bringing themselves out from under His protection, and subject to Satan's machinations), they get oppressed by their enemies, they cry out to God, and God delivers them. They renew their vows to and worship of the One True God in varying degrees, but then they forget again, fall into idolatry, and the cycle repeats. God had laid out very clearly that they would be blessed if they followed His laws, and cursed if they didn't (Deut 28), and the very first commandment was no gods before Him. It was the first for a reason: God knows that we were made to worship something, and we treasure what we worship. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt 6:21), and our hearts guide the course of our lives (Prov 4:23). Eventually Israel split into two kingdoms (Northern and Southern, or Israel and Judah) over this very issue. Most of the subsequent kings of both nations perpetuated idolatry, though a few tried to purge the nation of idolatry to varying degrees, and enjoyed the 'blessing' side of the covenant for a time as a result (Deut 28). But God sent prophet after prophet to the Northern and Southern nations (writers of most of the major and minor prophetic books of the Old Testament), warning them of impending destruction if they did not repent of their idolatry. They ignored the warning, and eventually both nations were taken into captivity because of their idolatry: Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon. (Though of course, God was not done with Israel, and His promises to them still stand--Ezekiel 37 prophesied their restoration to their own land as a resurrection of dry bones, which miraculously took place on May 14, 1948. And the nation of Israel takes center stage throughout most of the book of Revelation, from chapter 5 on.) Syncretism in the New Testament Syncretism was around during the time of the early church, too, particularly in Paul's ministry. God sent him as the apostle to the Gentiles, who practiced varying forms of pagan beliefs already. They attempted to mix Jesus with these beliefs, until Paul's preaching convicted them to follow Jesus only, burning their books of magic arts and getting rid of their idols of Greek and Roman gods (Acts 19:11-20--which turned into a big riot in the city, v 21-41). Paul described the end times as being a time of "unrighteous deception among those who perish" (2 Thess 2:10), so we can expect that as we approach that day, this will only increase. Jesus told us that in the last days, "if possible, even the elect" would be deceived (Matt 24:24). The Greek work for deception in these verses is planao, and it means "to lead away from the truth, to lead into error." This inherently means that there is such a thing as truth. If you believe something contradictory to that truth, that is deception. We're living in an age that largely borrows from postmodernism as part of the syncretic worldview. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Postmodernists deny that there are aspects of reality that are objective; that there are statements about reality that are objectively true or false; that it is possible to have knowledge of such statements (objective knowledge); that it is possible for human beings to know some things with certainty; and that there are objective, or absolute, moral values." Holders of this worldview are therefore confused about even observable or mathematical truths, let alone those that are not observable (such as whether or not there is a God, and if there is, how many, and which one, how do we get to Him, etc). So before we even approach the topic of how to avoid being deceived, we have to establish that there is such a thing as objective truth. If there isn't, then there is no such thing as deception, either, since deception derives its definition from truth (just as darkness derives its definition from light, by the absence of it). What Is Truth (i.e. Is There Such A Thing As Objective Reality?) The best argument I've heard on the topic of whether or not there is an objective reality comes from Dr Jason Lisle's "The Ultimate Proof of Creation" (which is a book, but here is his lecture on the argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ_UxcV-xcM). While there is an abundance of apologetic evidence for the scientific and historical accuracy of scripture (here's the first in an apologetics series I did on the subject, https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/), Lisle points out that none of these arguments can be definitive, because someone who holds a different worldview can simply invoke a "rescuing device" to explain away any evidence that seems to contradict his own position. We all do this, and it's not necessarily a bad thing--for example, if someone points out an apparent contradiction in scripture, my first reaction isn't, "Oh, I guess the Bible is wrong!" Rather, I assume there's additional information I don't happen to know about yet, which resolves the apparent contradiction, and then I go look for it. Even if I can't find it at the time, I am still certain it exists, and someone will find it eventually. That's a rescuing device, to preserve an otherwise deeply held worldview without logical contradiction. The real key to establishing which worldview is correct lies in that last statement: "without logical contradiction." There are laws that govern the way the world and the universe works--laws that we all have to believe in and abide by in order to know anything at all. C.S. Lewis expounded on this concept in "Mere Christianity" (https://www.authorcagray.com/posts/mere-christianity/) with respect to morality, in particular--the idea that we all know that there are universal laws of decency and conduct, and we further know that we don't live up to them. But, that being the case, who made those laws? Where did they come from? He argues that their very existence necessitates a lawgiver. Lisle takes this argument further--the existence of non-moral rules that govern how the material world works, such as the laws of logic, and principles of math and science, are the presuppositions upon which all knowledge is based. Everyone has to abide by these, no matter what their worldview is, or it would be impossible to know anything at all. But who made those rules? Where did they come from? Why does math work? Why do we all assume the laws of logic in order to have a coherent conversation? This, too, necessitates a creator. Many who abide by laws of math, science, and logic (and morality, for that matter) don't happen to have a theistic worldview, but that in and of itself is a logical inconsistency; they can't account for those rules in their worldviews at all. They have to borrow from the theistic worldview in order to make any of their other arguments. This is the very place where postmodernism diverges, though. If there is no objective reality, then knowledge of any kind doesn't exist. Most of those who hold this worldview at least believe in morality of some kind. Lewis's argument might be most relevant here--you'll never get someone persuaded by postmodernism and religious syncretism to argue that murder, or genocide, or racism are fine, for example. They know these are wrong because they "feel" them to be wrong--and they're not just wrong for them, they're wrong for everyone. Now we have at least one absolute... which necessitates a lawgiver not only for morality, but also for at least one logical law: that of non-contradiction. This already establishes the existence of an objective reality. If there is an objective reality, then necessarily, some statements about it must be true while others must be false. The world is round and not flat, for example. If a world exists at all, both things cannot be true about it at the same time and in the same way, simultaneously--that would be a logical contradiction. Which Objective Reality Is It? (Can Anybody Know?) If some objective reality does in fact exist, how do we know which one it is? How do we know that our senses are reliable, first of all, and that we're not living in a simulation a la "The Matrix," for instance--one in which the laws of morality, logic, math, and science are simply foundational to the code? This argument goes back to Descartes, who concluded that at the very least, he must exist after some fashion, because his consciousness told him he must. C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity" used a similar line of reasoning, arguing that if there were a deeper reality, one that created this reality, we couldn't possibly find out anything about it through our five senses. Of course we couldn't; those senses are of the physical world, and can thus only give us information about the physical world. Our consciousness, however, has no identifiable physical reality. (To this day, science cannot explain what consciousness actually is - https://www.drlaurendeville.com/electromagnetism-vital-force/.) So Lewis argues that, if there were anything knowable about the world beyond our own, the only place where we might possibly expect to find clues about it would be in our own consciousness. And there, in fact, we do find such clues: specifically, we all have a sense of right and wrong. While we might quibble about the details therein--someone might say that under such and such a condition, killing someone is not murder, for example--no one will seriously argue that murder is morally fine. One might have different rules surrounding the morals of sex, but nobody is going to say you can just have any person you like anytime you like. This establishes several things, according to his argument: the existence of a moral law outside of our reality, of how we ought to behave (even though we know we don't, or at least not always, and certainly not perfectly), which necessitates the implied existence of a law-giver. The very fact that we do not keep the law (even though we know we should) is the whole point of the law of the Old Testament, too (Romans 7)--but even those who didn't know the Old Testament were aware of the moral law to this extent, so that no one is without excuse (Romans 1:18-2:16). Once we know that there is a moral law, and that we're incapable of keeping it on our own, that narrows down the possible religions considerably. We must choose one that hinges on the concept of grace, not works. There is literally only one of those. (More on that in this podcast: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/relational-apologetics/). That's why we call Christianity the gospel, which means good news: the good news is that, while you can't make yourself righteous no matter how hard you try, you don't have to make yourself righteous because Jesus did it for you. All you have to do is accept what He did on your behalf. Once you've gotten to this place, now all the scientific apologetics (start here: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/) can fall into their proper place: as corroborating evidence for the Bible. But the Bible has to be philosophically established as authoritative first. Once we've established that the Bible is truth (John 17:17, Psa 25:5, Psa 91:4, Psa 96:13, 100:5, 117:2, 119:142, 151, 160; 138:2, Prov 3:3, Col 1:5), we've got to learn what it says--well enough that Satan can't take it out of context and feed it back to us, or add a tiny bit to it to change the meaning. That's exactly how he works, though. He even tried that with Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). Fortunately Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14), so He didn't fall for it... but the less we actually know the scripture, the more vulnerable we'll be to this strategy. Knowing the Truth Well Jesus warned us that as the last days approach, Satan will double down on this strategy: that false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matt 24:11), claiming to be Jesus returned (Mark 13:6), some with signs and wonders. At the same time, Revelation suggests that in the last days, the church will become apathetic, so prosperous materially that we will be unaware of our spiritual emptiness (Rev 3:14-22). (This sounds a lot like the seeds choked by thorns in Jesus' parable of the sower: the seed is choked by "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and he becomes unfruitful", Matt 13:22). Peter tells us that "scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" (2 Peter 3:3-4). Paul tells us that the last days will be accompanied by a great "falling away" (2 Thess 2:3). Deception comes in many forms, but one thing they all have in common is that they act almost like a vaccine against the truth. There's just enough truth to them, mixed with a lot of untruth, that it's hard to tease apart the good from the bad. In that way, they can deceive "even the elect, if possible" (Matt 24:24, Mark 13:22). We protect against this, in a nutshell, by knowing the truth really, really well. This is the way bankers are trained to recognize counterfeit money: they don't study every possible counterfeit (there will always be a new one). Rather, they learn what the real thing looks like so well that they'll know when something seems off, even if they can't articulate what it is. In the same way, we're to renew our minds with the Word (Romans 12:2); that's how we will recognize truth from lies. Otherwise, it's all too easy for Satan to take a sliver of truth, mix it with a lie, and so deceive us. An Old Testament example of this is found in 2 Kings 18. The back story: in Numbers 21:6-9, the people had sinned, had come out from under the protection of God's covenant, and were dying from bites from poisonous snakes. God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole, and told the people that if they would only look at the serpent, they would be healed. We know with hindsight that this was a type and shadow of Jesus, who was made sin for us, and became our substitutionary sacrifice ("by His stripes, we are healed," Isaiah 53:5). But the Jews didn't realize that; all they knew was that God ordained healing through looking at the pole, so the pole became a symbol of deliverance. But over the centuries, they made looking at the pole into a formula: the shadow without the substance of Jesus behind it. It became an idol, which they called Nehushtan. Back to 2 Kings 18, centuries later: verse 4 tells us that King Hezekiah had torn down the high places and broke Nehushtan in pieces. Later in the chapter, Judah is threatened with destruction by a messenger from the King of Assyria, Rabshakeh. This would have been especially terrifying, since Israel (by this point they has become two nations, Israel and Judah) had already been carried into captivity by Assyria, in punishment for the fact that the people kept falling into idolatry and had forsaken God. So when Rabshakeh threatened the people with destruction, he said, "You broke down God's symbols of worship! Why would He come through for you?" (2 Kings 18:22). The people of Judah had to know God and His word well enough to know that what Hezekiah did was actually right in God's eyes (2 Kings 18:5-7). God had originally ordained the serpent on the pole, yes, but the people had made it into an idol, which broke the first of the Ten Commandments. Hezekiah's actions had placed the Jews on the right side of God's covenant (Deut 28), so they, unlike their sister nation of Israel, could trust that God would come through for them. But if the people had not understood all the back story, they might easily have believed Rabshakeh's taunts. They could have lost faith that God would come through for them, convinced that they would go the way of Israel before them, and turned against Hezekiah, thinking he'd brought them out from under God's protection. This is how the enemy works. The serpent is subtle and cunning (Gen 3:1, 2 Cor 11:3-4). Satan tried to deceive Jesus not even by misquoting scripture, just by quoting it out of context (Matt 4:6). This happens to us today all the time. One common example is the teaching that God causes or (directly) allows sickness in order to discipline us, or to teach us something, or for the "greater good". This sounds so spiritual, and a host of out of context scriptures even seem to back it up--yet Deut 28 makes it clear that sickness is always considered a curse. Jesus became a curse for us and redeemed us from the curse (Gal 3:13-14), and even before that, He healed all who came to Him (Matt 15:30, Matt 4:23-24, Matt 8:16, Matt 9:35, Matt 10:1, Matt 12:15, Matt 15:30, Luke 4:40, Luke 10:9). Jesus He was a perfect representation of the Father (John 5:19, 5:30, 8:28, 12:49). So this cannot be right. He may take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good (Gen 50:20), but that doesn't mean He caused the evil in the first place. Not even close. (For more on this, see https://www.drlaurendeville.com/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective/). Truth is the foundation of the spiritual armor (Eph 6:14)--it must go on first, before anything else. The Bible can testify to us that not only is the Word truth, but God is the God of truth (Isa 65:16), that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). Only knowing the truth will make us free (John 8:32). If we focus on knowing the truth, we will recognize deception. It's important to also rely upon the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6), to guide us, rather than on our own understanding (Prov 3:5-6), or the wisdom of the world (1 Cor 1:20-2:7), or any other spirit besides the Holy Spirit. The world is confused about what truth is (John 18:37-38) because they don't hear His voice--but we do. This shouldn't be a problem for us. Cross-Reference What You Hear Along those lines, just because we hear a doctrine preached from the pulpit doesn't mean it's so. It's our responsibility to be like the Bereans in Acts 17--when Paul and Silas preached the word to them there, Luke writes of them, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed" (Acts 17:11). They didn't just take Paul and Silas's word for it; they went straight to the source text to confirm it. Paul later wrote to the Galatians, "even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8-9). He repeats himself, because this is so important. Forget him--even if an angel preaches it, let him be accursed! We are not to blindly follow any person simply because of his or her authority. (We're to respect authority of all kinds, Romans 13:1-7--that's a different issue. But when what someone in authority says comes in conflict with God's word, we obviously go with God's word, Acts 4:19). There are plenty of warnings about false teachers in scripture (though one important note here--there's a difference between a false teacher, and a good person doing his or her best who is simply flawed. None of us is going to get everything right. This is the reason why James says that not many should become teachers, as they will "receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things," James 3:1-2.) A false teacher, though, is one who will distort the truth (Acts 20:29-30, 2 Peter 3:16), by mixing it with myths/fables (Titus 1:14) or "merely human commands" (Matthew 16:1-12) or the traditions of men (such as forbidding to marry, abstaining from certain foods, 1 Tim 4:3), according to the principles of the world (Col 2:4-8). They will pretend to be godly or moral, though (2 Cor 11:13-15, 2 Tim 6:5)--so we must use discernment. There are a few criteria we're given to distinguish a false teacher from just a flawed human being, in process like the rest of us: Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a false teacher (1 John 2:22-23, 4:2-3) Some may lie intentionally for their own gain (Deut 18:20, Ezekiel 13:9, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:16, Titus 1:10-11) or in hypocrisy (1 Tim 4:2-5), using "godliness" as a means of their own selfish gain. Others may be so blind that they truly believe they are doing God a favor in persecuting His true followers (John 16:2). Romans 16:18: Paul said in this verse that these individuals use good words and fair speeches and deceive the hearts of the simple. This means that they flatter people (2 Timothy 4:3) and appeal to the same selfish desires that they themselves have, to draw people after themselves (Acts 20:30). We can't judge another person's motives (Matthew 7:1-3), but we can, and should, judge the fruit of their lives and ministries (Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 3:7-9). There are many who claim to be believers but aren't (Matthew 7:21-23) and they'll be among us until the end of the age, when God will finally separate them out (Matthew 13:24-30). Truth, "Signs," and Our Emotions We are the gatekeepers of our hearts (Prov 4:23), and have to guard its boundaries, careful of what we allow in. I always thought the parable of wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) only referred to evil people sown amongst the good people of the church. But what if it also means good and bad ideas from good and bad spirits within a given individual-- in other words, we can bear good fruit and bad fruit from different 'trees' even within our own hearts? This might be why Jesus could tell Peter "get behind me Satan" (Matt 16:23) and James and John, "you don't know what spirit you are of" (Luke 9:55), but the men themselves were still His. This also probably goes along with the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-15)... the 'tares' we allow into our own hearts are part of what can choke the word and render it unfruitful. Truth of course must correspond to an accurate description of reality (Gen 42:16)--which should negate any postmodernist philosophy, or syncretism, blending contradictory descriptions of reality. Once we know the truth, we are to continue in what we were taught (Col 2:6-7, 1 John 2:24), not mix a little Christianity with a little of some other contrary message. Paul rails against this practice in many of his letters. In 2 Cor 11:3-4, Paul is angry that the Corinthians' minds may be corrupted so that they receive the one preaching a different Jesus or gospel from the one he preached. In Galatians 1:6-9, as mentioned earlier, the Galatians are falling prey to a perverted gospel, and Paul curses those who preach such a gospel. In Eph 4:14, he writes that only "children" in Christ are tossed about by every wind and wave of doctrine, taken in by trickery and craftiness and deceit. We're supposed to guard against not just what we hear from other humans, but to test what the spirits say too--hence Paul's angel comment (Gal 1:8-9). John also tells us, "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). In a lot of denominational churches that don't believe in the supernatural gifts of the spirit (1 Cor 12), this may not come up much. But in those that do, or for individuals who might ascribe to varieties of syncretism (believing in "signs from the universe" if they seem especially coincidental, perhaps), this will become important. Just because a prophet seems to be speaking from a supernatural source doesn't mean what they're saying is from God. It might be, but we have to test it. Just because an idea out of left field pops into our minds doesn't mean it was the Holy Spirit who put it there. Just because a black crow perches on a tree doesn't mean it's an omen foreshadowing our future. Just because we see the same state license plate on every car doesn't mean God is telling us to move there, etc. Solomon writes, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps” (Prov 14:15). Elsewhere "simple" is used as a synonym for "fool" (Prov 7:7, 8:5, 9:13). We have to remember that the physical world is a battleground. Until the earth lease is up, Satan is still technically the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). So God can send us signs in the physical realm, yes--but so can Satan. God can whisper thoughts to our minds--but so can Satan (in fact, this is his primary tactic, 2 Cor 10:3-6). Peter writes that the scriptures are a "more sure word of prophecy" even than hearing an audible voice from heaven (2 Peter 1:19-21), probably for this exact reason: anything using the physical realm has the potential to be counterfeited. That doesn't mean God can't use physical means to communicate with us, but it's clear that the primary means He uses for His own are the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 26), who also often speaks to us by bringing the scriptures we know to our remembrance. He also will speak through the prophets (1 Cor 12:1-11), dreams and visions (Acts 2:17-18), but we have to check all of this against the Word. Scripture will divide between soul and spirit (what originates with us vs Him, Hebrews 4:12), as well as what might originate with a malevolent spirit sent to lead us astray. David tells us it's the scriptures that make the simple wise: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7). What if an idea comes to us as an idea, a dream, a vision, a prophecy, or a "synchronicity" moment that seems supernatural, and it's something that isn't addressed in scripture at all, though? How do we know if it's from God, from us, or from the enemy then? The first thing to check there is whether or not the message is consistent with God's character. Jesus said we can ask anything in His name and He will give it to us (John 14:14). What's in God's name (https://www.drlaurendeville.com/names-of-lord-psalm-9-9-10-meditation/)? He is Jehovah Nissi (the Lord my Banner), Jehovah-Raah (the Lord my Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that Heals), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness), Jehovah Mekoddishkem (the Lord who Sanctifies You), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who Provides), Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace), Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts). The next thing to check is the fruit that message produces (Gal 5:19-23, Romans 8:6-8). God won't lead us into anything producing negative fruit--if the fruit is bad, it's from the flesh or the enemy, and not the Spirit. If it passes those tests, though, then as we continue to pray about the message (dream, vision, prophecy, idea, etc) then it's also biblical for us to ask for additional confirmations of the message--Paul says in 2 Cor 13:1 that every word should be established by two or three witnesses. If the message is from God, He'll make sure you know it. His Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). And as you continue to seek Him and pray about it, peace (a fruit of the Spirit) should grow, confirming that the message comes from God (Col 3:15). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early. https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/ Today's episode will help us recognize and address the subtle dangers of progressive Christianity while strengthening our faith through clear theology and intentional discipleship. Navigating Progressive Christianity: Insights and Warnings for Modern Believers In this comprehensive episode, we explore the intersection of progressive Christianity and contemporary cultural philosophies, drawing lessons from Paul's letters to Timothy. Participants will gain insights into diagnosing false teachings, the influence of modern social theories, and the importance of maintaining a solid theological foundation. Through metaphors like health and construction, this discussion contrasts authentic biblical teachings with the 'comfort gospel' and celebrity culture in the church. The episode underscores the transformative power of true faithfulness versus flashiness and warns against the dangers of syncretism observed in different cultural contexts. Episodes include practical exercises, historical insights, and references to prominent figures like Alyssa Childers. Join us to navigate the challenges posed by progressive Christianity and ensure a rooted and substantive faith. Check out RENEW.org eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/ Check out RENEW.org Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Interested in more content from RENEW? Sign up for our newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Key Takeaways 00:00 Introduction and Workshop Overview 00:18 Metaphors for Understanding Progressive Christianity 01:51 Prayer and Biblical Lens for Diagnosing False Teaching 02:39 Classroom Insights on False Teachers 05:42 Speculations vs. Stewardship 07:09 False Teachings and Modern Contexts 11:07 Paul's Teachings on False Doctrine 14:51 Syncretism and Progressive Theology 26:19 Diagnosing Modern Progressive Theology 29:10 Critiquing Higher Criticism and Theological Bias 30:23 The Influence of Postmodernism and Neo-Marxism 31:43 Navigating Theological Fluidity and Individualism 34:21 Culture as Canon and the Role of Cancel Culture 36:47 The Heart as Guide and the Problem with Self-Reliance 38:56 Tolerance, Activism, and Deconstruction 42:33 Caution in Confronting Sin and Overreaction 52:08 The Importance of Discipleship and Discipline 56:25 Final Thoughts and Prayer See below for a longer description: This episode features a workshop by Jim Dalrymple on the challenges of progressivism in Christianity. Dalrymple begins by acknowledging the post-lunch time slot and sets a welcoming tone. He explores the difficulties of defining and diagnosing progressivism, using two metaphors from Paul's letters to Timothy: health and homebuilding. Dalrymple stresses the need for clear theological definitions, comparing progressive Christianity to medical diagnostics and home reconstruction. He opens with prayer, focusing on spiritual resilience in a changing society. Drawing from his experience teaching 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy at Ozark Christian College, Dalrymple uses a visual metaphor—like a detective's crime board—to highlight the traits of false teachers and link them to today's progressive Christianity. He examines 1 Timothy 1:3-7, contrasting speculation with stewardship, and warns against modern movements like the health and wealth gospel and the comfort gospel, which mirror historical challenges faced by the church. Dalrymple then shifts to the metaphor of homebuilding, cautioning against deconstructing faith without rebuilding on biblical foundations. He critiques the tendency to replace core doctrines with speculative or culturally convenient ideas. He addresses the delicate balance between gentleness and confrontation when responding to false teachings, and observes how progressive Christianity often seeks recognition, power, and controversy, drawing examples from past and present trends. Next, Dalrymple discusses the broader cultural influences—humanism, skepticism, Darwinism, naturalism, and postmodernism—that have shaped progressive theology, arguing that these secular philosophies have diluted Christian teachings. He identifies key traits of progressive Christianity: elevating culture as the ultimate authority, following subjective feelings, prioritizing tolerance above all else, and viewing activism as worship. He critiques the lack of clear doctrinal boundaries in the movement. Dalrymple examines the motivations behind progressive beliefs, including cultural pressures, personal hurts, and the desire for platforms or pleasure, and warns against the deliberate or unintentional distortion of traditional theology. He closes with practical advice, urging church leaders to focus on intentional discipleship and proper church discipline to safeguard doctrinal purity and restore those led astray by false teachings. In summary, this workshop calls for vigilance in addressing the subtle dangers of progressive Christianity, combining scriptural analysis with practical steps for protecting and nurturing healthy church communities. Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media! You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network Facebook: Renew.org Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW
The perfect podcast for the Christmas season! This is a special Christmas episode of The Science of Creativity. Many of the traditions that we love—gift-giving, Santa Claus, kissing under the mistletoe—were invented across the generations, and are always evolving. This special holiday episode gives you the creation story of the secular, non-religious traditions that we celebrate at Christmas. The collective creation of these Christmas traditions is what I call social innovation, a kind of collective creativity where everyone plays a role. Five hundred years ago, Christmas was a wild party, where young men got drunk and roamed in packs around town. Children didn't start getting gifts until about 200 years ago. In the late 1800s, the Santa Claus myth was invented, along with the elves and the sleigh and the workshop at the North Pole. It started two thousand years ago, in Ancient Rome, it picked up steam in the 1800s, and we're still creating new Christmas traditions today. Chapters 0:00 Teaser 1:11 Introduction to the Special Episode 2:12 Tradition and Invention 5:28 Wassailing 12:23 Toys 16:06 Santa Claus 21:25 The War on Christmas 25:24 The Holiday for Everyone 27:54 Closer 28:44 Outro Music by License from Soundstripe: “Blues for Oliver” by Cast of Characters “Silent Night” by Cast of Characters “O Christmas Tree” by O Christmas Tree Jazz Trio “Just Walkin'” by Ryan Saranich “Uptown Lovers” by AFTERNOONZ Notes The Pagan Origins of Christmas: Saturnalia, Yule, and Other Pre-Christian Traditions | History Cooperative Wikipedia entries: “The war on Christmas” and “Wassailing” and “Syncretism” Copyright (c) 2024 Keith Sawyer
Back with our Religions in our Fandoms annual theme, Christian Ashley and TJ Blackwell discuss the gods and religions in the Elder Scrolls videogame series!.Is Skyrim the same as Elder Scrolls? Is Elder Scrolls 6 ever coming out? What is the meaning of the Elder Scrolls? What is Talos the God of? Was Talos a good guy? How many years did Talos rule? Are Aedra and Daedra enemies? Is Sithis an Aedra or Daedra? What is a religious syncretism? What is a famous syncretic religion? What is synchronism in Christianity? Are Daedra evil Elder Scrolls? Who is the most evil Daedric lord? Are the divines dead in Elder Scrolls? We discuss all this and more in this one! Join in the conversation with us on Discord now!.Support our show on Captivate or Patreon, or by purchasing a comfy T-Shirt in our store!.Check out the rest of our RELIGIONS IN OUR FANDOMS episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/928f3957-942d-45c7-b8ed-cd9647468a45.Listen to all of our Video Game episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/409f2d81-9857-4426-b1f0-d8a02e58b150.Check out all of TJ's episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/f4c32709-d8ff-4cef-8dfd-5775275c3c5e.Check out our other episodes with Christian:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/ebf4b064-0672-47dd-b5a3-0fff5f11b54cMentioned in this episode:Follow us on Instagram!@systematicgeekologyAnazao Ministries Podcasts NetworkCheck out all of the AMP network shows!Anazao Ministries Podcasts - AMP NetworkCheck out other shows like this on our podcast network! https://anazao-ministries.captivate.fm/Systematic GeekologyOur show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.Like and subscribe to our show on YouTube!A lot of our episodes along with bonuses, video exclusives, and some shorts are all available on our YouTube!YouTube
David wants about ‘lukewarm' churches and individuals conforming to the world and losing their biblical worldview.www.worldviewmatters.tv© FreedomProject 2024
What drives churches into irrelevancy? What harms the coming generation that's grown up in the church? What nullifies preaching and doctrine? What compromises the family's integrity at its core? What damages our witness in the world? It's syncretism—mixing the things of God with the things of the world. Besides rejecting the true Gospel, syncretism is the greatest threat to the church and family in every age. In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm warn against the dangers of syncretism and give practical counsel on how to avoid it: First, cry out to God that he would resensitize you to the fact that you're a blood-bought believer who's to live set apart from the world. Second, double down on God's Word—meet with the Lord every morning and let him shape your thinking and priorities. Third, double down on your family—don't let the enemy kick down your home's door anymore. Fourth, devote yourselves fully to your local church. In all this, resist the mixing the things of God with the things of the world.
LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH THRU HISTORY AND HOW SYNCRETISM HAS BEEN RESISTED THRU THE CENTURIES --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/donald-rhymer/support
A Description of episode 133 of Outside The Studio with Tessa: Outside the Studio presents an epic conversation with Michelle Tea about her latest book, 'Modern Magic,' exploring the themes of witchcraft, tarot, and personal rituals. We discuss the intersection of tarot and witchcraft, the importance of embracing the unknown in spirituality, and the significance of setting up rituals and altars. In this engaging conversation, Michelle and Tessa explore the intersections of spirituality, creativity, and personal growth. They discuss the influence of 12-step traditions on spiritual practices, the syncretism found in various religious practices, and the importance of creating a sacred space for writing. Michelle shares her journey of embracing her creative livelihood, the challenges of overcoming creative blocks, and the significance of betting on oneself despite fears and uncertainties. The conversation emphasizes the power of rituals, both in magic and writing, and encourages listeners to find their own paths in life. Three reasons to listen to the whole podcast:1. Rituals can be personalized and should resonate with the individual, for example setting up an altar can include representation of the 4 elements; earth, air, water, fire.2. Spell work can start with simple practices like meditation and intention setting and maintaining personal practices is essential, especially in relationships.3. Learn how to overcome creative blocks using magical practices and how embracing fear is essential in pursuing a creative livelihood. Timestamps(00:00:00) Introduction(00:02:00) Michelle Tea's Modern Magic(00:03:37) The Intersection of Tarot and Witchcraft(00:07:46) Reframing Witchcraft and Spirituality(00:12:46) Setting Up Rituals and Altars(00:17:58) Exploring Spell Work for Beginners(00:22:51) Balancing Relationships and Personal Practices(00:25:30) Embracing the Mysteries of Life(00:27:35) The Influence of 12-Step Traditions on Spirituality(00:29:43) Syncretism in Spiritual Practices(00:32:35) The Writing Process as a Sacred Ritual(00:37:44) Overcoming Creative Blocks with Magic(00:41:13) The Journey to a Creative Livelihood(00:48:09) Betting on Yourself: Embracing Fear and Uncertainty Resources:Website: https://www.michelle-tea.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelleteaz/Twitter: https://x.com/TeaMichelleModern Magic Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/modern-magic-michelle-tea?variant=41384105181218 Enjoy the Podcast? Love to give us 5 stars? Help us reach more people and make them feel loved. A simple way is to share what you've learned today on social media. Connect with Tessa Tovar:Website: https://tessatovar.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHMYm-7kNZfulgaiCi2w8CwOutside the Studio Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/outside-the-studio-with-tessa-tovar/id1483077110Book of Poetry for Savasana: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-Book-Poetry-Savasana/dp/1731243588
Join us live as we explore the concepts of eclecticism and syncretism in spiritual practices. We'll discuss the differences, benefits, and challenges of each approach. We will discuss how to draw from various paths while keeping them separate and blend traditions to create something entirely new in a respectful manner as opposed to cherry picking without proper understanding. All of our links at https://linktr.ee/intothewyldwood
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 30, 2024 is: syncretism • SING-kruh-tiz-um • noun Syncretism refers to the combining of different forms of belief or practice. // As a scholar of religion, Laila is especially interested in the syncretism of Manichaeism, which was influenced by Christianity, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. See the entry > Examples: "Explore the archaeological wonders of Chavín de Huantar, where history comes alive. This village, steeped in cultural richness, provides a journey into Peru's ancient past. 'The village of Chavín de Huántar is an example of how tourism can foster syncretism between religious traditions and ancestral cultural elements, generating experiences with a positive impact for the population and improving the quality of life of its residents,' said the UNWTO [United Nations World Tourism Organization]." — Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2023 Did you know? The ancient Greeks used the term synkrētismos to refer to Cretan cities allied in opposition to a common enemy. In the early 17th century, English speakers adopted the term in the anglicized form syncretism to refer to the union of different religious beliefs. Three centuries later, lexicographers of the 1909 edition of Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language added a new definition of syncretism ("the union or fusion into one or two or more originally different inflectional forms, as of two cases"), but this specialized sense is rarely encountered outside of the field of linguistics. Some related terms that you are more likely to encounter are syncretize ("to attempt to unite and harmonize"), syncretist ("one who advocates syncretism"), and syncretic and syncretistic ("characterized or brought about by syncretism").
WE LOOK AT SIGNIFICANCE OF FIRST COMMUNION --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/donald-rhymer/support
This is part one of a series that will EXPLORE from church history.The development of the various models of church that are done today,And to help us determine which ones are biblical OR which aspect BIBILICAL and which are not. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/donald-rhymer/support
Hoodoo is a terribly syncretic religion, developed as a sibling to Voodoo (and there are other siblings in this family, too). Magickcrafts have been traded for as long as people have been trading spices and weapons, and Hoodoo Conjurers have collected a fantastic variety of tools from their neighbors. There's a lot to learn when you're genuinely interested in improving your craft.Herbalism, including mojo bags (fetishes) and other talismans, are important to this tradition, and practitioners are often called "root workers."Ancestor worship is a little more obvious in this tradition than in many others, but it's also terribly familiar to what you might already see in many forms of popular Christianity.We also look at similarities with Santeria and Candomblé. All this and more.... Support us on Patreon or you can get our merch at Spreadshop. Join the Community on Discord. Learn more great religion factoids on Facebook and Instagram.
Defining a Biblical Worldview in a Post-Christian Culture. In this episode of the Embracing Brokenness podcast, hosts Steve and Colleen Adams dive deep into the concept of a biblical worldview, exploring its importance and implications in a modern, post-Christian American society. They discuss how only a small percentage of self-identified Christians in the U.S. hold a biblical worldview, according to research by George Barna, and address the concerning trends of increasing secularism, syncretism, and the 'Great Falling Away.' The conversation also touches on the impacts of spiritual and cultural shifts on society, including rising depression, and anxiety. It emphasizes the need to return to the roots of Jesus's teachings. The episode wraps up with the hopeful promise of a new heaven and earth, as described in Revelation 21. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Worldviews 00:58 Welcome to Embracing Brokenness 01:24 The Decline of Biblical Worldview 03:06 Defining a Biblical Worldview 05:05 Impact of Worldviews on Society 07:05 Historical Perspectives on Worldviews 22:05 Modern and Postmodern Worldviews 24:51 Syncretism and Its Effects 29:45 Personal Stories 37:29 Hope and Encouragement --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/embracing-brokenness/support
How's your worldview? In this episode, you're going to explore why having a Biblical worldview is essential in today's society. This episode kicks off a series aimed at helping Christians deepen their understanding of biblical teachings, contrast them with other worldviews, and confidently address life's biggest questions. 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of a Biblical Worldview 04:16 Defining Worldview and Its Impact 06:58 The Rise of Syncretism in America 11:25 The Biblical Mandate for a Distinct Worldview 16:13 Jesus at the Center of the Biblical Worldview 17:51 Key Questions Every Worldview Must Answer 23:36 The Uniqueness of the Bible 31:33 Conclusion and Call to Action
Brother Hayden Shepherd brought us a message on Syncretism.
Syncretism always wars against our adherence and allegiance to the written Word of God. The post Renouncing Syncretism appeared first on Third Peter.
George Barna, he of the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, may well be the most respected Christian surveyist in America. In a survey he conducted, released August 6, 2024, on CHRISTIAN EVANGELICALISM and Christianity in America, the Barna survey said the following:“The cultural awareness sparked by the Covid pandemic and the 2024 Presidential campaign has led millions of Americans to realize just how depraved American society has become. Corrupt politicians, dishonest journalists and media outlets, broken social institutions, immoral religious leaders, unconstitutional government programs and policies, and more, have generated non-stop headlines highlighting the decadence of American society and the demise of the United States.”That, my fellow Americans and fellow Christians, may be the most damning judgment of our great country in many years. The depth of the depravity in America, says Barna, is shocking. And it really is with no end in sight. The real reason for this satanic cultural decline says Barna:“is a direct result of the spiritual collapse of Christianity in our nation.”Barna is right. The once dynamic of Christianity in America does indeed seem gone, tarnished, diminished, of little force and effect, not only nationally and generally, but individually as well.The survey found that this steep cultural decline emanates from the dramatic transformation in the evangelical community in the United States during the past 30 years. Real evangelicals, however that is defined, seem to be far fewer in number and even more importantly far less biblical in their thinking and beliefs. There has come about the growth of SYNCRETISM, which is a worldview that combines core beliefs and behaviors from a variety of other well-defined worldviews such as Marxism, Secular Humanism, Eastern Mysticism, and Postmodernism. Individuals, in other words, offer their own worldview, belief system, and ultimate values with core beliefs gathered from any number of sources and the Barna survey indicates that as many as 9 out of 10 adults are in fact categorized by this CUT-AND-PASTE approach to their philosophy of life. That also means that any absolute truth claimed by scripture, THE BIBLE, is unacceptable or only acceptable in part, and Christianity, once a dynamic, monolithic force in America and the world, no longer exists. SYNCRETISM has won out over Christianity!Christians, evangelical Christians, what is left of them, now vote in far fewer numbers than once believed. They are simply far less active in the political process and seem to have little concern for results, so says Barna.And more, most evangelicals do not possess a biblical worldview with only about one third of so-called evangelicals doing so. In fact, says the Barna survey, evangelicals are more likely to be shaped by the culture around them, than they are to influence that culture or even more importantly, evangelize it.So then, the ultimate question then becomes:WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL?If the absolute truths of the Bible, the gospel message, the old and new testaments are at best guides and syncretized with other religions and worldviews, and beliefs and values, and that affects evangelicals, what really is an evangelical and what does a real evangelical believe?Several decades ago, it was thought that there was some 60-70 million adults who were in fact bible believing evangelicals. Barna estimates that today, that figure could be as low as 25-30 million adults. I, for one, do hope and pray that is wrong, for an aggressive, moral, committed, right-thinking and living evangelical is a critical component of the American society.Barna then goes on to state, as a result of his most recent survey, that the following priorities and beliefs are foundational for the current day evangelical.First, God is the all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful, just and perfect creator of the universe.God is the basis of all truth, and those truths are conveyed to us through the Bible.The purpose of life is to fully know, love, and serve God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is no other besides him.Satan, representing all evil, truly exists and is the author of the current immoral society.All humans are born into sin and can only escape the consequences through Jesus Christ.All such beliefs are incorporated in the Bible, its 66 books, and do in fact comprise basic tenets of belief which a real and true evangelical must embrace and adopt. Do you, as Christian, real Christian, believe in those Christian fundamental and basic tenets, do you?The Barna survey then concludes that as many as 7 out 10 so-called evangelicals do not believe in all of those tenets and of more concern, reject the idea that truth is absolute and biblically based. Small wonder that Christianity is on the decline and no longer acts as the antidote to the immoral decline in American society.It is indeed tragic that there are millions of evangelicals who do not vote, so concludes George Barna, are not active in the political process, do not seem to care about political happenings, candidates, or events, and otherwise totally ignore and walk away from their citizenship responsibilities. When these good men and women abandon the political arena, the very bad, immoral men and women take over, exercise power, work to foster things anti-Christian, and further enhance the immoral decay and slide of this once great country. Time, survival time, for all of us, for American democracy, runs out.More Barna findings. As many as 50% of so-called evangelicals believe that eternal salvation can in fact be earned through good works, something directly contrary to the strong teachings of scripture.Almost 50% believe, says Barna, that there is no absolute moral truth, again something absolutely contrary to biblical teaching.And this survey found, shockingly so, that somewhat more than one out of every five so-called evangelicals prefer SOCIALISM TO CAPITALISM! In short, it seems that even the modern-day evangelical has been syncretized, believes something from scripture but otherwise believes whatever they want to believe or whatever they think is right to believe. Small wonder, my fellow Christians, that there is an amazing, considerable, seemingly irreversible immoral decline and slide in America, its culture, politics, and beliefs.Are you a Christian, and are you an evangelical Christian, and if so, what do you believe, what do you really believe and what is the foundation for those beliefs, the source, the reality of those beliefs? The power of the gospel at work in the lives of individuals, individuals by the millions, is the only real thing which can impact, change, and reverse the immoral slide in this once great country. So that, say many, our motto should not be GOD BLESS AMERICA, but GOD HELP AMERICA! And powerful, moral, people of faith, at work, in control, and dynamic in influence are the only ones who can reverse and save this once great country. I do hope and pray that you are one of those Soldiers of the Cross. That you are ready to put all on the altar and that you will be an active force in politics and culture in America.And, that you will vote and be active and outspoken in elections 2024!
Latin America has managed to preserve some of its pre-Columbian religious heritage, so we're going to explore the traditions of the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca nations. We explore cocaine, purification rituals, human sacrifice, gods from throughout history, and Catholic syncretism. All this and more.... Support us on Patreon or you can get our merch at Spreadshop. Join the Community on Discord. Learn more great religion factoids on Facebook and Instagram.
In this episode of the Plain Speech Podcast, host Michael Clary interviews Will Spencer, a Christian convert with a background in new age and occult practices. They discuss Will's experiences with demonic spirits, ayahuasca ceremonies, and his eventual conversion to Christianity. The interview explores the seductive practices of these spirits, the impact of modern society's disenchantment, and the dangers of syncretizing Christianity with other religions. The conversation also touches on a controversial prayer at the Republican National Convention and the rising influence of psychedelic substances among public figures. Michael and Will emphasize the importance of discernment and preparedness for the increasing spiritual deception in today's world. 00:00 Introduction to Demonic Spirits 00:45 Welcome to the Plain Speech Podcast 02:29 Interview with Will Spencer Begins 02:43 Addressing Controversy and Podcast Rebranding 06:20 Will Spencer's Pre-Christian Beliefs 08:37 Encounter with Jesus at Burning Man 11:49 Ayahuasca and Spiritual Experiences 13:10 Reconciling Spiritual Experiences with Christianity 14:34 The Nature of Demonic Deception 24:40 The Mundane vs. The Supernatural 34:58 Rising Spiritual Interest Amid Declining Christianity 35:03 Testimonies of Spiritual Encounters 35:12 A Mother's Desperation and Spiritual Concerns 35:46 Preparing for Future Spiritual Challenges 36:06 Controversial Prayer at the Republican National Convention 36:27 Analyzing Harmeet Dhillon's Prayer 37:25 Theological Implications of Dhillon's Prayer 41:32 Russell Brand's Public Conversion 41:58 Influence of Progressive Spiritual Ideas 46:12 Syncretism in Modern Christianity 49:44 The Challenge of Discernment in Faith 52:11 Theological Assertions and Political Actions 01:02:07 The Rise of Psychedelics and Spiritualism 01:03:54 Final Thoughts and Future Conversations Links for Will Spencer https://renofmen.com/ https://x.com/RenOfMen https://www.youtube.com/@renofmen
In our Torah Reading discussion for this week, we find ourselves having to contemplate and determine the integrity of our covenant relationship with Yehovah. As well as we are moved to make a choice between being loyal to this world and the things of this world, versus being loyal to God and His ways. This is the 141st reading of our 3-year Torah Reading cycle.
This episode, Jonathan and Sy talk with the incredible Brandi Miller about:- How faith and churches change when we engage with the political idolatry of the American church- The spiritual and political fruit of the MAGA movement- The good things people still want and can find in Jesus and Christian community amidst all the nonsense- Developing inner lives that can sustain political engagement and community building- Plus, Jonathan and Sy discuss some fascinating numbers about the political views and voting patterns of the average Black Christian versus the average overall DemocratMentioned in the Episode- Our anthology, Keeping the Faith- Brandi's podcast, Reclaiming My Theology- Her other show, The Quest Church Podcast- The article on Black, Christian political beliefs and votingCredits- Follow KTF Press on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Subscribe to get our bonus episodes and other benefits at KTFPress.com.- Follow host Jonathan Walton on Facebook Instagram, and Threads.- Follow host Sy Hoekstra on Mastodon.- Our theme song is “Citizens” by Jon Guerra – listen to the whole song on Spotify.- Our podcast art is by Robyn Burgess – follow her and see her other work on Instagram.- Transcripts by Joyce Ambale and Sy Hoekstra.- Production by Sy Hoekstra and our incredible subscribersTranscript[An acoustic guitar softly plays six notes, the first three ascending and the last three descending – F#, B#, E, D#, B – with a keyboard pad playing the note B in the background. Both fade out as Jonathan Walton says “This is a KTF Press podcast.”]Brandi Miller: God made people in God's own image, and people's job is not to conform into your pastor's version of following Jesus. It's to conform more into the likeness of Jesus as you become more yourself. And so instead of going to a pastor who is essentially saying, “Follow me as I follow Jesus,” you say, “We're following Jesus, and you're gonna discover who you are along the way.”[The song “Citizens” by Jon Guerra fades in. Lyrics: “I need to know there is justice/ That it will roll in abundance/ And that you're building a city/ Where we arrive as immigrants/ And you call us citizens/ And you welcome us as children home.” The song fades out.]Sy Hoekstra: Welcome to Shake the Dust, seeking Jesus, confronting injustice. I'm Sy Hoekstra.Jonathan Walton: And I'm Jonathan Walton. We have a fantastic show for you today. We are talking all about church and politics with the great Brandi Miller, who many of you know. And we're doing our new segment, Which Tab Is Still Open?, diving deeper into one of the recommendations from our newsletter. This week, a closer look at the political beliefs of the average Black Christian versus the average Democrat. If you think those are pretty much the same, you've got stuff to learn [laughter]. So stay tuned.Sy Hoekstra: Brandi Miller is the host of the podcast, Reclaiming My Theology. As she calls it, a space to take our theology back from ideas and systems that oppress. She's also now newly the host of the Quest Church Podcast, which is unsurprisingly for Quest Church in Seattle [laughs], where Brandi has the staff position of Chief Storyteller. Before that she was a justice program director with a college ministry working at the intersection of faith, justice, and politics. If you know Brandi, I don't have to convince you that this is a good conversation. If you don't, just, you need to get to know her, so [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Yes, yes, yes.Sy Hoekstra: Get ready for this one.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, we talked to her about her perspective on evangelical politics, how she sees people's faith changing as they engage with the American church's idolatry, and what Jesus has to offer as a vision for us in this political landscape. There is a lot in the episode, I hope you're ready. Her article in our anthology was called, “Left Behind: What American Evangelicalism Has Lost and Needs to Find.” And of course, you can get the anthology at keepingthefaithbook.com.Sy Hoekstra: And before we get started, just a reminder that we have been telling everyone we need your subscriptions [laughter], please. The best way, if you are into what we do, helping people try and leave the idols of White America and seek Jesus through this media and you want to help us build something that can do that in an effective and far reaching way to people, we need your support. We have been doing this as a side gig for a lot of time. For a long time it's been me and Jonathan in our rooms with laptops trying to make things work, and they have worked [laughs]. But if you wanna see that stuff grow and you wanna see this stuff continue for a long time into the future, we really do need your support.So go to KTFPress.com, please become a paid subscriber. Get access to all the bonus episodes of this show. Get access to our monthly subscriber chats that we're starting, get access to comments on our posts and support everything we do centering and elevating marginalized voices. If you cannot afford a subscription, like if money's the only barrier, please just write to us, info@ktfpress.com, and we will give you a free or discounted subscription. Whatever you ask for, no questions asked. We want everyone to have access to all the stuff that we're putting out, but if you can afford it, we really, really want the support.Actually, one of the things that you'll be supporting now is that our newsletter is free. So anybody can go to KTFPress.com, sign up for the free mailing list. You get news about KTF press, you get all kinds of stuff like that, but you also get recommendations from us every week that are things that we think will be helpful in your political education and discipleship. And you will also get things from us that we think are helpful in staying grounded and hopeful in the midst of all of the difficult issues that we are all seeing in our news feeds and in our politics and everywhere else and in our churches. So please, KTFPress.com, become a paid subscriber. Thank you so much in advance.Jonathan Walton: Yep. Thanks in advance, and here is the interview with Brandi.[the intro piano music from “Citizens” by Jon Guerra plays briefly and then fades out.]Jonathan Walton: Brandi, thank you so, so much for joining us on Shake the Dust. We really appreciate it.Brandi Miller: Of course. Glad to be here. Always glad to get to spend time with you all, so.How Does Faith Change When We Engage with The Idolatry of the American Church?Making Our Political Theology Accessible to EveryoneJonathan Walton: Yeah, I mean, now you wrote this bomb essay. Okay. And so something that you said, which [laughs] is still true in 2024: " The result of the syncretism of American religion, propaganda-based iconography and political power is cultish religiosity centered on Donald Trump as God's Messiah sent to buttress patriotism, political power, and global dominance. Regardless of his lack of demonstrable Christ-likeness in his politics, it is clear that pandering to his constituents' desire for Christianized power in the United States has framed him as the president who will ‘bring America back to God.' This is a trade-off: Christian practice and the way of Jesus for American Christian power and utopianism.” End quote.Monstrous, amazing text, right? [laughter] Now, after you wrote this, you became a staff member at a church, right?Brandi Miller: Mm-hmm.Jonathan Walton: And you have a large community of people following and engaging with you online. And as you try to teach and disciple people out of this syncretism slash nonsense, how have you seen their faith change?Brandi Miller: Well, one thing I'll say is something that's changed about myself first, because even as I hear back my own words, I can hear how inaccessible they are to a common regular person. Like how many four to six-syllable words can I use to say Donald Trump does not look like Jesus, and that does not matter to most Christians who follow White American religion. That is what I was trying to say, that there is a propaganda based way of doing religion that has indoctrinated a ton of us into a traumatic type of spirituality that we cannot hold. And so I think even a critique of myself in a way that I've changed is trying to ask, how do I take what is a political reality rooted in a current religious moment and strip it down in a way that a regular person can understand?Because if I am theologizing people out of their own experiences or trying to pull them out of a demonstrably terrible politic and they can't understand where we're going, then that's on me. And so I think that part of my trying to engage with a lot of this stuff has been my own change around how I engage with it so that people who are trying to follow Jesus outside of this kind of syncretism with American nationalism can actually come along.When People See the Idolatry, Staying in Church Community Is HardBrandi Miller: That being said, I think that, I mean, it's been kind of bleak honestly. Like I think that the church that I work at is a church that is people's last stop on their way out of Christianity specifically for these issues. Because they can see the ways that American politics have more say in the lives of people who identify as Christian than Jesus does.And when that is the case, it is really hard to be a part of a Jesus community. And so what I'm seeing a lot is people trying to figure out, can I actually trust community as I follow Jesus? And a lot of people can't. And it makes sense to me, and they leave. But what ends up happening is that people are like, “Well, I can follow Jesus outside of the church,” and I actually believe that some people can do that. But I think because community is at the core of following Jesus, when you leave in those contexts without any kind of community to buttress your faith at all, it's really, really hard to, with integrity, continue to live out those values, and it's really easy to become increasingly cynical in the media ecosystem that we have.And so I don't really know what to tell people pastorally, right? Because there are many ways that I could say, “No, no, no, just come back to the church,” but the church isn't trustworthy. And I can say, “No, go on your own,” but with a lack of community, a lot of the faith stuff falls apart because it's meant to be done together in a non-westernized religious context. And so I'm finding that to be a pretty sad and frustrating space to occupy. So I think that'd be my first bid.What People Can Still Get from Church Community Even after Seeing the IdolatryJonathan Walton: I have so many thoughts, but I'm going to let Sy ask his question.Sy Hoekstra: No, no, no, go for it, Jonathan. We have time.Jonathan Walton: [laughs] So in the midst of that, this new like re-imagining of what community would look like, independent of the colonized faith, what we call it at KTF, White American folk religion, what I call it in Twelve Lies, are there any fireworks of imagination that have happened that you're like, “Oh, that looks nice. That might be something that is hopeful,” for a group of people who are on this subway stop at the end of the line?Brandi Miller: Well, I mean, I think that people still want all the good stuff, right? I think people want connection and community and gentleness and kindness and meekness and self-control and the fruit of the spirit, and the beatitudes. I think people still want the Jesus stuff. People want to live in an accessible and just world where people can be fully themselves, where the image of God in me meets the image of God in you, and somehow in that magic we're transformed. I think people still want that, and I think when people come and get a taste of that, it's really, really beautiful. Because what it results in really is friendship and friendship results in systems change and system change results in world change and political change.Jonathan Walton: Right, right, right.Brandi Miller: And so, I think that what I've seen happen is a lot of progressive spaces have done one of two things. One, said like, well, the individual transformation doesn't matter. And I'm like, that's actually not true. The health of the individual and the health of the system are always a cycle that are moving over and over and over again. And so we're like, “Well, F individual transformation and let's just like go do the system change.” And I'm like, yeah, but if like people don't change, then they're not gonna be alongside you as you change the systems and not understand why the systems change would be good for them. And I think churches do that too.Jonathan Walton: Right?Brandi Miller: So I think a lot of progressive media culture does that on one side, and then the other side uses all of this abstraction to describe what the world looks like when it changes, which is, I don't know, right now sounds like the end of postmodern empire. Like we're in empire collapse right now. And I'm like, “No one knows what that means.” Most normal average people do not know what it means. So they're like, “Let's find creative ways to engage post empire collapse.” And I'm like, can you just say that the United States is participating in all kinds of evil, and when our comeuppance happens, it's going to result in a completely different societal structure that we are not ready for.And so, what I'm always looking for are glimpses of what could life look like after that? Which I think is what you're asking. And a lot of that looks like people choosing to care for each other well to build more simple lives rather than more complicated ones, to choose work that isn't their entire identity and allowing themselves to explore who they are outside of the kind of enculturation that happens when we don't have a life outside of that. And that is what I've seen change people's politics. It's not like having a fancy activist job. It's seeing how your neighbors are suffering and doing something about that together, or getting a measure on a ballot that changes things for folks.And so I think that I'm seeing glimpses of people entering into more embodied, simple space that is actually transformative and actually grounding and does a lot to downshift some of our very present anxiety. And I think that's been really good. And so I think there's some structural and systemic things I've seen too, but a lot of the stuff that I'm seeing is people trying to make sense of this abstracted language and say, what does this actually mean for my life in real time, and how can that be good?The Fruit of the MAGA MovementSy Hoekstra: One thread there that kind of leads into my next question is, you said that the idea that your church is the last stop on a lot of people's road out of Christianity, when I was a kid, I would, in evangelical churches, I would hear the sentiment a lot that—I would hear that sentiment a lot actually. I would hear like, “Oh, when you go to a progressive church, that's just, you're just on your way out [laughs], so don't ever go there.” That was the kind of, that was the warning, right?Brandi Miller: Yeah [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: But basically, what I hear you saying is the reason that it's their last stop or the reason that they're on their way out is not because of they've lost their way or a lack of integrity, they don't really care about Jesus, whatever. They actually care about Jesus maybe more than the places that they left, and got so hurt as a result that that's why they're on their way out. And that's, I think that's a reality that Jonathan and I see a lot too, and I just wanted to point that out to people. But also this kind of gets a little bit into what my next question was, which I also had a big long quote here, but I'll just summarize [laughs] because Jonathan already read a big long quote [laughter].Jonathan Walton: I did.Sy Hoekstra: You basically talked about how there are a lot of masks that evangelicals wear to cover their support for Donald Trump's racism. So it's like the sanctity of life or pro-gun politics or pro-Israel politics. And that it basically that the result of that is you're not talking about the racism of Donald Trump, you're talking to people about those masks and saying, “If you're not willing to wear this mask, then basically you're an enemy to be negated because you're a baby killer, or you're an anti-Semite” or whatever it is. But I wonder if four years on having seen so much more of the fruit of the MAGA movement, if there's anything that you would kind of add on to this description of how it operates.Shifting Acceptable Political Discourse Far to the RightBrandi Miller: Yeah. So one of the main things I think about right now is the Overton window. So for folks who aren't familiar with the Overton window, it's essentially the range of acceptable political thought from left to right. And so there is an acceptable range of political thought, I'm doing some writing and thinking about this right now, but that what is considered far on the left and far on the right changes as that window shifts farther left or right. And what we've seen in the last four years is the Overton window shift so far to the right, that stuff that would've been considered so extreme, so outlandish, so problematic as to not be acceptable is now mainstream.So when George Santos can have an entire political campaign and multiple years of being in the public spotlight, and everyone be like, “Ah, this is just kind of like normal run-of-the-mill American politics,” that's wild.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, yeah [laughs].Brandi Miller: When Donald Trump can have dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of criminal, like of criminal… or like he has so many, so many things that are happening right now at felony levels, and we're like, “Oh, I mean, he's just like working through it.” That is so wild to me, that the Overton window has shifted so far to the right that Marjorie Taylor Greene can do every bit of chaos that she's doing. That Mike Johnson is considered a normal speaker of the house.Jonathan Walton: That is, ugh… [laughs].Brandi Miller: We've moved so far right, that now what used to be considered moderate is considered hyper progressive. That being like, hey, like… maybe we should give people… that we've actually reversed, like with Roe v. Wade, we've reversed rights for people and we consider that normal. Like the Overton window has shifted so aggressively to the right that it is so, so damaging. And that has just continued over the last four years.Shifting Acceptable Religious Thought Far to the RightBrandi Miller: The thing I am observing and doing a lot of work around right now is what does it mean when the Christian range of political or range of acceptable religious thought also shifts to the right? And so I've been asking the question, what is that?What we're talking about really is orthodoxy. We're saying there is this range of historically acceptable Christian thought, but when that gets chain linked to the Overton window and shifted to the right, the way of Jesus that gets to be considered left or moderate or something becomes completely unidentifiable to most Christians. And when that happens, the only response that we have in those super conservative spaces or that have moved to the right that much is to parrot political actors and call it holiness. And that is what I'm most concerned with and what I'm seeing most right now, is that people can't even have conversations because of those things like, yeah, you're an anti-Semite or you're a baby killer, or whatever.You can't even have the conversations about why that ideology became important to someone, because even questioning the ideology itself or that indoctrination feels like it's a deviation from holiness because your religion is so connected to nationalism that to separate those feels like sin.Sy Hoekstra: It's almost, it's like the way that you might get a question shut down in church because if of something you're asking about some orthodox doctrine or whatever, like expressing a doubt of some kind.Brandi Miller: Yep.Sy Hoekstra: You're saying that's not just religious anymore basically. That is political. Or the politic—because the religious and the political are so closely linked that your political doubt is religious doubt almost.Brandi Miller: Yes. Yes, most certainly. Connected to God's connection to a nation.What Is the Good That All the Idolatry Is Overshadowing?Jonathan Walton: Yeah, I got in this conversation with a… Sometimes I opt into the online debates to get fodder for more posts [Sy laughs]. And I asked someone what they meant by Orthodox. They were saying “Israel is God's nation. The United States should support Israel because we are also God's nation, we're mirror countries of each other. This is an orthodox view.”Sy Hoekstra: Whoa.Jonathan Walton: They had obviously no, like no image or thought about the non-evangelical 200-year-old, 50-year-old, 25-year, 2-year-old church that they were in [laughter], you know? But all that to say, as you talk about Jesus on your show, talk about Jesus in your writing, talk about Jesus in your church, talk about Jesus with us. We're constantly trying to get people to look at the Jesus of Nazareth and not the Jesus of nationalism. Right? What would you say in this era, like with the church and politics, what value do you think Jesus's teaching, Jesus's witness, his life, death, resurrection has to offer us this election season? And what is the good that all the syncretism that we're talking about is just completely overshadowing?Following Jesus Helps us Find Ourselves and Resist Structures That Demand ConformityBrandi Miller: Well, right. The Jesus story is a continuation of the Hebrew story, and that story is centered on a God who cares about righteousness. And righteousness is not adherence to political doctrine, it's right living in harmony and wellbeing with other folks. Dr. Randy Woodley talks about shalom in the community of creation and that you know that the world is well when the marginalized say so. And the Hebrew scriptures follow that journey really, really closely. Even if the people fail in it, God's calls stay consistent to make sure that the orphan and the widow and the foreigner are cared for. And that we know that a whole community is healthy and well and living rightly when that's the case. And Jesus lives out that same story.And part of that story requires that people are given the chance to be themselves. That if we believe in this kind of, there's a lot that I do not believe about how we extrapolate Genesis one and two, but I think one of the core things is that like God made people in God's own image, and people's job is not to conform into your pastor's version of following Jesus. It's to conform more into the likeness of Jesus as you become more yourself. And so instead of going to a pastor and essentially saying, ‘Follow me as I follow Jesus,” we say, “We're following Jesus and you're gonna discover who you are along the way.” And that is what Jesus does with his disciples. Right? Jesus invites a diverse group of wackadoodle dudes to come and be themselves [Jonathan laughs]. And they change a lot. They change a lot, but they don't change away from themselves, which I think we see in the story of Peter, right? Peter's a fisherman at the beginning and he's a fisherman at the end. And the way in which he's a fisherman is really different, but he is still at his core in some ways who he is. And I know there's some conflation with vocational and whatever, but there are ways that people are, that people who were zealous in the beginning are zealous, but in a more refined way at the end. People who were engaging with the people in a particular way are doing so less judgmentally at the end.So I think there's a way that there is an invitation to become fully ourselves that we do not get in church spaces because we're told that sanctification or that honoring the death and resurrection of Jesus is to become less like yourself. It's to do this… I think we just take the John the Baptizer quote, “more of him, less of me” out of context when you're like… y'all, the reason he's saying that is because they think he's the Messiah and he needs to make some stuff really clear. He's not saying, I need to become less of myself. John needs to become more and more of himself in order to do what Jesus has invited him to do.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Brandi Miller: And so, because in the church we often say, let's collapse our identities into one social, political and religious identity, people lose themselves. And so I think part of the invitation and the good that we offer to people is that you get to be yourself. And that justice work, this other side of the coin in the Hebrews text around justice and righteousness is making things right when righteousness, when people's ability to live fully as themselves to live original blessing is not in place. And so I think that there's an invitation in the way of Jesus to live fully as ourselves and to make right the spaces where people are not offered space to live the life that is abundant.Jonathan Walton: May it be so in churches and spaces this fall [laughs] where that could be extrapolated. And as you were talking, I was just like, yeah, “God loves you,” should not be a controversial statement.Brandi Miller: Right…. Woof…Jonathan Walton: Right? Like it shouldn't [laughs].How Has Brandi's Calling Changed around Political Engagement?Sy Hoekstra: Alright. So, on your show, you're often talking about theology and culture. You obviously have a ton to say about politics though, and I've heard you say on the show you'd be kind of more interested in getting into that somehow at some point in your life. And you took a break from the show recently. Basically, you're in the middle of a season on purity culture, and you kind of took a break from the show because you felt some tension between talking about theology and church culture and purity culture with everything that's going on in Gaza. And I'm just wondering how the last four years have affected your sense of calling or your desire to engage politically from someone who has largely played a pastoral role.Helping People Develop Inner Lives that Can Sustain Political EngagementBrandi Miller: Yeah. Some of what I'm learning is that regardless of whether there's an urgent political moment that people are still entering into these spaces in a lot of different ways. And so me stopping the podcast because of everything happening in Gaza and trying to figure out how to respond wasn't actually as helpful as I had hoped it would've been. It didn't make more space for people, it just disengaged people from one of the only spaces that they're engaging with religion at all. And so pastorally, I think what I ended up doing was leaving people behind. And I didn't, I think I was so at that point unsure of how to respond to what was happening in Gaza and didn't know what my role would be, and felt like as a person who's, it's a little bit like one of my Jewish friends was talking about the parable of the virgins and the oil.Some of us just showed up really late to this party, and we know so little, we've showed up so late, that it feels pretty impossible to show up effectively. And so I was trying to be responsible with what I did and did not know about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, all of that. Instead of just saying what I could unequivocally say, which is that violence in all forms, particularly genocide, is an egregious violence against God, against people and needs to be dealt with aggressively. Like, I can say that without any… we can say, “Free Palestine,” because that is an easy thing to, it's pretty easy for me to say, to agree with that idea. What I did though in being like, oh, purity culture isn't connected, was to say that people have on-ramps to these kinds of justice expressions that are far away.And maybe it's like [laughs], I hate to use this metaphor, but like, or parallelism rather. Yeah, I hate to use this parallelism, but when I think about how QAnon feeds into conspiracy theories, I think there's a lot of ways that progressive Christianity can feed people toward better, more just politics. And so when I take away the on-ramps, I take away people's opportunity to enter into a more just spirituality. And so me choosing to not talk about sex for four weeks or whatever, for me it felt like it was a solidarity practice, but it really was just cutting off people from a community that they cared about. So I think I would say that that was like one thing that I'm learning.And that is, and I think that what I'm trying to figure out is, as a person who primarily plays a pastoral function, what does it mean to invite people into a discipleship that can hold the politics that they're engaging with? Because one of the things I learned from 2016 was that many of us had a ton of passion, a ton of anxiety, a lack of knowledge, and we weren't able to hold onto the activism at the level that we held it during Black Lives Matter. We just weren't able to do it. And so, I think I'm trying to ask how do you build people's inner lives and community orientations in such a way that we can actually hold the political movements that we want to see happen?So how do we become community organizers locally and nationally when our inner lives aren't able to hold even the basics of our day-to-day lives? And that's not a knock on anyone, it's just a, we don't know how to cope. We don't know how to be in therapy. We don't know how to ask good questions about our lives. And so I think that I'm still asking the question, what is the role of the pastoral in the political, when most of my examples of the pastoral and the political is just telling people how to vote once every four years indirectly so you don't lose your funding, and nothing else otherwise.Helping People Learn and Grow through Curiosity and Questioning AssumptionsJonathan Walton: Yeah. I care a little bit about that, the inner life, peace [laughter]. I write, you know, I have a whole thing about that. So as you're talking, something I feel like I've run into is, I had a conversation with someone and they said to me, “The church discriminates against queer people? What do you mean?” And I looked at them and I was like, they were not being facetious, they were not joking. And like, and so I watched this train wreck happen in her brain, right? Where it's like, so then I just said, “You know, let's just talk about conversion therapy.” I said, “Let's just start there…” UN resolutions that say this is to—like all she, you could see it on her face she's like, like she did not know.And so I watched it happen and couldn't stop it. So Brandi, when someone is sitting across from you and you see this lack of knowledge and the capacity to harm. Right? So there's this lack of knowledge, but they're gonna say the homophobic terrible thing whenever somebody asks them, and you are the pastoral person in residence with them. What habits, practices, tactics do you employ not to destroy them, like intellectually? How do you not reduce them to their ideas? How do you love them and meet them where they're at so that they will be at church next week? They will be, like all those kinds of things, to stay on the journey with you.Brandi Miller: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: And stop hurting people.Jonathan Walton: And yeah, and stop hurting people.Brandi Miller: Yes. Yeah, I mean, you become a master of caveats, and that's the easy thing. The hard thing is to believe that people are trying their best. I think that most people, and I'm really learning this and trying to learn this in the best ways I can right now, is that if you're not just like on the internet where I know people are not trying to do their best, they're just being mean, like in real life with people who are sitting, who you don't have to question whether they're a bot or not, people are trying to do the best they can and the best they can might be terrible. And that's okay, because when people are trying to do the best that they can, and when people are given the benefit of a doubt, they are more open to engaging with things that are embarrassing or challenging or confusing.And so a lot of what I do is ask questions in the context of my own experience. I'll say, “Hey, when you say that, that hits me in a really strange way, and it's kind of hurtful and I can see where this would be hurtful for somebody else. Can you help me understand where that idea came from for you and how that became so important to you?” Or like, “I can hear that this is really important to you, can you help me understand why?” Because if I can understand that why, I can create a human connection that allows me to walk someone through, like, “Yo, when you say to me as like a partnered queer person, that my future marriage is not God's best, when did that become so important to you? When did thinking about like queerness in this way become so important to you?And how big, like on a scale of one to 10, how big does that feel for you? And what would that feel like for you if I said something back to you like, ‘You're heteronormative marriage where it looks like your wife doesn't really like you that much, you're kind of a jerk, isn't God's best for you,' what would you say back to me?” Like what a strange thing for you to say to me. And so I think I do a lot of assuming that people are doing their best and asking a lot of origins questions. Because I think that most of evangelicalism is more concerned with indoctrination than it is with development and discipleship. And when you can expose the indoctrination, it opens up a lot of space for questions. Because I know a lot of people that have said to me things like, “I have never thought about that before,” or, “I have never considered that before.”Or, “It came from this book.” And I'm like, “Well, have you read these other books?” Or they're like, “It came from this verse.” And I'm like, “Well, have you read the equivalent verse in the gospels that exists?” And the answer usually is no. The people have not done their due diligence to come to their own ideas. They have parroted because parroting in the church gives you survival, and I understand that. I understand that being able to parrot ideas gives you belonging. And so to fall outside of that, to ask questions outside of that risks your belonging. And so I try to create spaces where people's stories can belong, even if their ideologies need to be questioned and engaged with differently. So I think that's the main way that I engage with that pastorally at least.Jonathan Walton: That is amazing. So being able to sit down with someone, see someone across difference in a way, and turn to wonder, awe and curiosity as opposed to prejudice, judgment, and condemnation. That's great. Amen.Where Listeners Can Find BrandiSy Hoekstra: Can you tell our listeners where they can find you or your work on the internets.Jonathan Walton: Or in real life. Or in real life [laughs].Brandi Miller: Yes. Yeah, you can… if you're not being a weirdo, you can find my church, Quest Church out in Seattle [laughter]. We're doing the best we can out there. I work there, I'm a regular person out there, so don't be a weirdo [laughter].Brandi Miller: But I'm online in several spaces. Primarily, I have a podcast called Reclaiming My Theology, that takes a topic.Jonathan Walton: Five stars, five stars, five stars.Brandi Miller: [laughs, then says very quickly] If you'd give it, it takes 30 seconds to do [laughter]. Yeah, that is exploring different types of problematic or oppressive ideologies and how they wiggle their way into our interpretation of the Bible and Christian culture and how they create Christian culture. We're working through a series on purity culture now that feels like it's never ending, but it's like a perfect intersection of a lot of the other forms of oppression that we've talked about. So we'll be in that for a little bit. And then I just launched a podcast with Quest Church, talking to people about formation practices that make them feel at home with God. And so if you're looking for more of a formational storytelling bend, I'm interviewing folks around those practices right now, as well as the stuff that I'm already doing on the podcast that takes a little bit more of an academic theological bend.Sy Hoekstra: What's the name of that one?Brandi Miller: The Quest Church Podcast.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, okay, got it [laughter]. Okay, cool.Jonathan Walton: Cool, cool. Nice.Sy Hoekstra: Thank you so much for that. If you go and listen to Reclaiming my Theology, you'll hear some familiar voices like Jonathan Walton and Tamice Spencer-Helms and other people that you know. Brandi Miller, this has been fantastic. I'm so happy you joined us [the sound of clapping]. Jonathan's actually applauding, I don't think that's ever happened before [laughter].Jonathan Walton: She's great. She's great. Lovely.Sy Hoekstra: Thank you so much for being with us.Brandi Miller: Yeah, delighted to be with you all. Thank you so much for the opportunity.[the intro piano music from “Citizens” by Jon Guerra plays briefly and then fades out.]Sy and Jonathan's Thoughts about Christian Community and Communicating Theology Well after the InterviewSy Hoekstra: Okay, Jonathan, that was fantastic [laughs].Jonathan Walton: It really, really was.Sy Hoekstra: What are you thinking coming out of that? Where are your thoughts at?Jonathan Walton: Yeah, so I'm actually stuck on the first thing that she said.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, okay. After that you blacked out and then you don't remember the rest of the interview.Jonathan Walton: [laughs] Well, I remember it. But one of the… I thought to myself, you know, I've changed a lot in the last four years since we wrote the essays that we did and since KTF started and all those things. And so it really pushed me to reflect. And when I was in journalism school with Peter Beinart, who is an amazing writer and commentator, especially right now.Sy Hoekstra: Who you've mentioned before, yeah.Jonathan Walton: Yes. Yeah, I mean, his work is just amazing. But something that he said in class was, you need to write for the language of the bleachers, like between a fifth and eighth grade level. And that is not a knock on people who are not educated or didn't go to university. It's more like we don't talk like this on a regular basis.Sy Hoekstra: You mean you don't talk the way that highfalutin people write [laughs]?Jonathan Walton: Exactly.Sy Hoekstra: Gotcha.Jonathan Walton: Right. And it was one of those things where I was like, huh, I wonder, would I say things the same way now? Or how can I say them so that people leave saying, “Oh, I know what he meant and I understood what he said,” versus, “I don't know what half those words meant, but it sounded really good [Sy laughs]. Thinking of reflecting on how Jesus spoke to people and who he called and how he called them was something that I just, just struck me about that response. And then obviously we also threw out some big words, some large terms and all those things. And one of the things that stood out to me that I didn't know about was the Overton window that she said. I'd never heard of that before.Sy Hoekstra: Oh, okay.Jonathan Walton: Yeah, but what has become normal. Having a term for that's just helpful. For me, like [laughs] I think I've mentioned this before, is that when I feel anxious, when I feel worried, when I feel concerned, one of the places that I go is information. I need to put it in a box. I need to have words to just feel grounded to engage. And now I can just say, “Oh, the Overton window has shifted [laughs], and that helps me have a place to stand [laughs] in a lot of our discourse and gives me more space to do what she talked about at the end, which is like, can I love people across difference? And when I have cohesive frameworks and information especially like in context, and I can do that more effectively. So I learned a lot. I was challenged and I'm really grateful.Sy Hoekstra: I think actually the thing that stuck out to me, kind of, I end up in a similar place, even though I'm coming from a totally different angle. Which is that the thing that she articulated about the how political doubt becomes religious doubt in like our current, kind of nationalist Christian nationalist landscape was really interesting to me. Because you hear it, so it's such a common thing if you think about it, right?Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: At least I've heard so many times people just be like, how can a Christian possibly vote for the Democrats? Right? Or asking like doubting Republican orthodoxy is actually grounds to doubt the foundations of your faith or the seriousness of your faith, when Jesus had absolutely no issue having people who he called disciples who were wildly politically different from each other.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: So when she talks about wanting to talk across difference like that, or wanting to how Jesus helps people become a better version of themselves, he was doing that with people who were like the Roman empire is fine and I work for them and I get rich off of them and that's great, like Matthew [laughs]. Versus the Roman Empire is the enemy and we need to throw them off via murder and other forms of violence, AKA Simon the Zealot. And like they're just sitting together with Jesus. They're both followers of Jesus, no question.Jonathan Walton: Exactly, right.Sy Hoekstra: And they have opposite political views. And one of them is like really earnestly advocating and killing a bunch of people [laughs]. Right?Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And that is like, it's just a, I don't know, in the context of some of the church context where I grew up or some of the… like it's just a lot of the conservative Christian context now that is unthinkable, but it is also the absolute norm for Jesus [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: So that gives you a sense of when you're a place where your church culture is off, when something that is unthinkable is the norm for Jesus [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Exactly. Exactly. That is what I hope we would say when someone says, what is syncretism?Sy Hoekstra: So syncretism is another one of those big words. I'm not sure we defined it right. Syncretism is a word that a lot of White westerners use for basically poor Black and Brown people, and sometimes Asian people.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: When it's like, oh, you are a Christian, sure, but you're also practicing this native thing. Like my wife's family's from Haiti, right? You are Catholic, but you're also doing this voodoo stuff. And so that's not real pure Christianity, that's syncretism. And now…Jonathan Walton: Exactly.Sy Hoekstra: You were saying Jonathan, sorry, that was… go ahead.Jonathan Walton: No, but like, so Brandi's just turn of phrase when she said, oh, when someone's political foundations are shaken, their religious foundations are shaken. That is syncretism.Sy Hoekstra: Right, yes. Exactly.Jonathan Walton: And so putting it in that language just makes it more effective, more practical, more illuminating for people as opposed to saying, “Well, you're political and social and religious ideologies are enmeshed with one another, but creating an agenda…” It's like, we don't need to talk like that [laughs]. You know what I mean? We can just say it plainly and things God can meet us in that.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.Which Tab Is Still Open?: Average Black, Christian Voting Patterns and Political Beliefs vs. the Average DemocratJonathan Walton: Alright Sy. Let's jump into our latest segment that we introduced during the bonus episodes, and now we're bringing to you on our wider feed, is Which Tab Is Still Open. Out of all the highlights we've sent around lately in our newsletter, what's still standing out to us? And so, Sy, this one's yours. So go for it.Sy Hoekstra: This one, yeah, this one is mine. It was an article that I had in the newsletter recently by a professor named Ryan Burge, who is a political science professor and a statistician. He's basically one of the go-to experts in America for a lot of media and other sources for data about religion and politics, like surveys, pollsters, et cetera. So he's a professor at Eastern Illinois University, but he's also an American Baptist Convention pastor [laughs]. So this article is about the average Black church attending Protestant. In a lot of these polls and surveys they ask people how often do you go to church, as a measure of your religiosity. Just like an estimate basically, of your religiosity.So he says for the average Black regular church attending Christian, what is the kind of differences in their political beliefs between just the average overall Democrat? And we talked about this in one of our, in the March bonus episode, that for like a lot of people don't realize the distance between… a lot of White people don't realize the distance between [laughs] average Black voter and average Democrat voter, because Black people always vote Democrat, right?Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: So if you're not kind of familiar with the culture or the politics, then those, the Black people and Democrats can be synonymous. So basically what he said was the average Black church goer is like a self-identified moderate. Is like almost in the middle of the political spectrum. Is more moderate than the average Democrat on abortion, immigration, policing, all kinds of stuff. Not conservative, but more moderate than the average Democrat. And they've become more moderate in recent years. And so there's an actual kind of statistically significant shift toward the right, but voting hasn't changed at all. Or there's been very little change in actual votes.And then the other interesting thing that he pointed out was the average… they do these polls where they have people rank themselves on a political spectrum from one to seven. So one is as liberal as it gets, and seven is as conservative as it gets. And then they also have people rank the Democrat and Republican parties for where they are, like the party overall. And in the last 10 years, the average Black church going Protestant assessment of where the Republican party is, has not changed at all, like in any significant way.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: So meaning when Donald Trump is the standard bearer, no significant difference in how radical or how right the Republican party is than when Mitt Romney was the standard bearer [laughs], right?Jonathan Walton: Yep.Sy Hoekstra: So you're saying that, “Yep. I get it, totally.” I think to a lot of people, that is some pretty stunning news [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.Sy Hoekstra: So, I don't know, the interesting points to me are just how our assumptions are like about voters in general are based on how White people vote, because White people vote very ideologically and Black people just don't. Like I've seen other polling data where it's like, basically Black people self-identify as liberals, moderates, or conservatives at roughly the same rate as White people. They just don't, Black people just don't vote ideologically. That's the difference, right? And then yeah, that thing where there's no difference between Trump and Mitt Romney is so interesting [laughter].Not no difference between those two men, but no difference between the parties under those two men. And by the way, the rest of the Democrat, the average Democrat thinks the Republican party is far more to the right than it was 10 years ago.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: So, basically what I'm saying is Black people knew the whole time [laughs], Black people knew what was up with the Republicans, and the assessment hasn't changed. I don't know, that to me is just a thing that people need to know. I don't know. When people say like, you hear sometimes from progressive people, “Listen to Black people, listen to Black women.” It just gets thrown out there, is like a, what I think to some White people probably sounds like just this weird ideological platitude that people are saying. But this is the reason [laughs]. The reason is marginalized folks in a system understand the system better than people in the dominant positions of the system, and have a, I don't know, have a kind of a clearer sense of where things are, have a more practical view of how to handle themselves in that system, which I think is the non-ideological voting. And yeah, all that stuff is really interesting to me. And I'm wondering what your thoughts were since this was my recommendation.Jonathan Walton: Yeah. I mean, I've… there are so many things that come to mind as we're talking about this. One thing is that the Overton window, as Brandi mentioned [laughs], it has shifted for some people, right? When we talk, when Randy Woodley talks about how people in the United States do not have the luxury of saying, “Oh, it doesn't matter who's president.” Marginalized people know it matters who is sitting in a political position. If it doesn't matter to you, then that creates a different set of problems. And I think another thing I think we have to remember is that [roughly] 70 percent of the voting population in the United States is White. The people who are registered, the people who turn out.And so there's, I think just there's a lot of context to layer over top of this that can obscure just the basic reality of the emancipation and the passing and Civil Rights Act. And the reality is, Black people voted for Lincoln because he wanted to stop slavery. Lincoln was a White supremacist. Lincoln literally argued in his presidential debate in Illinois that he did not believe that Black people were equal and could never be cultured to be with White people.Sy Hoekstra: And therefore we should send them back to Africa.Jonathan Walton: And therefore we should send them back to Africa. That is Lincoln. But why did we vote for him when we finally got the chance to vote, kind of with… [laughs]? It's because he said he did not want to have slavery exist anymore. Now, fast forward to the Civil Rights Act. Why did we all turn into Democrats? Because they said, “Hey, you should actually have civil rights.” Not equal rights, not full rights, not decriminalization. Not all, just some basic civil rights. Bam, now we're in that camp. This has always, always, always been about survival. The statistics are great. You could do the analysis, there's wonderful data that comes out. But at the end of the day, I'm gonna listen to my mama [Sy laughs] and say, “Oh yeah.”It would be preposterous of her to vote for anyone who is for the active destruction of her community. And the reality is, most of the time that is Republicans. Now, there are destructive policies against Black people that come from the Democrats. The difference is, just like we see here, the difference is this thing called White supremacy. One party says White supremacy exists. The other party says it doesn't. One party says White supremacy exists and desires in rhetoric to make it stop, even though they pass policies that continue to perpetuate it. The reality is though, there are more Black people, more people of color, more women in the party that has a donkey and not an elephant. And therefore, we will ride donkeys [laughs].And so that does not mean that we are for… we, when I say Black Christians, are for anything that the Overton window to use Brandi's saying again, has expanded. So Black folks' views on abortion, Black folks' views on war, Black folks' views on policing. Again, we like to be safe too. And unfortunately, a lot of times in communities of color that equals calling the police. That equals saying, “Hey, can someone help me?” Right? In Baltimore, in Chicago, in over policed parts of New York City, Black folks still have to call the police. Like it's not some utopia where we're just gonna let everything go. That doesn't exist in our communities.We still actually desire for the systems to work for us. We do not desire the system to destroy us. And so we use the systems and desire to make them better. And so these numbers I think are exceptionally informative at illuminating the, or illuminating the reality that many people in marginalized communities already know. But hopefully there'll be a common place for us to talk about it. Now there is a resistance to academia and research in progressive and conservative circles [laughs]. And so someone may say, “Well, that's just not true because it's not true for me.” But hopefully it will create some common ground to be able to have a cohesive conversation about Black folks, the Democratic party and progressive and conservative politics.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah, that's what we're trying to do. Political education, man [laughs].Outro and OuttakeJonathan Walton: Lord have mercy.Sy Hoekstra: Lord have mercy. This has been a great conversation. We were so happy that Brandi came on. And thanks for talking as always, Jonathan.Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: We will see you all in a couple of weeks. Our theme song is Citizens by Jon Guerra. Our podcast Art is by Robin Burgess, transcripts by Joyce Ambale. And as I'm gonna start saying a lot, I'm stealing this from Seth at Can I Say This at Church? This show is produced by our subscribers [laughs]. Thank you all and we will see you all in two weeks.[The song “Citizens” by Jon Guerra fades in. Lyrics: “I need to know there is justice/ That it will roll in abundance/ And that you're building a city/ Where we arrive as immigrants/ And you call us citizens/ And you welcome us as children home.” The song fades out.]Jonathan Walton: And he loves wackadoodles, I'm gonna use that one. Loves wackadoodles [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: That I have never heard. Is that because I'm not from the south that I've never heard that? Was that… [laughter]?Jonathan Walton: Well, no. Brandi's not from the south either.Brandi Miller: Also, you know I'm big up north here. I'm a Pacific Northwest girly full on. There's no doubt there [Jonathan laughs].Sy Hoekstra: Is that a Brandi quote? Is that from you?Brandi Miller: No, I'm certain that come from somewhere.Sy Hoekstra: I'm just lost. It's fine.Brandi Miller: Maybe it's Black. Maybe that's what it is.Sy Hoekstra: Well, obviously if I am the confused one and you're not, that's my first thought as well. So [laughter], there's always, there's just like, I'm so used to that point in conversations at this point in my life where I'm like, “Oooooh it's because I'm White” [laughter]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ktfpress.com/subscribe
The New Testament, from the Gospels to Revelation, proclaim Jesus to be the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." But how do the Reformed and the Arminians process the effective nature of Jesus' atoning death? I explore the logic of each divergent camp's theology. What does John Piper teach? What did John Calvin teach? What interesting thing do the Arminians teach about Christ's atonement and infants? Also, because the Lordship of Christ does not stop at the boundary of culture, I unpack still more about what is going on between men and women. There are measurable demographic studies that show important trends at work both in the United States and in Europe. Come laugh and think with me!
How Islam Spread in Bengal, Agrarian Sufis, Social Liberation Theory, State Religion of the Mughals, Shah Jalal, Syncretism, Mughal Law, Economics, Hindu Cosmology, Raja Ganesh, Nur Qutb ul Alam We discuss all these topics with Professor Richard M. Eaton. Richard Maxwell Eaton is an American historian, currently working as a professor of history at the University of Arizona. He is known for having written the notable books on the history of India before 1800. Hosts : Tanzim & Nadeem Please email us your comments, feedback, and questions at: info@boysinthecave.com, and leave a review and 5-star rating on iTunes! Check out our website – boysinthecave.com Follow us on: Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/boysinthecave/ Instagram – @boysinthecave Twitter – @boysinthecave Become a Patreon today! https://www.patreon.com/boysinthecave ——————————————————————————————————–
The story of human ritual and cultural tradition is one of depth and deep connection to land, to place, and to processes and protocols that remain steady across generations. But it's also a story of constant mutation, assimilation, and re-expression. There is a fluidity to culture and tradition that is not always acknowledged in modern discourse. Religious scholars will tell us that all traditions are — to one degree or another — syncretic, and when we lift the lid off of traditions and look deeper, we start to see that even those that seem the most anchored and fixed are deeply porous and adaptive, that traditions have always traveled and changed shape, just as the land itself changes constantly. At a time when more and more people are looking to reconnect to ritual practice, to tradition, and to the land — and yet wanting to be respectful of cultural boundaries — it can be helpful to also understand the fluid, spontaneous, artistic and adaptive aspects of cultural tradition, to hear stories of traveling gods and cross-cultural mashups and innovations that arrive with the movement of travelers. Right at the heart of this exploration of adaptation lives the Divine Mother, who continually re-invents herself to meet the needs of the ecosystems she encounters. So the Polish Black Madonna becomes assimilated into Haitian Voodoo, the Indian mother goddess finds a way to re-express as Catholic St. Sarah, and the African sea goddess Yemoja re-arises to become the most popular vision of the Divine Mother in Brazil and possesses bodies from all socio-cultural and ethnic backgrounds regularly. In many places, syncretism — the fusion and blending of traditions — is welcomed, even if the histories that led to that syncretism are painful. And in these syncretic cauldrons, new traditions are born all the time. Once we start to view the flow of culture and tradition beyond a human-centered sociocultural lens, we see a living animate process in which gods travel and the forces of 'place' are not static, in which outsider species are assimilated into new ecologies, and in which wanderers and outcasts play a key role in the adaptive movement of traditions. These stories teach us that the world is not so neatly divided into those who belong to a place and a tradition and those who don't. And that the story of 'not feeling at home' — of feeling rootless and separate from a homeland that is far away — is actually a key part of the human story and serves as a starting point to the process of reconnection. Featuring conversations with Peia Luzzi, Scout Rainer Wiley, Tyson Yunkaporta, Skye Mandozay and Bayo Akomolafe and music by Egemen Sanli, Victor Sakshin, Beya, and more, this episode is an oceanic cross-cultural ride that asks us to leave our preconceptions of what is fixed and what is fluid behind. Support the Show.
Top headlines for Thursday, May 2, 2024In this episode, we explore the United Methodist General Conference's landmark decision to end a long-standing ban on ordaining pastors in romantic same-sex relationships, a move following the departure of numerous conservative congregations. We then examine a revealing survey that highlights how only 6% of Christians maintain a Biblical worldview amidst a growing trend of syncretism among Americans. In addition, we discuss the alarming trend in the U.S. birth rate, which has continued its decline, reaching a multi-decade low in 2023. Finally, bestselling author Eric Metaxas shares a dire warning in his new book, Religionless Christianity, urging American Christians to confront the escalating evils threatening their country. Subscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsUMC repeals decades-old ban on ordaining LGBT clergy | Church & Ministries News6% of Christians hold a biblical worldview as syncretism rises | U.S. NewsGeorgia to require age verification for pornography, social media | Politics NewsUS birth rate continues to drop, lowest in decades: CDC report | U.S. NewsEric Metaxas' new book warns hour 'extremely late' for US church | Social Science NewsStates sue over Biden's Title IX rule changes: 'Political agenda' | U.S. News'She Reads Truth' devotional Bible sells over 1 million copies | Church & Ministries News
This is part 1 of a series featuring the same article. Enjoy.
In this episode of the Essentially Translatable Podcast, Rich Rudowske engages in discussion with Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt on the importance of cultural and contextual nuances when communicating the Gospel. Dr. Rutt has an impressive 40-year career serving in ministry. Most notably he has served as missionary to Guatemala, Director for International Ministries at Lutheran Hour Ministries, and Provost for Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. The conversation delves into two concepts: syncretism—the tendency to mix non-Christian beliefs with Christian ideals, and contextualization—communicating God's Word in ways that resonate with a culturally diverse audience while maintaining the purity of the Gospel message. These topics are informed by Dr. Rutt's extensive experience in international ministry, as well as his recent article, “Translation and Syncretism”, published in Concordia Journal in spring of 2023. This article explores the complexities of Bible translation, the significance of Scripture being available in one's Mother-tongue, and the critical role of exegesis in both understanding the Word and the world. Tune into learn how Dr. Rutt's transition from commercial pilot to seminary student led to a life-changing experience as a missionary to Guatemala and his continued service in God's kingdom. Read “Translation and Syncretism” here. Highlights Dr. Rutt and Rich discuss the recently published article “Translation and Syncretism” Dr. Rutt is a former missionary to Guatemala with 40 years of experience in ministry Two key terms: syncretism and contextualism, are discussed in relation to Bible translation.
By Mike Phelps in Petaluma, CA, San Francisco Bay Area, CA - February 10, 2024 - Speaker: Mike Phelps Date: 2/10/24 With the origins of Valentine's Day well understood and with the popularity of the holiday, a question often arises: should a Christian celebrate Valentine's Day? As God created love and is love, God clearly desires that we love one another. But is the holiday's focus one we should encourage? What should the Christian's view be towards syncretism? After bringing His people out of Egypt, God knew they would come into a new land with other nations around them who also had their own gods. So, the eternal God gave specific instructions on what His holy people were to do. Is this instruction relevant to how a Christian should approach Valentine's Day? Please Note: Additional messages given in the SF Bay Area congregation may be searched by date, presenter name &/or title at https://www.ucg.org/sermons/all?group=San%20Francisco%20Bay%20Area,%20CA
History is marked by vain attempts to mitigate conflict among religions by melding two belief systems together. Today, R.C. Sproul adamantly teaches that we must never negotiate the truth of the Christian faith to achieve a false sense of unity. A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.ligonier.org/donate/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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