Snarky Faith

"Based on this historical example, if our passion is to end abortion in our nation, the best way to do so is to circumvent political processes (which, to date, have not proven very effective), and to love our neighbor as Jesus commanded." Keith Giles ~ Jesus Untangled  Today's show is a mixed bag of talk about reproductive rights, and I'll also take you on a road trip discussion of our continuing series on spiritual formation.  Note: I apologize in advance for the poor sound quality of the road trip portion of the recording.  The right for a woman to choose medical decisions about her own body is a political lightning rod issue in both American politics and religion.  On the surface, this issue is presented as if it's binary. You are either pro-life or pro-choice. Both sides have their narratives and talking points. Yet in the discourse, everyone seems to be vehemently yelling past one another. At the end of the day, it seems all we're left with is the yelling, and that's never helpful.   We see pro-life Christians using the Bible as justification for their stance, but proof-texting scripture is never very fruitful in seeing the heart of God.  The logical way to engage the Bible on a topic like this would be to see how God views personal choice. In the Bible, humanity is depicted as a complex, multi-faceted creature with the ability and responsibility to make decisions and choices. The concept of free will is kind of a big deal in the Bible.  So join us today as we discuss the changing views about abortion and how those views have changed in the minds of Christian over decades. We'll also dig into the political influences behind the Religious Right and how it has used this issue for years to shape politics and fuel the flames of culture wars.  What does any of this have to do with Jesus? How are we missing the point in this issue? How do we move forward?  Tune in and find out.  We'll talk about all that and plenty more snark!  Show notes   Episode Timestamp: In The News/Roe v Wade: 03:40 Main Conversation: 40:00 Bonus Crazy: 56:30   Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist   Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes   Articles:  The Real Origins of the Christian Right As a Christian, I Want to Reduce Abortions, Not Overturn Roe Why Post Roe Abortion Bans Must Exempt Religious Jews Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To go somewhere, you have to leave.  There will be times in our journeys in faith when we're called to leave, either by choice or circumstance. Sometimes we pull away for a moment; other times, maybe forever. The keys to navigating these times are discernment, detachment, and humility. We encounter moments where leaving is healthy and gives us perspective. Other times, we just need to get the hell out of bad or toxic situations.  Regardless of the reason, what we learn in these times of separation can be formative if we lean into the process with open eyes and humble hearts.  Engaging in change can be difficult, but we must remember that we don't fear change - we fear loss. That fear can keep us in places where we won't progress or grow. It can leave us in places we're not supposed to be.  In Irish folklore, there was a mythical race called the Tuatha De Danann. They were peaceful people who loved beauty and art. When confronted and driven to war by a hostile tribe, it is said that they just "turned sideways into the light and disappeared."  They knew that war would make them into something they were not and didn't dare to engage.  Sometimes, leaving is a decision to prevent yourself from becoming something you don't want to become. So, remember that healthy detachment can help you see more clearly.  I believe that the future will be written by those that choose to leave and create something better. Those who dare to tread on uncharted grounds are also those that discover what is new and next. Faith was never meant to be a stagnant or complacent process. To learn and grow, we must step into new territory with a brave face and a humble posture.  Let us cast away the inert stability of past institutions and mindsets while we look to better and more hopeful days forward. It is not easy to cast off our baggage, but it is a lighter load for the road ahead.  Travel well. We'll talk about all that and more snark!  Show notes Episode Timestamp: COVID: 02:05 Christian Crazy: 06:25 Main Conversation: 25:35 Bonus: 56:30 Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"As you start to walk on the way, the way appears." ~ Rumi    No one likes to be lost.  It strikes us with fear and disorientation because we like to be in control. When we're lost, things feel out of control. Yet being lost is part of the spiritual journey.  In many ways, it is an essential ingredient for change and growth. As humans, we're creatures of habit and depend on certain things for stability as we make our way in the world every day. Remove some of the familiar, and we experience loss.  It happens as a result of our own choices, those of others, or through circumstances outside of our control. It may be painful, but it is inevitable.  I've known some people so scared to make a decision they would avoid it at all costs. They feared change. Though it should be noted, that not making a decision is actually a decision. It's a choice to remain foolish in the hope that life will go back to the way it used to be. It's a nostalgic fantasy that leads to delusion. Embracing reality and ourselves is key to spiritual growth. My journey towards knowing God more has led me to know myself more. I've learned to heal, turn baggage into wisdom, and reclaim awe and wonder in my life. It's also been painful, stretching, and even ugly at times. This process is ongoing. I'm constantly growing and learning more about myself and the divine. Yet, all of that would be impossible unless I'm willing to be lost.  Moving away from certainty can be terrifying and make us long for the shallower waters of the familiar. So we must remember that life moves forward at a brisk pace. The world changes constantly, and so do you.  You and your faith were never meant to be stagnant. There's more out there to be experienced and more life to live. Don't worry. You won't be alone. There are plenty of us out there. Let's get lost together.  We'll talk about all that and more snark!    Show notes Episode Timestamp: Hedge of Protection: 01:43 In the News: 02:20 UFOs and Jesus: 13:00 Main Conversation: 18:30 Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"We must realize that leaps of faith are the junk food of the spiritual realm... An authentic leap of faith may become the first step of a new beginning, but taking that step feels more like the culmination of a long and engaging journey."   Eric Elnes ~ Gifts of the Dark Wood   Continuing on our series about the tangible ways of faith, today we'll discuss different motivations for seeking after God. Thus far, we'd discussed conversion and moments of experiencing the divine.  Too often, we assume that the journey of faith is all about mystical and mysterious happenings and experiences. While, in some regard, these do instances may occur, they are not the norm. Yet, we usually use these supernatural events as a gauge for spirituality and depth.  Religion has groomed us to believe that one of the key ingredients for experiencing God is a leap of faith or some grand gesture. This ideology of risk is often a recipe for abuse, pain, and trauma. I'm not trying to negate the impact of a spiritual experience, per se, but we must realize that these are often only the beginning point of a journey. These moments are not the goal or a place to camp and make a home.  When we seek God, we must ask ourselves, "what or why are we seeking Her?"  Many seek God for purpose, significance, or affirmation. Others may seek Her out of selfish ambition or pride. Either way, it's missing the point, but humans often excel at that virtue. The road toward experiencing the divine should lead us to a greater understanding of ourselves. This requires introspection, healing, and dealing with our biases and baggage as we begin to embrace seeing the world through the lens of Jesus.  This journey also grants us something unexpected. As Peter Rollins puts it, "For while we do not grasp God, faith is born amidst the feeling that God grasps us." Understanding and embracing this fact will lead to deeper personal transformation. It also arms us with a robust amount of humility and grace. These are the necessary tools for the road ahead. Without them, we'll never understand the Kingdom of God.    We'll talk about all that and more snark!    This week's Christian Crazy also features Greg Lock, Shane Vaughn, and Kat Kerr! Show notes   Episode Timestamp: Snarky start: 01:43 In the News: 06:00 Christian Crazy: 23:40 Main Conversation: 30:00 Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes Articles: https://julieroys.com/macarthur-shamed-excommunicated-mother-take-back-child-abuser/ https://www.patheos.com/blogs/allsetfree/2022/04/some-reflections-on-hillsong-mars-hill-and-church-culture/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/russia-ukraine-invasion-military-predictions/629418/ Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Snarky Faith is a space where we irreverently wrestle through life, culture and spirituality. It’s a skewering of religion in culture today. The questions or even answers are never the point – it’s all about the conversation. Hosted by Stuart Delony. Snarky Faith is on WCOM LP 103.5 Chapel Hill/Carrboro, NC Tuesdays 5-6pm EST www.snarkyfaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglect to do it to me." -Jesus The pursuit of experiencing the divine is the age-old goal of religious and spiritual seekers. For those that believe or want to believe, such an encounter can be transformative and confirming to one's faith.  Yet, organized religion has manipulated this desire and used it to control the masses through fear, guilt, and shame masked as theology, dogma, and practice. They've taught us to ignore our humanity because they see it as flawed and sinful. Then, they tell us to deny our senses, past experiences, and logic if we want to experience the Almighty.   That way isn't a way towards a transcendent encounter. It only leads us into a circular path of submission and sameness. Seeking God doesn't require us to ignore our humanity or check our brains at the door. Though that's what is often taught and preached.  We are an amalgamation of our experiences in life, both good and bad. To ignore this is to neglect ourselves.  As children, we're told not to touch the stove but sometimes do it anyway. We learn from the pain. We grow from the encounter. These happenings and our responses to them make us into who we are. Events like these help frame our perspective and make us who we are. We need to learn to be and accept ourselves. If God is real and at work in the world around us, we need to realize that seeking the divine requires us to engage with reality and help others. It's not as sexy as a vision, miracle, or transcendent moment, but God lives in the spaces where the forgotten and marginalized dwell. So, if we want to experience God, these are the places we go. It's just that simple.  We'll talk about that along with the Hillsong scandal, Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, and plenty more in this episode. This will be part one of a two-part discussion on experiencing the divine.  Show notes Episode Timestamp: News/Hillsong/Don't Say Gay: 03:00 Christian Crazy: 30:00 Main Conversation: 37:00 Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist   Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"The courage to be is rooted in the God who appears when God has disappeared in the anxiety of doubt."  -Paul Tillich   Religious conversion is a peculiar thing. The very mention of "getting saved" most likely triggers lots of ideas, experiences, feelings, and bad memes in your head.  The funny thing is that conversion is not intended to be a spiritual, rapturous, or transcendent experience. It's likewise not about praying a prayer or getting a magic get-out-of-hell-free card. That would be an exercise in missing the point. Conversion literally means turning around and embarking on a different path. Yup, that's it. Nothing more or less, yet we have mucked up the entire thing with marketing, spectacle, and scare tactics. Taking up that different path of Jesus is filled with fear, doubt, and ambiguity. Yet, with conversion, we sell assurance and certainty, which is an utter disservice to the spiritual process and growth. Sorry, but there are no cookie cutters for faith, and those that sell that message of assurance are only parrots, puppets, and posers. There is a deep mystery in following the ways of Jesus and seeking God in the world around us. There's no way around it.  Churches push that aside as they give us dependable crutches that tickle our spiritual longings with things such as preaching, worship, and dogma. It's almost as if they're trying to prove Karl Marx correct when he said, "religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." Jesus did want his followers to be cosplaying Christians. He promised a hard road ahead for his followers filled with sacrifice, trials, trouble, and emptiness.  While the ethics of Christ give us a firm lens to see the world, the praxis of those teachings is anything but certain. We embark into the world armed with ideals, knowing not how they will be contextualized and animated when faced with reality.  There is a gift to that emptiness borne out of not knowing. It forces us to be open and awake in every moment as we continue in our process of becoming. It keeps us searching, changing, and growing.  It's fear that keeps us in place. It's fear that keeps us in church. It's fear that keeps us from change.  Experiencing God is always about the journey to know the unknown, both inwardly and outwardly. It's meant to help us become more of ourselves as we cast off the baggage from the past while bravely learning to humbly love others without stipulation or qualification.  It's not easy, but it is the way of Jesus. There will be times of emptiness because your path every day is new and being charted by you. There's only one you and no specific guide to your life (sorry, Bible). Sounds scary, but there are others out there embracing new ways of love, growth, kindness, and justice as they seek God.  That process of becoming helps us to view ourselves, others, and God in new ways. So if we were honest about conversion into faith, we'd stop the marketing and lean into the mystery. This process creates a reliance upon God that is essential to the ways of Christ. Without it, we're just smug, pious assholes that dream of heaven as we ignore life in this present reality. Ambiguity and the vacancy of certitude force us to embrace life and others with an open hand and a sense of expectancy.  We'll talk about all that and lots more snark!  This week's Christian Crazy features Robin Bollocks, Hank Kunneman, Kent Christmas, and more! Show notes Episode Timestamp: Ukraine: 02:10 Christian Crazy: 14:40 Main Conversation: 30:30 Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist   Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes   Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“How many of us are strangers to ourselves in order to please the church.”  ~ George Azar   On this week's show, we sit down with author and ex-pastor George Azar to discuss his new book, My Gay Church Days. The book is a profoundly raw, honest, and open memoir about his experiences within Christianity and ministry as a gay man. It's a journey of self-discovery from someone who's just like all of us - in search of love, acceptance, belonging, and community.  From an early age, George knew he was different, but he longed to fit in and feel at home in this world. Evangelical Christianity provided a space to belong and find fellowship, but that all came at a price.  Within religious circles, you're always welcome as long as you fit into a certain mold. It's a conditional community that speaks often of grace and love but actually requires conformity and control. It's in these places that the life-giving words of Jesus are drowned out by pious judgment, cultural fears, and systemic misogyny and bigotry.   George's memoir chronicles the struggles of processing and embracing a faith that taught him that his homosexual feelings were sinful and that being part of the LGBTQ+ community made him an abomination fit for the wrath of an angry God. Undoubtedly, teachings like this taught him (and others) to hate himself and hide who he was from everyone around him - even himself.  It's a powerful story of the ways religion can be soul-crushing and dangerous to those who don't fall in line, but it's also a hopeful tale of resilience, self-acceptance, and learning to love yourself.  We'll talk about all that and more snark. Buy George Azar's book, My Gay Church Days: Memoir of a closeted Evangelical pastor who eventually had enough, on Amazon. For more on George: www.mygaychurchdays.com Twitter/Instagram: @mygaychurchdays Note: A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to The Trevor Project - The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 Uncertainty is something that usually makes us feel uncomfortable. We like to be in control and have a hand in the outcome of things in life. It's a natural inclination, but it's also counter-productive when we seek to change and grow.   In regards to religion, certainty is typically a recipe for disaster. Or, as Eric Elnes puts it, "have you ever noticed how the more certainty a religion claims to deliver, the more frenzied and hysterical are its adherents?" When Christianity pushes to make the unknowable knowable, it diminishes the mystery of God and reduces the teachings of Jesus to sets of rules and dogma. Once this happens, faith becomes more about adherence than exploration and growth. Jesus' teachings change us from the inside out. They're not about being right or righteous, holy or pious. Christ's ways teach us to live fueled by kindness, grace, compassion, humility, and empathy. To embrace his ways leads us down a mysterious path that tosses certainty to the wayside. That journey changes us as we move out in love into a world filled with uncertainty.  Stick with religion, and you know what you'll get.  For me, I'd rather follow the ways of Jesus into the unknown. Want to join me?  We'll talk about all that, the Ukraine and lots more snark!  This week's Christian Crazy features Lance Wallnau, Franklin Graham, Curt Landry, and more! Show notes Episode Timestamp: Ukraine: 02:45 Christian Crazy: 15:00 Main Conversation: 26:35 Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist   Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes   Articles: https://religionnews.com/2022/02/25/a-religious-politician-head-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-the-usa-slams-patriarch-kirill-putin/ https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/p/next-year-in-kyiv? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ, we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God."   2 Corinthians 2:15-17   I've been lately contemplating this idea of Christianity and the idea of embodying a "pleasing aroma." Nowadays, it seems like the modern-day church needs some Febreze, like, a lot of it.  Over the past few weeks on the show, we journeyed together through the Sermon on the Mount, learning the ethics of Jesus. In that similar vein, let's pivot towards the brass tacks of faith as we explore spiritual formation and practice. This seems to be the lost art of Christianity.  To recapture the pleasant aroma of Christ, we must look back to the basics of what it looks like to walk in the ways of the Kingdom of God.  When our faith has become about doctrine, dogma, theology, and philosophy, it's safe to say that you have an abstract faith not grounded in reality. It's more theory than practice.  Furthermore, that's not how Jesus discipled and taught his followers. Christ's way was grounded in the here and now yet pointed toward a hopeful future of potential.  The path towards that future involves us becoming who we are supposed to be. The journey of faith was never about stagnation. It's about being deeply rooted in your humanity and seeing where God is at work in the world around us, and joining Her there. The path of knowing ourselves is the same path that leads to knowing God, but you won't find it in organized religion. It's a journey into the wild.  Want to come with me?  There's no telling where the path will lead, and that's the beauty and mystery of it.  We'll talk about all that and more snarky!  This week's Christian Crazy features Hank Kunneman, Greg Lock (and his witches), Perry Stone, and Kat Kerr! Show notes Episode Timestamp: Housekeeping: 01:43 In the News: 05:00 Christian Crazy: 14:00 Main Conversation: 32:00 Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible: Right Wing Watch Christian Nightmares Friendly Atheist Books Referenced: Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes Articles: https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/14/us/pastor-invalid-baptisms-resignation https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/15/opinions/tennessee-adoption-struggle-religious-freedom-graves-fitzsimmons-siddiqi/index.html https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/02/2500-christian-ministers-sign-letter-demanding-right-practice-conversion-therapy/ https://religionnews.com/2022/02/15/tennessee-preacher-greg-locke-says-demons-told-him-names-of-witches-in-his-church/ Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.