Snarky Faith

Today, on the show, we see the triumphant return of the Christian Crazy where Hank Kunneman has a surprise guest, and Jim Bakker needs more money. Shocking, I know. I'm also joined by Kassidy Beane, aka the HippieCatholic. She's a content creator on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube. She's all about starting a conversation between the world, where the Holy Spirit moves, and the church, where the Eucharist resides. Today, Kassidy and I talk about progressive Catholicism, mysticism, and patron saints. We'll walk through her journey of deconstruction and reconstruction and discuss why she's still drawn to the church. It's a fun and spirited talk about finding your place outside the lines of faith. You can find all the links to the HippyCatholic here: https://linktr.ee/thehippiecatholic 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 Pride Month comes to a close, I wanted to take a different approach to a conversation that I haven't heard in many happening various faith spheres. Much of June is either filled with celebration and allyship or open condemnation towards the LGBTQ+ community. It's sad, yet not surprising, that Christianity takes such a binary approach. If the American church would learn to love like Jesus, this would all be different.  The show is much less about pride and much more about supporting others. More specifically, it's a conversation about parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ children.  Joining me today are Adam and Michelle Palmer, who are both musicians and ministers with a lifetime of ministry work under their belts. They're also the parent of an LGBTQ+ child. So am I.  Raising children can be difficult and, even with the best intentions, affirming parents can often feel at a loss on how to support and protect their children. Much of this is similar to the struggles of any parent. Yet when part of the world already prejudges others based upon identity or sexual orientation, it's hard to know how to help your kids.  So, today's show is an honest and open conversation about supporting and loving LGBTQ+ children as they find their footing in the world. Hopefully, through our dialogue and stories, there's wisdom here for the taking. We're far from perfect parents, but the hope is to learn from our mistakes to love better and hurt less in the future.    Follow the Palmers on Instagram: Adam - @thatAdamPalmer Michelle - @mywildpreciouslife Resources for caregivers and parents of LGBTQ+ children: PFLAG https://pflag.org/ Q Christian Fellowship (nothing to do with QAnon) https://www.qchristian.org/resources/family Beloved Arise https://www.belovedarise.org/ Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084SN481M/ Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Ministry https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9SZVQC/ 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.

"God works to influence, persuade, and teach people to move away from their misunderstanding to a better concept of who God is… but that can take time." -Gabriel Gordon   This week, I sit down with author, Gabriel Gordon. Gabriel's new book, God Speaks, tackles the topic of Biblical inspiration or in laymen's terms, how can the Bible be the word of God if humans wrote it.  Gordon's work Thomas Jay Oord's theology of Essential Kenosis and revealing how it provides a better theological basis for developing a doctrine of Biblical Inspiration. Tom Oord was on the show months back - check it out here. In God Speaks, Gordon is trying to Bible away from people, correcting many assumptions, and then wants to give the Bible back to read and experienced. Too often, do Christians assume the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, but they tend to ignore the multitude of human fingerprints all over it. There's this fear that putting humanity back in the Bible will somehow diminish it, but it's quite the opposite. When we cease to hold up the Bible as an idol and see it for what it is, then we can embrace it in a new, healthy, and God-honoring way.  In God Speaks, Gordon presses the idea that if God cannot control free creatures, then how did the biblical authors interact with God's revelation to produce the biblical text? Join us today for a lively, theological, and eye-opening look into why we should hold and read scripture in a new way. Though it may seem scary, it's quite freeing to see the difference between God and scripture. There is God. There is scripture. They are not the same and that leads us to embrace the humanity of the Bible as we seek to faithfully wrestle and live out scripture.  In the Bible, people experienced God through revelation or inspiration and then wrote it down with human hands, understandings, and biases... and that's okay! It doesn't diminish God. In the end, how we choose to hold and interact with scripture says much more about us and our views of God than it does about God or the Bible. It's far time we engage with scripture in human terms as it was meant to be.  Buy Gabriel's book, God Speaks: A Participatory Theology of Biblical Inspiration on Amazon Gabriel Gordon is also one of the co-founders of The Misfits Theology Club and podcast.  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.

Typically on Snarky Faith, I'm interviewing different authors, advocates, and voices doing great work in the sphere of Christianity and beyond.  Today, we're going to flip the script and the interviewer becomes the interviewee as I pass the reigns to my good friend Dr. Justin Meier. Justin has known me for years and doesn't pull punches, so I thought he'd be an excellent candidate to skewer me and ask the hard questions.  In this episode of Snarky Faith, Justin will ask me anything he wants. He has not given me the questions ahead of time and I've given him full latitude with nothing off-limits. What will he ask? What will I say? Who is Stuart Delony? What makes him tick? Why is he so snarky? Does he know people think he's an asshole? So many questions and more will be answered on Snarky Faith this week. It's bound to be a fun and entertaining dialogue about faith, growth, deconstruction, hope, and a whole lot more.  If you've ever wanted to know more about your Snarky Faith host, this should be a fun conversation.  Enjoy! *If there are still lingering questions after the interview, just email: questions@snarkyfaith.com with your questions, and I'll answer them on the air soon.  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.

Within the walls of Christendom, most would tell you that truth holds the greatest currency... if you listen to how much they like to market the word truth and claim to be the bearers of truth (as if it was an object).  The funny thing is that if you look across headlines and dip your pinky toe into the shallow end of church history, you'll know that Christians - especially Christian leaders - have a big problem with telling the truth.  Sometimes there are outright lies and scandals where truth was obscured until someone found out in the light of day. Other times, lies are trafficked as truth hidden under the layers of Christianeze and hollow, yet holy-sounding, sentiments. Then, there are the instances where the pious claim to know something emphatically, yet require us to trust their word that it's true. More lies.  The sad thing is that it almost seems like a game to the pastors and power brokers of the faith. Manipulate people to get what you want. Play with people's fear of the unknown to profit. Stoke the fires of tribalism to make sure there's always an 'us and them' narrative in play. Its winner takes all in their own game of spiritual Monopoly where the name of Jesus is more a marketing tool than the mission.  It seems that Christianity has a truth problem, which stems from the fact that It ultimately has a Jesus problem.  When love and sacrifice isn't the core driving force and being an ally to others is seen a sinful, we've taken a wrong turn. The words and call of Christ were grounded in reality. The Kingdom of God was declared "here and now." It was present and should be seen as active and present now.  The simple ways of Jesus have been forgotten and replaced by the Christian Industrial Complex. It's a machine that chews up and spits out people. There is no love or grace there, only facade and pomp. Jesus has left the building and no one noticed.  I did.  Maybe you did too.  As for me, I choose to live outside of it, with people that aren't always like me. I'd rather get my hands dirty with good trouble and get busy being someone's ally, rather than be seen as holy or respectable. It's in these places where I find Jesus the most.  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.

"I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war." - Albert Einstein Today, I open up the snarky vault to delve into an old discussion from 2015. The show format was different, but the wrestling with faith remains the same. Join me today as I talk with Professor Ben about the ethics of pacifism and nonviolence. With American Christianity so intertwined with nationalism and love of the military, it's far time to recapture why violence and the Kingdom of God should be strange bedfellows. They should be strangers. We must remember that there is no "for God and Country." With Christ, it's only "for God." Period. In the shadow of Memorial day, let's talk about why Christianity must be aligned with peace, and to follow in the steps of Christ means to embody this posture. We'll also talk about why pacifism and nonviolence are not just about war. Enjoy the vintage Snark! 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.

Rabbi Brian Mayer is a beautiful anomaly. He helps people feel comfortable enough to question religion, and seek out their understanding through mindfulness, research, and his own heartfelt stories. He’s the founder of Religion outside the Box - a digital congregation reaching out to people regardless of religious background or affiliation. He also runs the popular ‘The 77% Weekly Newsletter.’ Today, Rabbi Brian joins us to talk about looking for God outside of organized religion. His journey as rabbi led him out of the institution and into being a high school math teacher and beyond. Join us as we talk about the evolution of faith, outgrowing places, seeking new spaces, and the God of your understanding. It's a fun and raw talk with two ministers of different faiths that somehow see the world through very similar eyes. You can find Rabbi Brian at: https://rotb.org/   Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. www.SnarkyFaith.colm Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"You're going to need a bigger boat..." - Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), Jaws Christianity has a problem with tribalism. It's become selfish, inbred, and too exclusive. Christianity needs to embrace a bigger table.  Think I'm wrong?  The institutionalized version of the faith has forgotten why it exists. It focuses on minor details in scripture that divide, demonize, and miss the overwhelming call from the Bible to love others. It's a hate culture so focused on sin that it can no longer see where God is moving in the world today. It's a control system wrapped in an easy to swallow pill, but that's not Christianity. It's just modern-day American Christendom, where power, piety, and comfort reign.  Guess what? None of this has anything to do with the teachings and ethics of Jesus. To say we've missed the point would be kind. Someone moved the goalposts and changed the mission statement.  Today, we'll talk about the dangers of tribalism and how Jesus preached a much different way to exist founded by service and love. We'll take on Luke 14 where Christ challenges assumptions and gives a glimpse into what matters most to the Kingdom of God.  Part of his call includes a large table where all are welcomed, accepted, and equal. The modern church worries more about itself as business and has forgotten the scandalous, upside-down ways of God. Jesus calls those who follow Him to embrace humility, service, grace, compassion, and love. This posture is counter-culture to the world we live in today and may seem audacious - but that's clearly the heartbeat of God.  To have a faith with many hurdles and narrow lanes steals the beauty of the Gospel that calls for all to have a home. This kind of love changes lives and transforms communities. It gives dignity back to the forgotten and voice to the marginalized. God's Kingdom has plenty of room and we need to crucify tribalism and exclusivity because Jesus ordained it.  There's a different way to live that values others and sees the image of God in all of creation. Let's embrace what God has already done and learn to love without prejudice or barrier. There's a beautiful way forward and I'd love to walk that path with you. Does anyone want to join me?  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 FORMATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY WITH AN ALTERNATIVE CONSCIOUSNESS IS SO THAT THE DOMINANT COMMUNITY MAY BE CRITICIZED AND FINALLY DISMANTLED. BUT MORE THAN DISMANTLING, THE PURPOSE OF THE ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY IS TO ENABLE A NEW HUMAN BEGINNING TO BE MADE. – WALTER BRUEGGEMANN Bruggeman speaks of this alternative community that dismantles but also gives life. It speaks to the heart and interworkings of movement that Jesus intended. With modern-day American Christendom, power is consolidated, compassion is forgotten, right belief trumps right action, and the road to God is painted as narrow that few find. THIS IS MINDSET IS TOXIC AND ANTITHETICAL TO ANYTHING JESUS TAUGHT. To look at the scriptures, Christ had compassion for those that society deemed a sinner or unclean. Jesus had grace for those who had been maligned and forgotten. He saw true faith in the hearts of those that the faithful will label pagan. Jesus painted a picture of a wide road towards finding God. In religion, we’re taught to fear and that the slippery slope to sinfulness is around every corner waiting for you to fall and fail. That slippery slope is a lie. Modern-day Christianity has excelled at teaching judgment and tribalism to its converts as a control system. You’re taught to never doubt, believe what you’re taught, and avoid the very people that Jesus taught us to embrace. In the first century, Jesus had grace for the outcast, but judgment for those who wielded power for personal gain. He raged against the religious leaders of the time for muddling the truth about God’s out-reaching and over-encompassing love. The pious used scripture as a weapon to burden people, control them and obscure the Kingdom of God. The same people Jesus called out in his time look very similar to the modern-day power brokers of religion who reign from the industrialized halls of a commercialized faith. WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THOSE PEOPLE. I am tired of this warped, weak, greedy, and ineffectual version of the beautiful vision that Christ had for his people. It’s far time to recapture the essential heart of Jesus and throw down the tired baggage of Christendom. Anyone with me? 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.

"God’s word is an instructive guide. If we disobey it for the right reasons, we are faithful saints."  -Matthew J. Korpman This week, on the show, I sit down with author, Matthew J. Korpman. Matthew's new book, Saying No to God is a radical approach to reading the Bible faithfully.  Scripture is rarely definitive and clear when it comes to things that "God says." Between the books of the Bible, it seems like God's nature and focus change at will and even often contradict themselves. So what's going on here? In his book, Korpman has an interesting answer.  There's a different way to read and understand the Bible, one in which begs the readers to push back on what God says because the God of scripture requires it.  Taking a closer look at the text reveals something interesting going on, so join us today as we delve into Saying No to God. Matthew has a brilliant way of making complex ideas simple and accessible. It's a fantastic conversation about getting to the heart of what matters.  On a personal note: I read through this book with a group of friends and it was a formative experience to some and a deconstructive one for others. Either way, it's a book that begs to be read if you're looking to challenge some of your Sunday School notions of scripture and dig deeper to see a God that is far more loving and inclusive than institutionalized Christianity is comfortable with. For that very reason alone, you should check out this book.   Buy Matthew's book, Saying No to God, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Saying-No-God-Approach-Faithfully/dp/1938480511/ Visit Matthew's website for upcoming books and speaking engagements here: http://www.matthewjkorpman.com/ 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.