Gravity Commons Podcast

There are lots of misconceptions about "deconstruction" (i.e. it's the "easy way out" or a way to avoid accountability). But Angela Herrington, in her new book Deconstructing Your Faith Without Losing Yourself, defines it as healing from religious trauma by releasing harmful beliefs, and accompanies people on that journey in her work.Angela Herrington is a Lark's Song Certified Life Coach and hods a BA in biblical studies from Indiana Weslyan and an MA in leadership from Wesley Seminary. She helps those deconstructing their faith heal from their religious trauma and cultivate healthy spirituality.You can connect with Angela and her work on her website: angelajherrington.com.Connect with Gravity:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are you interested in advertising on the Gravity Podcast? Contact us at podcast@gravitycommons.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Terry Wildman discusses The First Nations Version, an indigenous translation of the New Testament, emphasizing cultural storytelling traditions and linguistic nuances. The podcast explores the transformative power of this unique translation, challenges Eurocentric interpretations, and delves into themes of cultural appropriation vs. appreciation. It also touches on embracing cultural exchange and the impact of historical actions on indigenous communities.

Jon Ward recounts his evangelical upbringing and its evolution, exposing the movement's political entanglements. He discusses the appeal of evangelical figures, challenges they face, and navigating beliefs within these communities. Insights into politics from a White House reporter and reflections on Trump's impact.

Explore how love can guide disagreements as Kathy Khang and Matt Mikalatos discuss respectful communication, handling differing opinions, and embracing diversity within the church. Learn about navigating challenging theological topics, co-writing a book with unity in mind, and managing difficult conversations with grace and boundaries. Dive into gratitude for advocacy and a playful banter to wrap up the podcast.

Exploring the complexities of shame and its impact on relationships, contrasting honor-shame cultures with Western attitudes. Insights on healthy shame and repairing relationships, highlighting the nuances between toxic and healthy shame. Reflecting on Jesus's transformative encounters with women, reshaping societal norms and challenging honor-shame dynamics. Conversation on navigating shame and guilt, managing emotions, and deepening connections with others and God. Encouragement for community engagement and sharing insightful reflections on shame and book recommendations.

We started Gravity in 2015, and up until recently the official name of the organization was Gravity Leadership. But we recently changed our name to Gravity Commons. Why?Show notes:Read the article online: Why We Changed Our Name to Gravity CommonsJoin the Gravity Community.Connect with Gravity:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are you interested in advertising on the Gravity Podcast? Contact us at podcast@gravitycommons.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In her book Eve Isn't Evil: Feminist Readings of the Bible to Upend Our Assumptions, the Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker reads biblical texts through a feminist lens, discussing how vital our readings of the Bible can be as a source of strength, guidance, and joyful defiance.Julie Faith Parker lives in NYC where she is a visiting scholar at Union Theological Seminary and biblical scholar in residence at Marble Collegiate Church. She has taught biblical studies at General Theological Seminary, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and also at NY Theological Seminary, where her students were incarcerated in Sing Sing Prison.Show notes:Here's the article we mentioned in the introduction (Chris Green, prompted by a conversation between Bono and Franklin Graham, posts a conversation between Rowan Williams and Philip Pullman on what makes art art and what makes art Christian:You Can't Actually Show the ResurrectionConnect with Gravity:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are you interested in advertising on the Gravity Podcast? Contact us at podcast@gravityleadership.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We talk with pastor and professor Cheryl Bridges Johns about why our reading of the Bible needs to be "re-enchanted" for us to encounter it as God's Word. She is the author of Re-Enchanting the Text: Discovering the Bible as Sacred, Dangerous, and Mysterious.Cheryl Bridges Johns is a pastor and theologian who has taught collee and seminary students for over 40 years. She is visiting professor and director of the Pentecostal House of Studies at United Theological Seminary and previously taught at Pentecostal Theological Seminary and is past president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.You can connect with her and her work on her bio page.Connect with Gravity:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are you interested in advertising on the Gravity Leadership Podcast? Contact us at podcast@gravityleadership.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Reflecting on the past year, exchanging Christmas gifts, growing emotional intelligence, exploring shame, finding home in the Episcopal Church, and embracing the hope of Christmas in this entertaining and insightful episode.

As part of our series on how to understand and read the Bible, we talk with New Testament scholar Robyn Whitaker about why and how to read the Bible on its own terms (instead of trying to make it into something it's not).Robyn Whitaker is Associate Professor of New Testament Studies at Pilgrim Theological College and the University of Divinity in Melbourne Australia.She co-hosts the By the Well podcast, and is the author of the book we talked with her about, Even the Devil Quotes Scripture: Reading the Bible on Its Own Terms.You can connect with Robyn and her work on her website.Connect with Gravity:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join our online community for free to get a curated list of interesting and edifying links each week, plus all kinds of other goodies.Check out the Gravity Commons, a place to connect and learn with others in the Gravity community.Check out Gravity Leadership Academy, our 12-month training intensive for Christian leaders who want to bring lasting transformation to their culture.Are you interested in advertising on the Gravity Leadership Podcast? Contact us at podcast@gravityleadership.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy