Religion on the Mind

Dr. Sarah Lane Ritchie joins for her inaugural regular guest spot on YHP to discuss her and Dan’s shared recent experience of having their first children. They each tell their respective stories of infertility and IVF, and various theological and psychological implications of these are discussed, including: the role of neurotransmitter’s in God’s communication to humans, CS Lewis’s idea of Joy as a “foretaste” of the Kingdom of God, Hell, wonder/awe, the multiverse, and more.Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Dr. Greg Cootsona (California State University, Chico) heard a recent episode that touched on the questions of Hell and Universal Salvation, he emailed me almost immediately and mentioned that something was lacking in our treatment of that topic: other religions and perspectives of the span of geography and time. This is especially relevant because doctrines about the afterlife tend to make a lot of claims about people outside the membership of Christianity. Naturally, I invited him back on the show to talk at length about this topic, and indeed we did talk *at length* because it is such a fascinating topic. Other than complimenting me too often (we edited out as many as we could), Greg is a perfect podcast guest!Faith + Letters Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-and-letters/id1525445129Greg’s Blog: http://cootsona.blogspot.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bradley Wright is a Protestant professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut where he studies American Christianity, spirituality, and well-being. Sofia Corozza is a Catholic phd student at Cambridge studying child neurodevelopment. Also, she is Brad’s goddaughter, which makes for a lovely interplay between the two of them. So why care about habits and virtue? Aren’t these old fashioned notions? Well, habits are very closely linked to positive change of all sorts, and if there is one thing missing at least in our *public* life these days, virtue might top that list. Prayer seems to interact with both of these concepts regularly, and I am always asking: what is the science behind each of these? What do we know and with how much confidence?Sofia’s Blog: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/synapsesofthesoul/Bradley’s Site: http://bradleywrightphd.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you spend any significant time reading or listening to scholars of religion, looking at polling of religious groups, or anything like that, then you have probably heard the term Spiritual But Not Religious thrown out there. This will usually come with a sentence or two of description, something like, people who do not identify with any particular religion, or people who are neither religious nor atheist. But I wanted to go further and better understand this group, not least because many of this show’s listeners find themselves in this category. Another fact often included when the Spiritual but not Religious are mentioned is that they are the fastest growing religious group in America; yet another reason to take a longer peek under the hood.I’m joined by returning guest Terry Shoemaker, who is a researcher and professor of religious studies at Arizona State University. About a year ago he was on the show talking about what he calls culture war Christianity, and there’s a link to that episode in the show notes today if you didn't catch it.In addition to discussing the SBNR, we also talk about the possible future effects of both the pandemic and evangelical support for Trump on American religion.Terry’s episode from last year: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-escape-culture-war-christianity-16/id1448000113?i=1000434412065The Myth of Disenchantment - https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Disenchantment-Magic-Modernity-Sciences-ebook/dp/B0727LKR8CLosing Our Religion - https://www.amazon.com/Losing-Our-Religion-Unaffiliated-Children-ebook/dp/B010VIKQ0E/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=losing+our+religion&qid=1600044922&s=books&sr=1-1The End of White Christian America - https://www.amazon.com/End-White-Christian-America/dp/1501122320Terry.shoemaker@asu.edEdited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Short interviews with three pastors in different traditions (Foursquare, Episcopal, and Presbyterian-PCA) about their process of referring congregants to therapists in their area. This is a topic that it seems to me could use some more attention, not least because pastors are in a *perfect* position to help Christians of all stripes get the mental health help that they need when they need it, and most of us will need this kind of help at some point in our lives (whether or not we take that step). We talk about referral practices, finding trustworthy therapists, finding therapists who understand where Christian clients are coming from, pitfalls and possibilities within the church around mental health, a little about some of these pastors’ own therapeutic experiences, and more.Dr. Doug Bursch / Fairly Spiritual: https://www.fairlyspiritual.org/Kira Austin-Young: https://twitter.com/kmaustinyoungJon Haralson / Grace Church Seattle: https://graceseattle.org/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest (and dear friend) philosopher Myron A. Penner joins me to talk about demons. His position is as follows:1. Not ruling out their existence2. Quite skeptical what we could really know about them3. Somewhat opposed morally, given how they function in human/religious affairsWe also talk about the phenomena of increased “possession” in non-Western countries, culture-bound mental health syndromes, the role of expectation in experience, some (I think) helpful concepts from psychologist Richard Beck, and more.Reviving Old Scratch: https://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Old-Scratch-Doubters-Disenchanted/dp/150640135XThe Slavery of Death: https://www.amazon.com/Slavery-Death-Richard-Beck/dp/1620327775Culture-Bound Syndromes: https://sacwellness.com/culture-bound-syndromes/Myron: https://www.twu.ca/profile/myron-pennerFollow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a wonderful and wide-ranging conversation with the author of one of my favorite books I’ve read in a long time. We talk about Amy Peterson’s missionary story and the Christian soil in which she was raised before turning our gaze to the topic of short-term missions more broadly.Dangerous Territory: https://smile.amazon.com/Dangerous-Territory-Misguided-Quest-World-ebook/dp/B01MRCB54Y/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=amy+peterson+books&qid=1598121703&sr=8-4Where Goodness Still Grows: https://smile.amazon.com/Where-Goodness-Still-Grows-Reclaiming/dp/0785225668/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=amy+peterson+books&qid=1598121703&sr=8-1Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

End Times Popularity: Part 2 (#78)Part 2 of a series that addresses the question “Why was End Times/Left Behind/Rapture theology *so popular* by the time we grew up in the 90s and 2000s?” Please start with Part 1, last week’s episode.My main argument:1. The people whose evangelizing kicked off the Jesus Movement were primarily fundamentalists and they were themselves already very focused on biblical prophecy2. In the early 70s, there was enough global chaos and uncertainty, along with one very important “fulfilled prophecy” that made it seem plausible that the world might indeed be coming to a close3. By the time Left Behind came around in the 90s, that same Jesus Movement generation held the primary places of power and influence in Evangelical circlesCovered in this episode:- The Jesus Movement generation were the ones with cultural power in the Evangelical world by the time Left Behind came out- A straightforward and literal reading of the Bible is always popular, especially in America, and it plays into a few common American characteristics- Where are they now? All four interviewees relay their current beliefs about the End Times- Sally answers some of the questions the original interview subjects answered in the End Times Anxiety series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, I released a 4-part series called End Times Anxiety, chronicling mental health and related challenges of younger folks who had been adversely affected by Left Behind and similar visions of the Rapture and end of the world within conservative Protestant theology and culture. Throughout working on that project, I found myself continually asking myself and others, “Why did they buy it in the first place? How did this thinking become *so popular*?” These two episodes are my attempt at answering that question, pulling from my own review of the available academic research as well as four interviews I conducted with Baby Boomers who had been a part of the Jesus Movement in the 1970s. My main argument is as follows:1. The people whose evangelizing kicked off the Jesus Movement were primarily fundamentalists and they were themselves already very focused on biblical prophecy2. In the early 70s, there was enough global chaos and uncertainty, along with one very important “fulfilled prophecy” that made it seem plausible that the world might indeed be coming to a close3. By the time Left Behind came around in the 90s, that same Jesus Movement generation held the primary places of power and influence in Evangelical circlesThis is not an exhaustive explanation, but it has helped me come up with a basic framework that helps me make sense of my 90s Left Behind-soaked experience. Hopefully it might be helpful for you as well!Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of you heard the news about Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche International and one of my own lifetime spiritual heroes, when it came to light in February that he had sexually abused multiple women under his care as their spiritual director. This was not like Harvey Weinstein -- Vanier was a world-renowned spiritual leader and thinker; he was on his way to sainthood. Jennifer Kelly (former director of L’Arche Seattle, local assistant to Vanier) and my friend Chris Hoke (Underground Ministries) help me unpack this complicated situation.L’Arche International findings article: https://www.larche.org/news/-/asset_publisher/mQsRZspJMdBy/content/inquiry-statement-test?_101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.larche.org%2Fnews%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_col_count%3D1Principles of Discernment - http://blog.adw.org/2018/01/six-principles-discernment/Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative - http://www.jrji.org/index.htmlUnderground Ministries - https://undergroundministries.org/Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices