Religion on the Mind

One of the most divisive questions in the modern church is whether or not biological sex plays a role in who should be allowed to preach (and there are other issues wrapped up in this one, like whether women should be primary bread-winners, etc). Egalitarians say, “No, let the women preach!” Complementarians say, “Yes, men only; that is how God set things up.” In this episode, we hear from Dan’s Godmother Barb Clark, who is an elder in an Egalitarian church, but has some nagging concerns about the whole thing. Then the bulk of the episode is spent with Rev. Bonnie Lewis, a pastor, teacher and Bible translator, who not only makes her argument for Egalitarianism, but also responds to many of the most common counter arguments from the Contemplentarian side. Finally, we get Barb’s reaction to Dan’s chat with Bonnie. This one is a doozy!BadChristian Podcast Dan/Bonnie episode (#438): http://www.badchristian.com/bc_podcast/bonnie-lewis-at-the-bcxcon/Bonnie’s “Timshel” translation: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1945582321/timshel-an-idiomatic-bible-translationEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

Why is there a (perceived) conflict between science and religion, and has it always been that way? How does science actually get done, and is the scientific method and community set up in such a way as to come up with trustworthy claims? Are young Christians being set up to fail by well-meaning teachers who are skeptical of “mainstream” science? Dan is joined by Adrian Wyard of Counterblance.org to talk through all of this; before that, he hears from his friend Andy, an Evangelical pastor, about what he is and isn’t suspicious of in the world of science.Counterbalance.orgBiologos.orgEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

Is it possible to be certain about anything in one’s Christian faith? Is it possible to be certain about anything at all, like math, science, or the love of a spouse? Why does it often seem moreseo like preachers and Christian authors are peddling certainty than they are encouraging genuine faith? (The same could also be said for the “New Atheists.”) What does genuine faith look like in a world full of baked-in uncertainty? Dan’s guest Mark Schaefer, author of “The Certainty of Uncertainty,” provides some excellent commentary on this society-wide issue.https://www.certaintyofuncertainty.com/Edited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

Dan is joined for a long afternoon of somewhat experimental podcasting by Christopher Carter and Seth Schoen, who together have developed a very interesting group/individual practice (and they teach a class together about it), using meditative practices and psychology to talk about, think through, and FEEL their way through racial issues, questions, and personal histories. It is, in fact, as interesting and unique as it sounds! In the middle of the conversation, Dan offers to go through a short "session" with them, which produces some interesting results as well. We all have feelings about racial issues, whether we attend to them or not. Later on, the three of them have a somewhat difficult, honest, and ultimately clarifying conversation about critical race theory, and some concerns surrounding the way that race is talked about in American society.P.U.L.S.E.:Paying AttentionUnderstanding EmpathicallyLoving With ConnectionSensing the SacredEmbodying New LifeF.L.A.G.:FearsLongingsAching WoundsGifts StifledFrank Rogers - Practicing Compassion: https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Compassion-Frank-Rogers-Jr/dp/1935205250Christopher’s faculty page: https://www.sandiego.edu/cas/theology/faculty-and-staff/biography.php?profile_id=840Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

While of course there are times when it makes sense to leave one’s religious institution, today Dan and sociologist of religion Dr. Tricia Bruce make the case for staying. What is lost when people leave their churches or denominations? When they leave the church altogether? How much do they unintentionally reduce their potential impact? How have a group of concerned Catholics worked from within the Church to combat sexual abuse? Later, Dan answers a listener question: “In your opinion, what are the requirements for being considered a Christian?” (1:20:00)https://triciabruce.com/“Orthodoxy” patron-only episode with Ben Bishop: https://www.patreon.com/posts/21074279Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

Should Christians go to "regular" therapists, or is "Biblical Counseling" the only option available to a Christian? Do therapists encourage Christian couples to divorce unnecessarily? Is it shameful to see a therapist? This week, we hear from Howard, a therapy skeptic, and then from Jonathan, whose positive experience with therapy led him ultimately to a master's program to become a psychologist himself.YHP Racial Blindspot Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-acknowledge-evangelicalisms-racial-blindspot-14/id1448000113?i=1000433295257Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

...and still love the Bible! Thomas Jay Oord joins Dan to discuss the issue of postmodernism and the Bible (through the lens of a fantastic article by Old Testament scholar Terence Fretheim, which Tom himself edited). How does a postmodern Christian's reading of the Bible differ from a modernist approach? What is modernism and postmodernism? Don't worry -- no ivory tower language here; everything is in regular laymen's terms, and Tom is one of the best at translating these complicated but important issues into regular speech.Later, Dan answers a patron/listener question: Did you receive flack from your evangelical friends and church family when you became decidedly gay affirming? What were the range of responses like? (1:42:00)Terence Fretheim article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0nwxu3pkplg30so/Fretheim%20for%20Open%20and%20Relational%20Reading%20Group.doc?dl=0*AUDIO VERSION* of Fretheim article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yqmprg69vdxd29z/Chapter%209%20-%20Terence%20Fretheim.mp3?dl=0http://thomasjayoord.com/http://openandrelationaltheology.com -- reading groupThe Myth of Certainty by Daniel Taylor: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Certainty-Reflective-Christian-Commitment/dp/0830822372Benefit of the Doubt by Greg Boyd: https://www.amazon.com/Benefit-Doubt-Breaking-Idol-Certainty/dp/0801014921/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=benefit+of+the+doubt&qid=1558999348&s=books&sr=1-1Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

Seattle's own Dr. Tina Shermer Sellers (psychologist and sex therapist) joins Dan for a fascinating conversation about what is known as Purity Culture, that near-ubiquitous set of sexual-moral claims and practices that ruled the Evangelical zeitgeist in the 80s, 90s and 00s, and is still today probably the default sexual understanding of most American Protestants. But is that understanding Biblical? Does it accord well with what we are learning through science? Why did it come to such prominence? Does having premarital sex really take away "a piece of you" every time you do it, and what's with the double standards for boys and girls? We get into it all, including a bunch of interesting listener questions.Later, Dan answers a patron question: "What is the Gospel, and how do you evangelize?" (1:30:00)SEXUAL SHAME is a visceral feeling of humiliation and disgust toward one's own body and identity as a sexual being and a belief of being abnormal inferior and unworthy. This feeling can be internalized but also manifests in interpersonal relationships having a negative impact on trust communication and physical and emotional intimacy sexual shame develops across the lifespan in interactions with interpersonal relationships one's culture and society and subsequent critical self appraisal. there is also a fear and uncertainty related to one's power or right to make decisions including safety decisions related to sexual encounters along with an internalized judgment toward one's own sexual desire.Vow of Onah: http://tinaschermersellers.com/2011/02/12/the-vow-of-onah-and-other-jewish-attitudes-about-sex/Bible For Normal People purity culture episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-82-linda-kay-klein-breaking-free-from-purity/id1215420422?i=1000434395466Sex, Mom and God: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/sex-mom-and-god-how-the-bibles-strange-take-on-sex-led-to-crazy-politics--and-how-i-learned-to-love-women-and-jesus-anyway_frank-schaeffer/369821/#isbn=0306819287&idiq=4395577Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape: https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Sex-Navigating-Complicated-Landscape/dp/006220974480% of abstinence-only curricula contain serious erroneous information: https://rockthrower.blogs.com/rockthrower/files/20041201102153-50247.pdfhttp://tinaschermersellers.com/Thankgodforsex.orgNwioi.com - Northwest Institute on IntimacyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtinashamelesssex/Twitter: @tinassellersEdited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

Dan is re-joined by Bonnie Kristian (author of "A Flexible Faith") to talk through the various ways that Christians think about Biblical inspiration (and just what kind of "errors" might be in there). As you know from episode 6, Bonnie is a great guest, and has really done her research on these topics! Also, Dan corrects something from last week regarding his "Protestant Rosary" segment, shares some thoughts about the theological consequences of how we process the sudden passing of Christian author and thinker Rachel Held Evans, and he answers a listener question: "How do you navigate conversations with conservative friends/family as you deconstruct?"Corrections / Rachel Held Evans: 2:00Inerrancy, Infallibility, Inspiration: 10:00Listener Question: 1:19:00Bonnie's Discussion Questions:- Which view of scripture is most familiar to you? Which one did your Sunday school teachers tell you?- Which perspective do you find most appealing and why? Most convincing?- Is the view you find more convincing the same as the one you find appealing? Why/why not?- How authoritative is the Bible in your life and faith? How does it interact with church tradition, reason, and personal experience?- What is at stake in how you understand the inspiration of Scripture, and should your view influence your reading and studying of the Bible?"A Flexible Faith": https://smile.amazon.com/Flexible-Faith-Rethinking-Means-Follow/dp/1478992093/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548661564&sr=8-1&keywords=a+flexible+faithEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP 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

Richard Beck is a psychologist, professor, speaker and author of many books, right in what I consider to be the sweet spot: the overlap of psychology and Christian faith/theology. This is more or less where I am headed professionally, and it’s encouraging to have had a conversation like this one, so chock full of interesting, challenging, and inspiring stuff. We talk a good bit about disgust, which is a big factor in the impossibility of “love the sinner hate the sin,” but we also talk about spiritual practices and habits, Jesus and the Pharisees, and even placing cockroaches in orange juice. Later, I introduce a simple prayer practice I call The Protestant Rosary (1:26:00).Richard’s blog/site: http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/Directions for praying the "Protestant Rosary":1. Get a rosary2. Start where the three strands meet, near the cross, and pray one Jesus Prayer for each of the 10 beads before the spacer bead3. For the spacer bead, pray the Lord's Prayer4. Repeat until one "lap" of the rosary is finished. Repeat if you so desire.Variation #1:For each of the 10 standard beads, pray for a person in your life, i.e. "Have mercy on Derek," and imagine God's mercy enveloping Derek.Variation #2:Like Variation #1, but use multiple beads for the same person, each time saying the same prayer, "Have mercy on Derek," but with each bead, focusing on a different aspect of Derek's life, like his work life, his faith, his relationship with a loved one, his health, etc.How to End:Madame Guyon recommends taking a moment to "swallow" or accept whatever God has given during the prayer time, even if this time nothing appears to have been given; be grateful for the silence and peace.The Jesus Prayer:"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me/us (a sinner)."Join the Patreon for bonus episodes every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comEmail Dan: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.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