

Religion on the Mind
Dan Koch
Interviews with experts, writers, psychologists and more on the intersection between psychology, religion and spirituality… with a little bit of cussing.
dan@religiononthemind.com
dan@religiononthemind.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 29, 2019 • 1h 30min
To Cut Your “Technological Umbilical Cord” (#19)
Many of us know the psychological costs of our addiction to all our electronic devices (do we really?), but have we considered the spiritual costs (and are those actually distinct)? Do we really understand what's going on neurologically, as we continue to log hours per day on our smartphones? Dr. Tricia Rhodes chats with Dan about what exactly is being lost, what we might regain, and how the human brain is able to re-wire itself -- thank God!Later, Dan answers a listener question: "You often mention that you were more afraid to be a liberal Christian than a non-believer when you were younger. What's the main belief you feared would change and has it changed? Is there anything that changed as you became more progressive that went back to, or is now trending toward, a more traditional position over time?”** Edit: In the Introduction Dan says Tricia‘s books are released by Zondervan. It is actually NavPress -- an even more conservative publisher!Tricia’s site/blog: https://www.soulatrest.com/Tricia’s book “The Wired Soul”: https://smile.amazon.com/Wired-Soul-Finding-Spiritual-Hyperconnected/dp/1631465120/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=tricia+rhodes&qid=1552191189&s=gateway&sr=8-6Tricia’s book “The Soul at Rest: 25th Anniversary Edition”: https://smile.amazon.com/Soul-Rest-40-Day-Journey-Prayer/dp/163146860X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tricia+rhodes&qid=1552191189&s=gateway&sr=8-1Madame Guyon’s autobiography is actually FREE for Kindle users: https://smile.amazon.com/Autobiography-Madame-Jeanne-Bouvier-1648-1717-ebook/dp/B0082PM382/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=madame+guyon&qid=1551923653&s=gateway&sr=8-9Fenelon’s book (includes “Christian Perfection”): https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Fenelon-Paraclete-Giants/dp/1557256071/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2MYKLUR2JD68H&keywords=christian+perfection+fenelon&qid=1551923842&s=gateway&sprefix=christian+perfection+fe%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-2Edited by Joe Diaz-RomeroJoin 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

Apr 22, 2019 • 1h 4min
To Seek Christ through Buddhist Meditation (#18)
Mark Vernon is a psychotherapist and author/speaker with degrees in physics and theology. He speaks with Dan about his regular practice of seeking the Christian God through "Buddhism Light" meditation services in London, where he lives. Dan and Mark also discuss how Christians might relate to other faiths in general, and the danger of leaving one's own tradition for greener pastures, which is not what Mark sees himself as doing.Mark’s book “A Secret History of Christianity” http://www.markvernon.com/books/a-secret-history-of-christianity rethinkinghell.com/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

Apr 15, 2019 • 1h 49min
To Embrace the Four Divergent Jesuses of the Gospels (#17)
Dan is joined by NT scholar Dale B. Martin to consider what it means that the four Gospels present four at-least-somewhat divergent accounts of both Jesus's life and his character. Dale argues that there is both much to be learned and much to be experienced devotionally by taking each Gospel separately, and not "deciding beforehand" that they must be harmonized. Dan's friend Kenny shares his concerns regarding the Gospel of John, and Dale responds to those questions. At the end of the episode, in a brand new segment, Dan answers a patron-submitted question about he and his wife's current church transition, after leaving their church of 10 years.Timeline:Dale Pt: 1: 4:15Kenny Pt 1: 36:00Dale Pt 2: 52:00Kenny Pt 2: 1:24:00Q&A: 1:31:00Depolarize Episode with Dale (web): http://depolarize.blubrry.net/2018/10/01/while-you-were-evangelizing-hell-with-dale-b-martin/Depolarize Episode with Dale (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/while-you-were-evangelizing-hell-with-dale-b-martin/id1163609659?i=1000420855971Jean Vanier, “Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John”: https://smile.amazon.com/Drawn-Mystery-Jesus-through-Gospel-ebook/dp/B00I08WWA0/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=jean+vanier+drawn&qid=1554673416&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnullDale’s fantastic book “Biblical Truths”: https://smile.amazon.com/Biblical-Truths-Meaning-Scripture-Twenty-first/dp/0300222831/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=biblical+truths&qid=1554673453&s=gateway&sr=8-1Edited by Scott CangemiJoin 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

Apr 8, 2019 • 1h 32min
To Escape "Culture War Christianity" (#16)
There is a kind of “religious humidity” in some parts of our country, such that the dominant form of Evangelicalism puts a kind of constant and uniform pressure on anyone who lives there. This affects what happens to people who leave their religious communities, either altogether or who leave to join different communities. Dr. Terry Shoemaker has done some very interesting research with some of these people, especially those who were in some way traumatized by either their original community, or through the process of leaving. Some of them, he says, were “weaponized into a Culture War Christianity.” Wars require weapons, and sometimes those weapons end up being our own children.“Pray the Gay Away: The Extraordinary Lives of Bible Belt Gays” - https://smile.amazon.com/Pray-Gay-Away-Extraordinary-Lives/dp/0814786383/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=pray+the+gay+away&qid=1552928029&s=books&sr=1-2“The Sacred Canopy”: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Canopy-Elements-Sociological-Religion/dp/0385073054“America’s New Religions”: http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/andrew-sullivan-americas-new-religions.htmlDr. Tina Sellers: http://tinaschermersellers.com/Allender Center Podcast Episode on Spiritual Trauma: https://theallendercenter.org/2018/03/spiritual-abuse-1/Shelly Rambo: https://www.bu.edu/sth/profile/shelly-rambo/Terry’s email: Terry.Shoemaker@asu.edu Edited by Scott CangemiJoin 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/Keywords: spiritual abuse, Bible Belt, culture war, weapon, spiritual trauma, science, creationism, theology, spiritual but not religious, progressive, liberal, conservative Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 2019 • 1h 28min
To Believe in a God Who Suffers (#15)
Bethany’s book “God, Evolution and Animal Suffering”: https://www.routledge.com/God-Evolution-and-Animal-Suffering-Theodicy-without-a-Fall-1st-Edition/Sollereder/p/book/9781138608474 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.comEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Artwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 2019 • 1h 15min
To Acknowledge Evangelicalism's Racial Blindspot (#14)
This one is a doozy! And it's both here and in the Depolarize! Podcast feed because it's just that good. Sociologist Michael O. Emerson breaks down his and Christian Smith's argument as to why White Evangelical Christians have such a bad track record on racial issues, summarized in their co-authored "Divided by Faith." This is the best explanation that I have ever heard or read regarding this phenomenon.“Divided by Faith”: https://smile.amazon.com/Divided-Faith-Evangelical-Religion-Problem/dp/0195147073/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=divided+by+faith&qid=1553212642&s=gateway&sr=8-1Pass the Mic Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-mic/id1435500798?mt=2Join 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

Mar 18, 2019 • 1h 16min
To Change Your Mind: Christlikeness (Reese Roper) (#13)
Reese Roper is the singer of Christian ska-punk band Five Iron Frenzy. We hear how his understanding of what it means to be Christlike has changed -- or more accurately, has been nuanced -- over the years, from his many years touring in an 8-piece band to his more recent work managing a nursing home in Virginia.http://www.fiveironfrenzy.com/Imitation of Christ ($4 copies): https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/de-imitatione-christi-by-thomas--kempis/256916/#isbn=038502861X&idiq=3793782Five Iron Frenzy songs played in this episode: "Far, Far Away""Dandelions""Anthem""Fahrenheit"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.comEdited by Josh GilbertArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 2019 • 1h 34min
To Consider Quakerism & Panentheism (God = Universe + Something) (#12)
Our guest today is Dr. Philip Clayton (Claremont School of Theology), giving us his personal faith story from a secular household, through conservative Evangelicalism, and ultimately into Quakerism. We also talk about Panentheism, for which he is a major Christian advocate. Most of the nerdy stuff occurs after the ad break, starting around 54:00, so feel free to skip that stuff if you are less into the true nerdery."how i found GOD in everyone and everywhere" (great essay collection including Phil's story): https://smile.amazon.com/How-Found-God-Everyone-Everywhere/dp/193968188X/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=how+i+found+god+in+everywhere&qid=1552328138&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnullhttp://philipclayton.net/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

Mar 4, 2019 • 1h 22min
To Resist the Mob (on the Left and Right) (#11)
(This episode is appearing on both the You Have Permission and Depolarize! Podcast feeds.) How do we know that we aren't caught up in a "mob mentality" on social, political, or theological issues? Can universities be places where we teach young people to think critically? Can an openly gay woman and her conservative "marriage-is-between-one-man-and-one-woman" sister stay close friends? The answer to the last one is yes: Dr. Elizabeth Corey (Baylor University, First Things Magazine) and her sister Mary wrote a joint op-ed in the Atlantic in 2015 proving as much (Elizabeth is the conservative one). Dr. Corey helps Dan break down why things have gotten so mob-like, and what we can do to stay out of it.Elizabeth and Mary’s Essay: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/05/i-choose-at-once-to-love-my-sister-and-disagree-with-her-on-gay-marriage/392279/Other writings by Elizabeth: https://www.baylor.edu/great_texts/index.php?id=100039The Coddling of American Mind: https://smile.amazon.com/Coddling-American-Mind-Intentions-Generation/dp/0735224897/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24RMCD9777FMY&keywords=coddling+american+mind&qid=1551469414&s=gateway&sprefix=coddling+ameri%2Caps%2C227&sr=8-1How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds: https://smile.amazon.com/How-Think-Survival-Guide-World/dp/0451499603/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=how+to+think&qid=1551469424&s=gateway&sr=8-2Join 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

14 snips
Feb 25, 2019 • 1h 49min
To Be Gay Affirming (#10)
This is a tricky one, especially for those who have a genuine desire to take the Bible seriously. The argument for inclusion that J. R. Daniel Kirk presents, however, is one that I find convincing, and it is the best one of the many that I have read or heard (including by Matthew Vines, Gene Robinson, and others). Richard Hay's compassionate argument against affirmation is also presented. Many podcasts on this topic tend to focus on the emotional aspect of the issue, on the increased risk of suicide among queer teens, etc. I think those have their place, but for many Christians, we simply NEED a good argument about what to do with this stubborn text -- the Bible -- that really does seem to stand against homosexual activity. Daniel presents such an argument.Find an open & affirming church: gaychurch.orgMargaret Farley 60 Minutes clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sASG5kii-rIJames Brownson’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Gender-Sexuality-Reframing-Relationships/dp/0802868630https://twitter.com/jrdkirkSeth Roberts playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/dankoch/playlist/43QDpk1CQ098K2PpFcFVUy?si=BDa2luwVTC-GwdJpnXg85QJoin 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


