What if there are ways of thinking about God and faith that are different than what our traditions have handed us?
Episodes
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
In this week's episode we talk to Alexander John Shaia about the origins of Christmas. We talk Celtic Christianity, Winter Solstice, Christmas Trees, Darkness, Boxing Day, and MORE. Enjoy, and MERRY CHRISTMAS.
SHOW NOTES:
DONATE FOR OUR CHRISTMAS PROJECT
- Send money via PAYPAL: gsiepert@me.com
- Send money via CASH App: $gsiepert
- Send money via VENMO: @glennsiepert
Special Music:
"Take Pride" by Will Retherford
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2BLunn3
Pitch:
Recorded in NYC with producers David Gungor and John Arndt of progressive indie band, The Brilliance, Will Retherford releases “Take Pride” as a LGBTQ+ anthem proclaiming affirmation, freedom, and acceptance. Other contributors include: James McAlister of Sufjan Stevens, Jarod Evans of Blackwatch Studios, and Huntley Miller, Mastering Engineer for Bon Iver, Zedd, and more.
Further Info:
As a straight white male, Will Retherford was compelled to write an advocate song for his queer friends and the larger LGBTQ+ community. He wrote this song on the same day as the wedding of his dear friends Sam & Haley Hedrick, in which one is transgender. As a long-time advocate for the queer community, Will has been frustrated at the great rejection of these people from society, church, and family. Will hopes this song brings healing to many and convicts the right people who are infected by homophobia. Although this song is for queer people, it belongs to all people who have been rejected, shut out, and told to change. “Take pride. Take heart.”
Artist Quote:
“Some of my queer friends have been the most important people in my life. This is a song to tell them to never change who they are and that they are very much loved.”
Artist Bio:
Artist and producer Will Retherford is known for writing about social constructs and post-spiritual ideas crafted with the sounds of orchestral dream pop and mild flavors of folk and indie rock. Inspired by his Anglican faith and participation in activism, Will seeks to unite people through the power of music and ideas in the everyday discovery of purpose and belonging.
Sunday Dec 15, 2019
Sunday Dec 15, 2019
It's part 2 of our series we're doing for Christmas called "Keep Christ in ChristIAN" and this week get ready to have your mind blown and your faith stre-e--e---e----e-----e-----etched as we talk about the birth of Jesus as told by Matthew and explore some possible ways that Matthew might have embellished the story and added a bunch of details that likely never happened.
Eh?
Go listen!
SHOW NOTES:
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
It's week 1 of our new series called "Keep Christ in Christian" and this week we're taking a look at a story in Luke's Gospel where Jesus interacts with a man named Zacchaeus and we're challenging ourselves to live like Christ not just during the Christmas season, but all year long.
SHOW NOTES:
Sunday Dec 01, 2019
Sunday Dec 01, 2019
It's the FINAL INSTALLMENT of our series, "Setting the Bible Free" and this week we sit down with theologian and scholar, Matthew Korpman, to talk about his new book (releasing DECEMBER 13, 2019), "Saying No To God: A Radical Approach To Reading The Bible Faithfully". In the episode Matthew talks to us about what deconstruction has looked like for him and explains to us how and why the Bible urges us to not only argue with God, but to say NO to God.
SHOW NOTES:
"Although bumper stickers abound that propose otherwise, the Bible itself reveals that just because “God says it,” does not, in fact, mean “that settles it.” On the contrary, a close reading of Scripture reveals that God does not want us to blindly obey him, but rather, invites us to “lock hands” with him and fight. The purpose of this book is to show another way to understand the Bible, one in which readers are not asked to accept what God says, but on the contrary: to say no to it, not because they merely want to, but because the God of the Bible actually requires it."
Special Music: YUNG CITIZEN
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
It's week TEN of our series "Setting the Bible Free" and today we're sitting down with my friend Bushi. Bushi was at one time an evangelical Christian pastor and now he's a Buddhist Zen Monk. In today's episode he talks to us about his own journey of deconstruction, what Buddhism has taught him about the Bible, and the importance of living the way of Christ in our everyday lives.
SHOW NOTES:
Sunday Nov 17, 2019
Sunday Nov 17, 2019
In today's episode we talk to Doug Pagitt about his new book "Outdoing Jesus". He talks to us about what it looks like to out do the Son of God and what John 3:16 really means.
Show Notes:
SPECIAL MUSIC: Will Retherford
Further Info:
As a straight white male, Will Retherford was compelled to write an advocate song for his queer friends and the larger LGBTQ+ community. He wrote this song on the same day as the wedding of his dear friends Sam & Haley Hedrick, in which one is transgender. As a long-time advocate for the queer community, Will has been frustrated at the great rejection of these people from society, church, and family. Will hopes this song brings healing to many and convicts the right people who are infected by homophobia. Although this song is for queer people, it belongs to all people who have been rejected, shut out, and told to change. “Take pride. Take heart.”
Artist Quote:
“Some of my queer friends have been the most important people in my life. This is a song to tell them to never change who they are and that they are very much loved.”
Artist Bio:
Artist and producer Will Retherford is known for writing about social constructs and post-spiritual ideas crafted with the sounds of orchestral dream pop and mild flavors of folk and indie rock. Inspired by his Anglican faith and participation in activism, Will seeks to unite people through the power of music and ideas in the everyday discovery of purpose and belonging.
Sunday Nov 10, 2019
Sunday Nov 10, 2019
It’s part 8 of our series, “Setting the Bible Free” and today we’re sitting down with Austen Hartke to talk about his book “Transforming”. Austen is a transgender Christian theologian who brings unique perspective to reading the Bible. We also talk about how churches can be more welcoming to transgender people and Austen shares a special word of encouragement to our transgender listeners.
Show Notes:
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
In this week's episode we talk to Dr. James Danaher about the Sermon the Mount and how it doesn't really line up very well with Evangelical Theology. This one is a game changer!
SHOW NOTES:
Special Music: Yung Citizen
Sunday Oct 27, 2019
Sunday Oct 27, 2019
It’s part 6 of our series “Setting the Bible Free” and today we’re talking to my Old Testament professor from seminary about all things Old Testament (and some New Testament too). Did you know that the passage in Isaiah where the prophet talks about a virgin giving birth isn’t about Jesus or Mary or Christmas? And did you know that a lot of recent archeological discoveries show that many of the events described in the Old Testament didn’t happen the way the Bible says they did?
Get ready to have your mind blown and your faith expanded.
SHOW NOTES:
Sunday Oct 20, 2019
Sunday Oct 20, 2019
It's part FIVE of our series, "Setting the Bible Free" and today we sit down with Keith Giles to talk about his book Jesus Unbound. He talks to us about how the Bible became the Bible, why the Bible isn't the Word of God, and what it really means to be a heretic.
Show Notes:
Jesus Unbound by Keith Giles
Sunday Oct 13, 2019
Sunday Oct 13, 2019
It's part 4 of our series "Setting the Bible Free" and today we get to sit down with Thomas Oord. Thomas is a scholar, theologian, and author who was on the podcast earlier this year to talk about his more recent book, "God Can't". In today's episode he shares some thoughts about the Bible and takes some questions from our listeners as well.
SHOW NOTES:
Revelation (the document Thomas mentioned in the episode)
Special Music - Yung Citizen
Sunday Oct 06, 2019
Sunday Oct 06, 2019
This is week 3 of our series, "Setting the Bible Free" and it's a solo episode where I talk to you about the story of Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus and rethink what it means to be "born again".
Are you deconstructing? Reconstructing? Experiencing a shift in your faith?
This is for you.
SHOW NOTES:
THIS WILL HELP YOU READ THE BIBLE BETTER
Sunday Sep 29, 2019
Sunday Sep 29, 2019
It's week 2 of our series, "Setting the Bible Free" and today we're sitting down with Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev who recently wrote a book called "Te Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets: Then and Now" where he talks about who the prophets of the Bible were, what they were, and how we're all called to be prophets today.
This convo is a GAME CHANGER. Enjoy!
Show Notes:
Sunday Sep 22, 2019
Sunday Sep 22, 2019
This is part 1 of our 11 part series, "Setting the Bible Free". In this episode I give some background and context to the series, explain what the name means, and give you a sneak peak behind the curtain at all the guests we have lined up for the show. Over the course of the next 11 weeks we'll look at different ideas about what the Bible is, progressive ways of thinking about the Bible, and will tackle some theologies, doctrines, and well known Bible passages all from a perspective that is different than what many of traditions have handed us.
(some of the) Books That Have Influenced My Thinking On The Bible:
- Rethinking the Bible by Thomas Oord
- Jesus' Bible by Christopher Dost
- What Is The Bible by Rob Bell
- Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
- How to Read the Bible by Harvey Cox
- How the Bible Actually Works by Pete Enns
Sunday Sep 15, 2019
Sunday Sep 15, 2019
In this week's episode author, therapist, theologian, and former college classmate, Mark Karris, joins me to talk about his latest book, "Divine Echoes: Reconciling Prayer With The Uncontrolling Love Of God". We talk specifically about how to pray during the process of deconstruction and tackle the question of what does it look like to pray to a God you are realizing you don't understand?
Enjoy!
Special Music: '85
Sunday Sep 08, 2019
Sunday Sep 08, 2019
In this week's episode we sit down with author and activist, Shane Claiborne to talk about his book "Irresistible Revolution", a book that made a big impact on me when I was younger. Shane talks to us about what it was like to work with Mother Teresa in Calcutta and the importance of proximity when it comes to taking a stand on behalf of people who are oppressed. This is a super fun episode, enjoy!
SHOW NOTES:
Sunday Sep 01, 2019
Sunday Sep 01, 2019
Last week the What If Project celebrated its ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY. This week I share some excitement around our 10,000th download, give some sneak peeks at 2 BIG upcoming series, and talk about a significant theological shift that's taken place in my life this past year.
SHOW NOTES:
Sunday Aug 25, 2019
Sunday Aug 25, 2019
It's our last week of the Processing the Goose series and today we're sitting down with one of the main speakers of Wild Goose every year, Mike Morrell. Mike is an author, teacher, and modern-day mystic who has come onto the show to help me process some of my biggest takeaways from Wild Goose and answer some of my own burning questions about Christianity and faith.
Show Notes:
Sunday Aug 18, 2019
Sunday Aug 18, 2019
We're heading into part 3 of our series, "Processing the Goose" and this week we're sitting down with my friend Bob Gregory who I met at Wild Goose last year and connected with again this year. He talks with me a little bit about my experience at the festival and shares with us some of his biggest takeaways as well. Check it out and then go check his podcast over at GOD IS AN ELEPHANT (AND LEAVE A RATING FOR HIM AND HIS CO-HOST, SEBASTIAN ... capitalized to get your attention. HA!).
Show Notes:
Special Music by Yung Citizen
Sunday Aug 11, 2019
Sunday Aug 11, 2019
It's part 2 of our series "Processing the Goose" where I'm talking through some of my biggest takeaways from this year's Wild Goose Festival. This week we talk about the idea of "disowning God" and recognizing that Christianity (or any religion, for that matter) doesn't own the rights to God and how taking off my Evangelical Glasses has helped open up my eyes to a more inclusive reading of Scripture.
Show Notes: