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Cocktail Theology
Cocktail Theology episodes
- Episode 39: Quieting The Noise of the Season
Elane and Benton talk about what it means to anticipate the coming of Jesus in the midst of a noisy, busy season. How do we wait to celebrate Christmas so we can allow for reflection and give space for complicated emotional responses like grief?
This episode was recorded while Elane and Benton were on Facebook Live.
Today's Cocktails: Sparkling Gimlet, Martini
Music credits:
"Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming," "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "In The Bleak Midwinter" recorded by Benton Stokes. All songs traditional and public domain.
"Sitting By The Fire With You" Words & music by Benton Stokes NOW AVAILABLE for streaming and download at Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and wherever you listen to music!
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
40 min - Episode 38: Who Are We Anyway?
Elane and Benton discuss the aims and activities of their nonprofit organization, School For Seekers (which produces Cocktail Theology).
Today’s Cocktail: Key Lime Gimlet
Music Credits
“Why Does Love” Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
“Better Than I Ought To Be” Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
33 min - SPECIAL EPISODE: Should Christians Be Afraid of HALLOWEEN?In this special mini-episode, Elane and Benton answer a listener's question about whether it's okay for Christians to celebrate Halloween.12 min
- Episode 37: #kindness
In today’s divisive political climate, we make assumptions that there are “good” and “bad” people based on their “right” or “left” points-of-view. What happens when you hurl an insult at a “bad” person and they respond with kindness? And what if the “good” people come at you like you’re the enemy when they find out you’re having (gasp!) conversation with someone from the other side?
Join Elane and Benton as they look at a real-life example of how leading with kindness can change a mind.
Today's Cocktail: The New England Castaway (our Fall cocktail)
Music Credits
"Burn It Down" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Melissa Bishop
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
35 min - Episode 36: Fried Food & Jesus
Synopsis
We each see Jesus through our own unique lens. Even those who wrote the books of the New Testament saw and experienced him differently. So why is it modern Christians find it hard to believe that someone’s very different take on Jesus could be just as valid as their own?
Listen as Elane and Benton consider the writer of Hebrews and his/her unique take on Jesus.
And yes, tempura really is fried food.
Today’s Cocktail: Vodka Rose Gimlet
Music Credits
"Jesus Under My Bed" Words & music by Benton Stokes, Belinda Smith & Aaron Smith
"People Change" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
33 min - Episode 35: If I'm Saved, Why Am I Struggling?
Synopsis
If you really had faith in God, you'd never be depressed or anxious. Right? Or, if you are, maybe it's because you don't pray the right words in the right way at the right time using the right name of God?
Faith is not a description of a single positive experience. It is more like a verb--an ongoing practice of choices based on some set of beliefs.
Listen in as Benton and Elane discuss salvation, suffering, and the moral innocuity of depression.
Today's Cocktail Beverage: Peet's Coffee.
Music Credits
"Sitting On the Edge Of Your World" (Demo Version) Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
"Sitting On the Edge Of Your World" (Grace & Gravity Version) Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
34 min - Episode 34: Mass Shootings
Synopsis
250 mass shootings in 215 days. Do they matter?
In the shadow of Gilroy and El Paso, Benton and Elane explore why Christians don't care.
Today's Wine: David Bruce Pinot Noir
Music Credits
"All Right To Be Okay" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
44 min - Episode 33: Channeling The Creative Spirit
Synopsis
You are made in the image of God. That means you have the Creative Spirit within you and around you. Now what? Benton and Elane share what it means to be creative, and how you can channel that Creative Spirit in your own life.
Today's Cocktail: Rose Rosé
Music Credits
"The Guy I'm Growing Up to Be" and "Find The Good" Words & music by Benton Stokes
"Own It" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Elizabeth Mendenhall
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
39 min - Episode 32: How To Live A Spirit-Led Life
Synopsis
Many Christians talk about the role of the Spirit (or The Holy Spirit) in guiding one's daily life. Very few of us actually know what that means, or how to actually achieve such a God-soaked life. In this episode--recorded in front of a studio audience on the Christian holy day of Pentecost--Benton and Elane sort out who the Spirit is, what having the Spirit around means, and how to hear and heed Her (mostly quiet) nudgings.
Tonight's Cocktail: Fresh peach daiquiri
Music Credits
Recorded live in Nashville.
"Meant To Be" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
"Unreal," "Sacred," "Now" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
46 min - Episode 31: What's the Bare Minimum For Being A Christian?
Synopsis
For thousands of years, both Christians and non-Christians have argued over what the right beliefs are. In this episode, Benton and Elane take a different approach: what is the bare minimum you can believe or do and still call yourself a Christian?
Today's Cocktail: Diskin Cider
Music Credits
"Nothing In Between" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Brennan Eagleton
"Surrendering" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Eva Wilson
"Burn It Down" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Melissa Bishop
"You Are Mine" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
50 min
About Cocktail Theology
From the publisher's feed
Life and God from a very broadly Christian perspective, with no filter, over cocktails.
Progressive, Biblically grounded, LGBTQ-affirming, candid discussions about faith, life, politics, roller coasters, sex, and anything else that matters.
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Benton Stokes is a songwriter, a recording artist, an author, a worship leader, a podcaster, a collector of comic books, a lover of roller coasters, a dad, a friend, and (with ministry partner Elane O'Rourke) half of School For Seekers.
Benton has a passion for helping post-Evangelicals, particularly queer men, find their way to healthy theology and healing perspectives.
Benton co-hosts (with Elane) Cocktail Theology — a podcast that tackles topics such as defining what an abomination actually is, exploring why Christians and science are at odds all the time, and reclaiming Christian-ese language like "born again." All while sipping tasty libations.
Rev. Dr. Elane O'Rourke is a spiritual director, lifelong teacher, theologian, mom, contemplative, Enneagram 1, and a bunch of the things Benton wrote. She was a philosophy prof for a decade, a pastor for another decade, and the instigator of School For Seekers since 2014.
Elane's first book was A Dallas Willard Dictionary, written to explain the difficult words of Christian philosopher Dallas Willard, which may explain her role in the podcast she co-hosts with Benton, Cocktail Theology.
Elane's deepest desire, and life's work, is for you to believe that you are God's cherished and beloved child, worthy of care and respect.
For more information about Cocktail Theology, or its sponsor, School For Seekers, visit www.schoolforseekers.com