Cocktail Theology

When was the last time you heard mental health addressed from the pulpit in your church? Most pastors don't encourage their followers to pay attention to their own mental health. Therapy and anti-depressants are discouraged too. The alternatives they offer? "Try harder, pray more, take your eyes off yourself, and (worst case), see a Christian counselor." Elane and Benton talk about the disconnect between Christians and mental health care.

Cocktail: Corpse Reviver #2

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

What are angels? What are demons? Are there harps, wings, pitchforks, and pointy tails involved? Do they intervene in human affairs or keep a safe distance? Elane and Benton explore ideas they have (and have heard) about these nonmaterial beings while sipping on Cuba Libres.

Cocktail: Cuba Libre

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Benton and Elane continue their conversation about evangelicalism by delving into how it became a political movement (which Benton calls "antichrist") instead of a spiritual—that is, of the Spirit—movement. There are Limoncello Collins cocktails (thankfully).

Cocktail: Limoncello Collins

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Elane and Benton have a conversation (over cocktails, of course) about voting—why it's so important and why, as progressive Christians, it couldn't be more important.

Cocktail: Vesper

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Elane and Benton have the first of a few conversations about what makes an evangelical an evangelical. Here they chat about the basics—how and when evangelicalism started (spoiler: it's not as old as you think) and the foundational ideas on which an evangelical's theology is built…all while sipping negronis, of course.

Cocktail: Negroni

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Here in the age of social media influencers and reality tv, you can find lots of carefully curated stories. It's easy to paint a picture of yourself and your life that's the envy of anyone paying attention. But what would it mean for us to tell our stories—even the ones that make us squirm—for the purpose of helping someone else? Benton and Elane talk about the power of stories.

Cocktail: Strawberry Daiquiri

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Suppose that following Jesus isn't about proving yourself, or making sure that other people know that you're right with God, or winning the prize that gets you into heaven when you die. Suppose instead that following Jesus is simply accepting God's light within you and then living like you believe that, the way Jesus lived. No fear, no threat of hell, no feelings of inadequacy, no drive to impress. Benton and Elane discuss all this and more over mojitos.

Cocktail: Mojito

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

The Old Testament, as we Christians refer to it, is more than just the Creation story, the Ten Commandments, and a bunch of prophets with funny names. Elane and Benton chat about why the Hebrew Scriptures give us valuable insight into who Jesus was.

Cocktail: Bee's Knees

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

The opposite of faith isn't doubt—it's certainty. Whenever anyone is sure they have the right answers, they'll be threatened by those who think maybe they don't. Doubt—sometimes simply questions—can tear at the fabric of some churches. Benton and Elane chat about it while sipping sidecars.

Cocktail: Sidecar

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Christians are often portrayed as dumb as they hold onto ideas that are out of step with culture, science, and sometimes even common sense. But are Christians short on intellect or just change-averse? Elane and Benton chat over boulevardiers.

Cocktail: Boulevardier

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.