Happy Advent! Let’s prepare for the UPCOMING Christmas season by looking at the history and practices of the holiday.
Why is the date of Jesus’ birth celebrated on December 25? Why do we sometimes call Santa Claus “Saint Nicholas”? Was the Grinch based on a real person? We’re doing a short but deep dive into Christmas traditions and practices.
In this episode:
(00:00) Rethinking Christmas traditions
(00:59) Myth 1: Christmas is the most important Christian holiday
(04:06) Myth 2: Christmas is just an adaptation of a pagan festival
(06:06) Myth 3: Jesus was born on December 25
(07:52) Myth 4: There’s a new modern war on Christmas
(10:33) Myth 5: Writing “Xmas” is disrespectful or sacrilegious
(12:11) Myth 6: Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas
(15:33) Myth 7: Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem
(17:02) Myth 8: A star shone directly above the birth scene
(18:05) Myth 9: Three kings were present at Jesus’ birth
(18:37) Myth 10: December is the Christmas season

99: Disrupting 10 Christmas myths

Faith and spirituality sometimes leave us with more questions than answers. The Compass podcast shares stories about deconstructing faith, finding meaning, seeking justice, and deepening spiritual connection through contemplative practices and worship. Join fellow spiritual seekers Michelle Maldonado and Ryan Dunn as they seek orientation to the Divine presence in the day-to-day through a Christian perspective. A production of United Methodist Communications.

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The United Methodist Church is going to be in the news due to the big General Conference Gathering. Here’s why.
ALSO, we’re going to miss a couple of full episodes due to the big event. We’ll be back with new episodes on May 15, 2024.

United Methodists in the news and missing episodes

Join us as Dr. Richard Beck discusses mysticism in daily life, and how enchantment can transform our view in “Hunting Magic Eels.”
Feeling world-weary? Richard discusses how moral beauty & acts of kindness can awaken awe. Explore the mystical in the mundane on the Compass Podcast!
Richard is a Professor of Psychology at Abilene Christian University, and he is the author of the popular blog Experimental Theology: The Thoughts, Articles and Essays of Richard Beck. His latest book is called “Hunting Magic Eels: Enchanted Faith in a Skeptical Age… it is out now. As an experimental psychologist and a practicing Christian, Richard attempts “to integrate theology with the experimental social sciences.”
In this episode:
(00:00) Compass podcast embraces awe and mystery.
(06:15) Enchantment focuses on experiential perspective, openness to surprise.
(07:44) Yearning for enchantment amid shifting religious beliefs.
(12:12) Vocational crisis due to moral questioning.
(14:48) Natural beauty not main trigger for awe.
(18:28) Small local churches offer moral beauty weekly.
(22:38) Biking to work, sunrise, prayerful start.
(24:42) Embracing the little way in daily life.
(30:16) Criticism about depending solely on God’s aid.
(33:39) Using poetry to find meaning in life.
(34:58) Seek joy, God’s witness, widen divine encounters.
More episodes and show notes available at umc.org/compass
Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

[131] Keeping Christianity weird with Dr Richard Beck

Are you sometimes afraid to ask questions about faith and spirituality? Does doubt scare you a little bit? Do you have some questions you’re skeptical about ever finding the answers to?
Debie Thomas’s approach to faith as a storied theology challenges the conventional beliefs. Her insights offer a refreshing perspective on the dynamic nature of faith, inviting us to embrace our evolving spiritual journeys.
Debie is the author of “A Faith of Many Rooms”. She is also a columnist and contributing editor for The Christian Century. Debie’s perspective is one of an explorer, a believer, a doubter, and a wonderer.
In this episode:
(00:00) Welcome to Compass
(04:26) Questioning God’s gender and accountability for events.
(07:20) Interpreting ancient stories and understanding their context.
(12:38) Faith is a mystery that sparked curiosity.
(14:16) Shift from self-driven faith to communal spirituality.
(17:06) Support from others sustains me on journey.
(21:46) Creating opportunities for intergenerational connections is beautiful.
(23:50) We want stories with struggle, growth, support.
(27:04) Compass community explores spirituality, recommends podcast episodes.
For notes and more episodes: www.umc.org/compass
Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

[130] Faith vacations and lostness with Debie Thomas

Lenny duncan takes us through a spiritual journey in hip-hop on Compass. Engage in conversations about systemic change and personal faith.
If you want to hear some cultural commentary from a spiritual perspective, if you want to explore how hip-hop music speaks to both our human experience and our longing for spiritual connection, and if you want to learn a bit about the church of the future, stay tuned for this conversation with lenny.
Lenny is a writer, speaker, scholar, and media producer working at the forefront of racial justice in America. lenny is the author of Psalms of My People, Dear Church, and Dear Revolutionaries, and co-creator of the podcast BlackBerryJams with PRX. A PhD student in Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion. lenny is originally from West Philadelphia, has hitchhiked thousands of miles on American byways, and makes home up and down the I-5 to see found family, and in the E bay for research.
In this episode:
(00:00) “Book explores hip hop’s spiritual authenticity.”
(06:25) Amid conflict, empathize with those you oppose.
(12:20) Jimmy Hendrix, hip hop, music, family, church.
(13:08) Early exposure to Nation of Islam, gang culture.
(17:52) Early hip hop parties provided community for kids.
(21:09) Understanding hip-hop as a nerdy experience.
(27:30) The struggle of artists in hustle culture.
(30:40) Reflection on societal gaze and impact on art.
(33:31) Considering the legacy of humanity through music.
(37:55) Women and queer artists leading innovative hip-hop.
(40:50) Interpretation of Jesus creates ontological problem.
(43:20) Share songs for spiritual playlist in community.
Compass is hosted by Rev. Ryan Dunn and is a production of United Methodist Communications.
For episode notes and more episodes: www.umc.org/compass

[129] Beats, peacemaking and authenticity with lenny duncan

We’re talking with Christine Valters Paintner about the spiritual significance of fasting and Lent. Christine, the founder of the Online Abbey of the Arts, shares her insights on how fasting can go beyond traditional ideas of abstaining from food and can instead be a way to open ourselves to a deeper encounter with the divine. Christine outlines the various forms of fasting, including from multitasking and inattention, and the practice of fasting from scarcity, speed, and certainty. 
Christine founded the Abbey of the Arts, a virtual monastery offering classes and resources on contemplative practice and creative expression. She is a Benedictine Oblate, poet, writer, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, teacher, and pilgrimage guide. She has authored over 20 books, including her most recent: A Different Kind of Fast.
In this episode:
(00:00) Liturgical seasons offer opportunities for renewal.
(04:29) Online community brings together contemplative practice, creativity.
(08:24) Embrace full presence by fasting from multitasking.
(13:31) Letting go of planning and surrendering control.
(17:39) Finding sacred moments in contemplative walks.
(20:44) Seeking nourishment for a famished heart.
(25:44) Seeking deeper connection to the divine mystery.
(28:37) Intensifying focus, choosing life-giving practices, practicing resurrection.
(31:10) Reflect, share, and explore spiritual practices.
Find episode notes at www.umc.org/compass
Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

99: Disrupting 10 Christmas myths

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