Recorded Conversations

Episode 50!!!!

Today's special guest is my dear friend Emishi Ashitaka. We begin by shooting the shit and sharing some thoughts we have about current events. Emishi and I have been friends for several years but we allow each other space to be different and that's what makes our friendship so multi-faceted.

We tackle coronavirus, farmer's woes, what engineering is about, normalized reactivity, Kanye West v. Taylor Swift, Cool Hand Luke: We have a failure to communicate, Sci-fi theology, how strength is an illusion, circles of alignment, Logos, how to protest, why sometimes people are stupid, and why wives make their men sandwiches.

To connect with Emishi Ashitaka, you can find him on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/ashitaka.emishi.355?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Right now would be a great time to switch gears and throw a little love out for your listening pleasure. I recorded this conversation awhile back. I am sure many of you are familiar with my next guest. Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is a best-selling and award-winning author, having written or edited more than twenty-five books. He directs a doctoral program at Northwind Theological Seminary and the Center for Open and Relational Theology. A twelve-time Faculty Award-winning professor, Oord teaches at institutions around the globe. Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation.

The topic is centered on the question I asked Thomas, which was “Do you have an eros theology?” To which he responded, “Yes, I do!”

Thomas shares the synopsis of his book God Can’t

What does it look like to rethink God’s power and consider God’s love as uncontrollable? He then breaks down what relational theology looks like.

“Love has to be the center of theology.”

“I wanted to have a definition of love.”

“To love is to act intentionally in relational response to God and others; to promote overall well-being.”

“Love is constantly asking the question: What Promotes the common good?”

“Is it OK if we talk some about sex on this show? Let me go on some wild directions…”

Can pleasure promote well-being? What about masturbation? Is vulnerability easier within monogamy?

We discuss polyamory, why eros is the umbrella, and eroticism is the sub-category. Whitehead’s influence on Oord, “reality is comprised of events…” and more.

In this episode, Danielle reveals the story behind the duo Tinder accounts within her marriage, what stresses and benefits it has created, and why loving others is the great call to heal the world. Explore some ideas outside the constraints of societal constructs meant to keep us controlled and confused. Why does limiting our love prevent us from healing the world? What is intimacy and why do we need more of it with one another.

Danielle's monologue- confessions of a negative energy holder. Why none of us can breathe but why we were created to do just that.

Sam Kratzer joins the conversation today to share his views on moral relativism. Sam is a philosopher, a husband, and a father of twins. He's a long time friend of mine and in this episode, we dig deep into philosophy.

How is truth constructed?

What's dangerous about Ayn Rand's Objectivism, what's dangerous about moral relativism, and what does philosophy reveal about life and the psyche?

We discuss the principled approach to viewing consumption, why absolute claims are hard to prove, and why Dawkins is an atrocious theologian but a luminescent biologist.

Sam explains why he is motivated by results and why that makes him a utilitarian.

We tip-toe into understanding the Trump base and why it feels good to be part of a group.

Tiger King comes up, AGAIN!

"I'm fairly uncomfortable with strong forms of relativism—they're a little dangerous."

"It's easier to be unconscious."

"I think a lot of people are profoundly insecure in their own beliefs."

"The scariest thing in the world to us is someone who is smart and well-intentioned and believes the exact opposite of what we do."

"I have to believe that anyone who disagrees with me is either evil or stupid or both because I cannot imagine anything scarier than that not being trie because that means that I might be wrong."

"We prefer nefarious order rather than chaos" and that's why we gravitate toward "conspiracy theories."

Alvin Plantinga, echo chambers, dualism and more.

Enjoy the show.

Dion Mcneil joins the conversation today to wrap up the Compassionate Conservative series.

Dion is a journalist, combat veteran, and a Trump supporter.

We discuss criticisms of Trump, communism failures, Preppers, socialism failures, why the Democrats don't have anybody, and why immigration impacts other countries adversely. Dion shares his views from the black community, we touch on the Black Panther Party, and how we can effect change at a local, national, and federal level by voting with our wallets.

For more of Dion's work, check out https://thedailycounter.com/mission-statement/

David Cubbedge joins the conversation today. He is a Trump supporter, a welding inspector, a Christian, and a lover of humanity.

David shares why he has a love for everyone, why he doesn't have enough education to reject climate change and recognizes that things that are done with our tax dollars are "evil."

David shares his what insight he gleaned from Come Sunday and The Shack.

He likens holding on to bad theology to holding onto an insurance policy. 

Judgment = fear

We learn from others through dialogue.

It's beautiful to know the truth about yourself.

Account for your beliefs.

Balance

How can we check our offenses at the door?

All this and more. Listen and find out.

To connect with David Cubbedge, you can find him on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/david.cubbedge

The Compassionate Conservative Series Premiere begins with Pastor Jeremy Evans.

The last 4 years have brought about a search to understand the Trump Voter. Researchers and pontificators have offered their guesses and opinions as to why a person would vote for Trump. The societal confidence in calling those we don’t know racists, misogynists, sexists, homophobes, and evil is concerning, to say the least, and primarily one of the reasons I felt compelled to host this series.

Today, you will meet Pastor Jeremy Evans. He is socially progressive but voted for Trump in the 2016 election. He explains why he voted for Trump. Have his views changed? Listen and find out.

Today, the conversation includes:

• [The Media] wants our attention they don’t necessarily report the truth.

To connect with Pastor Jeremy Evans:

Find him on Facebook

The Dusty Disciple Blog: http://www.authorjeremyevans.us/

First, a mini monologue about Reconstructing of the Mind, and a little hat tip to author Todd Vick. Danielle asks the question: "What is normal?"

Do we know what normal is? Will there ever be a new normal?

What kind of paradigm will we reconstruct post-CoronaVirus?

The segue from renewal and reconstruction introduces the second Dr. G segment. Leslie Goth, PsyD joins the show again, and she asks Danielle, "When do you first learn about sex?"

We discuss some new research that demonstrates porn addiction, perhaps, is just a myth. Dr. Goth tackles the topic of pornography and reveals what's underneath the draw of the escape from reality.

This is a vulnerable episode that dives into sexuality and relationships.

This episode welcomes philosopher, writer, and president of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychedelic Christianity, Jack Call. Jack is the author of 4 books: Dreams and Resurrection, God is a Symbol of Something True, Life in a Psychedelic Church, and Psychedelic Christianity. Today, we discuss his philosophy, including how psychedelic drugs brought him closer to Christianity and God.

Jack introduces us to the Boo Hoo Bible, the cultish practice of Psychedelic Christianity, and solipsistic nihilism. We discuss what’s out of our control and what’s basic and in our control.

“I don’t want to say that God is just a concept…God accounts for the fact that there are things aren’t under our control, but something—somebody gets them done.”

Call went from conceptualizing God in a depersonalized reality, similarly to the style and philosophy of Alan Watts, but gradually moved toward an understanding that God is personal and our relationship with God is part of the Ultimate Goal.

What is the Ultimate Goal? Jack pulls apart the varying layers of what the goal is and how we can achieve it.  

Jack takes us through the journey of the Dream Analogy and we talk about what it could be like to die. Is there an afterlife? What does the afterlife look like? What does this reveal or contribute to transformation? We imagine together.

Jack explains why the parable of the lost sheep is anti-utilitarian and what we can do instead, to bring about the Kingdom and maintain right relationship with God.

“The highest goal would be for ourselves to stop doing the wrong thing because we do understand that is it the wrong thing. And we love God and our neighbor as ourselves. And that’s what would be loving about the Kingdom of God. It’s when I stop doing something unjust because I realize it’s unjust. When I ask for forgiveness because I realize what I’ve done is wrong…I’m not saying we shouldn’t have any laws…The Kingdom of God is not about forcing anyone to do anything.”

This episode is for the lovers of philosophy and imaginative conceptions and possibilities.

To connect with Jack Call, first, check out his book collection.

https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Call/e/B002U4NFQU?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

Then, find him on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/jack.call.9699

Janitor and President of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychedelic Christianity, Jack Call was a clergyman in the Neo-American Church for six years, worked as a typesetter for 11 years, earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Clarement Graduate University, and taught philosophy at Citrus College for 19 years. He has published essays on the relations between philosophy, religion, and social science, and books on philosophy and religion. He lives with his wife in Whittier, California.