Episode 72: The Theology of Black Panther

Wherein Them Pastors have returned and are joined by the brilliant Ralph Lowe to discuss the loss of Chadwick Boseman and the modern day classic Black Panther.  Along the way, they discuss a new development in J’s personal grooming, the importance of T’Challa’s accent, and why having why having Bilbo Baggins as a pointless character in Black Panther is so important.

“It’s an affirmation of black beauty, black presence, and black power - in a way that is affirming, not diminishing any other power.”

Episode 71: The Theology of Back to the Future

Wherein Them Pastors are again joined by Rachel Jones to talk about the 1985 classic Back to the Future.  Along the way, there is taxonomy talk, a brief detour about how believable Superman’s disguise as Clark Kent really is, and a cat throws up.  Plus talk about fate, destiny, and why none of them would change the bad tragedies of the past.

“I probably would not be doing what I’m doing right now if I hadn’t done what felt like a huge, monumental mess up at the time.”

Episode 70: The Theology of Animal Crossing

Wherein Them Pastors are joined once again by pre-Dr. Rachel Jones to talk about the joyous phenomenon that is Animal Crossing.  Along the way, they talk about weird names of animal groupings, playing NHL on easy, the beheading of John the Baptist, and trying to find the rails.

“It feels like the game points out what our natural instincts are, and we keep running away from that in our regular life.”

Episode 69: The Theology of Newspapers

Wherein Them Pastors are do an impromptu guest-less episode due to some technical difficulties with the episodes they thought they had all lined up.  Instead, they discuss the value of physical newspapers and the overall concept of presence - particularly in the midst of social distancing.  Along the way, there’s talk about the best game plan for outsmarting a genie, the cosplay genius of John Lewis, the best sign at J’s going away party, and the proper way to hold the New York Times.

“You can maybe eat a donut the next day, but if you try to eat a donut like five days later it’s actual garbage.”

Episode 68: The Theology of LGBTQI+

Wherein Them Pastors are joined by the inimitably helpful and knowledgeable Sierra Van Dijk to talk about all things LGBTQI+!  Along the way, they talk about what they’d like to do TEDx talks on, representation on television, why ABBA is a really great band, and Tyler gets to tell his favorite joke about Engineers.

“The church doesn’t understand much outside of traditional, straight marriage.”

Episode 67: The Theology of Hamilton

Wherein Them Pastors are joined by the wonderful Sofia Na to talk about a little musical called “Hamilton.”  Along the way, we hear Sofia’s spot on impersonation of an unsung Muppet, recount the tale of the Singing Bee Duel from 2016 that shocked the world, and puzzle over some interpretations of the father mesmerizing final  five seconds of the musical. 

“This is a musical that raps about banking policy??”

Episode 66: The Theology of Transition

Wherein Them Pastors are back together again to bring you some big news of J’s new job.  Along the way, we hear a bit about Tyler’s trip out west, living in between the end of one thing and the start of another, and what church you should go to if you need to use the bathroom.

“Did you pass them a note during study hall saying ‘Yes, I will go out with you’?”

Episode 65: The Theology of the Best of the 1980s

Wherein Them Pastors (or half of Them Pastors) are joined by chronic guest Jimmy Dykstra to discuss the best movies of the culture saturated decade that was the 1980s.  J was called out on a secret mission, but Jimmy brings the heat with a list of 30 great movies from the last decade that he never lived in.

“At a certain point, movies and art are reflection of God’s spirit in this world and in human creativity and experience.”

Episode 64: The Theology of Black Lives Matter

Wherein Them Pastors welcome the brilliant Ralph Lowe, Director of Justice Ministries at Pittsburgh Presbytery, to talk about why black lives matter, the trouble with anytime we reframe away from that message, and why relationship is the key toward systematic change.  We have a full fledged conversation about the value of the time we are in right now, and some of the right and wrong ways that we can respond to it. 

Along the way, there’s some talk of the glory of MC Hammer’s 2 Legit 2 Quit tour, why using the character Snake is basically cheating at Smash Bros, and one final (brief) entry in the “CrossFit is not a sport” saga.

“Nothing burps better than bacon.”

Episode 63: The Theology of Why We Love The Church

Wherein Them Pastors welcome the Rev. Charissa Howe to the show to talk about the church - not just what’s wrong with it, but why we still love it.  Along the way, there is talk of the cultural value of Walt Disney and William Shakespeare, why Fozzie Bear is the Ringo of the Muppets, and whether or not CrossFit is a sport.

“I don’t want to live in a world where there’s no ’Sk8ter Boi’.”