One day Angela Herrington had an epiphany. She loved God but realized the conservative Christian movement she was in was teaching some really toxic stuff. Join Michael and Angela’s conversation about what faith deconstruction is, why it’s so crucial, and how to address its critics. Angela shares from her heart and the wellspring of wisdom in her new book, Deconstructing Your Faith Without Losing Yourself. Learn why deconstruction is not just the latest trend, what toxic religion is, and what you need on a deconstructing journey to ensure you’re not losing yourself and not warping historical facts.

 Angela’s website: https://angelajherrington.com/

Michael’s Faith Deconstruction Workshop: https://www.spiritualbrewpub.com/spiritual-freedom-deconstruction-workshops

More Episodes: https://spiritualbrewpub.podbean.com/

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A journalist for "If Americans Knew," Kathy Shihadah has a deep connection to Palestine through her Palestinian relatives living in Gaza. Drawing on her experience as a professional researcher of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, as a progressive Christian blogger, and and her personal relationship with Gaza residents, Kathy shares this story of "A Refugee Family’s Quest for Survival." Learn what's going on in Palestinian territories through the eyes of Gazan residents. Here are some of the resources both Michael and Kathy mention toward the end of the podcast:

Kathy's Blog with stories on her family: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/graceco...

War Correspondent Chris Hedges:    • Chris Hedges "The Genocide in Gaza"  

Israeli historian Ilan Pappe:    • The myth of Israel's 'democracy' w/Il...  

Jewish political scientist Norm Finklestein:    • What Events Lead to the Current Situa...  

Aljazeera News: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Democracy Now: https://www.democracynow.org/

Breaking Points on "Genocide Case Opens Against Israel":    • Bibi FREAKS As Genocide Case Opens Ag...  

Help provide humanitarian aid: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org...

Reach your Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives...

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Meet the Tattooed Theologian. Dillon Naber Cruz experienced trauma in his childhood and during his service in the Marine Corps. After coming to grips with his PTSD and how the US military wages war and trains recruits, Dillon went back to the teachings of Jesus and addressed the cognitive dissonance he felt. Join Dillon and Michael as they discuss how Dillon became an aspirational pacifist and why redemptive violence---the belief that violence can be used to bring order to society---doesn't work in the world. If you're weary of cycles of violence, the dehumanization of "the other," and retributive methods of solving evil or injustice, you'll appreciate Dillon's insights into restorative justice. He has an inspirational, challenging, and hopeful message for us all, particularly in light of today's wars and conflicts.

To learn more about Dillon, visit: https://tattooed-theologian.com/

To grab his latest book, Theological Musings: Collected Essays of a Tattooed Theologian, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Theological-Musings-Collected-Tattooed-Theologian-ebook/dp/B0CF3VKC1C/

To learn more about Michael's book, Breaking Bad Faith, that deals with this topic, visit: https://www.spiritualbrewpub.com/

#violence #war #peacemaking #pacifists #military #israelhamaswar

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David Hayward is the "NakedPastor." He is a cartoonist, author, and former charismatic/evangelical pastor who deconstructed his faith and rebuilt a new refreshing spirituality that still embraces the wisdom of Jesus... but without the religious baggage. Michael and David discuss their journeys and David's unique experience.

A psychologist says of David's latest cartoon book, Flip It Like This, "A beautiful exploration of deconstructing your conditioned beliefs to become more open, compassionate, and heart-centered. I recommend this book to anyone on their own healing journey." Enter into this fascinating conversation and learn how David's cartoons "...are for those who have been battered or infuriated by the church and who long to see it change. Upending notions of who's in and who's out, Hayward's comic vision overturns false pieties and harmful dogmas in one fell swoop."

See David's work here: https://nakedpastor.com/

See the new book, Flip It Like This here: https://www.amazon.com/Flip-Like-This-David-Hayward/dp/1506484727

Learn more about Michael's journey and resources here: https://www.spiritualbrewpub.com/

More Spiritual Brewpub episodes: https://spiritualbrewpub.podbean.com/

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Daniel Bannoura is a Palestinian Christian who grew up in the West Bank and taught at Bethlehem Bible College. Now a PhD candidate at Notre Dame, Daniel joins Michael to discuss the Israel-Hamas War, the wider Palestinian-Israel conflict, and his Palestinian Christian roots. There's so much context and history to learn here. A very illuminating interview during this critical time.

To get the most out of this episode, check out all these RESOURCES on the subject: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ec98509ea936a6584b3cecb/t/653c07a34ffa986c65bc9d0b/1698432933843/Palestine-Israel+Resources.pdf

Also read this important document: An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders found here: https://www.change.org/p/an-open-letter-from-palestinian-christians-to-western-church-leaders-and-theologians

Daniel is starting a podcast soon that we will post here when it becomes available.

Michael's book, Breaking Bad Faith, available on Amazon.

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#palestinian #israelpalestineconflict #hamasattack #gazaunderattack

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Kathy Shihadah, a Christian and ex-evangelical, is married to a Gazan Muslim who has family in Gaza. She joins Michael to share her very personal and gripping story about her spiritual journey, a multi-faith marriage, and insights on the plight of Palestinians. Kathy and Michael share empathy for all who are suffering in the Israel-Hamas War, both Israelis and Palestinians. People of good will denounce the attacks by Hamas and the taking of hostages. Yet Kathy's and her Muslim husband's family's perspective brings critical context to the wider conflict and helps explain the drive behind Hamas, the Palestinian struggle, and their legitimate grievances. Learn a new paradigm that can help us discover a workable way of peace through restorative justice rather than Israel's choice of retribution and war. Learn the case for Israel stopping the bombing and pursuing a permanent ceasefire and negotiated settlement that provides security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Read Kathy's blog articles on the Israel-Gaza conflict. 

Read Michael's post on An Empathetic and Peace Seeking Response to the Israel-Hamas War. 

See video version of this interview. 

Visit If Americans Knew

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#TheSpiritualBrewpub

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American democracy is in danger. How do we protect it from authoritarian reactionary Christianity? David Gushee joins Michael to discuss his new book, Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies. Gushee makes a robust case for a renewed commitment to democracy on the part of Christians—not by succumbing to secular liberalism, but by drawing on Christianity's own best traditions.

Any concerned Christian or post-evangelical will walk away with eyes wide open to the dangers of our current form of political engagement. Listeners will gain insight into what democracy is truly meant to be and why Christians once supported it wholeheartedly—and should do so again.

David also shares his take on the Israel-Hamas War as a Christian ethicist.

Watch Videocast version

Find the book here: Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies

David's website: https://www.davidpgushee.com/

More Spiritual Brewpub episodes

Also visit The Spiritual Brewpub for more books, a support group, and deconstruction workshop.

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Why do so many evangelicals deny vaccine science? Why are so many suspicious of the science behind climate change? Why do most evangelicals reject theistic evolution? Michael talks to Janet Kellogg Ray to get answers.

This evangelical antipathy to modern science turned deadly during the COVID-19 crisis when white evangelicals snubbed precautions and vaccines. Herself a science educator and Christian who attends an evangelical church, Ray explains how we got here and how to fix it.

We talk about everything from the creation-evolution debate and intelligent design theory to the evidence behind the efficacy of the Covid vaccines, including debunking many conspiracy theories surrounding the pandemic. Ray's book, The God of Monkey Science (Amazon), covers all this and includes more about climate science and climate change denial.

Find Janet Ray's book here: https://www.amazon.com/God-Monkey-Science-People-Scientific-ebook/dp/B0BYMH6LY5

Learn more about deconstructing evangelicalism and rebuilding a more healthy faith here: https://www.spiritualbrewpub.com/

See more episodes: https://spiritualbrewpub.podbean.com/

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There is one very important thing that my evangelical deconstruction taught me about Jesus: With a few exceptions, modern Christian churches have tangled Jesus up in a huge wad of unhistorical beliefs, doctrines, and practices. I learned that by doing a sound, non-sectarian study of history, we can disentangle him from these religious falsehoods.

In this episode, I share 10 facts about Jesus that help us do that. Once we know these historical facts, we can start to see Jesus outside Christianity, the church, and religion and answer the question, "What do we do with Jesus?" Enjoy!

CORRECTION: The 14 books I cited from the Septuagint didn't get into the current version of the Old Testament (I misspoke and said NT). 

Also read my blog on the same topic: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thespiritualbrewpub/2023/09/10-facts-that-disentangle-jesus-from-christianity-and-the-church/

Find Breaking Bad Faith here, which goes into much more detail: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Bad-Faith-Exposing-Violence-ebook/dp/B0C9L21ZXD/

MORE EPISODES: https://spiritualbrewpub.podbean.com/

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Thomas Jay Oord, scholar, theologian, and professor at Northwind Seminary, joins Michael to talk about his new book, The Death of Omnipotence and the Birth of Amipotence. They discuss whether God is all powerful or not and what is a better, more "biblical", and philosophically logical way of looking at divine power. Amipotence is the uncontrolling love of God. It's a beautiful notion that fits scripture, human experience, and logic better than the traditional view. Also, we find out how Tom had to sit through two heresy trials!

Grab Tom's books here: https://thomasjayoord.com/

Grab Michael's book (that Tom actually endorsed!), Breaking Bad Faith at Amazon.com.

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