Weird Religion

Weird Religion

By Brian Doak and Leah PayneTV & FilmReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Weird Religion episodes

  • 111 THE PARENTS (what does sociology tell us about whether kids carry on with the faith of parents?)

    What do we know, based on social scientific data, about what it takes for children to carry on with the faith of their parents? We dive into a new book by two noted authors on the topic. The results are strange, shocking, exciting, depressing, and intriguing. Worth thinking about as a bigger story of what religion has become for us in the 21st century. This might be a part 1 of a 2 part thing. So watch for part 2 later maybe.

    Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk, Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation (Oxford, 2021): https://www.amazon.com/Handing-Down-Faith-Religion-Generation/dp/0190093323

    Fig. 2.3 from the book about faith retention 10 years later based on parenting styles (showing remarkably little difference in church attendance, across all parenting styles, for kids of parents who placed a “high importance” on religion): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZAb_kYpIRxnQ_Jlbx1_V-Mx91Pdz8Bv-/view?usp=sharing; we partly misspoke here in the podcast about what we were seeing—it is parents with “authoritative” style (i.e., the “good” style), not “authoritarian,” who saw the highest rate of kids reporting they NEVER attending religious services, but only for those “authoritative” parents who placed a very low value on religion. It’s a complicated set of data. Have at it.

    Example review of the book, by Clara Gerhardt, Samford University: https://christianscholars.com/handing-down-the-faith-how-parents-pass-their-religion-on-to-the-next-generation-2/

    David Brooks, in The Atlantic (March 2020): “The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake”: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/03/the-nuclear-family-was-a-mistake/605536/

    The Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga movie is called A Star is Born (sorry everyone).

    Bradley Cooper on his faith and his father: https://aleteia.org/2021/06/04/covid-reveals-actor-bradley-coopers-devotion-to-his-mom/

    Christian Smith, The Bible Made Impossible: https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Made-Impossible-Biblicism-Evangelical/dp/158743329X

    31 min
  • THE CULT SWAP (Is my church a cult? Saved by the City interviews Sam Kestenbaum)
    Do we have a more favorite topic than the definition of a “cult”? Hardly. This is part two of a two-part episode swap with our friends at Saved by the City. They interview award-winning religion writer Sam Kestenbaum about a crucial question: When does a “church” become a “cult”? And did you know: haunted houses may have “staff sociologists.” Listen, and know. It’s a little bit of Halloween in the summer. And support us by listening or re-listening to some great and recent Weird Religion over on their feed!
    Saved by the City: https://religionnews.com/saved-by-the-city/
    Sam Kestenbaum: is a religion reporter who has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, RNS and many other outlets about fringe and fascinating religious groups.
    46 min
  • 110 THE ENNEAGRAM (we confront the personality mob and take a Bible character Enneagram test)

    Has the rise of the personality test replaced traditional faith narratives as a way to explain our own lives? How does one pronounce the word “Enneagram”? We investigate. With a powerful excursus into the purpose of work meetings (= to control people).

    Origins and history of the Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3qLGpK3

    Jackie Hill Perry warns Christians against the demonic Enneagram: https://www.christianpost.com/news/jackie-hill-perry-warns-christians-not-to-use-demonic-enneagram.html 

    Enneagram popularity soars: https://religionnews.com/2022/06/02/as-enneagrams-popularity-soars-having-an-experienced-teacher-is-more-important-than-ever/ 

    Enneagram of your fav Bible character: http://blog.baysideonline.com/2018/02/the-enneagram-according-to-your-favorite-bible-characters/ 

    Saved by the City’s Personality Test Extravaganza: https://religionnews.com/2023/05/25/a-personality-test-extravaganza/

    31 min
  • THE SWAP (Saved by the City: Amy Grant and What We Demand of Famous Women)
    This week, Weird Religion presents: an “episode swap” with a pod we think you’ll love called “Saved by the City.” We’re playing two of their episodes on our feed this month, and they’re playing two of ours. They are kindred spirits. And they have a superstar guest in this episode. It’s all too much. Support us by giving them a listen. [[PRAYER HANDS]]
    Grab your leopard print blazer, roll down your windows and get ready to be all up in your feels. It’s been 30 years since Amy Grant released Heart in Motion – the chart-topping album that marked the musician’s crossover from contemporary Christian artist to mainstream pop icon. Katelyn and Roxy catch up with the artist at her Nashville farm and talk to their childhood icon about living life in the public eye — through all its ups and downs.
    The hosts also reflect on the expectations put on women — especially Christian women — who have achieved fame. And how the pressure to live their lives on display places even our most beloved women stars at the mercy of the mob.
    GUEST: Amy Grant is a singer songwriter and so much more. She is celebrating the 30 year anniversary of her album “Heart in Motion,” which was certified platinum 5 times, making it the best selling Christian album of all time. It spent weeks on the Billboard top 10, as did a number of its songs. Including the classic “Baby Baby” which reached no 1 on Billboard.
    Several songs from Amy Grant’s Heart in Motion are featured on the episode.
    39 min
  • 109 THE EXPERIENCERS (shocking developments in the UFO community)

    We’re here this week to discuss potentially shocking revelations in the UFO “disclosure” community, and get you fully caught up on what has been said recently about aliens and such things. Brian went to a UFO festival and heard a specialist talk about “UFO Experiencers” for MUFON (yes, the same MUFON as referenced on the X Files!). Leah attended the free parade. A new government whistleblower claims we are in possession of multiple and even full “crafts” of non-human origin. Garry Nolan, scientist at Stanford, says that he is “100%” certain extraterrestrials are here. And respected Australian journalist Ross Coulthart has some…disturbing theories.

    Bob Lazar, who is he: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Lazar 

    MUFON (Mutual UFO Network): https://mufon.com/

    Earl Grey Anderson: https://ufofest.com/earl-grey-anderson-2/ 

    NYT 2017 article that started this era: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html 

    Article out: new whistleblower, with unassailable credentials (?), says we have craft: https://thedebrief.org/intelligence-officials-say-u-s-has-retrieved-non-human-craft/ 

    Sample article on Assyrian propoganda: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1535132

    Garry Nolan, Stanford: https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/garry-nolan

    Garry Nolan bombshell interview at SALT Conference: https://twitter.com/UAPJames/status/1659299977762308098?s=20 

    Reflection on the NASA UFO hearing and how people get angry about this topic, harass NASA scientists online and in person: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/06/nasa-ufos-conspiracy-theories/674259/

    Ross Coulthart commenting on Elizondo’s “somber” comment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM3kxeU_oDE&t=9301

    34 min
  • 108 THE SÉANCE (News Roundup: bringing back the dead; Rainn Wilson is Bahai; Pope's exorcist)

    The News Roundup is back: bringing back the dead, briefly; robbing a piece of hair from your fav celeb to have a baby with them; Elizabeth Holmes is finally in jail; Silicon Valley woo; and the Pope’s exorcist.

    A brief interaction with your deceased loved one: https://futurism.com/ai-seance 

    Tag-on story: Having a designer baby with a celebrity??!! https://www.npr.org/2023/05/25/1178103188/scientists-near-a-breakthrough-that-could-revolutionize-human-reproduction 

    Soul Boom by Dwight Schrute // Rainn Wilson: https://sojo.net/articles/rainn-wilson-office-wants-spiritual-revolution

    Elizabeth Holmes reports to 11 year prison sentence: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/30/tech/elizabeth-holmes-prison/index.html 

    Film about the Camino pilgrimage: https://religionnews.com/2023/05/15/the-way-emilio-estevezs-film-about-the-camino-returns-to-theaters-as-pilgrimage-picks-up-post-covid/ 

    Why a Silicon Valley culture that was once obsessed with reason is going woo: https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/rational-magic

    “An American Tail” is now a musical: https://www.jta.org/2023/04/17/culture/an-american-tail-musical-adaptation-bets-the-storys-jewish-immigration-story-will-resonate-in-2023 

    Only 16% of Americans say religion is most important: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176206568/less-important-religion-in-lives-of-americans-shrinking-report 

    Pope’s exorcist is a fan of horror films: https://religionnews.com/2023/05/05/the-real-priest-behind-the-popes-exorcist-was-a-fan-of-hollywood-horror-films/

    Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda thing, full of religion: https://zelda-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Christianity

    31 min
  • 034 THE CONGREGATION (Ultra Star Wars Fandom and Authorial Intent) [August 2019]

    We’re rebroadcasting an early episode this week—to us, a classic, and perhaps as good as new to newer listeners. What happens when a movie series becomes not just your favorite or your religion, but literally forms the basis for all of your thinking and imagination and everything for your entire life? Such is the power of the Star Wars franchise. We dive into the murky depths of Star Wars fandom through the documentary The People Vs. George Lucas to think about authorial intent, the biblical canon, who owns our imaginations, and what it means to truly love fictional characters. 

    Updated Notes

    The People vs. George Lucas: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1325014/ 

    “10 Harsh Realities of Being a Star Wars Fan”: https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-fan-negatives-downsides/#the-original-movies-keep-changing 

    “Star Wars Fans and Their Collections,” The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/12/star-wars-fans-and-their-collections/420561/

    32 min
  • 107 THE LANADELREY (an annotated commentary on the track "Judah Smith Interlude")

    We give in-the-moment commentary on a surprising spoken word track on Lana del Rey’s new album. The material is delivered by the famous and hip Churchome pastor Judah Smith. With Lana del Rey cooing in the background. Some deep moments, some weird moments.

    Roomful of Teeth, “Pasacaglia”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LlE41gvNcw&list=PLEwLYWjsY88Wj84zSQ0dkiFgFjJpIG4Y2 

    Jennifer Garner’s Methodist Church ties: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jennifer-garner-miracles-from-heaven_n_56cca718e4b0ec6725e42004 

    Judah Smith bio: https://everipedia.org/wiki/lang_en/judah-smith 

    Lana del Rey, “Judah Smith Interlude” (2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y-vMgLEXo4 

    DC Talk with Billy Graham: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DTANlTnpeo 

    Jeremiah’s letter to exiles, seek the welfare of your city: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2029%3A1-13&version=ESV 

    Jimmy Swaggart preaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKE-9qVGJa4 

    31 min
  • 106 THE HIGHLIGHTER (on reading and erasing the Bible)

    It’s the end of the semester, which means it’s time for a chance hallway encounter that leads to a strange memory and then to reflections on the theological meaning of the proliferation of the codex (i.e., our modern physical book form).

    Matchbox Twenty, “Downfall” (2002): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aQWA_fAu8M

    Walmart, “Bible Highlighters and Pens”: https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/bible-highlighters-and-pens

    The orchestral piece Brian mentioned that brought a jaded chapel audience roaring to its feet at the end: Wojciech Kilar, “Orawa” (with Kristjan Järvi): https://youtu.be/h_Cluwghn_8

    The Stephen Prothero book Leah mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/American-Bible-Divide-Define-Nation/dp/0062123432 

    The Timothy Beal book Brian read from: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Bible-Timothy-Beal/dp/0547737343 

    TikToker justnaysha on highlighting in your Bible: https://www.tiktok.com/@justnaysha/video/7130356206597705002

    31 min
  • 105 THE PAPERCLIPALYPSE (pre-existent AI spirituality and doom scenarios)

    The paperclipsalypse has arrived, as AI comes to destroy or save the world. Was AI there all along and we just now “discovered” its weird and eternal life?

    The “paperclip maximizer” thought experiment: https://nickbostrom.com/ethics/ai 

    Eliezar Yudkowsky in TIME magazine, “Shut it Down”: https://time.com/6266923/ai-eliezer-yudkowsky-open-letter-not-enough/ 

    Scott Aaronson, Shtetl-Optimized: https://scottaaronson.blog/

    Drake + The Weeknd AI hit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81Kafnm0eKQ

    AI Beer commercial: https://www.tiktok.com/@realwholesomechannel/video/7227965471683775771 

    What if the AI was already there? https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin/status/1637449677028093953?s=20 

    Jacques Vallée on UFOs: https://www.wired.com/story/jacques-vallee-still-doesnt-know-what-ufos-are/

    AI (2001 movie) scene: “The Flesh Fair”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMbAmqD_tn0

    30 min

About Weird Religion

From the publisher's feed

Weird Religion is a podcast for people who think religion is weird but love it anyway. Your hosts, Leah Payne and Brian Doak, are both professors, authors, and pop culture aficionados, whose interests…