Religion on the Mind

Latest Episodes:

Is Dan Being Trolled By AI? (with Tyson Motsenbocker) (#272) Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Tyson Motsenbocker returns to help Dan answer if he is being followed by a handful of AI-generated bot Instagram accounts. Could they be Russians? Why is Avis so interested in her son Jason and “knitting small bees”? Are we in an “uncanny valley” yet with AI content?

Tyson on Instagram

Where the Waves Turn Back Book

Tyson's Website

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

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Artwork by sprungle.co/

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I Don’t Believe In That God: Matt Naylor & Max Valverde (Milkless Podcast) (#271) Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

This week I’m joined by co-hosts of the excellent fatherhood-focused Milkless Podcast, Max Valverde and Matt Naylor for another listener-favorite “I Don’t Believe in That God” episode. Max leans towards atheism, finding a personal God unlikely, while Matt feels a pull towards spirituality but questions specific religious claims.

This is actually an episode swap -- so today there is both a new Milkless episode featuring yours truly (in which we discuss the benefits and costs of religion/spirituality in raising kids) AND a You Have Permission episode with the two of them.

A major theme that emerged was the difference between specific truth claims about the nature of reality and God vs. poetic or "theopoetic" framings that resonate as meaningful and promote human flourishing, even if not literally true. We didn't see perfectly eye-to-eye on this, with Matt expressing reservations about believing things for the sake of comfort or convenience rather than evidence. (Of course, I pushed back on what counts as evidence, etc.)

This conversation was SO GOOD that Matt and Max are returning for round 2 in a month or so -- keep your eyes out for that one!

Watch this Episode on YouTube

Milkless Podcast

Milkless Podcast on IG

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

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Artwork by sprungle.co/

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John Mark McMillan: Faith & Doubt (#270) Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Finally, a long chat with indie Christian musician John Mark McMillan! John Mark started out firmly in the mainstream Christian world but has been gradually exploring more complex and nuanced expressions of faith (and doubt!) through his art.

We discussed his early life on a Christian commune, what it's like to be a recording artist wrestling with deep questions of faith and doubt, and whether a doubting faith is actually more faithful than one laced with certainty. We got into meaning-making, suffering, and the audacity of hope in an imperfect world. In other words, it was great.

Watch this Episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/PcWpzObjGK4

John Mark's Website

John Mark McMillan on Spotify

Resources Mentioned:

Hunting the Divine Fox: An Introduction to the Language of Theology

Viktor Frankl's Book: A Man's Search for Meaning

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

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Artwork by sprungle.co/

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We Watched The Chosen So You Don't Have To: Season 1, Episodes 2 & 3 (#269) Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

How many times has someone told you that you have to watch The Chosen, the smash hit TV series depicting the life of Jesus?

My buddy Jeff Martin and I break down season 1, episode 2 & 3, reacting to all manner of interesting details from my own liberal Christian therapist perspective and Jeff’s more moderate Evangelical lens.

We get into:

Shabbat and Shabbat dinner
Conversion experiences and their psychological, social, and spiritual aspects
depiction of Jesus' interactions with children and his characterization

I’m very curious how much appetite there is for continuing with episodes like this, so please check it out and let me know what you think!

**Watch this episode on YouTube**

https://youtu.be/3ViFnTp7Des

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

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Join Dan's email list: www.dankochwords.com/

Artwork by sprungle.co/

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Who Are the Exvangelicals? (#268) Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

Sarah McCammon, NPR journalist and author of "The Exvangelicals," shares her journey out of evangelical Christianity, including her pivotal relationship with her non-religious gay grandfather.

We explore how journalism provided Sarah with a space to question and how my work in therapy also demands openness to evidence. We covered the impact of the Trump era on evangelicalism and the earlier Emergent movement led by figures like Rob Bell and Rachel Held Evans.

We delve into the evangelical subculture's "parallel institutions" and their role in fostering distrust of mainstream institutions. Finally, we reflect on our wariness of echo chambers and the value we now place on viewpoint diversity and factual specificity.

Watch this Episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/Kl0cr4MZaBI

Sarah’s Book “The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church”:

https://www.amazon.com/Exvangelicals-Loving-Living-Leaving-Evangelical/dp/1250284473

Sarah’s Substack

Depolarize! Podcast

Reconstruct Podcast

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

Website: www.dankochwords.com/yhp.html

Join Dan's email list: www.dankochwords.com/

Artwork by sprungle.co/

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GGCH: Israel, Rome and Christianity as a Story (#267) Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

After kicking things off with our usual game of "Bar, Bank, Church or Dispensary?” and “Ways we are becoming our dads” segments, I introduced a new segment focused on funny Hard Times headlines.

Tony recalled his recent time in Rome and reflected on the passing of theologian Jurgen Moltmann. This led into a conversation about Israel and the war in Gaza, and all three of us gave our thoughts on the conflict.

Finally, I brought forward the idea of seeing Christianity as a story in which we find ourselves, and we compared it with other meta-narratives competing for our attention and loyalty.

Watch this Episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/O27kTZyxVcU

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Tony's Substack on Jürgen Moltmann

Movie: God On Trial

Kristen Ashley's Book: Knight

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

Website: www.dankochwords.com/yhp.html

Join Dan's email list: www.dankochwords.com/

Artwork by sprungle.co/

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A Difficult Relationship with Christianity (#266) Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

Today’s episode is a thoughtful conversation with my friend Josh Patterson of the (Re)Thinking Faith Podcast about his evolving relationship with Christianity. No longer a pastor, he sometimes struggles to articulate theological concepts that once came easily. Practices that used to nourish his soul now give him pause, and he wonders if his reduced engagement with Christian community and spiritual disciplines has contributed to this sense of distance.

Despite this, Josh still experiences spontaneous moments of prayer, gratitude, and spiritual connection. He values embodied spiritual experiences over mere intellectual agreement with doctrines. The theological issues that once consumed him, such as Hell and atonement theories, have been overshadowed by more fundamental metaphysical and philosophical questions. He resonates with poetic and metaphorical approaches to theology (AKA “theopoetics”) that allow religious language to gesture toward profound truths and experiences without collapsing into rigid literalism.

Watch this Episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/BuySOBvUOhY

Josh's Podcast "Rethinking Faith":

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-faith/id1438696524

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

Website: www.dankochwords.com/yhp.html

Join Dan's email list: www.dankochwords.com/

Artwork by sprungle.co/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using Movies in Therapy (#265) May 30, 2024

Show notes

In this mid-week episode (full version is available on Patreon!) I am joined by Jenny Hamilton, a licensed therapist and senior lecturer at the University of Lincoln in the UK, talking about her peer-reviewed movie therapy method.

We discussed how films can provide a unique form of escapism while also helping foster empathy by allowing viewers to experience the world through someone else's perspective. Jenny emphasized the importance of tailoring selections to each individual client's interests, issues, and comfort level. We also touched on the value of using well-known films as a common reference point, which can help build rapport and facilitate deeper conversations.

Should I find a guest or two who wants to try out the MOVIE Method, perhaps for a Patreon episode? We would watch a well-known movie and then talk through some journaling/response “homework” based on Jenny’s approach? Let me know!

Jenny's Website:

https://jennyhamiltoncounselling.wordpress.com/

Jenny's Podcast "The Movie Method":

https://open.spotify.com/show/3hx4QmEz4LfQOoxqScwEU8?si=a4c8760608624958

The conversation article: https://theconversation.com/watching-movies-could-be-good-for-your-mental-health-214325

Jenny's Twitter @JennyHa0216

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

Website: www.dankochwords.com/yhp.html

Join Dan's email list: www.dankochwords.com/

Artwork by sprungle.co/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Are We Obsessed with the End Times? (#264) May 28, 2024

Show notes

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Halstead about his new book “The End of the World as You Know It” which focuses on End Times prophecies and apocalyptic literature. We touched on everything from the psychological drives behind our fascination with the future to the importance of maintaining a questioning mindset in matters of faith.

We kicked things off by acknowledging the trauma and anxiety that can often accompany these teachings, especially for those who grew up in conservative evangelical circles. Matt shared how he was never encouraged to ask critical questions about these topics but rather was expected to simply accept what he was told.

We also got into the history of apocalyptic literature and how it has been interpreted throughout the centuries. Matt pointed out that these texts were originally written from the perspective of oppressed groups, not the privileged empires of the day.

Matt’s Book “The End of the World as You Know It”:

https://www.amazon.com/End-World-You-Know-Really/dp/1683597125

Matt’s Faculty Page:

https://eternity.edu/meet-dr-halsted/

Revelation Lectures by Craig S. Keener:

https://masterlectures.zondervanacademic.com/revelation-craig-s-keener

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch

Email about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.com

YHP Patron-only FB group: tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98

Website: www.dankochwords.com/yhp.html

Join Dan's email list: www.dankochwords.com/

Artwork by sprungle.co/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should We Care About Harrison Butker's Speech? (#263) May 23, 2024

Show notes

** Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5U0kztmTnxk

In response to a listener suggestion, as well as having enjoyed Bonnie Kristian's recent newsletter on the topic, I looked into the recent Harrison Butker commencement address controversy. I had a few thoughts!

I talk briefly about the situation, how I largely think of it in terms of protected religious speech, more progressive options within Christianity, the good questions raised by conservative counter-reactions in support of Butker and what one such reaction gets quite wrong, and some insights from the "cultural competency" world of psychotherapy that I think are applicable.

Bonnie's newsletter: https://bonniekristian.substack.com/p/that-commencement-speech-didnt-need?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=405918&post_id=144821513&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=42udl&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

James Martin, SJ: https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/james-martin-sj

gaychurch.org

ParentData on daycare: https://parentdata.org/day-care-bad-children/

___________________________________________

Get Tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2024

Use Code ReturnofYHP for $50 off your ticket!

___________________________________________

Follow Dan on IG: www.instagram.com/dancoke/

Or Twitter: twitter.com/DanKoch

Faith deconstruction resources: www.soyouredeconstructing.com/

Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankoch