Religion on the Mind

Latest Episodes:

End Times Popularity: Part 1 (#77) Aug 10, 2020

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Earlier this year, I released a 4-part series called End Times Anxiety, chronicling mental health and related challenges of younger folks who had been adversely affected by Left Behind and similar visions of the Rapture and end of the world within conservative Protestant theology and culture. Throughout working on that project, I found myself continually asking myself and others, “Why did they buy it in the first place? How did this thinking become *so popular*?” These two episodes are my attempt at answering that question, pulling from my own review of the available academic research as well as four interviews I conducted with Baby Boomers who had been a part of the Jesus Movement in the 1970s. My main argument is as follows:1. The people whose evangelizing kicked off the Jesus Movement were primarily fundamentalists and they were themselves already very focused on biblical prophecy2. In the early 70s, there was enough global chaos and uncertainty, along with one very important “fulfilled prophecy” that made it seem plausible that the world might indeed be coming to a close3. By the time Left Behind came around in the 90s, that same Jesus Movement generation held the primary places of power and influence in Evangelical circlesThis is not an exhaustive explanation, but it has helped me come up with a basic framework that helps me make sense of my 90s Left Behind-soaked experience. Hopefully it might be helpful for you as well!Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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When Spiritual Heroes are Sexual Predators (Jean Vanier) (#76) Aug 03, 2020

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Many of you heard the news about Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche International and one of my own lifetime spiritual heroes, when it came to light in February that he had sexually abused multiple women under his care as their spiritual director. This was not like Harvey Weinstein -- Vanier was a world-renowned spiritual leader and thinker; he was on his way to sainthood. Jennifer Kelly (former director of L’Arche Seattle, local assistant to Vanier) and my friend Chris Hoke (Underground Ministries) help me unpack this complicated situation.L’Arche International findings article: https://www.larche.org/news/-/asset_publisher/mQsRZspJMdBy/content/inquiry-statement-test?_101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.larche.org%2Fnews%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_col_count%3D1Principles of Discernment - http://blog.adw.org/2018/01/six-principles-discernment/Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative - http://www.jrji.org/index.htmlUnderground Ministries - https://undergroundministries.org/Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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I Don't Believe in that God: Hawk Nelson's Jon Steingard (#75) Jul 27, 2020

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Jon Steingard, singer of Contemporary Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, made quite a splash in some Christian circles a couple months back when he announced that he was no longer a Christian and did not believe in God. I was able to talk at least with Jon about his own process, as well as where the two of us actually agree, and where we ultimately differ on God’s existence and attributes. We got into inerrancy, certainty, open theism and the problem of evil and suffering, along with plenty more.BadChristian Interview with John: http://www.badchristian.com/bc_podcast/hawk-nelsons-no-longer-believes-in-god/Karen Armstrong’s A History of God: https://smile.amazon.com/History-God-000-Year-Judaism-Christianity/dp/0345384563/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+history+of+god&qid=1595800422&sr=8-1Steingard Creative: http://www.steingardcreative.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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Conspiracy Theories, Evangelicals, Media & More (#74) Jul 20, 2020

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This week, we have a pretty wide-ranging conversation with Yahoo News reporter Jon Ward. Eventually, we get around to my initial goal of talking about conspiracy theories and Evangelical subculture, but along the way we also talk about:- vaccines and anti-vax movement- confederate monuments- voter suppression- free speech- partisan media- public discourse- political psychology- his charismatic Protestant upbringing- and more! Jon is one of my favorite journalists working today. His podcast The Long Game has focused on the role of institutions in our public life, and recently he has focused more on conspiracy theories and free speech.The Long Game Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game/id1248994688Jon’s Yahoo! profile: https://www.yahoo.com/author/jon-ward/D.L. Mayfield’s article: https://religionnews.com/2020/06/05/why-american-evangelicals-are-so-tempted-by-the-easy-assurance-of-conspiracy-theories/Atlantic QAnon piece: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2020/05/qanon-q-pro-trump-conspiracy/611722/Autism piece: https://slate.com/culture/2016/01/in-a-different-key-a-history-of-autism-by-john-donvan-and-caren-zucker-reviewed.htmlDepolarize! “Is the 81% Statistic Reliable?” episode with Jon Ward: http://depolarize.blubrry.net/2018/04/02/is-that-81-statistic-reliable-a-closer-look-at-evangelicals/Psychology in Seattle Conspiracy Theories episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-psychology-of-conspiracy-theories/id767626637?i=1000475748063Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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Testimonies (#73) Jul 13, 2020

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We hear four stories of white Christians coming to see the reality of systemic racial injustice in American society: a Republican corporate attorney and member of the Federalist Society, a pastor’s kid whose sisters work with refugees (one of whom married an African man), a nurse confronting disparities in medical care, and a mother thinking through her own history and wanting to give her daughter something better.To acknowledge the problem of systemic racial injustice is not the same as to endorse some particular lens through which to view it (like Critical Race Theory) nor some particular policy over another (like reparations, affirmative action, or implicit bias training). This episode is about the process of coming to an awareness of these injustices.Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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Miroslav Volf: Flourishing, Theology & Psychology (#72) Jul 06, 2020

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I’m joined by titan of modern theology Mirosalv Volf to talk about human flourishing and its relationship with theology and psychology. Which field gives us direction, and which fills out the mechanisms for how to get there? This was a fantastic conversation.For the Life of the World Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-the-life-of-the-world-yale-center-for-faith-culture/id1505076294Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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LGBTQ, Hell, Science & Scripture in Youth Work (#71) Jun 29, 2020

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What are the big questions that high schoolers and young adults are asking in their faith communities? I asked Josh Patterson, co-host of the (Re)Thinking Faith Podcast, about his own experience as a youth and young adult pastor at the uniquely multi-cultural and theologically centrist Seneca Creek Community Church in Gaithersburg, MD. LGBTQ issues, Hell, Science, Scriptural questions, the problem of evil and more are discussed. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out "Evil, Hell, & Evidence for God at a Christian College (#54)” as well.- Rethinking Faith Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-faith/id1438696524- https://theyouthcartel.com/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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The Quagmire of Modern Missions (#70) Jun 22, 2020

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I interview Jim and Breanna Randall, missionaries (if you want to call them that) in Myanmar. We talk about the various pitfalls that are present in modern day missions work (bad actors, psychologists breaking their oaths to do no harm, donor fragility, American/White Exceptionalism, and more), as well as some more hopeful potential ways forward.CORRECTION: I said Jamie Lee Finch was the “Worst Missionary,” but that is actually Jamie WrightBreanna’s Francis Chan piece: https://faithfullymagazine.com/myanmar-francis-chan-ministry/Desmond Tutu Children’s Bible: https://smile.amazon.com/Children-Storybook-Bible-Archbishop-Desmond/dp/0310719127/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=desmond+tutu+bible&qid=1592798668&s=books&sr=1-1Unsettling Truths: https://smile.amazon.com/Unsettling-Truths-Dehumanizing-Doctrine-Discovery/dp/0830845259/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=unsettling+truths&qid=1592798645&s=books&sr=1-2Dangerous Territory: https://smile.amazon.com/Dangerous-Territory-Misguided-Quest-World/dp/1627075976/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dangerous+territory&qid=1592798554&sr=8-1Assimilate or Go Home: https://smile.amazon.com/Assimilate-Go-Home-Missionary-Rediscovering/dp/0062388800/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=assimilate+or+go+home&qid=1592798542&sr=8-1Decolonizing Wealth: https://www.decolonizingwealth.com/Breanna‘s twitter: @randallbreannaBreanna’s Instagram: @br_randallKaitlin Curtice: https://kaitlincurtice.com/Christina Cleveland: http://www.christenacleveland.com/No White Saviors: https://nowhitesaviors.org/Support the Randalls: https://burmachronicle.com/blog/Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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What Comes After a Racial Awakening? (#69) Jun 15, 2020

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One thing that I am really encouraged by amidst all the protest and civil unrest is how many white people seem to have genuinely woken up to the presence of systemic racism in American society. But what comes AFTER that moment, specifically from a faith perspective? In terms of theology, prayer, church, and seeing ourselves as part of God’s story more broadly, what might be some next steps, ripple effects, etc? I’m joined by Jason Davison and Sarah Lane Ritchie to think and talk through this question.Jason Davison “The Father’s Plea”: http://www.rainieravenuechurch.org/sermons/the-fathers-plea/Jason Davison “Once For All” (sermon starts around 40 minutes in): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kdf43NcPi4Follow Dan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dancoke/Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com -- he is accepting more work!)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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Listening (#68) Jun 08, 2020

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Black Americans and other people of color are understandably exhausted right now, so what better time to pull something out of the vault that speaks to our current moment? In 2017, on my old Depolarize! Podcast, I interviewed 5 Christians of color about their experience growing up non-white in America, as well as a number of issues related to Evangelicalism and politics. I’m happy to say that the idea that a largely white audience should spend time simply listening to stories like this *feels* more widely accepted today than it did in 2017. Nonetheless, there is always more listening to be done, and these are some powerful stories.https://8cantwait.org/http://theandcampaign.comhttps://thewitnessbcc.com/Pass the Mic Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-mic/id1435500798Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochEmail about the "sliding scale" for the Patreon: youhavepermissionpodcast@gmail.comYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/

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