Weird Religion

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Latest Episodes:

BONUS: Checking in on Battlestar, Lost, Leo as Jim Jones, QAnon is back Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

WEIRDOS: peeking our heads into your life with a substantive check-in on these things:
(1) Brian is still watching Battlestar Galactica, and the last ep (S4E11) was bananas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIV5UqIV0a0&t=248s)
(2) Many of us are still wounded by the ending of Lost (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH0DigVw1bA)
(3) Leo DiCaprio in talks to play Jim Jones (https://ew.com/movies/leonardo-dicaprio-jim-jones-biopic-movie/)
(4) QAnon thought JFK Jr. was coming back (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/02/qanon-jfk-jr-dallas/)
(5) If you enjoy the show, or even if you don’t, give us a review on Apple podcasts, and/or follow us on Twitter, Insta, and Facebook (or “META” LOL):
https://twitter.com/weirdreligion
https://www.instagram.com/weirdreligionpodcast
https://www.facebook.com/weirdreligion

BONUS: Popeye joke, theory of humor Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

A quick joke about Popeye and a philosophical theory of humor that couldn’t be included in one of the S6 eps for some reason.

The Popeye joke, by Jack Handey: https://bit.ly/3u55ehF

BONUS: Season in Review, Thank Yous, Mini News Roundup Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

As we finish S6 on the show and approach 70,000 downloads, we take a stroll down memory lane, thanking people in vague ways, singing The Killers and Imagine Dragons, conducting a miniature news roundup on Leah's new article, and strategizing about having the Third Eagle of the Apocalypse on the pod.

Tammy Faye, a double whammy of Christian love, wins in the end: https://religionnews.com/2021/09/17/tammy-faye-column/

William Tapley, AKA The Third Eagle of the Apocalypse, "IT'S PROPHESIED (END TIMES ANTHEM)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLT66yJBYbA

078 THE CHRISTIANHAIRMETAL (Chris White, director of the new film Electric Jesus) Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

We’re talking with award-winning film writer and director Chris White about his new feature Electric Jesus, chronicling the rise and fall of a Christian heavy metal band in the summer of 1986 and the pastor’s daughter who runs away from home to join them. Adorableness, personal memories, and deep commentary about Christian music then and now ensue. Join us.

Chris White, filmmaker: http://chriswhitehq.com/

Electric Jesus on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8666022/

Review of Electric Jesus on Mashable: https://in.mashable.com/entertainment/17936/scad-savannah-film-festival-electric-jesus-review-a-light-hearted-film-on-the-world-of-christian-roc

The soundtrack from the film: https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/electric-jesus

Michael W. Smith, “Friends are Friends Forever”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbPKaIozS-c

Michael W. Smith’s alleged satanism on someone’s blog: https://aubreeblogpage.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/michael-w-smith-wolves-in-sheeps-clothing/

Christian metal band Stryper: http://www.stryper.com/

077 THE FACECHURCH (Should anyone be going to church on Facebook?) Sep 07, 2021

Show notes

Facebook has gathered church leaders for a conference to ask how they can have church on Facebook. It’s all about “connection.” Peanut allergies and Netflix’s new dating show Sexy Beast and Brian not having a son are discussed, as well as theories of brand dilution and holiness. And the revelation: We speculate about how Facebook is promoting a particular version of the internet and its new product idea through this effort.

“Facebook’s Next Target: The Religious Experience” (New York Times): https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/us/facebook-church.html

“Facebook decided faith groups are good for business” (Reuters): https://www.reuters.com/technology/facebook-decided-faith-groups-are-good-business-now-it-wants-your-prayers-2021-07-22/

Neflix’s Sexy Beasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJO5m6EFL6A

Elevation Church on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevationchurch.org/

Timothy Beals on the Bible and “brand dilution”: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Bible-Timothy-Beal/dp/0547737343

Spiritual destinations in Second Life: https://secondlife.com/destinations/belief

Mark Zuckerberg bets on the “Metaverse”: https://www.theverge.com/22588022/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-ceo-metaverse-interview

Terry Eagleton, After Theory: https://www.amazon.com/After-Theory-Terry-Eagleton/dp/0465017746

076 THE NEWS (#6: genocide romance, too cold for jihad, confessions without confessor) Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

We’re at our local coffee shop for an all-lightning round version of this week in weird religion news. Advice: If you’re writing a Christian romance novel, steer clear of genocide. Here are the stories we’re tracking:

Get your daily prophecy: https://www.elijahlist.com/index.php

Biden compares troops to prophets: https://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/nation/in-an-address-to-the-nation-biden-used-the-book-of-isaiah-to-compare-u-s-troops-to-prophets/

What I Learned While Eavesdropping on the Taliban: https://medium.com/the-atlantic/what-i-learned-while-eavesdropping-on-the-taliban-72c8e2acec9d

Sister magic: https://thesistersenchanted.com/

The Empty Religions of Instagram: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/05/opinion/influencers-glennon-doyle-instagram.html?referringSource=articleShare

Christian romance novel dabbles in genocide: https://religionnews.com/2021/08/02/christian-romance-novel-draws-criticism-for-romanticized-genocide-of-native-americans/

The Matrix 4 Title Revealed During Presentation at CinemaCon: https://www.ign.com/articles/the-matrix-4-matrix-resurrections-cinemacon-trailer-reveal-warner-bros

BONUS PIECE (that we didn’t discuss): Sacred Pregnancy in the Age of the “Nones”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ann-duncan-goucher-college-sacred-pregnancy-in-the/id1060078714?i=1000532965301 (a short podcast ep)

AND: We wanted to comment on this one, but it turns out it’s satire, but it’s still funny: “Jim Bakker says God cannot hear prayers through masks”: https://www.politicalflare.com/2021/08/televangelist-jim-bakker-complains-that-god-cannot-hear-prayers-through-masks/

075 THE FORGERIES (Biblical controversy around the Shapira Scroll and Gospel of Jesus' Wife) Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

Biblical forgery cases get everyone riled up—here are the two hottest controversies of the moment, covering both Old and New Testaments: “The Shapira Scroll” and the “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife.” Brian goes off. Come for the juicy details on both documents, and stay for the hard discussion of “history” and meditation on intellectual humility.

The pandemic never ends joke: https://twitter.com/mattbooshell/status/1422589796828987395?s=10

The Rylands Papyrus (which Brian erroneously called the “Rowlands” Papyrus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rylands_Library_Papyrus_P52

New York Times article on the Shapira Scroll controversy: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/arts/bible-deuteronomy-discovery.html

The Shapira Scroll (overview, photos): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapira_Scroll

Idan Dershowitz: https://www.dershowitz.net/

Excerpt from Dershowitz’s new book on the Shapira Scroll: https://www.academia.edu/45450947/The_Valediction_of_Moses_A_Proto_Biblical_Book

Professor Christopher Rollston on the Shapira scrolls: http://www.rollstonepigraphy.com/?p=896

Ariel Sabar, “the Unbelievable Tale of Jesus’ Wife (The Atlantic): https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/07/the-unbelievable-tale-of-jesus-wife/485573/

Professor Karen King, Harvard Divinity School: https://hds.harvard.edu/people/karen-l-king

Gospel of Jesus’ Wife on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Jesus%27_Wife

Ariel Sabar, Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife: https://www.amazon.com/Veritas-Harvard-Professor-Gospel-Jesuss/dp/0385542585

Chris Hedges’ review of Ariel Sabar’s book on the Gospel of Jesus’ Wife forgery: https://scheerpost.com/2021/07/29/the-forged-gospel-of-jesuss-wife/

Kellyanne Conway on “alternative facts”: https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/conway-press-secretary-gave-alternative-facts-860142147643

074 THE FLEABAG (transgressive devotion and Fleabag with author Natalie Wigg-Stevenson) Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

We’re talking with professor and author Natalie Wigg-Stevenson about transgression and devotion in the award-winning TV series Fleabag.

Natalie Wigg-Stevenson profile: https://www.tst.edu/directory/faculty/wigg-stevenson-natalie

Transgressive Devotion: Theology as Performance Art (2021), by Natalie Wigg-Stevenson: https://www.amazon.com/Transgressive-Devotion-Theology-Performance-Art/dp/033405947X

Fleabag on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Fleabag-Season-1/dp/B0875K9Q4P

073 THE NEWS (#5: Damon-Affleck curse, Britney goes Catholic, beyond yoga) Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

The weird religion news is on fire as always. This week: Is there a Matt Damon - Ben Affleck curse? Has Britney Spears become Catholic? Is Amanda Knox a philosopher? Can you go beyond yoga?

Britney Spears goes Catholic on Insta, then deletes it: https://www.instagram.com/britneyspears/; https://www.newsweek.com/britney-spears-reveals-shes-now-catholic-she-models-mass-dress-1616859

Britney gets a new ipad (sound clip is from this Insta post, not her post about becoming Catholic): https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/06/entertainment/britney-spears-ipad-conservatorship-intl-scli/index.html

It’s Matt Damon’s turn in the Damon-Affleck curse cycle: https://slate.com/culture/2021/08/matt-damon-ben-affleck-f-slur-curse.html

SNL skit (sound clip), “The Curse”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNno63ZO2Lw

Amanda Knox makes a mystical rant: https://twitter.com/amandaknox/status/1420871392266911746

Hindu extremists attack U.S. scholars of Hinduism: https://religionnews.com/2021/07/07/hindutvas-threat-to-academic-freedom/

Tiktok faith communities: https://religionnews.com/2021/07/27/i-never-had-an-inkling-about-this-how-tiktok-is-fostering-community-among-questioning-christians/

GiveSendGo! making money off of anti-vaxxing: https://slate.com/technology/2021/08/givesendgo-gofundme-vaccine-skeptics-covid-misinformation.html

Fasting and praying against the virus: https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/3319

A new discovery validates the Bible at Mt. Kilimanjaro?! https://bit.ly/2U02vIG

Let’s go...beyond Yoga? https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/05/levi-strauss-to-buy-yoga-apparel-brand-beyond-yoga-.html

A white version of the holy family in a playset: https://religionnews.com/2021/08/06/christian-group-petitions-toy-company-to-replace-nativity-playset-depicting-holy-family-as-white/

072 THE LAMB (Brian subjects Leah to an intriguing art-horror film trailer) Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

You know how you do that thing where you watch an intriguing trailer for an artsy horror film and then make all your friends watch it? Here we are. In The Lamb, forthcoming this fall, a couple tries to raise a lamb (?) as if it is their own child (?), and the lamb then morphs into something like a human (?), and some difficult things happen when the lamb parents come to reclaim their own (?). With a side discourse on Israel’s experience in the desert with flying snakes.

Watch the trailer and join in our confused glee: The Lamb (2021), https://youtu.be/hnEwJKVWjFM

Reference: the 2000 film Spiral: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244870/

Kafka quote: https://tinycamels.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/found-in-translation-in-the-struggle-between-you-and-the-world/

On flying snakes in Numbers 21: https://www.thetorah.com/article/what-is-the-biblical-flying-serpent

Noomi Rapace: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636426/

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