Takeaways Mystics experience the divine in everyday life and see the holiness in others. Mystics can be both heavenly minded and earthly good, working for peace, justice, and the well-being of all people. Political discourse should involve empathy, understanding, and dialogue, rather than demonization and polarization. Finding common ground and holding space for different perspectives is essential for progress and positive change. Mystics challenge the status quo and work towards a more inclusiv...
Oct 02, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 40
The book of James addresses the power of speech and its implications. Teachers in the church are held to a higher standard. Controlling the tongue is crucial for personal and communal integrity. Words can shape perceptions and influence actions. Righteousness is fundamentally linked to justice. Inconsistency in speech reflects deeper issues in the heart. The Moloch principle illustrates the dangers of short-term thinking. Charisma can be a double-edged sword in leadership. Our words can either c...
Sep 27, 2024•35 min
Takeaways Caleb's upbringing in a conservative home shaped his early views on faith. His experience with neo-Nazi skinheads led to critical questioning of ideologies. The rise of American Christian nationalism has created a divide in churches. Many church members are influenced by external political narratives. Christian nationalism is a blend of political ideology, tribal identity, and spiritual idolatry. The decline of trust in the church is linked to political affiliations. Engaging in conver...
Sep 25, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Faith without action is dead. The early Christian community emphasized caring for one another's needs. Treating all people equally is important and goes against favoritism. Love for our neighbors and living out the social vision of Jesus is crucial. Sponsors Quoir Square 2 Class: https://www.bk2sq1.com/square-2-next-steps-into-reconstruction (Promo code: Liminal for 10% off) Kineo Center: https://www.thekineocenter.com/cohort (mention "Liminal" in Application for $100 off) Monk Manual: https://m...
Sep 20, 2024•31 min
Takeaways Faith can provide an organizing center, meaning, and purpose in life. Gushee's journey of faith involved a conversion experience as a teenager and a broadening of perspectives through studying Christian ethics. Democracy is a system of government that belongs to the people and is based on a constitution and the rule of law. Authoritarianism poses a threat to democracy and can be fueled by religious or ideological beliefs. It is important to defend and uphold democratic principles, incl...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Reinterpreting scripture passages can help avoid harmful and wounding interpretations that have been used in a religious and fundamentalist context. Understanding the cultural context in which scripture was written is crucial for interpretation. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, and it is important to recognize and appreciate the goodness in the world. Being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry can lead to better understanding and more compassionate interactions. Re...
Sep 13, 2024•42 min
Links Pre-order Chuck's New Book: [ click here ] Chucks Author Page: [ click here ] Chuck's Amazon Page: [ click here ] Takeaways Chuck DeGroat's faith journey was shaped by a mix of embodied spirituality and disorientation due to brokenness in his parents' marriage. He found a broader understanding of faith through the contemplative tradition and the mystics, which opened up a more expansive language for his experience of God. Chuck DeGroat's work as a counselor, spiritual director, and author ...
Sep 11, 2024•56 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Introductions Climbing Mt. Whitney Facing Internal Demons on the Mountain Spiritual Roots in Catholicism Grace in Community & Abuse on Church Staff Abusive Leadership Embraces Power and Causes Trauma Using Your Voice with Clarity and Humility Spiritualizing the Poor is a Hermeneutic Mistake The God of Mammon, Power, Money, and Economy What “Love of Money” Actually Looks Like Exposing Undercover Idolatry Mammon’s Weapon is Fear of Death What Really Causes Inflation Gatekeepers of the Bible Do...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Chapters Introductions Cherokee roots My Oppressive Missionary Colonizer Years Colonialism woven into the Christian faith The Violence of Christian Supremacy Conservative politics picks up the torch of colonialism The Problem of Disembodied Theology Shalom and the Failed Western Experiment Decolonizing the Faith Colonial Theology that needs to Go: Hell, Exclusivity, and Original Sin The Practice of Vulnerable Conversation Conclusions Sponsors Quoir Square 2 Class: https://www.bk2sq1.com/square-2...
Aug 28, 2024•56 min•Season 3Ep. 36
Chapters Introductions Good Coffee Spiritual Roots in the Korean Church in Chicago Renting church space and false hospitality Rethinking Hospitality as the Church Loving Disagreement what it is and is NOT Love is not nice Toxic Positivity The Moving Goalposts of expectation False apostolic authority used to create exclusive dogma What loving your enemy can look like Conclusions Sponsors Quoir Square 2 Class: https://www.bk2sq1.com/square-2-next-steps-into-reconstruction (Promo code: Liminal for ...
Aug 21, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Chapters Introductions Faith Rooted Organizer Anthony vs Confederate Statue An Ecumenical Exorcism of White Nationalism and Racism An Apocalyptic moment and call Christians call to apocalyptic action Hyper individualism and its damage on society The Gospel and White Jesus made an atheist The Gospel evolve to meet us White Christian Nationalism is a form of bad Atheism Christianity as ideology for the nation state is bad news A Heart attack and an existential crisis The Sound of the Genuine Don’t...
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Chapters Intro Theology and Art Where does art come from? What does art do? Art involves us in the truth Art opens us up to truth Imagination and Faith Sweaty Pentecostalism Knowing more about demons than about God Bonhoeffer A true place to belong Incarnation shows us what God is like Conclusion Sponsors Quoir Square 2 Class: https://www.bk2sq1.com/square-2-next-steps-into-reconstruction (Promo code: Liminal for 10% off) Kineo Center: https://www.thekineocenter.com/cohort (mention "Liminal" in ...
Aug 07, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Key points include: • The unhealthy balance between individual well-being and community demands in evangelical settings. • The symbolic and inspirational aspects of Tolkien’s stories and how they relate to real-life experiences. • The importance of continuing to do good without relying on miraculous interventions. • Reflections on the role of marginalized voices in pursuing true justice and equity. The episode delves into the deeper, often overlooked, emotional and spiritual struggles within rel...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Takeaways Hold beliefs loosely and be open to subjective experiences and objective evidence. Recognize the limitations of creedal faith and the need for a more contextualized understanding of God. Explore the concept of oneness and the connection between mysticism, science, and different religious traditions. Embrace a sense of awe, gratitude, and responsibility towards everyone and everything. Question and challenge traditional beliefs and seek a more expansive spirituality. Contextualizing God...
Jul 24, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Take Aways Liminality is the space between what was and what will be, where we are trying to figure out how to be in a rapidly changing world. High-control religious environments can be toxic and manipulative, exerting authority over individuals and stifling personal growth. It is important to recognize and reject religious jargon that seeks to control and manipulate others. Reclaiming common human experiences, such as compassion, honesty, and justice, can help transcend religious boundaries and...
Jul 17, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Take Aways Meeting tangible needs in the community is an important expression of faith. Faith is a journey of growth and evolving perspectives. Extending grace and love to others is a central aspect of the Christian faith. The stigma of tattoos in the Christian context can be challenged and reevaluated. Personal expressions of art, such as tattoos, can be a way to build relationships and express one's faith. The cultural acceptance of tattoos in the church is influenced by historical and societa...
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Highlights: Embrace the ongoing process of spiritual growth and recognize that there is no arrival point. Question expectations that God will make everything smooth sailing and happy. Allow God the freedom to be creative in how He works in your life and the lives of others. Recognize the tension between the objective and subjective experiences of God and embrace both. Don't compare your spiritual journey to others, as each person's experience is unique. Experiencing God cannot be forced or limit...
Jul 03, 2024•58 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Insights The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of the sayings of Jesus and does not have a narrative like the other Gospels. The Gospel of Thomas was suppressed by early church leaders, particularly those who opposed the Valentinians. The Gospel of Thomas was found in 1945 in a clay jar buried in the desert. Scholars have dated the Gospel of Thomas to the early second century and believe it may have served as a Q document. The teachings in the Gospel of Thomas emphasize the oneness and connection...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 26
The importance of stripping away layers of interpretation to reveal the true essence of Christ. The challenges of countering Christian nationalism and the significance of speaking the truth in love. The concept of God as a being and the implications of this understanding. The connection between spiritual formation and the inspiration behind the book 'Jesus Unpainted.' The nature of God is explored through the lens of personal relationship and the concept of 'I thou' rather than 'I it'. Faith is ...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Church of the Nazarene is a complex and challenging endeavor, involving theological, social, and personal dimensions. The conversation sheds light on the tensions and complexities within the church and society regarding LGBTQ+ issues, highlighting the need for thoughtful dialogue and understanding. Thomas Jay Oord's journey of advocacy and the challenges he faces within his denomination provide insight into the evolving landscape of Christianity and the o...
Jun 12, 2024•57 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Key Take Aways: Embrace the contradictions and dividedness that are inherent in being human. Loss and death are fundamental aspects of existence that shape our experiences. Grief should be acknowledged and processed as a natural part of life. The death of God and the tearing of the temple curtain challenge the idea of liminality as a space where the finite and infinite meet. Certain objects capture a sense of transcendence and the eternal within them, rather than behind them. Christianity is rad...
Jun 05, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Buy the book: https://www.ivpress.com/when-god-became-white Listen to the pod: https://www.christiancentury.org/podcast/madang Read her Blog: https://gracejisunkim.wordpress.com/ Subscribe Substack: https://gracek.substack.com/ Names hold deep significance in Korean culture, connecting individuals to their family and generations. Understanding race as a social construct is essential in dismantling racism. Whitewashing biblical stories perpetuates whiteness and reinforces white supremacy. Theolog...
May 29, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Check out Ben's Website here: https://www.benjaminkatt.com/ Grab Ben's Book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250910447?tag=macmillan-20 Leaving the familiar and falling into the unknown are two distinct stages of a transformative journey. Leaving the familiar involves recognizing the need for change and making a decisive break from the past, while falling into the unknown is the disorienting and challenging period of transition. Returning home after a transformative journey can be difficult, as ...
May 22, 2024•58 min•Season 3Ep. 21
You can buy the book here: https://upperroombooks.com/book/looking-inward-living-outward/ You can connect with Daniel here: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.wolpert.1 Contemplation frees individuals from habits and patterns that cause suffering and promotes compassion and care. Contemplation is not just an individual practice, but also a communal one. Contemplative psychology explores the concept of the human person as a bundle of habits and activities that create our sense of self and the world....
May 15, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 20
You can preorder the book here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250893277/life-after-doom You can find Brian's work here: https://brianmclaren.net/ Introduction The Conflict Between Conservative Faith and Love for Nature Facing a New Situation The Impact of Climate Change and Rising Depression The Importance of Spiritual Help The Power of Naming Grief The Complicated Nature of Hope Superficial Hope vs. Deeper Hope Rethinking Economic Paradigms Living in Harmony with Nature Creating Safe Landi...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 19
"Have you ever had a difficult time reading Paul’s Epistles? Ever felt like your questions were not part of the preapproved rhetoric of the groupthink? Zach felt the same way growing up in the Southern Baptist Church and lived at the edges of inclusion, fading further away from his faith. And then he read the Gospels and wondered why his church was not talking about this Jesus guy at all. Today’s conversation is about progressive Christianity and the inclusivity of the early church. We discuss t...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 18
"Have you ever wondered how much of what you believe to be true is actually influenced by the quirks of your own mind? In this solo episode of the Liminal Living podcast, we delve into the fascinating realm of cognitive biases and their impact on our perception of reality. We use Brian McLaren’s list of 13 cognitive biases that cloud our judgment, revealing how they shape our understanding of truth and certainty. Through a philosophical lens, we examine the notion of absolute certainty, suggesti...
Apr 24, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 17
"Have you ever always hated the doctrine of eternal conscious torment but felt like it was too central to the faith to discard? Chad is the guy to talk to. Today we deconstruct the theology of ECT, discuss its origins, its evolution, and its future home in the proverbial lake of fire. We also discuss open and relational theology, evangelicalism, liminality, contemplation, and more views of the afterlife. It was an invigorating conversation that let me see that my academic mind can still come out...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 16
"Have you ever wondered how one finds their voice in a world that often seeks to silence them? Today, we're diving deep into that question with author and advocate-minister Ally Henny, as we explore her journey of resilience, faith, and empowerment. Ally is the brilliant mind behind "I Won't Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You," a wonderful work that delves into the complexities of navigating societal pressures and finding one's voice amidst adversity. As the Vice Pre...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Have you ever been made the “prayer request” of a community because your story didn’t match the triumphal testimony narrative? Justin grew up in the Southern Baptist Church as a conservative labeled by his high school peers as “God boy.” He was handing out tracts, evangelizing, and really good at obeying purity culture rules when it came to women. Then he realized that he was gay. He went on a long journey of wrestling with faith and identity, and we talk about his story today. For over 25 years...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 14
