Today’s guest is special. He is the Hank Williams Jr. of 20th Century Theology, though I know he will hate that description. He brings a message of hope, love and more, and he is a wonderful man and I am so pleased he joined me on the podcast. His honesty is refreshing and I hope we get together again. His latest book is: “Fall in Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy.”
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 7 min
This week's guest is scholar Hal Taussig, a recently retired Professor of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary in New York who lectures around the country and world, and who now is a working with the Westar Institute He is one of the authors of “After Jesus Before Christianity” the editor of the award-winning A New New Testament (2013), a United Methodist minister, and author of 14 books other books, which examine writings from that period and historically recent discovered texts and the ...
Jun 29, 2022•51 min
Welcome to the Thinking God Podcast, a place where we talk about truth wisdom wherever it might be found, and today’s guest is a shining light of hope. Natalie Wigg Stevenson is my favorite kind of theologian. She combines the best of scholarly approach with a lively curiosity and warm personality to make challenging approaches to faith accessible. Her book “Transgressive Devotion: Theology as Performance Art,” asks the reader to stop trying to define or describe God and instead experience makin...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 14 min
Christian Pastor Austin Carty, latest book, “The Pastors’ Bookshelf: Why Reading Matters in Ministry,” aims to get Christian pastors, and hopefully through osmosis and encouragement their congregations, to begin a long love affair with reading. His passion for books and reading, and how it can benefit the face-to-face pastoral work and just helping humans in general become more fully actualized, are obvious. Carty is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church, affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fel...
May 02, 2022•1 hr 28 min
The Marvelous Maggie Rowe is a Los Angeles-based writer who has written for such shows as “Arrested Development” and one of my favorites, the wildly underrated Netflix series “Flaked.” She’s also a screenwriter, a producer, an actress and author who has been on this podcast before after the publication of her first book “Sin Bravely.” Maggie now makes her triumphal return to the Thinking God podcast, to talk about her new book “Easy Street: A Story of Redemption from Myself,” and is, as always, ...
Apr 12, 2022•1 hr 10 min
For well over a decade, Jon Steingard was a part of the Christian band Hawk Nelson, where he served as lead vocalist and lead guitarist until his departure two years ago when he announced he no longer believed in God. Steingard has not became an evangelical atheist, he is instead a man on a spiritual search and is now expressing his artistic energy in video and visual art.
Apr 05, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Neal Allen's latest book "Shapes of Truth" offers a great deal to consider. Seasoned searchers of truth will find a lot to like in both the book and in this interview.
Mar 29, 2022•1 hr 15 min
Amy-Jill Living is one fine conversationalist. Her blend of scholarship and passion, coupled with a generous approach to the viewpoints of others, carve out a rare and welcome spot in modern religious circles. She is the University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies, and Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School Holding a B.A. from Smith College, M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University, she is author of more than a doze...
Mar 22, 2022•1 hr 2 min
David Hayward is the NakedPastor. After 30 years in the church, he left the ministry to pursue his passion for art. His work challenges the status quo, deconstructs dogma, and promotes critical thinking. His new book, "Flip it Like This," is available for at Amazon, where his other books are also available. Find out more at his website.
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 4 min
John Pavlovitz does not consider himself a member of the radical left, unless you count behaving like the object of the Christian faith radical (which it is and always has been). In this podcast he talks about being the inclusivity of faith, dealing with radical right friends and family, mental health and more.
Oct 09, 2019•1 hr 22 min
Singer/Songwriter Pat Terry talks about his life in music, his faith and what's next. The audio around 40 minutes in is corrected in this version. Thanks for the heads up from several listeners.
Sep 08, 2018•1 hr 34 min
Singer/Songwriter Pat Terry talks about his life in music, his faith and what's next.
Sep 05, 2018•1 hr 34 min
Jamie Wright is a writer who knows spending $53 billion annually to spreak white people religion is ridculous. That's why she closely monitors the crap meter that evaluates such "mission trips" and "callings" and loudly and colorfully reports the truth to anyone who will listen. Her new book "The Very Worst Missionary: A Memoir or Whatever" is the most honest book on being a missionary I have read. It's based on her five years as an on-the-ground, full-time "foreign" missionary, and is a spot on...
May 11, 2018•1 hr 20 min
Rebroadcast of podcast with writer, comedian and always fascinating Maggie Rowe. Since this interview, Season Two of "Flaked" has aired, and it finished well. Buy her book. If, as Anne Lamott writes, laughter is the carbonated form of the Holy Spirit, Maggie Rowe is a major distributor of divine carbonation for the third member of the trinity, something for which we can all be grateful. (And for the record), though she worried at one point she was getting close, Maggie has never managed to blasp...
Apr 16, 2018•47 min
Andrew Morgan makes films that matter. Morgan's "The True Cost" tells the story of why the fashion industry is problematic for almost everyone involved. His latest, "The Hertric," follows Rob Bell in his quest to tell the world: Love Wins.
Mar 06, 2018•53 min
Diana Butler Bass is the author of 10 books, includint "Grateful," due out April 3. She is a highly sought-after speaker, and one of Ameria's top scholars on religion and culture. She is also articulate and engaging concerning her own spiritual and political journey, and a very good guest. It's worth your time to find out more about her and her books, and the best plact to do that is here: http://dianabutlerbass.com We talked a llittle about her upcoming book "Grateful" during the podcact last y...
Jan 22, 2018•1 hr 13 min
Jay Bakker has had a front row seat to the excesses of evagelicalism for four decades, and has taken an exit to a new kind of faith. His books and weekly sermons are imporant and deserve a broader audience. Jay is also a great guy with a big heart and tender sould. He also celebrated his first Christmas with his six-month-old daughter Amelia Faye Bakker last week.
Dec 29, 2017•42 min
Dr. Steve Brown really does not care what you think. He is not your mother, your guru or the Holy Spirit. But if you are wise, you will pay attention to this man and what he says. Seriously, if for no other reason than he is the Johnny Appleseed of grace. The founder of the Keylife Network (Keylife.org), says he’s no guru, but he has been something of a guru to me. Steve is the Johnny Appleseed of grace, since he was writing, taking and preaching about grace, real grace, the kind without a hook ...
Dec 14, 2017•1 hr 6 min
David Gushee is a calm voice of powerful reason calling the Christian church to leave American evangelicalism for a more meaningful and productive life meant for those called to follow Jesus. Officially, the Rev. Dr. David Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University. His latest book, “Still Christian: Following Jesus Out of American Evangelicalism,” in which he writes of his experiences that began w...
Dec 05, 2017•1 hr
Pamela Hawkins has written more acclaimed books on the Advent season, which starts next week, than anyone in recent history. She is also a retired pastor who works with immigrants and believes there's hope in the world adn that prayer is important. Prepare for Advent but listening to her and checking out her book. This is a rebroadcast from 2017. Thinking God will return in early 2019.
Nov 27, 2017•1 hr 18 min
Brian McLaren joins the Thinking God podcast this week to discuss, among other things, his new book "The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World's Largest Religion is Seeking a Better Way to Be Christian." McClaren brings a scholarly pastor's heart to the conversation. Brian is one of the pioneers of progressive Christianity. His book, "A Generous Orthodoxy," is one of the most influential works of the past several decades. He was a voice in the wilderness for a faith that included a bigger vie...
Nov 03, 2017•54 min
JT Olson is founder and exectutive director of Both Hands Ministries, a group dedicated to serving widows in need and helping families adopt orphans. He tells the story in his new book, "The Orphan, the Widow and Me."
Oct 24, 2017•53 min
Pete Enns was the first guest on the Thinking God Podcast in the fall of last year and this episode in an encore presentation of our discussion. Author, scholar, professor and all-around nice guy Peter Enns joins me for the first episode of Thinking God. Pete has his own podcast now as well, and I highly recommend it. Find out more and buy his books at https://www.peteenns.com/
Oct 12, 2017•54 min
Ashley Cleveland's biography may be called "Little Black Sheep," but there is nothing small about her talent. One of the best vocalists in Nashville, she has blown audiences away with her combination of rock and soul that is as powerful as ever. On the Thinking God Podcast, she talks about music, faith, recovery and more.
Sep 13, 2017•53 min
Dr. Joel Hunter might be in a category of his own. When he announced earlier this month he was stepping down from Northland, a Church Distributed, after more than 30 years as senior pastor, those who praised his faith and action for those in need and those marginalized in Central Florida included leaders from both the Muslim and Jewish communities. A rare megachurch pastor who believes that working with those of other faiths is the only way to fully minister to the world, Hunter will now devote ...
Aug 25, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Diana Butler Bass is the author of 9 books, a highly sought-after speaker, and one of Ameria's top scholars on religion and culture. She is also articulate and engaging concerning her own spiritual and political journey, and a very good guest. It's worth your time to find out more about her and her books, and the best plact to do that is here: http://dianabutlerbass.com
Jul 28, 2017•1 hr 13 min
Vanna Fox was on her way to the mission field (as a music missionary, no less!), when her path shifted and landed her for the next 17 years on drive time radio in North Carolina. But when she heard the call of the Wild Goose, she left the airwaves to surf the spirit waves of the nation's largest progressive Christian Festival. She likes to laugh, and has a great story. Stay tuned to the end of the bumper music on this podcast for a very special Wild Goose message.
Jun 19, 2017•1 hr 8 min
Mark Pinsky is a newspaperman, author, lecturer and insightful man. Did I mention he was a newspaperman? I mean it in the old-school, highest-compliment sense of the word. Pinsky has a drive an desire to find good stories, but to make sure they are written and researched in a manner rare these days, and present them in compelling ways. His books include: "The Gosple According to the Simpsons," "A Jew Among the Evangelicals," "The Gosple According to Disney," "Unfinished Business: The True Story ...
May 22, 2017•1 hr 19 min
If, as Anne Lamott writes, laughter is the carbonated form of the Holy Spirit, Maggie Rowe is a major distributor of divine carbonation for the third member of the trinity, something for which we can all be grateful. (And for the record), though she worried at one point she was getting close, Maggie has never managed to blaspheme her bubbly supplier. As writer, comedian, actor and the author of "Sin Bravely: My Great Escape from Evangelical Hell," she brings some serious fun to the Thinking God ...
May 02, 2017•47 min
Bill Mallonee talks about three decades of singing/sonwriting, the music business, Neil Young's "More Barn" mixing, living in the Rockies and how his faith has influenced his life and work. I have known Bill longer than any of my other guest to date, and can say he is one of the most under-appreciated artists of his time, and more talented than he knows. And his heart is as big as the New Mexico sky that fills the nights over his house.
Apr 24, 2017•1 hr 9 min
