Homebrewed Culture Cast

Will our connections be our salvation? Or our destruction? In this Homebrewed CultureCast episode, Christian and Amy explore: * how we are bound together by trauma, silence, and genetics * the connection between neutron stars, gravitational waves, and Christian’s wedding ring * difference and balance between cultural appropriation and respectful connection Christian talks with AJ Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically, is back on to talk about his latest book, It’s All Relative, the world’s biggest family reunion, the dangers of genealogy and an obsession with genetics, why we should’t idealize our ancestors, embracing failure, how our tribal bias plays a role in situations of abuse, and AJ asks: should “the family” be abolished? Plus, Harvey Weinstein, #metoo, sexual abuse in and out of the church, and the culture of silence surrounding abuse. Hear Amy’s spontaneous jingles for some of the Patreon supporters (you can get your very own jingle here), and make sure you sign up for Christian’s newsletter. If you do, you’ll get a free sampler, an amuse bouche, if you will, from his soon-to-be-released book, Surviving the Bible. If you’re in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, don’t miss a live CultureCast show – including a segment on the theology of Prince – on November 11th at the Voices Conference. Click here for more info. Subscribe and listen on iTunes HERE Get Bonus Content HERE Join us on Facebook HERE

Our nation is founded on the principle of placing central in our value system, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” But sometimes one negatively affects the other. Also, being “pro life” can mean so much more than most people assume. We discuss Diana Butler Bass’ recent claim that maybe church has reached a necessary...

Our nation is founded on the principle of placing central in our value system, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” But sometimes one negatively affects the other. Also, being “pro life” can mean so much more than most people assume. We discuss Diana Butler Bass’ recent claim that maybe church has reached a necessary end of its life cycle and what she says we should do. Then in the interview, activist, author and theologian Jeff Hood lays out a biblical case for abolishing the death penalty and shares chilling moments when his threshold for mercy have been challenged. Most people can use the Bible, and maybe even the Constitution, to defend their position on everything from abortion and the environment to guns and health care. But where does the Gospel stand on these issues, and is there ever a gospel-centered argument for killing? We also call out churches to stand up and speak out on issues like these that matter, recommend stuff Amy can’t pronounce and we share a fear with some senate republicans. You heard me. Come get it.

Salon Magazine asked a poignant question recently after a spate of domestic mass shootings: why is it always the white guy? While middle class males, in particular, are supposed to have more power and privilege than anyone else on the whole in America, so why are so many of us so filled with rage and...

Salon Magazine asked a poignant question recently after a spate of domestic mass shootings: why is it always the white guy? While middle class males, in particular, are supposed to have more power and privilege than anyone else on the whole in America, so why are so many of us so filled with rage and violence? We explore the phenomenon of the “white male shooter” after the recent Las Vegas massacre, along with other related questions like: is Donald Trump helping to mobilize, or even radicalize, white moderates? Was MLK right when he claimed that the white moderate is the most dangerous group of people in America? And finally, what do we do as seekers of justice and reconciliation in response to such horrific acts of terror? We speak with author and theologian Danielle Shroyer about her take on the current culture and the place of white moderates within it, as well as about her role in the start of the emergent Christian movement. Finally, we touch on the recent shift in the social foundation of the culture in Saudi Arabia with the government finally allowing women to drive and what it means for the future of the traditionally patriarchal nation. Fears of the week abound, from rogue immune system cells to high-impact cyberwar. But fear not, because we leave you with eight easier steps to help live a happier, healthier life. All this week on your Homebrewed CultureCast with Christian and Amy Piatt. Subscribe and listen on iTunes HERE Subscribe and follow us on Homebrewed Christianity HERE Become a CultureCast Patron HERE Join us on Facebook HERE

About one in four Americans identify as a “None,” which means, when asked about their religious affiliation, they claim “none of the above.” And yet so many of them claim some form of spirituality, or at least a hunger for exploring the possibility of God. In his new move, “Becoming Truly Human,” Nathan Andrew Jacobs follows several young adult Nones through their own journeys in, and out of, organized religion. One of them even ends up back in church, but maybe not where you’d expect. Amy and Christian explore the importance of heretics in church, whether it’s Christlike to live on the “edge of the inside” of religion as father Richard Rohr calls it, and the important balance between movements and institutions, prophets and priests. Throughout this episode, we explore the lingering question: Does religion matter anymore? This week on your Homebrewed CultureCast. Subscribe and listen on iTunes HERE Subscribe and follow us on Homebrewed Christianity HERE Become a CultureCast Patron HERE Join us on Facebook HERE

About one in four Americans identify as a “None,” which means, when asked about their religious affiliation, they claim “none of the above.” And yet so many of them claim some form of spirituality, or at least a hunger for exploring the possibility of God. In his new move, “Becoming Truly Human,” Nathan Andrew Jacobs...

Hurricane Harvey was a “1,000-year storm” that will have an impact on the Houston area for years or even decades. But what does such disaster tell us about God? More important, perhaps, is what it tell us about ourselves and how we understand God. Megachurch Pastor and Prosperity Gospel Preacher Joel Osteen commits a “Sin of Sodom” which he has neither confessed nor asked for forgiveness. What is Church’s role when the waters rise around us? Sometimes we submit to disruption in our lives; sometimes it overwhelms us with little or no warning. How we handle such moments and how ultimately we emerge from them tells us volumes about our inner selves. Finding true Joy in a candy bar; missing the big picture; Christian gets really, genuinely scared. This week on your Homebrewed CultureCast. Become a CultureCast Patron HERE Join us on Facebook HERE

Hurricane Harvey was a “1,000-year storm” that will have an impact on the Houston area for years or even decades. But what does such disaster tell us about God? More important, perhaps, is what it tell us about ourselves and how we understand God. Megachurch Pastor and Prosperity Gospel Preacher Joel Osteen commits a “Sin...

In a special double episode that combines both a CultureCast and a Homebrewed Christianity episode, we celebrate Tripp Fuller’s 1,000th episode LIVE from the main stage at Wild Goose. On the CultureCast, Christian is joined by Tripp, Kristen Howerton and pastor-cum-rapper JKwest, while Tripp welcomes Christian, Micky ScottBey Jones and Robyn Henderson Espinoza. Tripp “Takes the C–k out of the crown,” the white guys get silenced and what would a live shoe be without some Postmodern 8-ball? Kristen and I talk about Beer and Hymns, and whether or not alcohol should be allowed in church, and how she balances egalitarian gender roles and a nontraditional family in the Trump era. Julian Deshazier (AKA JKwest) offers his insight on theopoetics as nonviolent resistance. And Tripp…well, Tripp speaks for himself. Always. It’s big. It’s juicy. It’s your CultureCast and them some. Stream the episode HERE Subscribe and listen on iTunes HERE Subscribe and follow us on Homebrewed Christianity HERE Become a CultureCast Patron HERE Join us on Facebook HERE

In a special double episode that combines both a CultureCast and a Homebrewed Christianity episode, we celebrate Tripp Fuller’s 1,000th episode LIVE from the main stage at Wild Goose. On the CultureCast, Christian is joined by Tripp, Kristen Howerton and pastor-cum-rapper JKwest, while Tripp welcomes Christian, Micky ScottBey Jones and Robyn Henderson Espinoza. Tripp “Takes...

Anyone who knows a few pastors probably knows someone who has struggled with burnout. Ministry always has been an atypical job with lots of unique demands and stressors, but as reported in a Barna Research Group study discussed in a new article called “Why Pastors Leave the Ministry,” it’s a growing trend. Then author and...

Anyone who knows a few pastors probably knows someone who has struggled with burnout. Ministry always has been an atypical job with lots of unique demands and stressors, but as reported in a Barna Research Group study discussed in a new article called “Why Pastors Leave the Ministry,” it’s a growing trend. Then author and pastor Carol Howard Merritt talks us through how to heal our spiritual wounds as laid out in her latest book called (not surprisingly) “Healing Spiritual Wounds.” Professional hacker and our CultureCast cyber-ethics guru Michael Collins tells us about an experience he had recently at a hackers’ conference where he watched teams of nerds hack into the very election machines used during the 2016 election. He even offers a surprising alternative that he thinks is the most secure way to keep our votes safe. Christian recommends a book he hasn’t read yet, Amy tells you why you should get stuck in a dryer and, as always, she is afraid of…well if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?

What’s it like raising a child on the autism spectrum? Or being married to an adult on the spectrum? In an extended special segment, Amy and Christian Piatt talk about living with these and other realities, as well as how Church deals (or sometimes doesn’t) with special needs. We look into an online resource for autistic people and those who love them, created by none other than a young man who lives with this reality himself. For the interview, Christian chats with gay Christian activist Justin Lee about Eugene Peterson’s PR skirmish, leaving the LGBT advocacy group he founded and how we rescue the gospel from the “God vs Gays” debate. Lee, author of TORN, started the Gay Christian Network sixteen years ago and, though he can’t talk about details, he explains what it’s like to walk away from a nonprofit you’ve poured yourself into for much of your life. Finally, after Amy gets her dance on, we talk about who we are without our professional titles and roles, and the emotional challenges that arise when they go away. Heavy stuff? Not likely on this show. Listen in and decide for yourself.

What’s it like raising a child on the autism spectrum? Or being married to an adult on the spectrum? In an extended special segment, Amy and Christian Piatt talk about living with these and other realities, as well as how Church deals (or sometimes doesn’t) with special needs. We look into an online resource for...