by Ben Howard
This week on the show Ben talks with author Christopher Beha about his new novel Arts & Entertainments, his Catholic faith, and the nature of the novel of ultimate concern. They’ll also discuss his previous book What Happened to Sophie Wilder, the cultural place of celebrities and why Beha live-tweeted The Bachelorette. We hope you enjoy the interview and please check out Christopher’s books at Amazon, or preferably at your local bookstore.
Also, you can find Christopher's book recommendation, The Collected Stories of Mavis Gallant, here.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the only way to prove to my mom that I have friends.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week on the podcast I talk with blogger, author, and
psychologist Richard Beck. They discuss the Church of Christ, the nature
of psychology and theology, the label "progressive" and the importance
of human experience. We'll also discuss Beck's new book The Slavery of
Death, Eastern Orthodox theology and the concept of kenosis.
You can find Richard's books on Amazon and find more of his writing
at Experimental Theology.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the only way to prove to my mom that I have friends.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
In this week's episode Ben chats with Jonathan Merritt, author of the
new book Jesus Is Better Than You Imagined. Their conversation will
cover topics such as the effects of growing up as a preacher's kid, the
nature of religious commentary, and the need for mysticism in the
church. They'll also talk about the importance of honesty and
vulnerability in writing as well as the time he took a ride on Mel
Gibson's jet.
You can find Jonathan's book on Amazon and in bookstores everywhere. You
can follow him on Twitter @jonathanmerritt and find more of his writing
at jonathanmerritt.religiousnews.com.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week on the show Ben, Sebastian and Jesse tackle the topic of
villains. What makes a villain? Why do we create villains? Do we need
villains to be able to understand ourselves? They'll talk about the
villainy of Fred Phelps, Stalin and Hitler, as well as whether Batman
would be a villain if he existed in real life. Also, Ben and Sebastian
will share about the Mark Driscoll sermon they watched and the whole
crew will share historically mundane moments in villainy.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week on the show, Sebastian continues his exploration of the
Biblical texts with the book of Leviticus. His guest is the renowned
Hebrew Bible scholar Baruch Levine. They'll discuss this oft-ignored
book of the Bible, including the differences between Jewish and
Christian approaches to Leviticus, the idea of communion in the
sacrificial system, and a message of hope for the day when all the
peoples of the earth come together before the God of Zion.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. We are desperately in need of moral support.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week I talk with Alan Noble, the managing editor of the website
and online magazine Christ and Pop Culture. We'll talk about the
origins and goals of CAPC, how to listen well and maintain good
relationships with people even when you disagree, and whether it's
better to be attacked for being too conservative or too liberal. We'll
also discuss the morality and ethics of college sports and the relative
redness of Danny Bonaduce's face.
You can follow Alan on Twitter @thealannoble and find Christ and Pop Culture at christandpopculture.com.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. If you don't, then my mom won't believe that I have friends.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week on the show Ben talks to Hannah Ettinger and Connor Park about
the new magazine and online art gallery The Swan Children. The Swan
Children was released last week and features the creative works of
artists who grew up in the homeschool, Quiverfull, and conservative
Christian communities. First, we talked to Hannah about the the idea
behind the magazine and the projects genesis. We also discussed her
hopes for The Swan Children and the ideas the magazine is trying to
foster. Then we talked to Connor about his role as Editor-In-Chief and
some background information on the homeschool movement.
You can find The
Swan Children online at swanchildrenmag.com and on Twitter @swanchildren.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week on the show Sebastian continues our journey through the Bible
with the book of Exodus. His guest is noted Old Testament scholar
Terence Fretheim. They'll discuss the larger themes of Exodus, including
the concept of a God who suffers and God's participation in human life.
Dr. Fretheim also invited any questions you might have after listening
to the episode. If you have a question for Dr. Fretheim, please send it
to us at onpoptheology@gmail.com and we'll pass it along to him.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
Sebastian and Ben settle in for a discussion about the Winter Olympics
in Sochi. They'll discuss some serious topics about whether the Olympics
are a form of embodied theology, as well as the political and economic
realities of hosting the Olympic Games and whether bake sales are the solution. They'll also broach far less serious ideas such as what sports
they'd like to see in the next Winter Olympics and why Sebastian thought
Cool Runnings wasn't real. Also, look out for the introduction of
Jeremy St. Madrigal, our resident Prophet of the End Times.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week I sat down with Taylor Walling to talk about music,
songwriting, and artistic inspiration. Taylor and his wife Courtney make
up The Wallings Jr. who recently released their debut album Before the
War. We'll explore their method of songwriting, what they hope to convey
through their songs, and talk about the stories behind several of the
songs on the album, which was loosely inspired by letters written by
Civil War soldiers.
Before the War is available on iTunes. You can find more information about the Wallings Jr. at their website, thewallingsjr.com.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week Ben talked to Dr. Amir Arain, the President of the Islamic
Center of Nashville, about his Muslim faith, and in particular the
experience of Muslims in the American South. We'll talk about the basic
tenants of the Islamic faith, the cultural differences between different
strains of the religion, and the response of moderate Muslims to the
terrorist activities of radical groups. We'll also discuss interfaith
cooperation and hopes for increasing acceptance of the Muslim community
in the United States.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
This week on the podcast we're starting a new series on the Bible. Once
every month Sebastian Faust will be interviewing a different prominent
thinker and scholar on a different book of the Bible. For our inaugural
episode in this series, Sebastian talked with Dr. Robert Alter, a Hebrew
language and comparative literature professor at the University of
California, Berkeley. They'll discuss the literary nature of Genesis,
the reason for the two creation stories, and Dr. Alter will share his
deeply insightful thoughts about the relationship between Abraham and
Isaac.
If you'd like to read more of Dr. Alter's work, you can find his
writings on Amazon, including his translation of Genesis and his most
recent book, Pen of Iron.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
The podcast is back! For our return episode, Ben sits down with author
and blogger Grace Biskie. Their conversation focuses especially on the
deep vulnerability of Grace's writing and her thoughts on racial issues
stemming both from her childhood in Detroit and her bi-racial identity.
In addition, we'll touch on issues of gender, feminism, marriage, and
parenthood. It's a wonderfully open and honest interview, and I hope you
enjoy it.
You can find more of Grace's writing at her website and you can follow her on Twitter @gracebiskie.
You can download the podcast by clicking here.
Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in
the iTunes music store. If you like the show, please rate and
review us on iTunes. It's the first step in our secret mission to take over the world.
Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:
Peace,
Ben
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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by Ben Howard
It's almost the end of the year and if I've learned anything from the internet it's that lists are the best-est thing in the whole wide world. With that in mind we wanted to take this time to highlight the best of what has been written and recorded here at On Pop Theology.
Since the beginning of the year we've published 158 essays from 24 different authors and produced 45 episodes of the On Pop Theology podcast. Some of these have been deeply philosophical, some deeply personal, and some have embraced an absurdism that borders on unhinged.
I cannot express how grateful I am to all those who've worked with us over the past year and to all of those who've taken the time to read and listen to the things we've worked to create. I especially want to thank podcast producer Brandon Schexnayder, my co-host Jesse Moon, and my other co-host, editor, and sounding board S
ebastian Faust for all the hard work they've done in putting together what you see here.
Now, to the lists!
Best Posts of the Year
1) Preying in the Name of God by Sebastian Faust
"And so I shall say to a system that preys on the poor, that trades on the trusts of the weak, ascribes goodness to greed, reckons faithfulness by a widow’s last farthings: Be scattered. Be broken. Be flung into the sea. And it shall be so. Now go. And do likewise."
3) What We Talk About When We Talk About Rob Bell by Ben Howard
"Rob Bell's new book will or will not sell. His television show will or will not be picked up. His words will or will not affect someone, and the conversation we're having here, the conversation about Rob Bell, about whether or not he matters or what he means, will not affect that. A conversation about Rob Bell's importance, or the importance of any person or movement, is really a conversation about the ways we've tied our meaning, our viability, to this conversation."
4) Silver Linings Playbook, Mental Illness, and the Church by Rachel Donegan
"My bipolar disorder won’t disappear anytime soon, because without a major medical breakthough, I’ll most likely have it until the day I die. My specific type is marked by rapid shifts in mood, ranging from hypomania, where I am boiling over with both exuberance and anger and will post twenty tweets in three hours, to severe depression, where I won’t want to talk to anyone and getting dressed is a marked achievement. There is no 'cured' per se, just 'stable.'"
5) The Disparate Worlds of Warring Minds: The Epistemology of a Government Shutdown by Ben Howard
"This isn’t a schism of ideology; its roots lie deeper – they are more entrenched, and less examined. In an epistemological divide, reconciliation can never have winning as its goal. The gap between the disparate worlds of warring minds can only be bridged through the authenticity and vulnerability of legitimate relationship. We must encounter the other, and though we find she is not the same as us, we must deign to see her as similar. We must humanize those we so often demonize."
6) Prayers to a Dark God by Sebastian Faust
"I’ve been thinking about that. So has Rilke. Somewhere around Ash Wednesday, our prayers, our meditations, comingled. Rilke began. I followed. We prayed to a different God than so many of the people round about us. We prayed to a dark God."
7) The Lie They Tell About Emma Watson and Me by Lyndsey Graves
"I've spent days and months of my life beating myself up for not being extroverted, ten pounds lighter, an early riser, more photogenic, more spiritually disciplined, concerned about strangers, or for not having a louder voice. And if I’m honest, in these areas of my life, if I can only accomplish the bare minimum, that’s me doing really well."
8) A Place in Sedona by JaneAnn Kenney
"We speak sometimes of the thin places, the places where heaven and earth meet, places where we hear echoes of eternity and feel the goodness of creation as though it had not fallen. Being in Sedona, I remember stories which are not my own—of my parents before I changed their lives in Alaska, if you can believe it, and of another people for whom places were important, marked with rocks to say “this is Beth-El”. In this place, my hopes for my life are peacefully swallowed up in my hopes for the future of humanity and the greater creation."
9) Rule Number 1: Your Faith Lies by Ben Howard
"Sometimes the things we whole-heartedly believe turn out to be wrong and that’s an incredibly difficult thing to admit. When our faith leads us astray, when our faith lies to us about the reality that actually exist, we look everywhere else for answers. We blame our parents, the church we grew up in, we blame God for not being the God we originally believed in. It’s hard to bear the tension that comes with a faith that can only ever be incomplete and fallible."
10) In Defense of Miley Cyrus: The Art of Wrecking Balls and Sledgehammers by Ben Howard
"This song, like any good pop song, is a construct, a product of the culture that creates it. And this particular song was birthed of a culture that is deeply confused by the relationship between physical and emotional intimacy. This is the art of our culture and it is good."
Best Episodes of the Year
1) Dick Cheney Sounds Like the Devil
Ben, Sebastian, and Jesse dig into the terrible, awful concept of hell, but in a fun way with jokes.
2) A Diverse Church For People Just Like You w/ Christena Cleveland
Ben and Jesse sit down with social psychologist and author Christena Cleveland to talk about issues of race and diversity in the church.
3) On Women in Ministry w/ Jen Thweatt-Bates
Ben talks with Jen Thweatt-Bates, theologian and moderator of Gal328.org, an organization working for gender equality in Churches of Christ.
4) The West Wing Musical Extravaganza
This episode is dedicated to the greatest political television show in history and, in particular, the greatest fictional president, Jed Bartlet.
5) On Modesty, Dating, and Being Single in the Church w/ Emily Maynard
Ben sits down with writer and blogger Emily Maynard to talk about modesty culture, "Christian" dating, and being a single twenty-something in the church.
Ben
Howard is an accidental iconoclast and generally curious individual
living in Nashville, Tennessee. He is also the editor-in-chief of On Pop
Theology and an avid fan of waving at strangers for no reason. You can
follow him on Twitter @BenHoward87.
You can follow On Pop Theology on Twitter @OnPopTheology or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnPopTheology. If you'd like to support what we do, you can donate via the button on the right of the screen.
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