Christianity Without the Crap - Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mark Traylor & Tammy Gehrke
A lot of people think that Church is BS. They think we’re full of it. They think that Christians, Christianity and Church is a load of crap, that Christians are negative, out of touch, judgmental, small minded, mean spirited, politically driven and decidedly hypocritical.
We embrace a fresh faith, leaving behind the hard line “you're wrong - we’re right” attitude, the “your sin is worse than my sin” delusion, the medieval paradigm of hell, the contrived emotionalism, the anti-science bias, and the political one-sidedness. This podcast will give a place to debate old and new ideas within Christianity in a respectful environment.
Every week Mark and Tammy will discuss a culturally relevant but controversial topic; Mark from the perspective of a ex-pastor and Tammy from the perspective of a disillusioned church-goer with a scientific background. Our goal is to foster an environment of questioning and learning using an open mind so listeners develop an intellectually credible faith that aligns in their heart, soul and mind.
It’s been one of the great joys of our lives to be the hosts of the Christianity Without the Crap Podcast. But alas, all good things must come to an end. We’re feeling both sad and grateful, but we feel great about how this podcast has helped so many rethink their spirituality, escape the gravity of negative religion, and realize they are not alone in their “heretical” thoughts. Love you all!
It’s been over a month since our last episode… so what’s up? Mark and Tammy have been on a completely unplanned but incredibly exciting hiatus. Find out what’s been going on and what’s to come for CWOC!
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Christians did not invent shame. But we may have perfected it. Which is really too bad, because Jesus whole deal was the repudiation of shame. Yet the teaching of the church has inspired deep shame in millions, and it can be tough to root out.
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Many feel that empathy is the key to loving enemies… But does empathy really change the systems that create enemies? It’s the systems & structure of society that put us at odds, & those systems hurt our enemies too. Loving our enemies means fighting to free us all.
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The word “homosexual” did not appear in our Bibles until 1946. (wait… what?) That word is a mistranslation of the original greek, & resulted in the marginalization & persecution of millions. Rocky Roggio’s new movie is an attempt to expose this intentional error.
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Religion is supposed to be a source of strength & healing, and often it is. But for millions, religious communities, families & teachings have generated trauma & lasting pain. Brian Peck is a therapist who helps those who’ve been harmed by religion find freedom & peace.
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Despite everything, there are still people who believe that Christianity has something good to offer. Amy Peterson is one of those people. Her book “Where Goodness Still Grows” brings a fresh new perspective to some old virtues in a way that can revitalize our faith.
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Evangelicals tell a pretty wild tale about the End Times. But where’s that come from? Keith Giles explains that the whole story about 666 & the beast & the antichrist, all coming to get you, represents a gross misinterpretation and misappropriation of scripture.
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Many believe that humans are the only creatures to have a soul, that we’re the point & pinnacle of creation, & that other creatures only exist to be the extras in our movie. But this is bunk. It’s a mentality the causes untold suffering, and destroys the planet.
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Evangelicalism doesn’t have the best reputation for including people who are “different”. An institution that values conformity leaves a lot of people behind. As an academic and a person with autism, Erin Burnett has both studied and lived this, and we’re honored to interview her. Check her out at http://erinburnettauthor.co.uk/ramblings-autistic-christian/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1756073X.2020.1850402?journalCode=yprt20
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From the 16th through the 20th Centuries, the great nations of Europe, and later the United States, conquered & colonized the world, looting resources, destroying cultures, enslaving populations & carrying out genocide, all under the pretext “saving” the “savages”. Evangelicals think this is a bygone era. They dont realize how this heritage continues to influence them in dark ways.
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The election is over, and we have a new president (whew!) But we continue to be starkly divided. Can we heal in that environment, without putting on an avoidant, phony, superficial “niceness”? Maybe… but progressives need to find new ways to interact with conservatives.
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Is the Enneagram thing just a Christian fad? Or is there something timeless about the enneagram that can help us better understand ourselves and others? Featuring special guest Gina Gomez. (https://ginagomez.co)
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Cindy Wang Brandt helps parents heal from their religious trauma, so they can raise children with a healthy spirituality. She helps parents avoid screwing up their kids with negative religion! Even if you don’t have kids, this episode will help you understand your own upbringing and spiritual trauma.
https://cindywangbrandt.com
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We all know that Mark and Tammy talk alot of smack about Christianity and Christians. But can they see anything good about it after 2000 years of Christians screwing it up? Can we throw out the bathwater without throwing out the baby?
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We’re back from our Summer Break! And we’ve got a great Interview to start our new season. Ryan Bell is a former pastor turned atheist, with a story of transition that’s fascinating and informative. Even if you’re not an atheist, there’s much to learn here about the process of breaking away from fundamentalism and toxic religion.
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Mark does a short interview with a short protestor! But her compassion towards a counter-protestor leaves her standing tall. This is a fun one!
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This week we hear a response to episode #53 “Moderates Where Are You?” Our good friend Jesse Fadle gives us some insight into the complexities, risks and conflicting instincts that make it difficult for moderates to know what to do or say when the world gets crazy. And he tells us why he thinks more moderates may finally be finding their voice.
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We can’t believe we’ve been doing this podcast for 18 months! it’s been so exciting to watch it grow, and to connect with our listeners. Mark and Tammy reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, how we’ve grown, where we need to improve, and where we’re going from here!
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Moderate christians don't have a voice in the public square for one simple reason… They’ve chosen to remain silent. if you’re a moderate christian, we feel like your voice sorely missed right now. You're in a position to help soften the views of people on both sides of the divide. But it feels like you dont wanna show up.
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In light of the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, we wanted to re-broadcast an interview we did a year ago with Mario Pile, an African American who’s thought a lot about how to speak to white people in a way that they can hear, and start to understand, what it must be like to be black.
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So, Ashely wants to be a pastor. What is she thinking? Well, she’s thinking she can change the world, and we’re thinking she’s right! Join os for this fun interview with this bright enthusiastic, progressive, insightful and all around Bad-A** female.
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Following the economic crises of 2008, people were talking about the need to re-evaluate our priorities & economic drivers. But as we recovered, we returned to the same old economy, the same old rat-race, the same old inequities, with the same old winners and the same old losers. Now as we’re suffering another crisis, we’re hearing the same kind of talk. But will we really change this time?
The Covid-19 crises is bringing out the very best in some, and the very worst in others. How can we be at our best during this pandemic? What do we need to keep in mind if we’re OK financially? And what do we need to keep in mind if we’re struggling. Perspective is everything when times are crazy.
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Everyone is freaked out by the growing pandemic, and justifiably so. But some of us may be coping better than others. There are spiritual and philosophical perspectives that can help us manage the understandable anxiety we’re experiencing as we face the challenges of the coronavirus.
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There’s big pressure in the christian world to be happy and joyful and chirpy… But it’s often fake. Is there an upside to being down? Is it possible that sadness adds value and perspective to our lives? Is there a difference between being sad and being depressed?
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Tammy & Mark talk to a couple of “right leaning” friends in an effort to model a positive conversation among people who disagree. We talk about tough issues, discuss basic paradigm differences between left & right, and still like each other at the end of the conversation! In fact, we appreciate each other more.
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#45 Hear Yourself Think
A lot of people believe a lot of crazy stuff. Conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated claims have proliferated like never before, and otherwise intelligent people are buying it. Insanity has gone mainstream. How has this happened? And how do we fight it? Dave & Erin Ninehouser are on the frontlines, and they have some great advice.
watch their videos…
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=BQNmjpXBanc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jqPZgM6eFo
Humans seem to be hardwired for retaliation. It’s instinctual to hit back. But revenge rarely ends up being as satisfying in real life as it is in the movies. Mark & Tammy discuss the recent tit-for-tat between the US & Iran, the death penalty, and most importantly... our own petty impulses to get even
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In October of 2014, David Keck was viciously attacked in his own apartment and left for dead. Eighteen hours later, he was found in a pool of blood, and presumed dead… until his foot moved. His journey of recovery has been impossibly hard, and completely transforming. Check out this inspiring story of one of our listeners!
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For 2000 years Christians have taught that the end of the world is near. But now that the end of the world may truly be at hand, it’s religious conservatives who don’t believe it, and refuse to repent. How will we behave in the climate crisis?
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There was famously “no room in the inn” for the Holy Family. Still today, so many refugees are left out in the cold. Things were hard for your immigrant ancestors. There’s never a shortage of mean spirited fear mongers. But every good thing you have, you have because a great nation eventually accepted your ancestors. Is this still a great country?
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Winter is the dark time of year. We assume that light is good and darkness is bad. But God made the dark too. Darkness and light exist in balance. They’re dancing. Darkness is the cradle that holds the light in place, and creates the medium that enables us to travel to the light.
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There’s no question that it’s mentally & spiritually healthy to count our blessings. But many are surprised to hear that the Bible also makes a strong case for complaining. There’s a right way & a wrong way to complain. One way provides emotional release & social connection, but the other leaves us chronically gloomy & dissatisfied.
Adultery is extremely common, but poorly understood. Almost everyone condemns it, but lots of people are doing it, including people who never thought they would. Sometimes it happens to good people in good marriages. So what’s going on?
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This week we’re providing a little bonus material that was edited out of our last Episode entitled “How Christians Ruined Sex”. Tammy tells a story about her daughter’s Jr. High sex-ed class. We also have some listener feedback on their experiences of purity culture.
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How did Christian attitudes about sex get so weird, paranoid, neurotic, repressive, and unhealthy? We’ll look at how the poisonous purity culture has hurt so many people emotionally, spiritually and sexually.
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Our listeners have been so open with us about their lives and struggles, and we want to do the same. In this episode Tammy shares about a tough problem her family is facing. This is our first ever "CWOC Shorts" episode.
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In the US & around the world, more and more people are going solo, and loving it. This despite the fact that our culture, and particularly christian culture, continues to stigmatize and stereotype single people as "incomplete". If you're alone... you're not alone.
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How do you know if you’re standing on the right side of history? There’s probably a lot of complicated ways to answer that question, but here’s one simple way... History is never kind to mean people. Nor to the people who enable them. A reckoning is coming.
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This week we follow up on episode #34, "OK with Being Gay" by talking to one of our gay listeners, Jeremy, who provides some firsthand insight based on his experiences with the church and his family members. It's our first ever Bonus Episode!
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Christians are always telling us that the Bible is "clear" that homosexuality is an especially awful sin. But that claim doesn't hold up under scrutiny. The Bible has very little to say on the subject, and we mean, like, VERY little. And what it does say is far from what we've been told.
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This week Mark and Tammy share a "pretty big" announcement, have a fun and insightful interview with a listener, discuss some thoughtful listener emails, and bask in the glow of some glowing reviews!
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A lot of us are stuck spiritually because we harmed someone & didn't make it right. This can also happen to a nation. When something evil happened but we don’t want to make amends and then we try to pretend that its all in the past, everybody gets hurt all over again.
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This week we hear from Mario Pile, who has some very wise observations about racial barriers and misunderstandings. Mario is an African American who has spent a lot of time thinking about how to communicate his message with White Americans in a way that builds harmony and understanding. A great interview!
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Tammy and Mark continue their series about racial issues, this week discussing the hate mongering and naked racism that has found expression in recent days, analyzing labels and stereotypes, and encouraging each of us to find a new dream for unity.
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This week we welcome Tammy back from her Summer break with a little light topic... racial inequity, and what Christians should be doing about it. This is the first in a series of podcasts we're doing on race in America during this contentious time, as blatant racism is resurfacing in ugly ways.
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Can you be good and mad? Which is to say, is it possible to be mad without being bad? In this episode we talk about how to do mad well, instead of just being one more angry voice in a sea of angry voices.
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Have you ever faced a challenge that you thought was going to be super hard, and it was even harder than you thought, but then it turned out to also be the greatest thing in your life? Thats what happened to Julie when she found out that she was going to have twins with downs syndrome. It's brought so much joy to her family, and to thousands of others.
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How is it that so many Christians have come to embrace the most mean spirited and hyper partisan policies and politicians? Jesse Dollemore helps us understand the profound role that Fox News has played in driving Evangelicals further to the right, and further away from the words of Jesus.
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Is it possible that there are things God can't do? Theologian Tom Oord thinks so, and it might explain a lot. This radically different idea is a giant departure from how most people think about God, but it may give a whole new understanding of injustice, unfairness and pain. GREAT INTERVIEW!
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It's easy to get all judgy about people at the bottom of the economic ladder. But the people who make these judgements demonstrate an unsophisticated and naive understanding of human failure and loss, and the complex factors that keep people in poverty.
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Belief in the Christian orthodoxy about Hell messes with our heads in profoundly negative ways. The traditional understanding of Hell feeds our worst tribal instincts, desensitizes us to human suffering, corrupts our understanding of justice, and makes our present world a worse place to live.
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Our modern conception of Hell first emerged from Dark Age Medieval politics, and NOT from the Bible. In this episode we discuss out how this ridiculous notion came about, and how it only got worse as time went on and new generations discovered it's powerful ability to manipulate others.
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What if everything they told us about Hell is wrong? What if the current orthodoxy about Hell has less to do with the Bible, and more to do with the politics of the Dark Ages? And what if the Bible actually teaches something much more hopeful? It might just change everything.
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Can you really call yourself pro-life if you only protect life inside the womb, and then advocate for policies and politicians that make it hard for people outside the womb to survive? On the other hand, pro-choice advocates can’t allow themselves to be so angered by the hypocrisy on the right, that they become distracted from engaging with the fundamental moral problem that abortion poses.
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Human Beings are chronically dissatisfied. And it makes us miserable. We know what we want, but we so often have no idea what we really need. Satisfaction is not about acquiring the right things, it's about acquiring the right desires.
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Some christians freak at the idea that we could ever learn anything from studying eastern religion. They've been taught to believe that it's all satanic. But that kind of thinking is sad, small, paranoid and pathetic. The truth is that there are many parallels between eastern religious philosophy and the message of Jesus.
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The consumer mindset is destroying community in America and in the church. We may go to the same building on Sundays, just as we go to the same gym, chiropractor or grocery store. But that doesn't make us a community. We're just fellow consumers, looking for the best service, the coolest brand, the most comfortable experience. Pastors know that sooner or later, something is going to make you mad, or something won't be good enough, and you're going to leave.
Has Christianity been bad for women? Well, yeah... duh! A lot of the blame can be laid on the Apostle Paul. But Jesus had a different attitude about the value and contributions of women. So why did the church end up following Paul's lead instead of Jesus'?
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Many of us were taught that the Bible is to be taken literally on every point. But does that hold up? Is the Bible even concerned with historic or scientific accuracy? If it isn't historically and scientifically accurate, does that mean its all garbage?
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You'd think that the point of studying the Bible would be to make you better. But if you're not careful, Bible knowledge can make you a bully. The Pharisees were Bible scholars, but they were sad sorry mean-spirited little men. How can we look at the Bible in a way that makes us better not worse?
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If the resurrection isn’t resurrecting something inside you, then what's point? Because if you're dead inside, then who cares that you can check the resurrection box on the doctrinal questionnaire?
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People today are so deeply invested in being right. For many, it isn’t about finding solutions, or solving problems, it's just about winning an argument. So many people are so deeply opinionated about so many things...and it's often Christians who are right in the middle of the shouting match.
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Many people believe that Christianity is a private club for republicans only. They've preached a gospel that could only ever appeal to people on one end of the political spectrum. Christianity is politicized as never before. But the first christians were politically diverse. What happened?
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Christians have been guilty of an over emphasis on doctrine, dogma & theology, & an under emphasis on the inner life. Because of this, doctrinal correctness and creedal purity have become a huge distraction from true spirituality, and our vigilance against the heresies of the head have caused us to ignore heresies of the heart.
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The conflict between science & faith is a centuries-old catfight. Clearly the church is losing the fight. Can you be a thoughtful, bright, educated, intellectually honest, scientifically credible, open-minded person, AND a Christian?
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A healthy faith achieves a balance between intellect and emotion. But the Christian world has lost this balance, and often seeks to manufacture a contrived emotionalism, while seeing itself as being at war with intellectuals.
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Do you believe what you believe because you've always believed it, because someone told you to believe it, because you only hang out with others who believe it, because it just feels like you should believe it? Then that's not belief... that's just believe-i-ness.
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Does the Bible really teach that 90 to 95% of humanity is going to burn in Hell forever? Is that the Amazing Grace we're singing about? Could it be that our orthodoxy about Hell is more a product of Medieval Europe than it is of the Bible?
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Religious people have always tended to operate under a delusion that their sins are few and minor, but the sins of others are many and major. Everyone likes to think that their outhouse don’t stink…. But all you have to do is ask the neighbors.
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Secular people don't understand religious people, and vice-versa. So we can't even talk anymore, it's like we're from two different planets. Christians have isolated and created their own little sub-culture, and it looks so strange to outside observers. Hey everybody's weird... nobody's normal. But there is a unique brand of christian weirdness... you know what I'm talking about. Is it really necessary?
It's hard to be around negative nagging people. We tend to avoid them whenever possible. So why have Christians felt that nagging and finger wagging is a good strategy? There's gotta be a better way.
Evangelicals are not only failing at selling their message, they are actively repelling people. Find out why and what needs to change.