Rethinking Faith

What happens when the God of "God Can't" meets the God of the Black church's "God Is Able"? This week I sat down with my friend, the Reverend Jill Elizabeth — public theologian, ordained Curian Network board member, and self-described "barbershop theologian".

Together we dig into the real friction between Black church theology and open and relational/process thought, the prosperity-gospel undercurrents nobody wants to name, and why a God who could stop injustice but chooses not to is a harder sell than it sounds. Along the way: a decade-long practice of lament over police violence in Phoenix, the theology of the barbershop as sacred space, storytelling as the doorway to empathy, and why building the kingdom of God always costs us something. This is a conversation about bridges — between traditions, between suffering and hope, and between the ideas we argue about and the bodies those ideas actually affect. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

The Curian Network

Systematic Geekology Podcast

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*Special thanks to Josh, Marty, and Dan! Love you guys <3*
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This week, John D. Caputo returns to talk about his new book, A Radical God: Theopoetics, Phenomenology, and the Future of Religion. Religion has been incredibly busy making itself unbelievable, and the question isn't whether we can save it from its critics, or whether we can save it from itself, but if religion is even worth saving at all. Caputo's answer is theopoetics, what he calls "religion's last stand". It's not that God exceeds our language so we resort to poetry; it's that the poetic imagination is where God comes from in the first place. We get into what's left of God after you suspend both belief and disbelief, whether you can actually pray to a God like that, and why any of this should matter to the person still showing up on Sunday morning. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

A Radical God: Theopoetics, Phenomenology, and the Future of Religion

THEOLOGY BEER CAMP:

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*A special thanks to Josh Gilbert, Marty Fredrick, and Dan Koch. Love you guys <3*
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This week I was joined by Dr. Joerg Rieger to discuss his book "Christ and Empire: From Paul to Postcolonial Times" and his upcoming class with Homebred Christianity & Dr. Tripp Fuller, "The Christ Empire Couldn't Keep".

Empire shapes more of your life than you think - your theology, your politics, your algorithms, even your emotions. Dr. Rieger reveals why the real battle is not just against obvious hard power, but against the softer, more invisible forms of control that shape what we believe is normal.

Together we unpack the 2,000-year story behind Christ and Empire, from Paul and the early Jesus movement to Nicaea, medieval theology, liberal Protestantism, and the present moment. Along the way, discuss how Christianity has never existed outside empire - and why that makes the question of power unavoidable.

Rieger also challenges easy progressive answers. Simply rejecting violence is not enough, and simply handing Christianity over to empire is not an option either. The deeper invitation is to reclaim the radical edge of the tradition, reread the old symbols in a new way, and build communities that actually embody a different future. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

The Christ Empire Couldn't Keep (Free 6 Week Class)

Christ and Empire: From Paul to Postcolonial Times (Book)

Other Books by Joerg

Religion and Justice Solidarity Circles

THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2026:

Come hang out with Dr. Rieger and me at Theology Beer Camp! Get your tickets HERE.

*Special thanks to Marty Fredrick, Josh Gilbert, and Dan Koch. Love you guys <3*
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Most of us have been taught that strength means suppressing emotion, staying stoic, and keeping our true selves hidden. But what if the real power lies in embracing your full humanity—your fears, wounds, and passions? Jeff Mount, a former Krav Maga instructor turned contemplative coach, shares how he navigates the tension between being a commanding physical presence and a poetic, vulnerable soul. He reveals how pilgrimage, both literal and metaphorical, becomes a sacred pathway to healing, wisdom, and belonging.

In this episode, you'll discover how stories from Celtic saints to modern trauma give us a universal language of connection. Jeff explores the significance of embracing paradox—how being a "warrior poet" is not a contradiction but a vital expression of what it means to be fully human. We break down the profound healing power of witnessing suffering—your own and others’—and how self-compassion is the ultimate act of courage.

Jeff shares stories from his journeys across Scotland and Newfoundland, illustrating how sacred travel becomes a mirror for self-awareness, belonging, and resilience. You'll learn practical frameworks for integrating contemplative practices into a high-performance life, the importance of embracing mystery over certainty, and why storytelling is a form of sacred medicine. Whether you're a leader, a creative, or someone seeking authentic connection, this episode offers insights to cultivate strength without strengthlessness, vulnerability without vulnerability abuse, and a deep sense of belonging in a fragmented world. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

Seeking Thin Places (Book)

JeffMountCoaching

Myth and the Warrior Poet (Substack)

THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2026:

Tickets are almost gone! Don't miss out and get your ticket(s) HERE!

*Special thanks to Marty Fredrick, Josh Gilbert, and Dan Koch. Love you guys <3*
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If you didn't know... The Emogelicals is a crossover show I do with my good buddy Jed over at "Church and Other Drugs". It is a Patreon exclusive monthly show that is a lot of fun! Here is our July episode free for you on the main feed!

If you enjoy my work or find it valuable, would you mind supporting me over on Patreon? If you can't support financially, no worries!!! Would you be willing to rate and review the show? Thanks in advance <3

Join the Patreon for $5/month
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