This week we have a prophet in the house! Mark and Kelly have an eye opening conversation with Rev Starlette Thomas–author, artist, race abolitionist–that we hope will stir you to action as much as it did for us. The topic of conversation is “The Raceless Gospel,” the concept that the church in North America is built on a caste system called race, and needs a new baptism to wash away the sin of segregation. Not colorblindness, not post-racialistm, but dying to ourselves and our relationship to race. Star Thomas challenges us look at ourselves honestly, release the sins of the past, and dive into our Christian values to continue to strive for justice and equality in this world–otherwise, she asks, what are we here for?

Starlette Thomas is an author, activist, visual artist and race abolitionist. She is an associate editor and the director of The Raceless Gospel Initiative at Good Faith Media, which was inspired by her work and witness and is dedicated to leading didactic dialogues on race and its progeny. The Raceless Gospel aims to empower Christians to speak about the sociopolitical construct of race and the myriad injustices that intersect in their churches, communities and country. She is also the author of “Take Me to the Water: The Raceless Gospel as Baptismal Pedagogy for a Desegregated Church,” and is host of The Raceless Gospel Podcast

This week we have a lively conversation with Amy-Jill Levine, who is a distinguished scholar of the New Testament and Jewish Studies (and who is Jewish herself), about Jesus and the New Testament in the light of how he would be understood in the Jewish context of the first century–as well as what Jesus has to offer to the world now, even to people who are not Christian (or even religious at all). This conversation offers some eye-opening perspectives on the deeper meanings of the parables of Jesus, how the teachings of Jesus are based in the Torah rather than diverging from it, and how misreadings of the Bible have led to historic antisemitism–but that a closer reading of the Bible can lead to dialogue and even coexistence of different faiths.

Amy-Jill Levine is the author of countless books, including the upcoming “Jesus for Everyone: Not Just Christians.” She is Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita and Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, at Vanderbilt.

Find out more about her at her FB page (link below) and find her books wherever books are sold.

#christianity #judaism #jesus #deconstruction #interreligious #spirituality

Amy-Jill Levine
https://www.facebook.com/AmyJillLevine
https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Atheists-Still-Matters-Secular/dp/0062216724

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Get Information and Tickets for Theology Beer Camp October 17-19 Denver, CO https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tRADICALHOBBITthe-return-of-the-god-pods-tickets-824208298207 Promo Code for our listeners: RADICALHOBBIT (all caps, no spaces)

We’re excited to welcome Tim Whitaker (founder of The New Evangelicals) to share his expertise on Christian Nationalism–how it started, how it is growing, and what those who are driving this movement are saying behind closed doors. Tim is a podcaster and frequent commentator on the state of evangelicalism and the intersection of politics and religion in the United States. Tim is host of “The New Evangelicals” podcast and is co-host and frequent guest on a number others, and has a significant presence on other social media. Tim will also be appearing with us October 17-19 in Denver at Theology Beer Camp (where there are still tickets available–search for it at Eventbrite, and save $50 with our code, RADICALHOBBIT.)

About Tim Whitaker, from The New Evangelicals Website:
Growing up, Tim always felt at home in evangelical spaces – until years later, when his studying and questions caused him to no longer be welcomed at in his church community. Brokenhearted, but undeterred, Tim continued to pursue a deeper understanding of faith, history, theology and the evangelical church. The more he uncovers, the more he realizes the importance of advocating for the marginalized in the church, exploring the full depth and breadth of Christian faith traditions, and holding toxic churches and leaders accountable.

Christian Nationalism is all over the news today, from revelations about Project 2025 to recent SCOTUS rulings to mandating the 10 Commandments on the schoolroom walls. We are pleased...

We are thinking big thoughts with author and philosopher Pierce Marks, as we talk about the modern crisis of meaning, how the concept of a moral paradigm can re-establish a sense of meaning, and how a few of the deep, elemental visions of Christianity, including love of being and the intrinsic value of creation, led Marks to see life in a new and meaningful way.
Marks is the author of the recently released “A New Way Of Seeing: Meaning in Life and the Christian Vision of Nature,” published by Quoir and available wherever books are sold.

Pierce Alexander Marks is an Eastern Orthodox philosopher and photographer out of Washington. He holds an MA in Philosophy. His main research interests are in Existential-Metaethics, Philosophy of religion, and confirmation theory.

We are honored to have a visit from Rita L. Houlihan, who is a passionate advocate for telling the true story about the life and ministry of the “mysterious” Mary Magdalene–and why it matters for the modern church’s understanding of the Gospels. She is also on the Board of Directors of FutureChurch, an organization dedicated to seeking “changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life, ministry, and governance,” including, among other reforms, “s return to the Church’s earliest tradition, modeled on the inclusive practice of Jesus, of recognizing both female and male leaders of faith communities” Rita is committed to restoring our historical memory of early Christian women leaders with a special focus on Mary Magdalene and the women omitted from our Sunday Lectionary readings. She is also a patron of the arts, carrying through her mission by commissioning new artworks which “counter centuries of negative images of Mary Magdalene.” A fascinating look at a much-misunderstood but very important figure in Christian history.

PART 4 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode summarizes all the verses we’ve studied so far, and weighs them against the larger backdrop of the Biblical principles of Love, Grace, and how we are called to treat others. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines how affirming Bible scholars view the 6 verses in the Bible that deal with same-sex relationships in the context of their time and place, and ask whether these really are sweeping prohibitions of all same-sex relationships, or are about specific issues in a certain time–including violence, idolatry, and religious difference–that may not apply to modern LGBTQ+ people and relationships. (TW: Sexual Assault, Rape, Incest, Slavery, Infanticide)

PART 3 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode wrestles with ROMANS 1, and the VICE LISTS in 1 Corinthians and 1 TIMOTHY. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines how affirming Bible scholars view the 6 verses in the Bible that deal with same-sex relationships in the context of their time and place, and ask whether these really are sweeping prohibitions of all same-sex relationships, or are about specific issues in a certain time–including violence, idolatry, and religious difference–that may not apply to modern LGBTQ+ people and relationships. (TW: Sexual Assault, Rape, Incest, Slavery, Infanticide)

PART 2 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode continues this exploration by taking on the story of Sodom, and investigating what are the “abominations” in the laws of Leviticus. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines how affirming Bible scholars view the 6 verses in the Bible that deal with same-sex relationships in the context of their time and place, and ask whether these really are sweeping prohibitions of all same-sex relationships, or are about specific issues in a certain time–including violence, idolatry, and religious difference–that may not apply to modern LGBTQ+ people and relationships. (TW: Sexual Assault, Rape, Incest, Slavery, Infanticide)